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SMART MONEY MOVES FOR NEW GRADUATES Being a new graduate can be one of the most exciting yet stressful times of your life. The elation of graduating with a degree or diploma can be short-lived once you face the realities of job-hunting, rejection letters and “adulting” in general. Devon Card offers practical tips. ● Prepare your online profile. When last did you Google yourself? There is enormous power in your online profile, so make sure that anybody searching for you is impressed by what they see. Check your privacy settings on Facebook and Instagram accounts, and check through your Twitter feed. If you haven’t already done so, set up a Linkedin profile and start connecting. ● Set up your online CV. Sites such as jobportal.co.za and leafly.com allow you to create an online CV which is universally
accessible and makes it easier for companies to find talent. Spend time creating a powerful online CV that showcases your special skill set. ● Don’t sit around waiting for a job. Job-hunting is tough and being rejected is emotionally draining. Finding a job is going to require tenacity, resourcefulness, resilience and a never-say-die attitude. While you’re out their job-hunting, focus also on finding a side hustle that can generate some extra income. ● Practice being interviewed. To avoid
being overwhelmed during job interviews, get some practice ahead of time. Ask your parents, a mentor, lecturer or family friend to go through a ‘dummy interview’ with you so that you get a feel for the type of questions you will be asked and how to construct succinct, insightful responses. ● Develop an introductory email. When emailing your CV through to a prospective company, include a short, sharp and well-written introduction that entices the reader to open your CV. Make sure your grammar and punctuation is flawless.
