ADVICE FOR GRADUATES – Preparing for the Workplace

ADVICE FOR GRADUATES - Preparing for the Workplace By CEB/SHL Times are tough. With many graduates...


1392 0
1392 0

ADVICE FOR GRADUATES – Preparing for the Workplace By CEB/SHL

Times are tough. With many graduates and fewer jobs, graduates are facing a challenging job market. As companies are limiting their graduate recruitment, a degree by no means guarantees finding a job. Below you will find advice on how to increase your chances.

Don’t Wait Until You Graduate

Graduate recruiters are increasingly looking for innovative ways to identify high-quality talent in an ever-more competitive marketplace – this includes sourcing talent earlier. Second-year programmes are a way to actively engage with recruitment processes before you graduate. Attracting and recruiting graduates is increasingly a year-round “business as usual” activity.

Develop your “employability” skills.

Even being on target for a first-class honours degree and having a strong commercial awareness is not enough to secure a graduate position. Do you research and find out what skills prospective employers want you to have, and take the lead in developing them as much as possible.

Get work experience.

Work experience is essential. It facilitates graduate employment and also builds valuable skills that support employability more generally. Nearly two-thirds of recruiters warn that graduates with no previous work experience at all are unlikely to be successful.

Many employers see work experience as key. While it’s great if a candidate has been on a formal programme, any customer-facing role can be very helpful.”

Develop a professional online profile.

Graduate recruiters are increasingly looking at social media as a way to source, target, and reach the best candidates. Make sure they find you by creating a professional online profile (e.g., on LinkedIn) that is separate from your personal profile.

Differentiate yourself.

Ensure career development is high on your agenda: some graduate recruiters receive 250 applications per role. Differentiate yourself so you are more appealing to recruiters. It is also important to be clear about why you want to work for the particular organisation to which you are applying.

Practice makes perfect!

With more graduate recruiters looking at objective methods to select candidates for their graduate programmes, prepare yourself and practise the types of assessment they will ask you to take.

SOURCE:  CEB/SHL Click HERE for original article

In this article

Join the Conversation