So your university life is finally over. It’s no longer acceptable to sit at 11am drinking Jägerbombs and eating cheap noodles. You’re suddenly faced with something you’ve been dreading for three years: getting a job. It’s time to hang up the fancy dress costumes and brush the dust off your best suit. Finding a job after uni may be a difficult task, but here at CityBlock we’ve got a few tips that should give a start on your career ladder.
Starting with…
Find Out What You Want
This might seem like an obvious point, but it’s also one of the most important. You chose an accounting degree three years ago but a lot could have changed in three years and you aren’t locked to that path forever. Before you start applying for jobs have a think about what you really want to do. It will be far easier to get a job in something you’re passionate about.
Have a Good CV
You might have had the best job experience, got the best grades in the class, and even won three gold medals at the Olympics, but if your CV is badly designed, contains mistakes, or doesn’t display information well then you’ll be put straight in the “no” pile. Spend time designing your CV well and make sure you tailor it to every job you apply for.
Take Advantage of Career Services
You know the careers services you have at uni that you’ve never been to because you think they’re boring? Well they’re actually very useful and totally free. While you’re still at uni and can access them, make sure you take advantage of these services to get some brilliant insights into the job application process.
Social Media
Social media isn’t just for posting photos of your flatmates drunk in a bush; you can actually use it to get a job. First things first though, make sure that your social media accounts are squeaky clean because 40% of recruiters will actually look through these to determine your fit for jobs. A photo of you writing on your passed out friend with a marker pen may seem really funny at the time but it doesn’t exactly say “I’ll be the best graduating lawyer in my class”.
LinkedIn and Twitter are the best platforms for finding work, with LinkedIn essentially being an online, social CV and Twitter being a place where you can join discussions about the area you want to work in.
Work for Free
If you’re the kind of person who “won’t even get out of bed for less than £20” then you may struggle with finding jobs. Actual job experience on your CV is invaluable and it’s far easier to get this if you’re working for free. Although you won’t be getting paid, you’ll be gaining valuable experience that will help you get paid more in the future so suck it up and go work!
Forget About That 2:2
All the way through uni, everybody is told that a 2:1 is the grade to aim for. It will open doors jobs, allow you to make more money and even give you a membership card to a super secret club that nobody know about, right?
Actually, there’s very little difference in success between students achieving either grade with similar percentages of people with either grade being employed 6 months after graduating. Most of what holds people with a 2:2 back is their own mindset. They don’t apply for jobs they think they won’t get when they’d have probably stood a good chance. The most important thing is that you got the degree in the first place!
If you’re still a student, or are about to do a post-graduate degree then we’ve got you covered too. Here at CityBlock we have a range of student accommodation so if you need somewhere to live while you’re studying, don’t hesitate to contact us on 01524 541 251.
