Baby Steps to Your Dream Job

Drawing up a plan ahead of time is key to hitting the ground running when applying for jobs after graduation.

When you try to craft a dozen well-thought-out applications for prospective employers while also submitting assignments on time, do you find yourself all over the place?

It’s not surprising if you do. But while balancing your time in school and planning ahead for your career isn’t easy, it’s not impossible to achieve.

So instead of running everywhere all at once, start with a solid plan of action – though you’ll still need to put in the effort to follow through – to better manage your time and priorities to reach your goals.

Here are some things you should put into your action plan to better prepare yourself when it comes to creating job applications! STEP 1

Prepare an “All-About-Me” document

This is a simple, useful document that holds information about you. The concept’s more like an idea bank – a place you can revisit after crafting your resume and cover letters. Even better, there’s no need to kick up a fuss about making this document pleasing to the eye – it’s for your reference only. You can even keep it unformatted if you like!

Here are some things you should jot down on this document: • Your skills, both technical and soft • Your qualifications and grades • Your experiences (both professional and extracurricular) • Your school and/or personal projects • Your career goals • Any other skills and courses taken up • Your volunteer experience, if any

It’s best to review this document every few weeks to keep your details up-to-date.

How do I use it?

For a basic application template: • Add in your qualifications, grades and work experience For customised applications: • Add in experiences that are relevant to the job applied • Emphasise the points in your document that will highlight your strengths STEP 2

Update often

Never stop polishing your various forms of written applications so you won’t be left panicking when the time comes to submit them. Although many often leave applications to the last minute, if you rush through, you’re not very likely to shine!

If you have 10 minutes:

• Make a priority list • Read over your All-About-Me document; you may have something new to add

If you have 20 minutes:

• Update your resume with your All-

About-Me document right next to you • Proofread and fine-tune an existing application if you have already started on one • Start with employer research, which will not only be useful at the application stage, but will also help later when you get called in for an interview. Take note that it is reasonable enough to start with employers who provide the most information about themselves

If you have 30 minutes:

• Draft a cover letter, but try not to copy a generic template – employers can spot these letters a mile away. Write a new one for each position, and your application will be received positively • Take time to read up about your chosen career sector in the news. Understanding more about the industry will help you get the hang of tailoring your applications to fit a desired position • Use the time to thoroughly proofread your resume, as well

If you have an hour:

• Visit your career services centre and attend a session with your advisor that can help you increase your employability • Begin an application from scratch. If you do not have the time to finish it, save it to complete later. Avoid trying to rush through it as you’ll be more prone to making mistakes or leaving out something important STEP 3

Be positive and keep applying

Remain upbeat when applying for jobs even if you have a high chance of rejection – you aren’t the only one applying! Do your best in any interview session, and remember there’s no need to feel disappointed if it isn’t followed by an offer letter.

Keep in mind that at the end of the day, you’ll be able to get a job that’ll suit your personality and skill set! STEP 4

Get a foot in

It can be frustrating if you don’t get an offer letter from your desired company, but if another job in the same industry comes your way – perhaps from a company or for a position you’re not particularly enthusiastic about – what do you do? Gaining experience is definitely high on the priority list, but at the same time, nothing about the job might actually be your cup of tea.

One solution to this is to take the offer that comes your way. As difficult as it may sound, it’s not so bad when you realise that you’ll be able to pick up or hone skills.

For instance, if you’ve applied for a business development position but end up getting a marketing role, grab it! You’ll not only pick up tech-savvy skills such as creating online marketing brochures to sell a particular product, but you’ll also have the opportunity to build your network, something which can come in useful later in your career.