Five pitfalls for graduate jobseekers to avoid

Five pitfalls for graduate jobseekers to avoid by Michael Cheary For many new graduates entering the job market, finding their first professional role will seem like an almost impossible mountain to climb.And after years of hard work and dedication (not to mention the odd mid-morning start and a healthy dose of daytime television), it’s unlikely that finding the perfect role will be an immediate priority.But if you are ready to start making applications right away, there may be some simple mistakes you can easily address to help you perfect your technique.With that in mind, here are our top five pitfalls for graduate jobseekers to avoid:  1.           ApathyAfter years of intense study (ok, a few weeks at the end, at least), the last thing many graduates feel like doing is to start applying for jobs straight away. And whilst there’s nothing wrong with taking a break and making the most of your summer, it’s wise to try and avoid losing momentum.Sometimes the hardest part of looking for a job is getting started. That doesn’t mean sitting down the day after graduation and frantically applying for every available opportunity, but instead, spend an hour or two a day working on your CV and cover letters to keep your job search on track.And who knows? You might actually be a morning person.  2.           Falling into a careerFor the majority of your time as a student, it may have been a struggle to keep your bank balance out of the red. And, with a degree under your belt, why wouldn’t you get straight out there and start earning some cash?Getting a job to pay the bills is fine. The issue for many, however, is that it can be all too easy to become comfortable with what you have only to find that you never really move on.To combat this try setting yourself a deadline, after which you agree to dedicate yourself to the career you want, rather than continuing with your stop-gap position. That way you can not only plan for the move financially, but also avoid making more compromises than you’re comfo rtable with.  3.           Underestimating yourself For most graduates, the painstaking hours of time and effort spent studying provides something of an entitlement to have certain career expectations. But it’s up to you to justify to employers why you feel that this is the case.In direct terms, particular course modules you’ve undertaken may be relevant to a role or scheme you’re applying for and should be used to demonstrate your wider knowledge of the subject. More indirectly, transferable skills you’ve picked up during your time at university (such as time-management, project-management, leadership and the ability to meet deadlines) will almost always be desirable.Including references to a few of the more specific pieces of work you’ve done in your cover letter and using them to outline what makes you the ideal candidate will always win favour with recruiters.Whether you’ve gained your university skill set through studies or societies, most students graduate with a w ide range of experience and a surprising amount of knowledge. Using this to turn yourself into an ambitious and well-rounded prospect for employers, however, requires preparation and confidence.How to write a CV  4.           Unwillingness to start at the bottomAlthough underestimating yourself is an undoubted pitfall, overestimating yourself can be just as damaging. For example, your expectations for what you should be paid for the position in which you should start may be set too high, causing you to miss out on what might be the ideal opportunity.Remember, your career is not a sprint finish. It’s all about starting in the right place, with the right people and within the right industry, while using your talent and connections to help you progress to the next level. It may well involve interning, paid or unpaid volunteering, work experience, or even studying for extra qualifications to take you to the next level. But in a few years’ time, your hard work and dedication will be well worth it.Always try and think about pro-active ways in which you can enhance your CV. And, if there are alternative routes to your chosen position, always keep an open mind and be willing to take them.Don’t miss out on the perfect position just because you’ll only settle for a ready-made career.  5.           Not enough focus When you’ve been studying a particularly broad subject or one which doesn’t seem to lend itself to a career as well as you’d hoped, it can be tempting to apply for any job you may feel qualified for (or even just any job with the word ‘Graduate’ in the title). Unfortunately, though, a broad search seldom results in a good match and a well-tailored application.To increase your chances of success, try and make your application as specific to the role as possible. Write down some specific job titles (no more than two or three) and initially apply for only those positions. That way you can not only demonstrate your passion for the position, but also exhibit the vital knowledge that could prove to be the difference come decision time.Remember, answering a question about your motives for applying for a position with ‘Because I really need the money’ is unlikely to impress.How to decide what job to look forFind a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the Graduate advice Graduate CV Interview Advice

