How to get your dream graduate job

Graduating from uni is a major achievement and one that deserves to be celebrated. Amidst the celebrations, however, you’ll be thinking about what to do next and how to secure your dream graduate job.

With these top tips, you can prepare for the competitive market of graduate jobseekers, identify your goals and take the next step towards your future:

Start preparing early

Ideally, you’ll start thinking about what your dream job looks like well before graduation looms. However, if you’re still not sure what you want from a career, there’s no need to panic. Many people don’t settle on their chosen career straight away, so it may take time to decide what’s right for you.

However, you can begin preparing by learning more about what roles in relevant industries really entail. Once you know what the day-to-day working life of an engineer, lawyer, doctor, software analyst or developer involves, for example, you’ll be better placed to decide what career you want.

Apply for an internship

An internship is a great way to gain experience in your chosen industry and learn more about working with a particular sector. Some internships give you the chance to experience various roles or departments, whereas others are more focused on a specific role or niche. As well as getting practical experience, internships are also a great way to make contacts in your industry, and they can help you to broaden your professional network.

With so many benefits associated with internships, popular schemes are always oversubscribed, but you can prepare an impressive internship application with guidance from Developing a Student. As a leading resource for students, graduates and postgrads, you can find everything you need to know about internships, graduate jobs and career entry on their website.

Get relevant experience

Internships are an effective way to gain experience, but they’re not the only way to develop your skills. Use your network to reach out to people and find out whether there are any entry-level positions or work experience schemes available. By getting a foot in the door and gaining experience from the ground up, you can highlight your commitment to working in the industry and gain real-life, practical experience of how the sector operates. While you might not walk into your dream role straight away, it will certainly stand you in good stead for the future.

Prepare for graduate training schemes

Many companies hire numerous graduates at once and offer dedicated training schemes. This means they have one or two intakes a year, with strict deadlines for applications. You won’t want to miss out on your chance to land your dream job, so keep on top of when the deadlines are and be sure to get your application in early.

Discover your dream job

If you’re not sure what you want to do, don’t simply apply for graduate roles because everyone else is. Take the time to explore the various roles within industries that are relevant to your degree and find something you’re passionate about. When you do, your commitment will shine through at interviews and you’ll be far more likely to secure a role you’re enthusiastic about.

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