Job hunting

Choosing a job

Narrowing down your job options can help you make better, focused applications with more chance of success

Before you dive into searching for job roles, take a step back. What are you hoping to find? If you have no idea at all, it's time to do some initial thinking. Consider the following:

• What has motivated the choices you've already made, and still motivates you? 
• When you browse vacancy websites, why are certain kinds of jobs more attractive?
• What are the factors that make up a job you'd love or hate to do?

Thinking about these issues can help you to focus. Knowing what you want to avoid is also a good place to start; try turning negatives into positives to find what you are looking for.

What jobs suit me?

Everyone has individual preferences when it comes to the world of work. Perhaps you know the kind of working environment you'd enjoy (peaceful, buzzing), the preferred shape of your working day (focusing on one thing or switching from task to task), the hours, pay and conditions, or a sense of what might make a job feel satisfying. Learning about what you want from a job is a process that will continue as you move through your career, but it is helpful to figure out as much as you can now.

Think about your preferences and match them to jobs in what jobs would suit me? You may reveal more about your personality, strengths and weaknesses by taking psychometric tests. Talk to people too; friends and family know you well and can help point out strengths that you might take for granted.

What should I do next?

Focus on a few different jobs or sectors that sound like they might suit you and try to find out more about them. For details on what it's like to work in a particular sector, see job sectors, and to explore preferred roles further, take a look at types of jobs.

Browse vacancy websites, watch videos on Careers Box  and icould , and talk to those in the industry to get to know what the jobs are really like. You could use website case studies, LinkedIn , friends, family, university alumni networks or simply directly contact people to ask questions (see networking). It might be that they can offer you the chance to see the job first hand, too.

What types of employers are there?

Finding an organisation that suits you is as important as choosing the right occupation. There are various options to consider:

Large employers (250+ employees) include many key graduate recruiters, national and multinational organisations. Groups of graduate recruits typically join the business at the same time, having applied in the autumn/winter of the previous year. Graduate roles often include support for professional qualifications, higher than average salaries, longer hours, early responsibility and deployment to different areas based on the needs of the organisation.

Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) (fewer than 250 employees) make up around 99.9% of all UK enterprises and employ approximately 22.8 million people in the UK (Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, 2010). SMEs may often feel less visible to graduate jobseekers as finding opportunities within them will take more research and suitable positions may not be labelled 'graduate' roles. Work may be more varied and working hours are often shorter and/or more flexible. Promotion within the organisation may be less likely and often starting salaries are a little lower, but the opportunity to make a measurable difference within the organisation is greater.

There are a number of areas you can work in:

• Private sector: priority is to deliver profits for investors. Commercial awareness is heavily valued.
• Public sector: priority is to serve the public through government mandates. It includes local and national government, state schools and the NHS.
• Charity sector: priority is to use funds raised to deliver the charity's aims. Paid and voluntary roles exist, and experience is important for entry.
• Social enterprise: priority is to deliver profits for charitable aims but commercial awareness is still important.
• Self-employment: priority is to deliver sustained profits for the individual. It includes independent work, which needs responsibility and self-motivation. Learn more at self-employment.

What can I do with my degree? 

During your degree, you will have developed skills, such as time management or communication, that can be used in any job role. For suggestions on jobs related to your degree and to find out what roles other graduates go on to, see options with your subject.  

For further help, take a look at the interactive career planning and guidance site Windmills .

Finding job vacancies

From advertised roles to word-of-mouth, use these tips to help you find what you're looking for in the job market...

How do I find employers?

Building a shortlist of potential employers takes some research; there are more than 2.5 million companies (Companies House, 2010) and more than 160,000 charities (Charity Commission, 2011) in the UK alone. Thankfully, there is a lot of information out there to help.

