GETTING READY
STARTING A SUCCESSFUL JOB HUNT Searching for a job can be rough, but the feeling of securing your first job will make it all worthwhile. When starting your job hunt, make a conscious effort to make every action count.
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ooking for a job is not just about sending out countless applications and then waiting for a response. With so many other competing applicants out there, you need to stand out from the crowd by knowing how to impress your recruiters. Here are some tips on how you can do just that:
Build your personal brand Before you can even start marketing yourself to potential employers, you must know yourself well enough. This is where personal branding comes in. It is about showcasing what your accomplishments are, what you stand for and what you are capable of achieving. For example, if you have a flair for product design and are interested in a design-related career, then your personal branding is about creativity, pleasing aesthetics and how technology plays a part in it. One way to express this is by setting up a website and publishing your technical design portfolio as part of your application process. As you develop your skills, you can also add your own personal touches — this is a ‘personal’ brand after all. Keeping and updating a portfolio, whether physical or digital, will come in handy. Not only can it serve as a record of all you have done so far, it also helps as a reference for recruiters and employers to refer to as proof of your skill development.
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SUTD career guide 2022
Building a brand is more than just keeping an updated portfolio. Make the time to understand what you want to be known for, and how you want to make your mark in the world.
Start early So, when is the right time to prepare for your job search? Well, the answer is as soon as possible, ideally a year or so in advance. Of course, you do not need to immediately start sending resumes and applications — you can do that when you are near graduation. But there are still plenty of advantages in getting a headstart. For one, in addition to preparing your resume and portfolio early (and updating it), keep an eye on the current job market. This is one of the ways you can learn more about the skills and types of work experiences employers are looking for.
By starting out early, it will keep you vigilant and focused on potential opportunities in the market. Being in the right frame of mind is often an understated part of job-hunting — it ensures that you keep doing your research and are on the hunt for the right opportunities well before the application deadlines. In addition, having a headstart will especially help you when applying to companies with rigorous, multi-staged hiring processes. These can involve several submissions and rounds of interviews that can take up to months, which is especially true for graduate programmes. So, it may be best to get in line as soon as you can so that you can have ample time to prepare.
