Finding graduate jobs in the UK

You've just finished four years of working hard at university and have just landed into what can seem a daunting place - the real world. Since so much money has been invested in a great education, you are now expected to find yourself a job! The pressure of securing a position feels extreme. There are important decisions to make: all your friends say that for jobs London is the best city, so perhaps you want to work there as well; your family says that they’d rather you stayed local so that when you need to look for a job Manchester is the place, because it’s where you grew up.

It's fair to say that the credit crunch and resultant recession has worried university leavers, too, and many are unsure as to how easy it will be to secure a position. By using the Internet to its full potential however, there is little need to worry.

The good news is that there are vacancies out there for you. Although the UK has recently experienced an economic downturn, there are jobs to be had and a place for you in the workplace. Push negative thoughts out of your brain because they will only drag you down. Instead, focus on the possibility and excitement of finding a new career, whether, when it comes to jobs Birmingham is the place, or you’d rather look elsewhere.

Think about what kind of position you would most enjoy. Ask yourself what kind of job you think might suit you best. What qualifications do you have that allow you stand out? Where and how far would you be willing to travel? If your family and friends are based in London perhaps a job in the West Midlands might be too far away.

Devise yourself a plan of action and stick to it. How soon do you think you need to get a job and how much time can you spend on searching? If you need to secure a position soon then you might have to take an aggressive approach. Be practical with your plan and understand your worth. Your education places you ahead of many jobseekers so you are already in a favourable position.

Once you have decided exactly what type of vacancy you are looking for, begin devising your CV. Look at samples of other CVs online to find an appropriate template. Keep your language professional and straightforward. Avoid using lines of details that might sound too jumbled to read.

Your CV should appear clean and concise since this is the first impression any prospective employer will see. Remember, employers do appreciate creativity but don’t go too over the top. For example, if you have a personal website that showcases a portfolio of work, this might be an interesting thing to add in. This added tidbit will standout in employers minds since they have seen more than words on paper.

After you have proofread your CV through, you are ready to get it into the hands of prospective employers. This can be done a number of ways, as there are multiple methods of applying for jobs in the UK. You can send your application to employers online or mail it directly to their offices.

If you know the company you are most interested in working for, they often post opportunities and job seeker information on their main webpage. They may also provide an email address of a contact that will be able to review your CV.

The most popular option when searching for a job online is to use a job seeker website. These services allow you to upload your CV straight into their system and register free of charge. Using a jobseeker site allows you to manage your job search efficiently.

These sites are most effective and deliver results because they customise your job search. For example, you can input precisely what kind of job you are looking for, where you want to work and what industry you want to work in.

Such jobseeker services link up your inbox to their network. This means when jobs in your field come up, you will get an email. Also, thousands of prospective employers search these job sites daily looking for an appropriate candidate, which means there is a strong chance you will be headhunted by an employer.

Whichever route you choose to conduct your job search, soon you will start hearing from prospective employers. If you aren’t hearing from them, don’t wait! You can easily take the initiative and make phone calls. Sometimes employers don’t notice your application because they are so swamped. It might just take a phone call for them to pull up your CV and this will get you one step ahead of the rest.

The interview process usually begins with a phone interview where employers can stretch their feelers a little and see if you have a professional sounding voice. If they think you are worthy of an in-person interview they won’t hesitate setting this up with you.

Scoring an interview is one thing but enduring one is another. The best advice for an interview is preparation. Companies often ask the same type of questions to every candidate. Look online for popular interview questions and have an idea of the kind of answer you might deliver. Have friends ask you the questions to get used to saying things out loud.

With so much preparation you will casually stroll into any interview situation. Employers will see you as an intelligent and confident graduate ready to begin work at their company.

Feel out the organisation during the interview and don’t forget to ask questions about things you find important. Just as they are interviewing you, you are interviewing them as well!

People often go on more than one interview before they make a decision about a job. Every company offers something different and don’t settle for anything less than what you deserve. A bad interview experience can be viewed as an opportunity to be more prepared for the next one!

Before you know it, your phone will be ringing with a job offer for a graduate job! Shed your student status, buy some professional clothing and start rising earlier. You can then looking forward to taking the first step up the career ladder.