When many people leave university they are in a catch 22 situation. When applying for jobs, many don’t get far because employers say that they don’t have enough experience, but without a job how are graduates ever supposed to get that experience.

One way in which graduates can help themselves is to make the most of their degree on their CV when applying for work. Many employers won’t see how your degree will be useful to a particular job role and so make things easy for them. Detail what skills you have gained during your degree and how they would help you in the role. Even participating in extra-curricular activities can demonstrate initiative and leadership skills, so make sure to you get it all on there.

For those about to start or thinking about going to university, I would highly recommend enrolling for a sandwich degree course which sees you having to take a work placement as part of your degree. This was invaluable for me and definitely helped me to start my career once finishing university.

A very small percentage of people actually do a job which they thoroughly enjoy, and most of these are celebrities, who get paid lots of money to do it. Most of us get through the day to day, and for the most part enjoy what we do, but given a lottery win I’m sure the majority of us would pack in the day job in favour of a permanent holiday. But what should you do if you really hate your job.

We all have responsibilities, but if you really hate your job, then try to do something about it. Don’t be narrow minded, perhaps think about changing your career. Some of the skills you gain from one profession can easily be transferable to others. Sit down and list down the experience you have and how that can be adapted to a new role.

There are people out there who can help you in your search for a new career, so why not seek some professional careers advice to help you on your way.

It can be daunting looking for a new job and many people just don’t know where to start. This is particularly true when you want to move into a totally different industry. To help you on your way I have provided a few things you can do to get information on the job applications you want to apply for.

• Pop down to your local job centre where they can help you to find out about the latest job openings in your area.
• Go to your newsagents and buy a copy of the latest job newspaper. Take a pen and highlight all the applications you want to apply for
• Why not let someone else do all the hard work for you. Go online and sign up for the services of sites such as Total Jobs and Reed. Simply enter the type and locations of the jobs you are looking for and they will send you an email to notify you of any jobs that match your criteria.

Happy Job Hunting!

Preparing a good CV is often the key to getting invited for an interview, but just as important is the cover letter you send across with it. A cover letter gives you the opportunity to introduce yourself and explain why it is you want the job.

A cover letter should be brief, but within it you should aim to include the skills and knowledge you have that would be applicable to the role. You should also highlight key points from your CV, such as previous experience.

Make sure that if you are applying for a number of jobs that you don’t just send the same CV with the same cover letter each time. Your documents should be catered towards each individual role, to give you the best opportunity to get through to the next stage and get invited for that interview.

Interviews can be a nerve racking experience at the best of times. First impressions are everything and so I have listed some top tips here to help you along the way to getting the job you want. Many of the tips seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people don’t follow them.

• First and foremost, don’t be late. This gives a bad impression to the employer before they have even met you.
• Don’t slouch or use slang words, as this comes across to the employer that you are disinterested and don’t really want the job.
• Don’t lie. You won’t get away with it and the employer will often see right through it.
• Dress smartly and speak clearly. First impressions are everything, and so do not underestimate how important it is to look the part.
• Prepare your answers for the typical questions that employers tend to ask. These are typically questions such as why do you want the job and what you say your strengths and weaknesses are.
• Prepare questions to ask the employer. This makes it appear that you are interested in the company and also gives you a chance to find out more about the role. Be careful not to ask questions about money and Perks at this early stage.

If you follow these simple guidelines you are well on the way to a successful interview. All that is left to say is good luck!!