YOUR 10 step gUide to getting a job
Produced by Cardi Met Careers Service
decidewhat youwant tOdo
working out what you want to do with your career can be really challenging so give yourself plenty of time to think about your options. Making well-informed and carefully considered plans will significantly increase your chances of reaching a good decision. what actiOns can i take that will help me? think about all the things you enjoy - having a job you are passionate about can be really satisfying so write down all the things you enjoy doing based on your previous experiences and interests Research the job sectors and roles that interest you - use the Prospect website: www.prospects.ac.uk to learn more about particular areas of interest and write down all those that match with your likes, skills and values identify the gaps in your skills and experience - think about the skills that you might need to develop and the experiences you may need to obtain in order to maximise your chances of securing that dream job Find out what graduates do - research what other students have gone on to do after graduating by reading the HECSU article “What do Graduates do?” www.hecsu.ac.uk
STATS & FACTS You probably have far more career choices available to you than you think - you just don’t know what they are www.careeranalyst.co.uk Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life Confucius teacher and Philosopher 60% of employees would choose a different career if they could start again www.thecareerpsychologist.com Come and see the Careers Service for more information and help with your career planning
www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/careerhub
cOllectyour evidence.reCord YOURaChieveMents
Create a journal to track your skills development throughout university as you will need to demonstrate your skills to a future employer. writing down your achievements will help you to remember them when you complete a job application. what actiOns can i take that will help me? keep a record of your achievements - document evidence of when you have shown good leadership, teamwork or communication skills either at university, through work experience or as an extracurricular activity get your cv into shape - make an appointment with the Careers Service, bring a copy of your CV for review practice writing about your achievements - what is your unique selling point? Highlight your strongest accomplishments, backed up with evidence. If you can demonstrate this well, you will stand out from the crowd Build a portfolio of evidence - check out Mahara e-portfolio on your Moodle course list and start collecting your evidence electronically
STATS & FACTS Take control of your career develop a career strategy www.mindtools.com Find out what skills graduate employers are looking for www.insidecareers.co.uk Check out Career Player film clips for further tips and advice www.careerplayer.com
Check out Career Player film clips for further tips and advice to give your application the edge www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/careerhub
get soMe expeRience
in a job market where competition for graduate level jobs is very high, work experience is often the key to success. building on your transferable skills like communication and team work will help you stand out from the crowd. what actiOns can i take that will help me? develop new job specific skills - speak to the Careers Service about getting involved in volunteering, finding a work placement, internship or seasonal work
STATS & FACTS 80% of employers think work experience is essential www.telegraph.co.uk The increase in new graduates means that it is now more important than ever to show employers you have been proactive in developing your skills. www.allaboutcareers.com Job-hunting graduates in the UK need work experience to stand a chance of getting a job with many employers. www.grb.uk.com
Build relationships - become an active regular volunteer, indicating how reliable you can be to future employers Be enthusiastic - ask your manager in your part-time job to let you take on more responsibility and develop your transferable skills experience gained will help prepare you for work - demonstrate to employers that you are self-motivated and have a positive attitude to professional development
Come and see the Careers Service for more information and help finding work experience
www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/careerhub
BUild your netwORk
networking is all about growing your personal profile and reputation through relationship building and becoming more visible to contacts that could help you. in today’s society, it is not always about what you know, but who you know and who knows you. start networking now! what actiOns can i take that will help me? identify the different ways to network - list the ways in which you think you could build your network and become more visible to recruiters and decision makers in your areas of interest. Ask your friends and family too if you think they can help you meet and mingle - get yourself out there by attending careers fairs, employer talks and career-related workshops. Build an online presence - Use LinkedIn to connect with recruiters, join groups and follow companies of interest and stay in touch with your peers. Whatever social media platform you use, keep it professional or maximise your privacy settings - employers will check! show initiative and be confident - employers are unlikely to find you, so you have to get out there and find them. Don’t be afraid to pop into an employer’s office, pick up the phone and call them or send that speculative email - what is the harm in asking?!
