How to Stand Out in the Graduate Job Market

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Yes, we know. You studied for your master’s degree in business administration because you intend to start your own company. But your startup is still in its fledgling state, barely able to fly. And meanwhile, you have student loans to pay, and rent, and well, you’re probably pretty tired of ramen. So it’s time to step into the graduate job market. Here are some pointers that will help.

Take That First Step into the Job Market

It’s tough taking the step from university into full-time work. Intense competition in the job market means that recruiters are often sifting through hundreds if not thousands of CVs.

The good news is that the number of graduate jobs on offer in 2022 is expected to increase by 15.7%. This is the largest annual rise for more than 15 years, according to High Fliers research.

But despite the increased availability of positions, you’re still going to need to stand out to have a shot at getting your dream job.

There are a few key things you can do to ensure employers see exactly what you have to offer and why they should hire you. Read on to find out what they are.

Update Your CV and Cover Letter to Stand Out in the Job Market

It may take time, but your CV and cover letter should always be specifically tailored to the job you’re applying for.

Recruiters on average spend just 6-8 seconds looking at your CV, so it helps if you can get everything onto one page.

However, this doesn’t mean cramming everything into a single sheet. Be clear, be concise, and only include information that’s relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Grow Your Network

To stand out in the graduate job market, do whatever you can to get your face and name out there.

Try to connect with people on LinkedIn and interact with other users. You never know when a simple exchange like that could help you down the line.

You also don’t need to tailor your profile to a specific job, so this is a place to put additional information you couldn’t squeeze onto your CV. Your CV could then include a note of your LinkedIn URL.

Show What You Have Learned

It’s always impressive if you can display you’ve taken the time to learn a new skill during your personal time.

Try to settle on something that’s transferrable across a range of industries. You could learn a new language, for example. Or you could undertake an online course or start coding with an Arduino kit. Any of these examples would help you to stand out in the graduate job market.

Learning a programming language will show your versatility. And even if you don’t want to work as a developer, it’s a useful skill to have in many digital roles.

Do Some Volunteer Work

Experience is hugely important to employers, so do whatever you can to get a foot in the door of the sector you want to explore.

Competition on the job market is always fierce for paid positions. You could instead consider looking for an organization that takes on volunteers.

Not only will the experience look good on your CV, but it also gives you a chance to make sure you still want to explore the line of work in future.

Brush Up on Your Interview Skills

When you finally get a chance to speak with a potential employer, making a strong first impression is paramount.

Research the types of questions you might get asked. This will give you a chance to come up with answers that draw on your personal experience.

Make sure you do your homework on your potential employer, too. This will also help you get an idea about questions you’d like to ask at the end of your interview. In the end, how you fare in the graduate job market is up to you. So follow the suggestions in this post and get out there!