Graduates - 5 top tips when 'career hunting'.

Most of my career has been about meeting people who are seeking their first or new career option(s). Usually you enter the market keen and motivated to find the right role, unfortunately, that passion and motivation can die quickly.

When asked "why are you finding it difficult to source a role?", I am often confronted with excuses about the economy, companies not actually hiring or even comments such as "they didn't think I had the right experience". On the odd occasion there is likely to be some truth in these points, however, I would guesstimate that 75% of the time the reason people are finding it difficult to find jobs is more to do with mistakes being made somewhere in the process. Think of it this way: if you didn't have the right experience then why, following the review of your resume and usually a telephone screen, were you invited to interview?

Take a look at the stages below as to where people can go wrong from the beginning:

1. Choosing a degree. For some reason, many undergraduates and new professionals think Law Degrees are the answer to a successful career, even if they haven't the slightest understanding of the content, price, and fierce competition upon graduation.

I've met too many unemployed legal graduates who completely agree that it was a mistake to attend and pursue a law degree without the full intention and commitment to developing a career in law.

Some people are the right fit and will be great as solicitors or barristers, but most fail and without even beginning a career and fall at the first hurdle; '1 in 65 Law Graduates actually proceed to pursuing a career in law'.

Advice:

If you are unsure as to what career you wish to pursue, choose a degree you enjoy and most importantly one that will equip you with a variety of transferable skills.

2. Completing a Degree doesn't warrant you a job Most Graduates I speak to underestimate the sheer scale of competition within the job market after graduation. The general thought process "I graduated with a First, it'll be easy to find a job"- sorry to burst your bubble, but it won't!

Hiring Managers aren't simply looking for those with a strong degree. It's more about the person; hands on practical experience, examples of where you have pushed yourself, and more prominently: do you know who you are, and what your strengths are?

When selecting candidates to put forward for opportunities I tend to focus on those who created something in their free time; something of value or perhaps learnt skills outside of the classroom, i.e. someone who started a school paper, started their own business, completed an internship, or perhaps even made a tangible impact in the local community through voluntary work.

There are of course exceptions in highly technical fields i.e. medicine, technical development, engineering, drilling etc. However in these cases jobs are usually rewarded purely on skill.

Advice:

Participate in as many extracurricular activities as you can.

3. Networking One aspect of career change and job hunting that always goes a miss is networking. Britons don't do enough of it! With the digital age in which we live, networking in person hasn't become redundant (yet), however it's far from being at the top of the agenda. Think outside of the box, meet people with similar business interests and passions as you, and demonstrate ability through showcasing your works.

Advice:

Some of the best roles are secured through networking; it grants you insider information before an interview, along with an internal recommendation: the ultimate foot in the door! Get out there and network!

4. Target the search Decide whether you want a job or a career, the direction you wish to go and imagine where you want to be in 3-5 years. This will help in the selection and hunting stage. You would be surprised at the number of people I talk to that just 'apply for everything' and when asked the question "what are you looking for" the most unappealing answer is thrown back, "anything, I just want a job", this is one of the biggest mistakes. It simply addresses the lack of direction, focus and commitment!

Advice:

It's difficult to be considered by a company or recruiter if you aren't specific, you should focus and channel the search; supporting it with experience, passions, and related skills.

5. Tailoring the CV and Digital Profiles As much as a CV should be a representation of you, your education and experience to date, there will be times that all the experience you have cannot fit within a 2 page resume. This, coupled with the copious amounts of digital data and profiles available on the internet, should lead you to be selective as to the specific resume you produce and where/ how they are sent. Tailor the specific skills to the role in which you are applying, go into more detail around the areas in which seem to be desired based on the job spec and ensure the personal overview/ profile or covering letter is targeted!

Tips on Digital Data and Social Networks.

• Facebook - This should be kept personal, however locked so 'public' snooping isn't possible. You would be mortified at the number of corporate businesses that would decline to call someone based on a s

napshot at a festival or inappropriate behaviour in public...

• Twitter - Usually full of personal opinions, like Facebook keep it clean, delete it or lock it from public viewing.

• LinkedIn - Use this as the fullest version of your resume. Details of projects, voluntary work, business interactions, extracurricular activities and most importantly build out recommendations and connections. Every time you have the opportunity to speak with someone, interview or network, let them know you will be adding them on LinkedIn.

Advice:

Social networking is what it says on the tin: 'social', with that said, companies will take the opportunity to snoop on the basis of needing to assess cultural fit and personal interests. Unless you are nicknamed Perfect Peter, there will be things on the internet which perhaps an employer shouldn't be privy to. For that reason you must ensure your social networking is locked and private or, to avoid doubt, deleted it altogether.