Almost every university graduate faces the same issues when searching for a first job: How do you demonstrate you possess the necessary qualifications for a job when you haven't had a "real job" before?
With more and more people returning from overseas with both foreign
degrees AND work experience, coming into an interview and announcing you
are a fresh inexperienced graduate is no longer acceptable. In fact,
stating you have no real skills and training in this age of more people
than jobs is no longer acceptable or pleasing to most employees. As
unfair as this sounds, it is our present reality. However like
everything else in life there is a way round this situation and here's
how you do it:
· Drop
the ridiculous email address: having the email address
hashtagbeautifulbabe@yahoo.com might work in uni or high school but not
in the job market. If you have to, open a new email address and keep it
simple. For example my first out of school email address was enkoyo@yahoo.com (combination of my first name and first letter of my surname) it looked professional then and it still looks professional now.
· Drop
the objective statement: Most objective statements ("Go-getter seeking
sales position") say more about what a job seeker hopes for in a job
than why that person would be a good fit for the position. So ditch the
objective statement and create a summary section instead. It's a brief
rundown of your skills and qualifications, targeted to the company and
opening. For example: "Economics graduate with experience gained through
internship with a reputable PR firm. Advanced knowledge of Microsoft
Office applications, including expertise in Excel."
· Create
a combination CV: Instead of submitting a traditional chronological CV,
consider a combination CV. This format allows you to place more focus
on your professional skills by grouping them near the top of your
document. You might, for example, have a section titled "Computer
Skills" or one called "Supervisory Experience." Don't limit yourself to
abilities you've honed through full- or part-time jobs. Skills you've
gained through internships, volunteer work, or even clubs or social
committees can be just as relevant.
· Focus
on transferable skills: Think the years you spent waiting tables,
helping in your mother’s company, working in your dad’s firm, or
volunteering in an uncle’s ICT firm won't help you land a job? Think
again. This experience may have prepared you for your career better than
you realize. If you supervised some other staff members, for example,
you have managerial experience to add to your CV. You could also
highlight your strong customer service and communication skills. Almost
every employer values these abilities. #freetip: provided you are not
losing money, take advantage of each and every volunteer and paid work
experiences that come your way. HR and Management are always on the
lookout for value adders not value reducers. A fresh graduate with
relevant skills will almost always get a job over someone with more
years of “irrelevant” work experience.
· Include
keywords: You can increase your chances of getting an interview if you
look at the job listing and use words or phrases from it in your own CV.
Use these keywords to describe skills you possess -- as long as they
are accurate, of course.
· Create
a LinkedIn profile: creating a profile on LinkedIn or a similar
professional networking site may help in your search for employment.
Many hiring managers and recruiters search sites such as LinkedIn to
find job candidates -- and the trend is growing.
Take
the time to create a quality document that shines a light on your most
marketable skills and experience, and you'll give yourself the best shot
at landing an interview and, ultimately, your dream job.