You’re fresh out of university with your fancy business degree in hand. However, you keep finding yourself rejected from even entry-level roles and can’t seem to get your foot in the door. This is a common problem facing pretty much all graduates. However, you’ve already gotten further than most by graduating – so don’t feel disheartened. Instead, consider the tips provided by graduate training provider Impact International and get yourself on the road to landing your dream job.
- Build an online CV/Blog
Most businesses value ingenuity and innovation. If you’re submitting a standard paper CV, why not include a website with information about yourself. A simple BlogSpot or WordPress blog will do the trick – but try to buy your own domain to make it sound more official. This shows an employer that you’re web-savvy and have a can-do attitude.
- Ensure you list any relevant work experience/internships
If you’ve worked in any business while you studied, it’s worth noting it down on your CV. It’s also important to stress what skills and knowledge the job gave you and how these skills can benefit your employer in a proper graduate role.
- Clean up your social media
If your Facebook profile picture is of you on a night out on the town, you need to do some serious work on your social presence. Delete any incriminating tweets and Facebook posts, hide anything you don’t want an employer to see under the privacy settings. If it’s too incriminating, consider asking Google to remove you from search results. While you shouldn’t be judged on your social activities – an employer is likely to look you up before inviting you to interview.
- Diversify your skillset
Because ‘Business’ is such a varied topic, the more you can bring to a prospective employer, the better. Learning to code, discovering a basic knowledge of SEO or learning marketing techniques will all add to your value. You can demonstrate your knowledge of said skills without a certificate by showing them off on your blog (remember point 1?)
- Consider postgraduate study
A master’s degree or other post-grad qualification puts you ahead of other graduates. It also puts you in more debt, so deciding whether to follow this route can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, you’ll be more appealing than graduates, but on the other, they may beat you with work experience. Use a master’s degree to help specialise your skills – for business graduates consider a marketing or IT-related post-grad.
Of course, as a business graduate you can always just try and launch your own company. This method avoids employment all together and sees you start on the path of start-ups and enterprise. However, unless you’re a wunderkind or a tech-whizz, gaining experience at another role is generally helpful for anyone wanting to run their own company.
Whatever route you take, just remember that a degree in itself does not necessarily put you ahead. Instead, focus on developing skills that will make you unmissable to employers. Impress them, wow them and show them why you deserve the role.