Ten Tips for Effective Job Hunting

The long years of studying are finally over. You now find yourself a step closer to living the life you had dreamed of for yourself. But first, you must land that graduate job that you have been eyeing to have for a very long time now. So, you gather all the resources available for any possible job listings to get you your first ever graduate job. If you live in Europe, lucky for you, there is an abundance of UK graduate jobs that you can apply for. The even better news is that there are plenty of these job opportunities that are available for the fresh graduates.

Graduate accounting jobs, graduate finance jobs, graduate jobs in sales, whatever you are looking for, you will most likely find it in the UK. You must cover all the bases when you are in the middle of a job hunt. While you focus on the aspect of seeking employment by sending out your resumes, you must remain appropriate and professional. Below are ten pointers to keep your job hunt on the right track.

1. Find out the job you want. – The first thing you should do is to ask yourself what it is that you really want to do. Take the time to review your career plans or get advice from family and friends. Lay down all your options on the table. It is important to think the types of job or career that you are seeking through as that will help you identify your prospective employers and target your applications or compose your resumes that will clearly showcase what it is that you have to offer.
2. Know where to look. – The traditional way of looking for job postings on the Sunday newspaper still helps as it is the day of the week when plenty of UK graduate job openings are posted. Or, you can make use of information technology and browse through the pages of the many job search websites available today. Another option is to directly visit the website of the companies you wish to apply for and click on their employment opportunities section for any openings that you qualify for.
3. Writing your resume and cover letter. – Cover letters are optional, but taking the time to create them sends a very good impression to employers. The resume is a very dynamic piece of paper. It is where to put into writing your qualifications, talents and skills. A good resume is critical to landing the job, but at the same time, resumes only serve as a request to be met and interviewed. Go ahead and highlight the important things that employers should know about you, but be sure to keep it short and concise.
4. Interview. – It is not enough to be on time. As a matter of fact, being at the company's office for your interview between five and ten minutes earlier than your schedule will do you good. This gestures gives the company a preview of your work attitude and punctuality.
5. Follow up. – Many people think that making a phone call to the office that interviewed them days, weeks or even months ago is inappropriate. Some even assume that the company has already hired another applicant. Do not be afraid to make a follow up on your application, but, as mentioned above, be sure to keep it professional. This is a great way to be remembered.
6. Attend job fairs. – Job fairs held at colleges and universities offer a lot of UK graduate jobs even for those who have zero work experience. Submit your resume to every company’s booths that you wish to be a part of.
7. Tracking. – Fresh graduates naturally send out multiple job applications. It is then important to keep track of the companies that have conducted interviews with you. That will help you remember the type of company and the position you applied for, which will be very useful should you get a call back.
8. Send thank you notes. – Showing appreciation and gratitude is always good. It should not be seen in a way as brown-nosing. A simple note that you can deliver directly to the office or even an email to the human resources personnel that met you for your interview would suffice.
9. Stay updated. – Being updated on the latest business news is important and will later on prove beneficial to you. Reading through newspapers and other business journals will definitely keep you informed on the companies that are currently doing well.
10. Do not give up. – Being rejected may be painful, but it is normal. That is life. You win some, you lose some. The important thing is that you accept the so-called defeat gracefully and give yourself the time to re-focus. Do not lose hope. Giving up does not get you anywhere.

Take risks when job hunting. It is where you discover more about your strengths and weaknesses, and find out what career path you should take that would truly make you happy.