Writing Skills For Your Resume

Writing Skills For Your ResumeOne of the most vital skills you can have as a resume writer is your writing skills. Your resume is your first impression of yourself on a resume and should be crafted to capture the attention of employers.Your resume should reflect who you are as a person. It is a professional statement and should present you as an expert in your chosen field. There are a few tips that will help you write a good resume, as well as improve your speaking and writing skills.The first tip that you should follow for both your resume and speaking and writing skills is organization. Write your resume by breaking it down into sections. You should also set up your categories so that your resume will not be all mixed up in one large pile of paper.You should write your resume by breaking it down into sections. By section, I mean something like columns, and it's up to you which way you go. To maximize your speaking and writing skills, be sure that you group all your related informa tion together. You want to make sure that your resume will only take a few minutes to read.By setting up your categories of information for your resume, your speaking and writing skills are also improved. When you write down your sections, you can easily find what you need to go into the specific section. This is especially helpful when you need to check something, but you cannot remember the specific piece of information that you need to check.You should organize your resume and create a structure for your writing. This will help you organize all of your work. Once you have organized your writing and organizing your resume, you can move on to the next tip.Speaking and writing skills are also built on your resume. This is why you need to organize your resume as well. You need to be able to clearly see what you are looking for in a job, and then write down the necessary sections. Your resume is your first impression of yourself on a resume and should be crafted to capture the attenti on of employers.Your resume is your first impression of yourself on a resume and should be crafted to capture the attention of employers. It's important that you follow these tips for writing and speaking skills.

You are a Company, Even as a Job Seeker - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

You are a Company, Even as a Job Seeker - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Here you are, trying to get a job. You knock on a door of yet another company you are interested in. You hope they open that door. You hope you are good enough for them to invite you in. You hope they pick you from the crowd that gathered around this opportunity. The process is often frustrating, discouraging, maybe even humiliating. If you really want to stand out in the crowd, you have to think of yourself as a company. You are your company! I’m not talking about getting a business license and becoming an entrepreneur. No matter who gives you a paycheck, you are ultimately running your own company â€" YOU. This is how you can operate as a company when looking for a job: Know what you can and want to do. First, look at the future you’d like to create for yourself â€" in what ways do you want to grow your brand? Then look at the present â€" what can you offer now that can be valued in places where you can gain the desired skills and knowledge? And only then look at your past â€" how can you position your experience (resume, LinkedIn) to prove this value? Explore the possibilities of collaboration. “Hey, I’m into X, you are into Y, let’s see what we can do together.” It’s about creating a mutual benefit. What can you do together that allows both companies to grow? Don’t wait for someone else to create an opening that matches your skills. Be proactive. Connect to people who are related to areas that interest you. Get curious about the possibilities that would get you both excited. Enough of job searching; let’s do some job creating! Learn as you go and adjust. Reflect after each interaction What did you learn about the needs out there? What did you learn about the value of your past experiences? Maybe you need to highlight different skills to be seen as valuable. Maybe you can explore areas you didn’t know about before. How can you tweak your plan? By the way, you may see your company as kind of small and fragile in comparison to that company you’d love to work with. Well, I would argue that your company is way stronger than theirs. If all the people leave that other company to do something else, there would be no company. But you will never quit your company. You will never fire yourself. Your company will always be there, you can count on it! Author: Henrieta Riesco is a founder of  Intentional Career. As a  Career Coach, she  collaborates with students and business professionals on creating a fulfilling career.  Her brand-building journey took her from being a teacher and a corporate trainer in Slovakia to the US where she spent 10+ years working at Microsoft as a customer advocate and a training consultant. You can follow Henrieta via  Twitter, or  Facebook.

