Insights Graduate advice

How to be a better graduate applicant.

almost 3 years ago by General

Up and down the country, graduates just like you are finishing exams, handing in their last pieces of coursework, and planning their summer holidays. Our first and foremost advice is to add 'thinking about your job search' on that list too.

A quick backstory to the world of jobs right now; there are many jobs and many employers that are hiring, but we know that won't last for too long. By reading this blog you're on the right path to launching your career and not leaving it too late when everyone else panics after their long-awaited summer.

Don't worry, our specialist recruiters at Aspire can help prepare you for the 'real world.' Together, let's get realistic, committed, and prepared for your graduate job search.

Things to consider

How much do you want to get paid

It's great to have expectations to be paid 'a lot' for your first ever role but starting fresh may mean you're aiming without being realistic. We often find that graduates ask for a high base salary, but they have limited experience. The thing to do here is read up on average salaries for your sector using this salary guide and be guided by your recruiter. We may suggest a lesser salary which is based on your experience. Don't let this get you down though, sales roles come with bags of potential to keep earning as you hit your targets. Read the Graduate Sales Guide for key information on launching your career in sales.

What should you expect? An entry-level graduate sales role is looking at an average of £22k-£24k with the possibility to go up to £26k, but usually only when you have 6months to 1-year of experience.

How you want to work

After an exhausting few years at university, who wouldn't want to work flexibly? Fortunately, the pandemic has meant that many employers are open to offering remote working or a combination of working inside and outside of a fixed office (dependent on your sector). However, be mindful that employers might want to see you in the first few weeks or month to support you in the first stages of your new role. This is to help you have the best start, try not to let it put you off.

How committed you are to your search

Job searching takes time and effort to provide everything you can so you have the best chance of finding the role that's perfect for you. To help us make this smooth for you, allow for extra time to spend on your job search. Creating a portfolio can give you the competitive edge, but we know these take time so try to prepare this in advance to help position you as a top candidate.

It helps us help you if you are committed to your job search with a can-do attitude. In contrast, a lazy graduate with a laid-back attitude will take longer to find their dream role.

How else you can stand out to employers

Not having previous work or relevant experience can make your job search much tougher. Employers know that you're fresh out of university, but they'll still want to know you've got the skills for the job.

Think about the transferrable skills that you can take away from your degree or past experiences that you can apply to your new job. Many graduates find this tricky. An example could include evidence of project management for your dissertation. This can prove you're a great planner, perfect for events or conference producer roles. Any part-time jobs are of course a bonus. Note down if you have ever assisted your university with responsibilities that were client-facing. For an ambassador role, you may have needed to encourage prospective students to choose your university, the skills you learnt here can later help you promote a business, product, or service.

How you will attend interviews

A lot of work goes into helping you stand out from the rest so that employers call you for an interview. These interviews and hire-days (group interviews) give you insight into the company and job you're applying for, to see if it's really for you, but also for hirers to see if you're a great fit for them too.

Be honest and upfront about your availability for these interviews, as well as answering your phone or replying to emails. We're all in the same boat where no one likes to be aired or ignored. Telling us when you're most likely free helps everyone involved and means you're likely to get your new job faster. On the contrary, poor communication could show a lack of interest and could even put off employers who might have otherwise given you the job. If you can't make your interview, try to let us know in advance. Remember also to plan how you'll travel to interviews, as well as an appropriate outfit for your time to shine.

How this role compares to other opportunities

Almost every recruiter will ask you if you're applying to other, similar roles. Don't fear, this isn't to catch you out. Recruiters best practice is to ensure you're not already being put forward for the role so we avoid any awkwardness upfront. Not only that, by letting the employer know you're applying to similar roles, it might help them make their decision sooner rather than later.

Also, it's okay if you want to keep your options open. We understand it's difficult to decide between more than one brilliant opportunity. If you're transparent about how good you feel about a particular job, our recruiters can see if they can make it easier for you to decide. After all, we want to place you in a job that you will absolutely love. So, let's meet halfway and understand exactly what you're looking for.

For more advice, check out our CV for first 3 months guide.