Every year, thousands of students graduate from third-level education here in Ireland and are faced with the harsh reality of life after college. Some Graduates will take a year to travel the world, some will begin jobs with companies they worked with during an internship, but for most, they will need to try and find a job they like, with a company that will hire them. In this blog we discuss some handy ways students can try and find a job they enjoy and that will benefit their future careers.
This year I will be graduating from University College Dublin, and while I had predicted most of the stressful elements of final year (exams, tight deadlines, late nights in the library), one headache I hadn’t anticipated was having to apply for jobs and graduate programmes. The pressure of finding a job I would enjoy was daunting and it certainly wasn’t aided by friends and family asking me, “ So, what are your plans for next year?”, at every available opportunity.
When I look back on my attitude towards finding companies to apply for back in October, I think it is fair to say that I was under-prepared and a little naive. If I was to do it all again, there are definitely some key steps I would do to make the screening process that bit easier and reduce stress levels along the way.
Here are my tips to help find the right Graduate job for you:
1. Think About What you are passionate about – Don’t follow the crowd:
The first (and most important) tip I would recommend to any graduate, is to take some time to find out what you are passionate about (or at the very least what you are interested in!). Sometimes the easiest thing for students to do is to listen to the advice of their friends about where they should apply. As a commerce student, this was definitely the case as I saw the majority of my year all apply for various jobs across the Big Four Accounting Firms. I immediately was tempted to throw in my application and to follow the crowd. "Sure, they must be really good jobs if everyone is applying for them?"
However, there was a problem with my plan, I really don't have any interest accounting. In the end, I decided not to apply for a job with any of the Big four. Looking back, I am sure that I only would have wasted both my time and the time of my interviewer, as I gave a lacklustre explanation for why I would be a “great addition" to their Audit team.
So, when you are considering your options, try and find things that you do have a passion/interest for. These “things” you are interested in don’t have to be academic in nature or in anyway related to what you have done in college. You might decide that your passion is as complex and impressive as “saving the world from climate change” or it could be as simple as “I really like working with people”. Either way, this insight provides you with a jumping off point for finding a job you enjoy.
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2. Go to a Graduate Fair – Learn about the job and who they are looking for:
Another step I definitely would recommend to anyone deciding on a potential place of work is attending a graduate fair. Attending graduate fairs gives you a fantastic opportunity to meet with the people who will most likely be assessing your application. These people often offer fantastic information about the role and provide insight into the type of applicant they are looking for. This is a fantastic resource because it allows you to decide first-hand whether this is a company you could see yourself working with (feel free to steer clear of any companies not willing to have a decent chat!). And It can give you a very good idea about the values and experiences you should try and communicate to them in your application and potential interview.
Remember: Graduate fairs can be incredibly busy, and as a result it can be a bit of a hassle trying to navigate the various stalls. For this reason, I always have a “game plan” when I’m attending any Graduate fair:
3. Look for Development Opportunities– Improving your "employability":
There is a common misconception among University students that the industry you decide to enter after you finish college could “pigeon-hole” you into this area for the rest of your career. The reality actually couldn’t be further from the truth, it is estimated that today’s graduates will change careers on average 5-7 times over their work lives (http://careers-advice-online.com/career-change-statistics.html).
I know this also seems pretty intimidating, but it just means that we as graduates need to change the way we choose jobs. Rather than looking at just the industry your job is in You should look at what opportunities for learning the job may bring and how it will and how it will improve your skills profile. Take a customer service role for example: rather than focusing solely on the role look at the experiences you will gain: Exposure to clients, achieving targets, and working as part of a team are all skills that could prepare you for a future career in sales.
Another aspect of development to consider is to ask the question whether there are opportunities for on-the-job training such as: courses, certification or secondments to other departments. This is one benefit to selecting a graduate programme rather than a more traditional entry-level role because graduate roles tend to be segmented into incremental stages that emphasise your personal development.
4. Don’t be afraid to look outside of Ireland – International Graduate Programmes:
A common problem graduates face is they feel somewhat restricted when it comes to finding jobs and their immediate instinct is to see what jobs are located close to where they live. This year, I realised that I shouldn’t be picking potential career paths based on convenience, I should be trying to get out of my comfort zone and try new things. This is what attracted me to International Graduate programmes. I thought that these programmes could be a fantastic opportunity to see more of the world and experience new cultures while also being able to further my career (in other words get to see the world without putting yourself in debt!).
I would also stress that while having a foreign language can be a welcomed addition to your application for these programmes, it is by no means a requirement. Various companies such as: Jameson, Enterprise Ireland and Glanbia all offer International roles that don’t require a foreign language.
(Photo Credit: InterNations.org)
5. Remember, They’d be lucky to have you – Be confident in your skills and abilities:
An issue I seemed to have was I put these companies I was applying for on a pedestal. This often meant I was more nervous when applying and in interviews and I also tended to shut down when I was faced with rejection. It wasn’t until I realised that I had something to offer the companies that I began to gain more confidence and conviction in the way I presented myself.
It also helped me to use rejection more constructively because I saw it as a means to improve the way I would approach the next interview or next programme I applied for. Always remember that sometimes you are just not the right fit for a position or company, and it is not a reflection of who you are as a person or your skills or abilities as an employee. I always thought that the best way to look at it was that not hiring you was their loss, not yours.
(Photo Credit: Pixabay.com)
Final Thoughts
And the final piece of advice I will leave you with is, don’t obsess over your employment status, this is a very important year for you academically and while it is important you think of the future, its really important you remember your obligations to the present. Don’t sacrifice all of your study time to pursue every job under the sun.
Applying for jobs can be a very overwhelming, especially when you spend too much time looking at the long process ahead. The best strategy I always find was to break up each job application into small manageable tasks that you can complete in conjunction with other assignments.
I hope you found these tips helpful and I wish you all the best with your Applications!