Monday, January 26, 2009

Ten Tips for Effective Job Hunting

The long, hard years of school are finally over. You are now an inch closer to living the life you have planned for yourself. But first, you must land that graduate job that you have been eyeing to have for a very long time now. So, you gather all the resources available for any possible job listings to get you your first ever graduate job. If you live in Europe, lucky for you, there is an abundance of graduate jobs in the UK that you can apply for. The even better news is that there are plenty of these job opportunities that are available for the fresh graduates.

Graduate accounting jobs, graduate finance jobs, graduate jobs in sales, whatever you are looking for, you will most likely find it in the UK. The key is to cover all the bases when you are in the midst of a job search. While you focus on the aspect of seeking employment by sending out your resumes, you must remain appropriate and professional. Below are ten pointers to keep your job hunt on the right track.

  1. Find out the job you want. – The first thing you should do is to ask yourself what it is that you really want to do. Take the time to think your career plans through. It might even be useful to ask advice from your friends and family. Lay down all your options on the table. It is important to think the types of job or career that you are seeking through as that will help you identify your prospective employers and target your applications or compose your resumes that will clearly showcase what it is that you have to offer.
  2. Know where to look. – You can stick to the old traditional way of getting yourself a copy of the city’s Sunday paper where plenty of UK graduate job listings are posted. Or, you can make use of information technology and browse through the pages of the many job search websites available today. Another option is to directly visit the website of the companies you wish to apply for and click on their employment opportunities section for any openings that you qualify for.
  3. Creatin your resume and cover letter. – It is your prerogative whether or not you want a cover letter with your resume. However, taking the time to compose them sends a very good impression to your prospective employers. The resume is a very dynamic piece of paper. It is where you print out what you have to offer - qualifications, talents and skills. A good resume is critical to landing the job, but at the same time, resumes only serve as a request to be met and interviewed. Be sure to keep it short and concise, but do not forget to let yourself shine on that paper.
  4. Interview. – Being in time is not enough. In fact, you should try to be at the company’s office ready for your interview at least five to ten minutes earlier than your schedule. This gestures gives the company a preview of your work attitude and punctuality.
  5. Follow up. – Many people think that making a phone call to the office that interviewed them days, weeks or even months ago is inappropriate. Some even assume that the company has already hired another applicant. Do not be afraid to make a follow up on your application, but, as mentioned above, be sure to keep it professional. This is a great way to be remembered.
  6. Attend job fairs. – A lot of UK graduate jobs are offered at job fairs held at colleges and universities even for fresh graduates who have no work experience. Submit your resume to every company’s booths that you wish to be a part of.
  7. Tracking. – Fresh graduates naturally send out multiple job applications. Keeping track of the companies that you have had interviews with is very important. That will serve as a log for the name, type of company and the position you applied for.
  8. Send thank you notes. – Showing appreciation and gratitude is always good. It should not be seen in a way as brown-nosing. A simple note that you can deliver directly to the office or even an email to the human resources personnel that met you for your interview would suffice.
  9. Stay updated. – Being updated on the latest business news is important and will later on prove beneficial to you. Reading newspapers and other business materials will definitely keep you updated on the current "hot" companies.
  10. Do not give up. – Rejection may be painful, but it happens. That is life. You win some, you lose some. The important thing is that you accept the so-called defeat gracefully and give yourself the time to re-focus. Do not lose hope. Giving up is an option that does not get you anywhere.


Take risks when job hunting. It is where you discover more about your strengths and weaknesses, and find out what career path you should take that would truly make you happy.