Be Market Ready

1. Update your resume:

Your resume showcases your experience and your qualifications. As you go through graduation and beyond, keep a master list of all your work experience, publications and other information that may be relevant for applying to jobs. This way when it comes to apply for a job, you won’t struggle to remember specific dates or find a description of a position you’ve held.

2. Keep your references ready:

Most jobs will ask for a list of references. Keep them ready, normally about three. You may ask your College/University Professors/Lecturers as they are the people with whom you have spent your recent past while doing your Graduation. You may ask your neighbour who is holding a corporate position or running a successful business. If you have done internship/training and are able to build a good relationship with under whom you were doing your internship/training, you may ask them to be your reference. These are those references that can vouch for you and give a positive feedback about you when asked by the prospective employer.

3. Know what you want:

One, understand your values, understand what is important to you in life and in work. This will serve you well over your career and can serve as a common thread as you interview. Two, know what you want to do, and be clear about it. If you are new to the job market and looking for a role, you need to be able to answer a simple questions like, “What do you want to do?”

4. Utilize social media:

Make your profile on LinkedIn. Employers are looking at social media. Build a strong profile and categorize your achievements as you go on LinkedIn. Make sure to showcase your successes.

5. Make connections before graduation:

Start making as many connections as possible in your chosen field prior to graduation. Not only will this improve your chances of landing a job, but those who know someone in the industry often land more roles than those who just apply to job advertisement – Normally called as Referral Programme. New graduates with no connections who are unsure of their path can still do well, but they have more work to find their ideal role.

6. Do your research:

Learn more about the scope, expectations and challenges of your target job and industry by browsing the internet and connecting with professionals in similar positions in that industry. Find out the minimum and preferred requirements for your target job by studying similar job descriptions.

7. Be ready to work:

One of the issues often heard from managers who hire fresh graduates is they spend a lot of time teaching them how to be employed: show up on time, dress the part, prepare for meetings, complete work by the deadline, collaborate, communicate, etc. It may seem basic, but if you’ve mastered these skills, you will be work-ready on the word go.

8. Create a positive brand:

Start branding yourself with your very first job. Your work ethic and interactions with colleagues set the path for your next move. Your behaviour creates the path to success and all you need to do is treat every opportunity like it’s the last.

9. Look beyond your degree:

Graduates think they are limited to the field their degree is in. While their degree will certainly help them land a job in that industry, they should not limit themselves if they are interested in another career path. Many entry-level positions require a general bachelor’s degree and upward mobility comes more from experience than it does from your degree. Don’t be afraid to take another path.

10. Take advantage of additional training:

Take advantage of additional training offered by your new employer. Ask managers and HR what courses are available. Self-selected training serves as a strong signal of employee drive and can be the platform into a fulfilling career.

11. Say yes and learn from mistakes:

Make your way and volunteer as much as possible. Only by trying will you learn valuable knowledge about yourself, develop and gain experience. Embrace failures by learning how to change your behaviour to improve results. You become stronger by how you handle difficult situations.

Reference/Citation/Source

• 18 Tips For New Graduates Ready For The Job Market
  https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/2018/06/07/18-tips-for-new-graduates-ready-for-the-job-market/#64700fc94338
• Preparing for the Job Market
  https://www.unl.edu/gradstudies/connections/preparing-job-market