So you’ve decided on your dream job, looked at career paths and you are ready to apply for the job of your dreams, or at least the job that will eventually lead to your ideal career. Your next step is to write a cover letter to send, along with your CV, to potential employers. Your cover letter is going to be your very first contact with these people so it must make the right impression. You may want to think of original ways to make it eye catching and interesting but, you must also make sure it is appropriate to the position you are hoping to fill. It must be professional and accurate. Always check you are using the correct grammar and punctuation and check all spelling carefully. It is a good idea to ask someone else to read it through for you before you send it, or try reading it out loud to yourself, you may be surprised how different things sound when read by another person.
When getting a new job, turning up for the first day on time and making a great impression is often just as important as making a good impression during the interview. It will come to define you not just to your employer, but for the other people who will come to expect things from you in your new role, your colleagues. Getting their approval is essential for maintaining a good working environment.
To accomplish this, first of all you need to turn up on time. If you don’t do this, then it shows a lackadaisical attitude which many of those working with you will find disrespectful. The reigns may loosen over time, but it is essential that you do well on your first day. Secondly, you need to be eager to tackle new things and your role in general. So long as you demonstrate that you’re a team player, then people will be open to engaging with you.
One thing which most recent graduates are almost entirely unfamiliar with is interviews. First of all, if this is what you are, you should prepare yourself for failure, as it is a near certainty that you won’t always succeed in an interview. Some of the time, this will be because you’ve not got the right qualifications for the job. Other times, it may be because you’ve represented yourself, your abilities and your experience poorly, which is perhaps more disapointing.
Often times, people who have little experience with interviews will go into it feeling very nervous, which can result in a poorly conducted interview on their part. To avoid this, you should always try to centre yourself before you enter the interview, and then try to maintain that composure throughout it. This can be tricky, but if you learn to do this well it will benefit you in numerous areas in your life.
During the interview, it is important that you demonstrate aptitude in the subject of the job you’re applying for. Sometimes this means doing additional research into the business you’re applying at, which will allow you to engage your interviewer, and show that engaged and interested in the job in return. Other times, it means presenting your accomplishments in the field, even if they’re still only academic.
Beyond these points, there are (hopefully obvious) other requirements, such as dressing smartly, demonstrating good hygiene, and covering any tattoos. Any of these points could have a significant impact on the interviewers first impression of you.
When you’ve recently graduated, flush with your new diploma, and hopeful of the future, being brought back to earth by the sobering experience of looking for a job can be tricky. Here are a few simple steps which you may find helpful:
- Just because you have a diploma doesn’t mean that your qualified for a good job, you may need to do a lot of preparation so that you’re prepared to work.
- Speak to your recruitment agency and your local job centre. These organisations are there to help you find work, and they will be very helpful in identifying areas of improvement, things which could help you with writing your CV, covering letter, and in an actual interview.
- Learn new skills! While a diploma qualifies you for different professions, having a level of aptitude with things like excel, maybe even website programming, could demonstrate to your potential employer greater value than those your competing with for the position.