It’s almost the end of 2015 and thousands of final year students will be graduating from college or University soon. Are you preparing for your first job? The thought of finally putting away the books can be exciting but it’s a good time to start preparing yourself for the working world and the chance to shine above other job candidates.Start getting your CV together and put some effort into it. It’s a good idea to make sure that your CV is suited to the position that you are applying for. Don’t over complicate your CV with pages of trivial information, unclear sections and busy fonts. Rather keep it short and clear to follow. Roughly 2 to 3 pages should appropriate. Most recruitment agencies or potential employers prefer to be able to quickly peruse through your CV in order to identify main points. Another must is to ensure your CV is free from bad grammar or spelling errors.
If you do have any previous employment history, start with your most recent position. Don’t forget to include any achievements or responsibilities. If you have had a part-time or a holiday job this can help to indicate discipline and/or added experience.
Research the position you would like to have or the industry you would like to become a part of. Connect and network with people you know. They may be able to keep an eye out for any possible permanent or temporary job openings. You may even have the opportunity to be referred by someone you know.
If you are fortunate to attend a learning institution that has career advisors or even a career centre for students, use the opportunity to develop your workplace skills and industry knowledge. These centres will often be able to guide you in interview techniques, creating a professional CV, communication skills, time-management and in some cases offer job placement support.
To all those students preparing for your final examinations, Affirmative Portfolios wishes you the best of luck!