• Your university careers service will know which companies in your field have been recruiting at your university.
• LinkedIn  can be used to search and filter companies worldwide.
• Professional associations and industry bodies will hold a list of member organisations.
• Browse graduate employers and other similar directories.
• Some publications can help to provide a ranked list of companies, such as The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers , The Guardian UK 300 , Best Companies Guide , Ethisphere: World's Most Ethical Companies .
• Social media sites, such as Twitter , will have thousands of company accounts. Use search tools, and when you find a useful one, see who they follow to find more employers who are active online.

Where do I look for job vacancies?

• Search graduate jobs.
• Your university careers service.
• Gradireland , Go Wales , Job in Scotland  and regional sites in England, such as Graduate Jobs South  and Graduates Yorkshire .
• Sector-specific vacancy websites and publications, such as job sectors.
• Guardian Jobs , The Daily Telegraph Jobs  and other national and local newspapers.
• Careers fairs and recruitment events - both at your institution or at national events.
• Social media, particularly searchable sites such as LinkedIn and Twitter.

You can also help employers find you by:

• creating a profile on LinkedIn;
• pro-actively contacting prospective employers to learn more about them, request work experience, ask for advice on your job search and learn about unadvertised roles.

When do employers recruit?

Employers recruit at various times throughout the year, using different methods:

'The milkround' includes graduate-specific roles and training schemes at larger organisations. Companies advertise in the autumn of your final year in graduate publications and through your careers service. They attend events such as employer presentations and have stands at fairs in September to early November. Applications typically open in early autumn (some as early as the previous July and August) for posts that begin after you graduate. Deadlines start to close from the autumn onwards into early January. Post-deadline, there are stages of interviews and assessment centres, which can continue up to Easter. 

Year-round graduate roles are advertised outside 'the milkround'. Deadlines are at different points in the year, some with rolling recruitment. Companies use the full range of vacancy sources to advertise, from graduate publications to industry job sites. They often attend graduate job fairs in your final term at university.

Direct recruitment can be at any time of the year. Most organisations won't know a year in advance if they will need a new graduate employee. Instead, they tend to advertise as a response to a vacancy arising. Roles might be labelled as a 'graduate role' or simply could be a role where as a graduate you meet the person specification.

Speculative approaches and networking with people in the industry may help you learn about unadvertised opportunities.

How do I improve my chances of getting a job?

There are different ways to improve how you meet an employer's selection criteria:

• Plug gaps in your skills - if the role requires a skill you don't have, think about how you could acquire this, perhaps through short courses, further study, work experience, or self-teaching.
• Show that you're tried-and-tested - working or volunteering, even in an unrelated area, can show a recruiter that you have experience and can help them to envisage your future performance.
• Prove you're interested - give hard evidence of your interest in the relevant career area by citing membership of student societies, professional associations or relevant LinkedIn groups. You could create a blog, Twitter account or YouTube channel or simply describe your wider reading and networking to demonstrate your enthusiasm.
• Talk to them - if you're concerned you might not be competitive, contact the recruiter. Their feedback can help clarify what they're looking for and can give additional insights.
• Create a competitive application using the tips in applying for jobs and CVs and cover letters.

Recruitment agencies

Recruitment agencies are used by organisations to find people for both permanent and temporary jobs they have on offer. They may be able to help you with your job search

Should I use a recruitment agency?

There are pros and cons to using a recruitment agency. A specialist recruitment agency for your chosen field often has great knowledge of that industry and tips that might enhance your application. An agency gives your CV access to many different employers, too, although it is the recruitment consultant, with many candidates on their books, who will decide whether it gets sent to them.

Recruitment agencies earn their money from the employer when they find someone for the job, which means that sometimes they might be inclined to encourage you to apply for roles for which you may be well suited but not really interested in. It's wise to be open and honest with a recruitment consultant about your requirements. Don't rely on a recruitment agency and always continue your job search elsewhere, too.

How can I find recruitment agencies?

UK directories of recruitment agencies are available from:

• Agency Central  
• Jobfit  
• Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC)  

How do I choose an agency?

