Recession proof Tips For Graduate Jobseekers

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The employment market is a scary place to be at the moment and if you are about to graduate and looking to dip a toe in the jobs pool then you are probably more than a little apprehensive.  However, graduating in a market like this does not have to mean you do not get the job you want, especially if you do a bit of preparation.  Here are some recession proof tips for graduate jobseekers to make sure you have the best possible chance of landing that dream job.

1. Get Some Experience

Your CV is going to have mostly qualifications on and not much else and a little experience goes a long way.  Many companies will offer unpaid internships or vacation schemes that give you the chance to get some proven experience in a certain field that looks great on your CV.  It is a good idea to try and get involved in these programs before your last year at uni but if you are about to graduate and have not yet signed up for one, it is not too late.

2. Pimp Your CV

There is nothing less likely to get you an interview with a potential employer than a CV that is chock full of spelling mistakes and says very little other than that you have a degree.  The CV is the chance you have to really sell yourself, so make sure it really shines.  Work out the layout and make it clear and concise; get friends and family to read over it to get their opinions on structure and content; take it to a professional CV rewriting company; and make sure you post it or hand it in without wrinkles, tears or smudges.

3. Bulk Up

If you are about to graduate and you have not managed to secure a job then that does not mean you have to spend the next few months sitting around watching daytime TV and waiting for the right job to come to you.  There are a number of ways you can occupy your time that will also serve to considerably bulk up your CV: take on some voluntary work, preferably in a field that is relevant to the sector you want to work in; go on a course that will give you skills you can use in the kind of job you want; or book a trip to teach English abroad/help build houses/carry out an ecological survey, anything as long as you are learning a skill.

4. The Early Bird Catches The Worm

As soon as university graduation dates pass, a flood of graduates enter the employment market, with more applicants for each job than you can shake a stick at.  In this situation, knowledge is power.  Make sure you are one of the first to know about the jobs coming up in your sector by signing up for newsletters, browsing the internet, going to careers fairs, registering with recruitment agencies and checking industry guides and publications.  Then get your application in first to avoid any application cut off numbers that the company might have, and make sure each application is well prepared and spotless.

5. Don’t Give up!

There are jobs out there to be had – even in this market – and you will get one as long as you keep going.  If you are going to give up after the first rejection then you may as well not even start looking.  Be relentless in your pursuit of a job, be adaptable and flexible and if you are not getting the job you want then look at alternative ways of breaking into the sector.

This was a guest post by John for Monster jobs. If you’re a graduate looking at entering the job market start by downloading our free graduate advice ebook and working out how much you could be earning with the Monster salary calculator.

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