10 Personal Brand Statement Examples to Inspire You - Career Sidekick

10 Personal Brand Statement Examples to Inspire You - Career Sidekick 10 Personal Brand Statement Examples to Inspire You Networking / https://www.edenscott.com/blog Today’s job market and business markets are more competitive than ever. In order to succeed, you’ll need to set yourself apart with a good personal branding strategy.And one of the first things you need to do when creating your personal brand isestablish a powerful personal branding statement. This short statement will be the foundation of all of your branding efforts moving forward, so it’s important to get it right.In this article, well look at tips for creating a unique personal branding statement, and 10 of the best personal brand statement examples to inspire you.Lets get startedWhat is a Personal Brand Statement?A personal brand statement is a one or two-sentence phrase that accurately sums up what you do and what you stand for. It’s essentially your unique selling proposition, the thing you do better than any of your competitors. Think of it as your slogan. The best personal branding statements are catchy, memorable, and attention-grabbi ng.Its worth creating a personal branding statement whether youre a job seeker, freelancer, or entrepreneur. Anyone looking to network and stand out can benefit from having a great personal brand statement.Coming up with the perfect statement is tricky, thoughIt needs to be short while also conveying the value you provide to employers, clients, or customers. It should also have a certain level of intrigue that makes people want to learn more about you.Your personal brand statement is the first thing people will associate with you, so take your time and come up with something you’re completely happy with.So just what should a personal brand statement look like? It really depends on you and your personality, but below are some sample personal brand statements to consider.Let’s say you’re a digital marketer. Your personal branding statement could be:I develop powerful digital marketing strategies that help businesses find new customers.Or if you’re a real estate agent you could say something like:I can help you find your dream home for the price you want.An effective personal brand statement is short and to the point, so choose your words carefully. Utilize words that evoke emotion and hone in on the one benefit you provide that people will be most interested in.Dont worry if youre still not sure how to go about creating your personal branding statement. In the next section, were going to look at the best personal branding statement examples from around the web.Creating a Personal Branding Statement: 10 Best ExamplesIt can be difficult to imagine what the ideal statement should look like on your own, so we’ve assembled some best personal brand statement examples from multiple categories. These personal branding statements have absolutely nailed it and are compelling, engaging, and extremely effective.Use the personal branding statement examples below for inspiration when coming up with your own.1. I help thought leaders write great books in just 90 days . 300 satisfied clients so far. Mindy Gibbins-KleinThis personal brand statement follows a classic formula: I help ___ do ___.The first blank is your ideal type of customer or employer.Then, the second blank is the result you help them achieve. This can be their desired result/outcome of working with you, the main problem they need solved, etc.We consider this basic I help ___ do ___ formula as the go-to option for most job seekers, freelancers, consultants and coaches.This person then added a unique touch to their personal brand statement by including some social proof, where they said, 300 satisfied clients so far.Mentioning that youve helped many clients/companies succeed in the past is a great way of showing youll be able to help the next customer, too.This next personal branding statement example uses the same general formula, so dont worry if you dont quite get it yet.Here it is:2. I help manufacturing organizations improve their processes to reduce waste and grow profits. Ken t BlumbergWhile this might appear a bit different than the first personal branding statement example we looked at, its also based on the, I help ___ do ___ format.(You could re-organize this to follow that formula word-for-word and say: I help manufacturing organizations energize, focus and align their operations.)This personal branding statement does a great job of being specific in terms of the target customer, and result theyll get by working with this person.If youre going to use this layout/formula for creating your own personal branding statement, you want to be narrow and focused, just like this example is.So what type of employer or client can you help most? Large corporations? Growth-stage companies? E-commerce companies? Thats the type of phrase you want to use. In the example above, the target client is manufacturing organizations.Then, the outcome/result of working with this person is also crystal-clear in this example: faster processing, less waste, and more profits.Now lets move on to some personal brand statement examples that get a bit more creative3. Let’s build job free income. Nick LoperWouldn’t you like to have an income without having a job? Of course you would. That’s why Nick Loper’s personal branding statement is so effective.Nick’s blog Side Hustle Nation discusses all the different ways entrepreneurs