Recruitment agencies can be generalists or specialists in certain fields. Use agency websites to browse the jobs they currently have advertised to help you decide which agency might be most suitable. Some employers will use one specific agency for their recruitment or they may use a variety for the same roles. Find out which agencies are used by employers you're particularly keen to work for by researching their advertised roles or by getting in touch with the employer to ask.

You can register with more than one recruitment agency, although registering with too many isn't advised as many will be working to fill the same positions. Always check that the agency is a member of the REC (the professional body for the industry).

How do I join an agency?

Make sure that the agency deals with your field, and then call them or read the information on their website to find out the process to sign up with them.

Often they'll ask you to submit a CV, and sometimes they might ask you to come in for a quick consultation about what you're looking for. Very occasionally (more commonly for temping agencies) they might ask you to take short tests of skills, such as numeracy, IT, spelling or typing.

Agencies will usually only register you if they feel confident that they might have a role in the near future for which you would be suitable, so make sure all communication is professional, as if you were being interviewed for a job.

Keep in touch as your job search progresses, build a good rapport with your consultant, and make sure that you let the agency know when you no longer wish to be on their books.

Networking

Networking is as simple as approaching people to ask for their advice and to talk to them about the career area. People like to share their tips, particularly with those just starting out, and a simple conversation can lead to opportunities for work experience and even jobs

Online networking

If you're shuddering at the thought of making small talk at gatherings and events, rest assured: you can network from your desk.

• First, check what's visible about you online - is it what you want a prospective employer or professional contact to be able to see? Check security settings and update public profiles.
• Search Twitter, LinkedIn, blogs, YouTube and others - learn what platforms are used by those in your field. Many organisations and individuals are using Facebook professionally; but before you network on Facebook, research features such as the 'restricted' list to choose what you share with various people. Ensure you keep anything a prospective employer may see professional.
• Join the platforms that you find useful - use a consistent username, image and text, and reference other platforms that you're using professionally to link them. LinkedIn is probably the most popular networking platform. Make sure you complete your profile in full, add contacts and seek recommendations. for more information, see Get Started With LinkedIn .
• Network away - join relevant groups on LinkedIn to ask questions and see member details. Add new contacts to enlarge your network and search for more. If you're using Twitter or blogs, follow relevant people to read updates and feel free to ask questions by sending a message starting @username.
• Share useful information you come across - networking is supposed to be mutually beneficial, so find ways to add information.
• Ask for advice - sending CVs to people you've found online isn't networking. Most are happy to give help or advice initially, so ask questions and gain a useful understanding. Make sure you say thank you.
• Follow up with further questions - follow up an initial enquiry by asking them for advice on taking your interest further - are there opportunities coming up or people they'd recommend you to contact?
• Carry on networking - it can take a while to see the fruits of networking online, but as your network grows and your credibility increases, it will become more useful and even more so when you're in a job.
• Showcase your online networking on your CV - this will highlight your technological skills as well as your flair for communication and willingness to learn.

Work experience

Networking can often lead to work experience, through requests made to contacts online, via friends, family, through your university or in speculative approaches. Always initially begin the conversation by asking for their advice, which helps to diffuse any 'demanding' feeling to the encounter. If they advise you that work experience isn't likely, ask what they'd suggest instead - is there anyone else they recommend you to speak to?

Work experience can also lead to networking. Having undertaken some work experience, make sure you add colleagues on LinkedIn or other social channels to keep in touch; you never know when you might be useful contacts or collaborators again.

Professional associations

There are professional associations for a huge range of industries, and some of these can be beneficial to join even before you're in that field. Check job sectors to learn which might be relevant, and then search their website to find out what they offer. Student membership rates can often give you access to training events, conferences and forums, which can be good places to contact others in the field.

Careers events and fairs

Employers attending careers events remember what it was like to be where you are now and are keen to offer help and advice. Make sure you prepare some questions in advance to avoid asking about things that are written in bold on their website and make sure you find out what you need.

Always say thank you and ask whether it would be possible to take their email address. You can use this to send a polite follow-up email, thanking them again, sharing any information you think they might find useful and asking any additional questions you may have. Let them know how their information has helped you and they will be more likely to feel valued as a contact and remain one over time.

