Take a look at seven ways to improve your chances of landing a job straight out of university, or even before you have graduated, all while you study.
Land a job while you are still studying
The career world can be a tough place. Thinking of ways to get ahead early on can help to improve your chances of landing a job straight out of university.
Discover seven ways you can develop your employability during your time at university in order to prepare you for post graduation.
#1 Work experience
Try to gain industry relevant experience while at university to help you demonstrate your capabilities to potential employers.
Some courses offer sandwich years – if you haven’t already opted to do one, speak to a placement manager at your university about potentially changing your course. If you’d prefer to gain work experience as you study, look for internships or voluntary work. Start searching for these at the start of the year in order to find the best placements before others do.
#2 Look at different roles and the skills you need
Research the career options available to you in order to determine the type of role you would like to pursue after graduation. Then, look at related job advertisements to find the skills and qualifications typically required.
By examining your job prospects while at university, you can start to build up a bank of relevant skills and qualifications, helping to push you one step ahead of other candidates.
#3 Improve your employability
Take the time to develop the specific skills future employers want. However, don’t restrict yourself to improving these alone. Also, consider the qualities that the majority of employers look for.
For example, many employers want employees who can work as part of a team, so being able to work harmoniously with others is a quality you should look to develop. University also gives you the time and resources to hone your problem solving, time management, IT and creativity skills.
#4 Networking
It can be a little daunting at first, but attend as many networking events as possible. They can provide you with insight into the industries you are interested in and also help you to build your contacts list ready for when you start applying for jobs.
#5 Graduate schemes
Graduate schemes help to introduce former students to the world of work. While they usually last between a year and 18 months, some take as long as three years, with a great starting salary.
Companies tend to start taking applications from the start of September, so start your research a couple of months before. When applying for placements, make sure that you have a thorough understanding of the company, their values and what they want from you.
Try to remain patient throughout the process, as some applications can last around two or three months. Similarly, don’t worry if you aren’t offered a job from your first application; some students try for 10 to 15 positions before being offered one.
#6 Assess your online profiles
Rifle through your online profiles and delete any photos or posts that future employers could be unforgiving about. Also, set up a LinkedIn profile if you don’t already have one in place. This is another way of introducing yourself to those in the industry, maybe even future employers.
#7 Prove your interest
Keep up to date with current affairs in your chosen industry by following relevant influencers on Twitter and LinkedIn.
You may also want to think about starting your own blog, where you can post your views and opinions on relevant topics. Building up a bank of content that showcases your interest and passion in the industry can be a great conversation starter in interviews, so make sure you start early on at university.
Author Bio
Rachel Campbell is a content writer for Portfolio Credit Control, a recruitment agency that specialises in finding candidates for jobs in credit control, including credit management and legal credit control.
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