Dream graduate career guide - Debut

Dream graduate career guide - Debut Searching for a job can be an exhausting process for even the most determined of individuals; going through each application with hope and optimism only to be left heartbroken and wanting to give up when you get a rejection. It’s mentally and physically tiring. So how do you go about getting the job you’ve always dreamed of? It seems so unattainable right? Well there isn’t a magic, easy way to achieve your dream career but follow this guide and who knows; maybe you’ll find yourself sitting pretty at your very own office desk in no time. Communication is key Where education is important it isn’t the be all and end all of securing the right job for you, soft skills are just as important and communication is one of the most important tools you will want to develop for when you begin face-to-face interviews. Communication may seem like a skill you don’t necessarily need to master for your chosen career, but there are always things you can improve on. Maintaining eye contact during interviews is one of the main points people struggle with when it comes to meeting new people. Practise maintaining eye contact with friends and family in preparation for interviews. You can also make a list of points you want to make in your interview in order to prevent yourself from forgetting anything you want to talk about. Tailor your CV If you know what specific area of industry you want to work, then you should tailor your CV to that sector. If you want to go into broadcast journalism for example, you may want to scrap some of the part time sales experience you have and instead replace it with skills you have learnt for this career path like interview technique, using specific editing software and camera work. Do some research You may know exactly what you want to do, but you really need to look into your career choice in full detail. Do not go into an interview or even start applying for jobs until you understand every minute detail about the role you want to undertake. Once you have received an offer for an interview, again do some extensive research into the company that has offered you this chance. Go in and impress those interviewing you with your knowledge. It will help you stand out from other candidates. Experience Gaining invaluable experience is one of the hardest things to do when preparing yourself for job searches. Some places only offer internships or placements if you already have previous experience in the sector you desire, whilst others offer unpaid placements which can be difficult if you have rent and other important bills to pay. You need to find somewhere that can offer you relevant experience that will suit you, even if it’s just a week’s worth of unpaid experience, if you can do it, go for it. Experience isn’t everything but it does look great on your CV and will help you settle in when you do nab that dream job. Include detail Giving advice on how to write your CV can be tricky as some employers will want different things to others, however including some detail on your responsibilities and duties in past jobs are a great little addition, especially if you can include numbers. For example if you were a student ambassador who organised an event for prospective students you could write: Organised a promotional event for my university, which saw 1,000 prospective students attend, where I had to deliver a speech about university life and make sure attendees had their questions answered. As well as including detail in your CV, you will need to do the same for your cover letter. Make your cover letter personal; include an anecdote or a quote if you think it’s fitting. Cover letters shouldn’t be long but they should encourage your potential employer to want to look further at your CV so make it snappy and interesting. Connect with Debut on  Facebook,  Twitter,  and  LinkedIn  for more careers insights.