Job Development

Searching for a Job:

There are many different pathways you can take after graduating (please see Graduate Pathways), however if you chose to move into looking for a job then there are different steps you can take to aid yourself.

Firstly, looking in the right places. There are many job comparison sites that are tailored specifically for graduates, but also use LinkedIn. Additionally, some companies only list new job listings on their own websites, so if there is a place you specifically would like to work for frequently check their vacancies or if you can set up a new job alert notification to your email. Additionally, if you are struggling finding a job then make use of job recruitment companies, by sending them your CV and seeing what opportunities they have on offer.

It's good to be open to different roles within a job area however try not to be too vague with your search terms as too many results will come up to search through, or good job opportunities may not appear in the search results. For example: Instead of searching “marketing” you could be more specific and search “digital marketing” or “web development”.

Advertising Yourself:

Being able to market yourself is key when looking for jobs, you need to be able to sell yourself in your best light and make it easy for an employer to know your skillset.

CV and Cover Letter:

These are the two minimal things that are expected during any application process. So many are sent through to recruiters that it is important to make sure yours are appealing, have a good layout and have no mistakes.

Visit the Career Development website for more tips in how to write both of them and make sure you book an appointment with them (as a student or a graduate) to see if there are any ways you can improve on either.

It is recommended that you tailor your CV and Cover Letter to each position you are applying for, however there is nothing wrong with having a template that is easy to adapt to make the process of applying to jobs quicker/smoother. Acknowledging what transferable skills you have gained from your degree and previous job roles can be beneficial when doing this.

Using LinkedIn:

Research has shown that the majority of the time an employer will most likely look at your LinkedIn profile before offering an interview. Therefore, if you do not have an account now is the time to make one, because your modern professional identity could be defined by LinkedIn.

How Maximise your use of LinkedIn

LinkedIn recommend four ways of using their platform when searching for jobs:

Complete your profile: If it says only 60% of your profile is complete, go back and take a look at what else needs doing. LinkedIn is a professional service working off algorithms, so have put those detail boxes to fill in for a reason. If it’s personable it also shows your unique style and bit of your personality

Share your Personal Passions: LinkedIn can be used to share any work you do, whether that has been for a society and campaign group at University, a blog you write in your spare time or a particular project you are proud of at work

Share your Perspective: At the beginning of your career journey it may be difficult to share new content, but it doesn’t stop you from sharing other peoples. If you see an article that you engage with, feel free to share it and comment with your own opinions on the subject – particularly if it’s in line with what career path you want to go down.

Activate your Profile: Engage with the LinkedIn community by reaching out to be connections with others in the industry you are interested in, as well as commenting and reacting to public posts. The more others see you active the more exposure your personal profile gets with potential employers.

Social Media:

Everyone’s parents have probably moaned at them at one time or another that employers can look at your social media when deciding whether or not to give you a job – but this is not always a bad thing!

You do not always have to make your media private or hidden, you can use having different social platforms to your advantage. Having social media public can demonstrate different aspects of your personality that an employer would not see in a job application, as well as your hobbies and interests. Plus the more professional and smart you make it look the better reflection it will have in your organisational, presentational and digital skills. All of which are valued in multiple job roles in the modern working world.

Additionally you can showcase your work/work portfolios on personal websites that you can to your social media and promote in your bios.

Requesting a Promotion:

Most graduates will work in their first job role for one-two years, over that time you may develop additional skills or develop the confidence and experience to be ready for new responsibilities. Sometimes that transition can happen in your current workplace and lots of companies encourage development in the workplace and urge employees to stay with the company.

The best way of approaching this circumstance is to have honest and open communication. Figure out what it is you are asking for, whether it is additional responsibilities, a pay rise, or a role change. Once you know this, whatever the outcome at least you know what your future within your current company will be, and what will be the best future decision for you.

Tips on Asking for a Promotion

Here are some tips to get you started with the process:

Time and skills do not automatically deserve you a promotion; instead, you need to demonstrate to your employer what you have previously done in the workplace to warrant a new change to your role

Gather this evidence and ask to have a meeting – the more personable and friendly you are the better

Within the meeting demonstrate how these changes are going to be of benefit to them as well as yourself

Explain that you can put all of this into an email – that way there is a written record and nothing you have said can be misconstrued or forgotten

Explain that they do not have to reply straight away with a solution – this could be the first meeting of many meetings, people are more likely to agree to changes once they’ve had time to process and think it through

Do not give an ultimatum; although in your head it might be that you either progress in the company or find a new job, your employer does not need to know that. It may come across as aggressive, and ultimately is not a positive way for you to move up through a company in a healthy environment. You will feel more valued with your company organically wanting you to make those next steps

Developing Role Specific Skills:

Unless you have done a very specific vocational degree the likelihood is a lot of the skills you will use in your working career will be learning on the job.

However, there is nothing to stop you from developing some of these skills through online tutorials and courses in your spare time. If you notice roles you are applying to repeatedly use terminology you are not familiar with or mention a software you have not seen before, see if there if information and tutorials online you can use so that you can confidently discuss them in interviews or the application cover letter. For example, there are plenty follow along tutorials on YouTube for software such as Wordpress and Salesforce. These details could set you apart from other graduate candidates.

LinkedIn also have features where you can take online tests to show that you are competent in certain common areas as proof to employers (such as your knowledge of Microsoft Office or Adobe Suite).