STATS & FACTS I’ve learned that asking questions isn’t a sign of weakness; rather, it demonstrates curiosity, engagement and intelligence april underwood, vice President at slack 80% of HR teams are using social media for sourcing and hiring new staff www.recruitactive.com 55% of employers who researched job applicants on social media claim they found something that caused them not to hire the applicant www.careerbuilder.co.uk Come and see the Careers Service for more information and help with your career planning
www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/careerhub
pOlish uPYOUR itskills
are you tech-savvy? employers expect graduates to have good it skills. get to grips with a range of software and computer applications, be ready to show a potential employer that you can help their business reach the next level. WHAT ACTIonS CAn I TAKE THAT WILL HELP ME? sign up for microsoft training - get to know how to use Microsoft office effectively (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and outlook) and be able to navigate websites and social media platforms for work tasks get some it based work experience - this will help you to test your skill levels and identify areas for development Become knowledgeable - check out something technology related that you have never used before, like blogging, writing code or programming; research the topic and get practising! practice common keyboard shortcuts - using a shortcut to perform a task is often faster than using a mouse. They are universal and can apply to a variety of applications
STATS & FACTS Between 75% and 90% of jobs require at least some computer use www.theguardian.com Excel remains the most in-demand software for graduates - despite being 30 years old www.career-design.co.uk Keep your skills up-to-date, check out free software available from Cardiff Met Library and Information Services Come and see the Careers Service for more information and help with your career planning www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/careerhub
ReseaRch yourchOsen CoMPany
having knowledge about a company or sector you are interested in will help you to demonstrate enthusiasm and commitment to a potential employer. research what the company is looking for, list the skills you can offer to match their needs. WHAT ACTIonS CAn I TAKE THAT WILL HELP ME? Research the key objectives for the company - what can you offer to achieve the company’s objectives? Find out about new initiatives, list how you can contribute and make a difference provide evidence - show you have researched the market, who the main competitors are and what is unique about the company. This evidence is essential in demonstrating your motivation and knowledge start researching - you will not be able to learn everything, but some research will boost your chances. Set up Google alerts and read the business news to demonstrate your knowledge at interview widen your job search preferences - we very rarely get the exact job we want the first time. Be aspirational and also realistic. no one starts out as a Managing Director!
STATS & FACTS 47% of students began researching their chosen company in the first year of university www.highfliers.co.uk Visit Glassdoor to find out about a job or company that interest you. Reviews insider information from employees together with interview questions from candidates www.glassdoor.com Search the Employer Hub for top tips on how to get hired www.targetjobs.co.uk Come and see the Careers service for more information about researching companies. www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/careerhub
getyourcv tothetoP OFthepile
your Cv is your sales brochure, designed to attract a potential employer to get you to the next stage of the recruitment process. it is often the first thing an employer will read about you so it is really important to get it right. WHAT ACTIonS CAn I TAKE THAT WILL HELP ME? know what to include and what to exclude - Visit Target Jobs www.targetjobs.co.uk or Prospects www.prospects.ac.uk for careers advice to find out what you should include and exclude when writing your CV. Use their examples as a starting guide, but don’t be afraid to be creative market yourself in style - the way you present your CV is very important and will determine whether the employer reads on or not. Make the document easy to read, use a clear format with short, punchy sentences, using error free, professional language make it relevant - use examples that are current and relevant to the role that you are applying for. Your examples can come from all areas of life including university, work experience or your personal life include your key achievements - tailor your CV, highlight your personal contributions to previous situations that have been successful, stressing what you have achieved and the outcomes
STATS & FACTS on average employers spend just 8.8 seconds reviewing entry level CVs www.ncsyes.co.uk The average length of a UK CV is two pages, but it is important to realise that the length of a CV varies depending on the industry and role www.targetjobs.co.uk 76% of CVs are rejected due to unprofessional email addresses Linkedin Come and see the Careers Service for more information and help with your CV www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/careerhub
makeyour applicatiOnforM standout
employers use the application form to learn more about who you are, what you know and what you are capable of. this is where you can really showcase your passion and enthusiasm for the role, demonstrate your research and highlight why you are the perfect candidate for the position. WHAT ACTIonS CAn I TAKE THAT WILL HELP ME? answer the question - it may sound simple but one of the most common mistakes on an application form is providing answers that do not meet the needs of the question. Take time to fully read and understand the questions, give concise and relevant answers and avoid waffling provide evidence - when you make statements about your skills, abilities and experiences, be sure to back them up with evidence. Use interesting and informative examples that have successful and impressive outcomes get it proof-read - employers get so frustrated with spelling and grammatical errors on application forms, so make sure you get someone to look over it and check for mistakes give yourself plenty of time - most application forms should take a good amount of time to complete if you are going to do them properly, so don’t leave them until the last minute employers will be able to tell straight away!
