The Graduate Blog – Industry Placement Edition:

Tips for Job Applications, The Perfect CV, how to handle Recruitment Agencies & More!

In this Graduate Blog Industry Placement Edition, we will be diving into how to use some of your free time during lockdown to apply for jobs after college AND SECURE THAT POSITION!

Where to Apply

Securing that dream placement can be tough and quite competitive. Weather you are looking to secure a graduate position or a general placement position rest assured that the process is grueling and very time consuming.

Graduate Jobs

As more then 200,000 students in higher education, this record number provides the jobs market with an abundance of talent and options. Your university should be holding job’s fairs in which you can network and ask questions from professionals in the industry. It also gives you the chance to shine and expose yourself to individuals who have gone through the process before. However, networking in lockdown is quite difficult, our networking guide below is sure to help you out.

General Placement

General placement refers to any job that is not a graduate position.

How to Apply

Most people think job applications are a daunting and scary task. However, if you follow these steps you are sure to land that dream role and start your career on the right foot.

   Recruitment Agencies Ireland

     There are over 600 recruitment agencies on the island of Ireland. Some specialize       in certain industries such as Banking & Finance or Construction and Engineering.           It can be very daunting on knowing where to start, luckily this 8-step guide will             soon have you uploading the perfect CV every time!

Steps to the Applications Process

• Decide on what industry you wish to apply to.
• Search for the multiple recruitment agencies that specialize in the industry of       choice.
• Use Excel to map / organize your application routine and CV upload status.

• Use this method to keep track of who and what you have applied to.
• Set a date for a follow up email with recruitment agency and ask them for a call back! This is crucial to your success of landing that placement.
• Find more agencies and upload that perfect CV more and more. Exposure is key to securing that placement.
• When it gets closer to graduation time, start reaching out more to recruitment agencies, letting them know you are qualified and available for work.
• Secured that interview? Excellent news, our Interview technique guide below can help you out.

Note: You do not pay for this service. The company hiring has already paid its fee to secure the correct candidate.

 

LinkedIn Applications

LinkedIn Applications are somewhat easier; however, it can be a tough application journey when you don’t get a response. The LinkedIn application process is probably the easiest however, don’t be lazy in the search for success. To apply via LinkedIn

• Set up a profile and fill in all credentials.
• Strike a pose: Make sure you have uploaded a professional profile picture; this is not Facebook!!
• Now click that jobs tab on the top of the page and see what is out there!
• Use the search bar to tailor your preference, Want that Business Development Analyst job in sunny Spain?  

• Simply click apply and wait.
• However not getting a response can be heart-breaking and demoralizing. Our How to Handle Rejection or No Response guide below will help you out.

The Perfect CV

Writing that Perfect CV can be tough. But by following our easy guide you will have a good foundation as to where to take your CV going forward.

Include the right personal details.
Learn what to add and what to leave out. For example, do not include your secondary school nickname.

Add a personal statement.
This is your chance to summarise yourself in a professional and light-hearted manor.

Know what skills to include.
Pick skills you possess and add them to your CV.

Mention previous jobs.
Include previous job experience and roles / targets you undertook/achieved. Your new employer will be interested to hear how you handled yourself previously.

Add your education.
This is it; the 3 to 4 year wait to finally add something worthwhile to your CV. Include GPA and what you Majored in. This is another talking point in the interview.

Tailor it to the application
One of the biggest mistakes people is flash send the same CV to different applications. Take the time to tailor the application towards the job roles and match it to your skillset. A CV for an Assistant Manager would be very different to that of a Junior Analyst in the same firm.

Other Information

Networking in the Virtual World - A list of Networking Events in Dublin 

• Use whatever connections you have available to you to het the conversation moving.
• Show interest, ask questions, and offer to help if needed.
• Shoot your shot: Do not be afraid to ask direct questions, this is your chance to build that relationship and hopefully secure that interview.
• Reach out monthly, staying within earshot of someone you want to get to know will keep you in their mind for future opportunities

 Interview Tips

   Secured that interview? Great!!!

• Be punctual, studies have shown that the perfect time to arrive for your interview is 10-15 minutes before scheduled time.
• Dress for the job you want.
• Posture is key: Straight back in your chair and smile, let your eyes and body language do the talking.
• Be confident, you are at the table for a reason, be yourself and answer honestly.
• Know your CV, have stories ready about previous experiences you have encountered.
• Enjoy it, even If you do not land the job, interview experience is a huge positive to take away from the whole experience

How to handle Rejection or no response

Do not beat yourself up, companies receive thousands of job applications daily. Ultimately the reason you did not make it this time is usually to do with artificial intelligence sorting abilities. To help with relief, keep trying, leverage connections and do not stop. You will eventually secure what you are looking for. 

How To Deal With Failure And Rejection?