can build their own business and eventually escape the corporate grind. By using a term like “job-free income” he really zeroes in on exactly what his audience is looking to achieve, allowing him to immediately get their attention.We love using the word Lets because it shows that youll be partnering and working toward a common goal. At the time of writing this article, our own headline on our homepage uses this idea and says, Lets find your dream job.4. Do you want more traffic? Neil PatelOk, so this is more of a question than a statement. But every business and website wants more traffic, and Neil Patel has the knowledge an d know-how to make it happen.Neil is one of the world’s leading online marketers who is world-renowned for his SEO and traffic creation prowess. His personal branding statement is extremely simple, but it works because he has the reputation to back up his claim that he can, in fact, get you more traffic. Using a question is also a way to spark intrigue and curiosity.There are no rules youmust follow when creating a personal branding statement. Its okay to think outside the box and ask a question or do something differently than the competition.5. Move well, eat well, think well. Adam CobbThis personal brand statement is another example of how you don’t always have to be overly sophisticated or clever. Sometimes simple is best.Adam Cobb is a fitness and nutrition coach who aims to help improve lives through exercise, healthy eating, and spiritual awareness. So, his personal branding statement perfectly sums up exactly what he’s all about and how he can help you. If you can conc isely describe exactly what you can do for people you’re sure to come up with a powerful personal branding statement.Note that you could also adapt this to fit the go-to formula we looked at earlier: I help ___ do ___.Heres how itd look: I help people move well, eat well, and think well.Or you could even make it better-targeted and more narrow (as mentioned, its good to be specific/precise about who you can help). Heres an example of how this personal brand statement could be narrowed further: I help busy professionals move well, eat well, and think well.6. Helping you build a big brand with your small business. Kate ToonDo you have a niche are a particular clientele that you service? Consider working that into your personal branding statement, like Kate Toon has done here.Kate is a copywriter who specializes in helping small businesses reach a wider audience. She could have focused on her expert copywriting skills or her knowledge of SEO (search engine optimization). Instead, she speaks right to her target audience and tells them exactly how she can help them. Remember, it’s not always about what you can do, but also who you can do it for.7. Achieve social media mastery. Mari SmithDo you want to be great at something? Or do you want to be a master? Sometimes, it’s all about finding the right words in order to really make an impact.Mari Smith rose to prominence as one of the leading authorities on social media marketing. She now provides expert training and consulting services to some of the world’s leading businesses. Mari could have promised to help people become a social media expert, professional, or whiz. But by saying she’ll help you achieve mastery of the subject she really sets herself apart from her peers.8. Create less content. (It’ll be fine! I promise!) Brittany BergerSometimes by subverting expectations, you can really grab people’s attention. This personal brand statement is an excellent example of that.Brittany Berger is a leading content marketer that uses a slightly different angle to get clients. She promotes actually creating less content, and instead focuses more on effectively using content to gain traffic. Wouldn’t you love to get better results with less effort? That’s exactly what Brittany promises. Adding It’ll be fine! I promise! also infuses a bit of personality into her statement, which helps improve its effectiveness.9. It’s time to unleash your epicness. Felicia HatcherThese days people want everything to be epic. So why can’t you be epic too?Felicia Hatcher’s motivation speeches are legendary. As a former C student who secured $130,000 in free money for college, she helps show people how anyone can find success.Her personal brand statement is another great example of how choosing your words carefully can make a huge difference in its effectiveness. Epicness may not be a real word, but it tells you right away that Felicia is going to teach you things that no one else will, and proba bly have high-energy and enthusiasm for what she does.10. Be a unicorn in a sea of donkeys. Larry KimIf you’re ever unsure about what approach you should take with your statement, go for something completely unique and different to set yourself apart.Larry Kim is a search marketing expert, and the founder of Wordstream and Mobile Monkey. His personal brand statement, Be a unicorn in a sea of donkeys, is completely different than anything used by his peers, and yet it perfectly conveys his message. Don’t follow the masses. Be different. Be special. This personal brand statement example is wildly creative and yet perfectly understandable.Now It’s Your TurnYouve seen 10 of the best personal brand statement examples from real people and businesses. Now it’s your turn to create one for yourself. Consider your personality, what’s important to you, and the value you can offer and come up with something that’s uniquely you.