STATS & FACTS Most people looking for a graduate job make over 25 applications www.graduate-jobs.co.uk over half of the UK’s leading employers said they receive more completed graduate job applications during the early part of the recruitment season and the quality of applications is improving www.highfliers.co.uk Graduate job seekers fail to hear anything at all in response to three out of five of their applications, showing how students need to be resilient whilst job searching www.graduate-jobs.co.uk Come and see the Careers Service for more information and help with your application form. www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/careerhub
shine at inteRview
interviews can be nervewracking for anyone, but if you have done your research and you are well-prepared, they can offer the perfect opportunity for you to impress the employer. this is your moment to shine and showcase what makes you perfect for the role. WHAT ACTIonS CAn I TAKE THAT WILL HELP ME? Be thoroughly prepared - being well prepared for your interview can help you to give a great performance. Know your CV and application inside out, re-read the job role and do your research on the company and the sector. Prepare your answers with real life examples of your past experiences think about potential questions - Having re-read the job role and person specification, write down what you think the employer might want to ask you. Think about what you would ask if you were in the employer’s shoes! practice your interview technique - The more you practice, the more confident you will become. Arrange a mock interview with a Careers Consultant to run through some questions with you. Make your mistakes before the interview, not during it! give a good first impression - make a good first impression by giving a firm handshake, making good eye contact, having open body language and speaking clearly. And don’t forget to smile – it’s the perfect ice breaker!
STATS & FACTS The average length of an interview will be around 40 minutes Linkedin What will they ask? The Graduate Recruitment Bureau offer some interview tips and techniques www.grb.uk.com In a recent survey involving 273 UK managers, 55% said they judged an interviewee by their handshake and 62% said dress sense had a big impact www.monster.co.uk Come and see the Careers Service for more information and help preparing for interview www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/careerhub
Believe in YOURselF
job hunting can be challenging at times. it is important to believe in yourself and remain positive. if you get turned down, it may be disappointing but focus on your achievements and what you do well. WHAT ACTIonS CAn I TAKE THAT WILL HELP ME? ask for feedback - choose somebody who knows you well to help you identify your strengths and abilities. Practice positive thinking, talking to other people to help improve or boost your confidence levels learn from successes and disappointments - do not take them personally. Focus on what went well and use that to help you build on your strengths, turning negative outcomes into positives challenges. Resilience is an important quality to possess write down positive statements about yourself - use the skills section of your CV as a tool to document examples from all areas of your life, university, work and personal interests surround yourself with positive people - be with people that make you feel good about yourself. Welcome their constructive criticism as a positive tool for self-development
STATS & FACTS Get the facts on developing confidence in the workplace www.i-l-m.com Google gardner's multiple intelligences to find out more about yourself and how you can develop your transferable skills. Thought awareness, rational thinking, and positive thinking are simple tools that help you to train your brain to remain positive www.mindtools.com Come and see the Careers Service for more information and support with your career development planning www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/careerhub
nOtes
connect with your careers service Cyncoed Campus - A Block Llandaff Campus - A Block next to the i-Zone www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/careerhub www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/careers careers@cardiffmet.ac.uk 029 2041 6333 CardiffMetCareersService @CMetCareers Join our LinkedIn group