If you’re leaving university this year and are starting to look at employment and graduate schemes you may be feeling a little daunted and unsure where to start. This year will see a 10% rise in the number of people leaving university and, combined with the current economic climate, there’s no doubt that there’ll be more competition between graduates than ever before. If you want a head start, here are some handy hints and tips to help you sort out your career path before you graduate.
Firstly, decide what type of career interests you – this may sound obvious, but far from everyone does it. Websites like Monster allow you to browse different jobs by changing keywords or exploring jobs in a geographical area so you can see what careers are open to people with your interests and experience.
When you’ve got a few different roles in mind, it’s time to work on your CV. Using a CV template will give you some structure. The key thing to remember is to tailor your CV to the type of role you’re applying for, so always make sure your experience is both relevant and truthful.
Finally, ensure that you have an idea of what you’re worth. Using a salary calculator can make sure that you’re not pitching yourself too low or too high. It could also help you to decide on your career if you’re in two minds.
Whether you’re looking at graduate schemes, recruitment agencies or applying direct make sure that you start before you graduate. Getting in early means that you can get ahead of the competition on leaving university and, since many positions will require several rounds of interviews, it’s key that you get started straight away.