Learning How to Put Writing Skills on Resume

Learning How to Put Writing Skills on ResumeIf you are looking for ways to make your resume stand out from the crowd, knowing how to put writing skills on resume is one of the most important things that you need to know. It is not easy to find the right writing skills and style in resume but with proper guidance and practice, you can achieve the best results. So, what should you do? How to put writing skills on resume?Before deciding how to put writing skills on resume, it is better to first learn the basics of the resume. You have to read the job description carefully and know exactly what skills you need to highlight or showcase. Knowing the specific kind of writing skills that the company requires will help you put writing skills on resume effectively.There are many companies that offer writing classes and writers who can help you out in learning how to put writing skills on resume. If you want to know how to put writing skills on resume, you need to know the basic format of a res ume. Many people may have little idea about resume but if you want to know how to put writing skills on resume, you must know the basic format. Formatting a resume is not a hard thing to do.First, you have to prepare your written information such as your name, address, contact number, email address, company profile, academic details, date of birth, etc. This is the basic format of a resume. To further improve your resume, you can add other content which can be added to your resume.While learning how to put writing skills on resume, you must also know the main thing that can help you enhance your resume. In this case, it is through writing skills. In order to make a great resume, you have to be able to write well and with perfect grammar. People may not notice the spelling mistakes on your resume but they can notice the fact that you do not know how to write well.Learning how to put writing skills on resume does not stop there. In order to know more about the formats of resume, you c an join online writing courses where you can learn different skills and formats of resume. They will teach you how to edit and format your resume and also how to communicate with others who are applying for the same job that you are applying for.When you want to know how to put writing skills on resume, there are few basic things that you need to keep in mind. Firstly, try to use correct grammar and punctuation. As you can see, these two are very important things when it comes to having a good resume.With the above mentioned tips on how to put writing skills on resume, you can confidently come up with a great resume. You should never stop learning and improving yourself.

A Guide to Getting a Part-Time Student Job - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

A Guide to Getting a Part-Time Student Job A part-time job is a great side activity for when you are studying. Although it may be tricky managing your time, there are plenty of benefits too! The experience on your CV will boost your future graduate applications, and the extra cash will definitely be worth it. Know What You Can Cope With     This is the most important thing to consider when thinking about getting a part-time job while at university. Although having some extra money in your pocket will make your life a bit easier, you must prioritise your degree Try and find a position that balances out your social life too there’s no point in having all that money if youve got no time to spend it! One good thing to do is try and get your timetable in advance; this is so you can see the hours you can work beforehand. So see if you can get a job that fits around your university lifestyle. How to Find a Student Job After working out what job you are looking for, there are plenty of ways to start your job search. Job portals allow you to search through all the best jobs in one place so you can find the right job for you. Check out local opportunities within your local student high street too; you never know what you might find on shop notice boards or pub windows. The Best Student Jobs What are the best jobs for students now? What about a job on campus, or a 10-hour week retail position? Finding a job that doesn’t expect you to cover everyones shifts last minute and to commute 2 hours is also something to watch out for.   These are a few of our recommendations: Tutoring   Tutoring is an option for anyone who has an interest in a subject and likes working with others. It is fully flexible as you can choose when and where you work, even from the comfort of your own home.   Campus Opportunities If you are at university, it is worth checking out the roles on campus. From bar staff or subject ambassador to being part of the university support team, there are plenty of options. The best bit is that you could work straight after lectures meaning you can make the most of your time. Get ahead of other students by applying before freshers week too! Event staff Are you not sure whether you will have enough time for a job? Joining an event team means you decide your working hours as you pick and choose the events to work at. The events will usually be local to your city or town, but depending on the company, they may be slightly further away. With this said travel costs are usually covered, making it the ideal part-time student position! The Application Process One of the most important points when applying to any job is to make sure you tailor your CV. If it is obvious that you have sent your CV to many employers, then they may not take a second glance over it, so make sure that isn’t yours! Also, double-check for spelling and grammar mistakes by asking a friend to proofread it before you send it off.   To help you in the application process, it is advised to clean up your social media presence. This doesn’t mean you have to purge all your social media accounts of all your posts and photos. Just make all your accounts private, so only your friends can see what you’re getting up to. Also, be sure to create a LinkedIn account! If you are called up for an interview, then congratulations. Make sure to look over your CV and the job to know exactly what you applied for! A top tip is to think of some questions to ask about beforehand. This means you are not stuck on the spot when asked questions, and it shows that you are passionate about the role! There are also other things to keep in mind such as what to wear and try to arrive earlier so that even with delays you are on time.   If you don’t hear back from a company within a suitable time frame, then you can always contact to see if they have any news. But, remember that rejection is something that everyone experiences, so don’t get disheartened, there are plenty of other suitable student jobs out there!   So, if you’re thinking about getting a job during your time at university, go for it! But be sure to act fast, many others will have the same idea good luck! Written by Rebecca Hart, an Online Marketer at StudentJob UK. If you are looking for a job but not sure where to start, then check out StudentJob. Our application tips will help you create an effective CV, cover letter and help you smash interviews!

7 Things You Must Know About Getting Referred for a Job

7 Things You Must Know About Getting Referred for a Job There is one thing you can do that increases your chances of being hired: get referred. Referred candidates are more likely to get hired, perform better and last longer in jobs. This is why companies, large and small, are investing in employee referral programs (ERPs). It makes good business sense for them and for you. Here are seven things you need to know about getting referred for job, based on a recent survey commissioned by iCIMS, a provider of talent acquisition solutions (you can see the full report here): 1. Referred Candidates Get Hired When an employee refers someone, that candidate is hired about two-thirds of the time. STRATEGY: Plain and simple: Its easier to get a job with a referral. Use your in-person network, LinkedIn, Twitter and even Facebook to identify the names of people you already know. Keep in mind, it doesnt matter what role your contact is in. What matters is that you let them know the types of roles you are interested in and that you stay on his or her radar, just in case something comes up. A key reminder: it is always best to reach out to people before a job is posted. Learn how to Find Contacts Within Your Target Companies 2. Referrals are the Most Important Job Search Resource 76% of job seekers ranked employee referrals as being of high to extremely high importance. Employee referrals ranked higher than company career sites, job boards and even LinkedIn. You may not believe all the experts who proclaim the power of networking, but you cant dismiss the advice when job seekers report how important referrals are as a resource. STRATEGY: Invest more time and effort networking. Use a personal marketing plan and target list to stay focused. Learn more about   Creating Your Personal Marketing Plan Source: iCIMS The Impact of Successful Employee Referral Programs 3. Employees Do Refer Candidates If you are skeptical, dont be. Employees embrace the concept of referring candidates. Heres the proof: 60%  of employees have referred at least one person to an open position within the company, and 38% of employees have referred multiple candidates for open jobs. STRATEGY:   Ask an employee to refer you. By nature, people want to help, and it doesnt take much effort for an employee to refer you for a job. Learn   How To Get Referred For A Job 4. Candidates Should Start at the Top The more senior the person referring you, the better your chances of getting hired. In fact, almost all candidates (91%) referred by a director level or above were hired, versus 53% of hired referrals from an entry-level candidate. STRATEGY: If you do know top-level executives, reach out to them first. However, dont hesitate to reach out to anyone you know inside the company, because being referred by any level employee increases your chances. 5. Referral Incentives Exist While 63% of employers currently follow a documented employee referral process, the remaining companies accept referrals in a less formal way. Either formally or informally, companies realize that referrals make great employees and cost less to hire. STRATEGY: When asking an employee to refer you, youre actually helping your contact reap rewards. 6. Referred Employees Love Their Jobs You dont just want a paycheck â€" you want a job you will enjoy. 65%  of referred employees were very satisfied with job fit or their ability to fulfill the requirements of the position, and 50% were very satisfied with how well they fit within the company. STRATEGY: Leverage the power of past colleagues to help you identify a company and job where you are more likely to be happy. 7. Company Size Makes a Difference If a company has more employees, it may make it easier to find someone inside the company to refer you. For example, larger companies might put more resources toward hiring referrals. Small companies (99 or fewer employees) fill  14% of jobs through referrals Medium companies (100 to 999 employees) fill  24% of jobs through referrals Large companies (1,000 or more employees) fill 27%  of jobs through referrals. STRATEGY: No matter the size of the company, hiring happens through referrals. While it may be more difficult to find someone within a smaller company, but dont give up. Source: iCIMS The Impact of Successful Employee Referral Programs Bottom line: The best way to get your resume to the top of the stack is by getting referred. The tools exist today to identify people who work inside companies you are interested in. Social media sites like LinkedIn make it easier to keep track of past colleagues. Plus, companies value the quality of employees who come from referrals. Isnt it time you paid more attention to this job search resource? This post originally appeared on US News World Report