Changing careers

Many graduates are likely to change careers a number of times over their working lives. Changing careers can be a positive experience, but one which may also be a little daunting...

Should I change careers?

To answer this question takes careful thought. Consider the following when trying to make your decision:

• What are the factors that have made you start thinking about changing careers?
• Are any of those factors likely to change?
• Could you change any of them within your current role?
• What do you hope to find in your new career?
• Have you done some research or spoken to people to check your ideas are realistic?
• Have you spent any time shadowing someone in the career you're thinking of moving to?
• If you did change career, what would you miss from your old one?
• What are the most important things for you to have in a career?

To help you make your decision, try the Changing Careers Questionnaire , or for more advice, check out A Career Change  or Careershifters .

How do I get into a new career?

• Before a career change, make sure you give yourself time to research, and think deeply about what motivates you and makes you satisfied in a job.
• Use what jobs would suit me to find job roles that match your interests and motivations. 
• Once you have a shortlist of some ideas, read up on them and/or contact those working in those roles to learn more about them. (For more advice, see networking.)
• Consider the impact of any additional training and qualifications you may need. Is there scope to retrain alongside your current role if you need to?

If you feel ready to start applying for roles, be aware that you will need to show a prospective employer evidence of genuine reasons for your career change and your interest in their field, as well as highlighting the transferability of what you've done so far. For more advice on tailoring your applications to showcase your suitability, see CVs and cover letters.

I've been made redundant - what do I do?

Redundancy can be difficult to manage, but it can also be an opportunity to reassess what you want out of a job and career, and take control of getting it. This could mean:

• applying for a new role;
• a career change;
• freelance or self-employed work;
• developing a portfolio career (made up of different jobs);
• an opportunity to retrain or take a career break.

Set goals and milestones for the time ahead and seek help if you need to. Many university careers services support alumni for some time after their degree (a few even for life), and if things are difficult, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) , local Citizens Advice Bureau  or your trade union might be able to help.

How can I make the most of my current job?

If your current role is not satisfying you, there are often things you can do to help.

• Try to pin down exactly why things aren't ideal - perhaps you don't have enough control over your work, don't have opportunities to grow, or feel overworked?
• Consider solutions that might help address these areas - from small things that you can do yourself through to training, staffing changes, secondments or a shift in workloads within your team.
• Network with colleagues outside of your team - it might be you can learn from other teams to suggest improvements, innovations, collaborations or secondments.
• Arrange a time to talk with your line manager. Rather than just listing problems, suggest some solutions and describe the feasibility and benefits of these changes. Describe the situation positively by highlighting why you're particularly keen on developing within the organisation.
• Negotiate any major changes, such as a change to your working hours, conditions, or pay, calmly and politely, based on evidence and showing the benefit to you, your work, and the organisation.
• Consider life outside of work - it might be the satisfaction you seek can come from another area of your life.

Action plan

Creating your own job-hunting action plan helps you feel in control and makes sure your time is focused and profitable

Knowing yourself and what you want 

• Write a list of all the criteria you're looking to find in a job. Vacancies often list a person specification; this is your version for them.
• Consider everything that might make you satisfied or unsatisfied - from day-to-day tasks to the work environment, right up to big questions of purpose, motivation and reward.
• Talk to family and friends about where they feel your strengths lie.
• An appointment with a careers adviser can be helpful if you're finding it difficult to decide what you're looking for.
• Use what jobs would suit me to find job ideas and develop a shortlist to research.
• Use psychometric tests to learn more about your abilities and where your strengths lie.

Researching your career options

• Use your university careers service for information on employers who may be recruiting at your institution.
• Talk to people working in the job areas you're considering at careers fairs, events, through contacts or by networking.
• Read what people in your industry are discussing by joining LinkedIn  groups, searching for people on Twitter  or reading blogs about the industry.
• Use job sectors and types of jobs to research your job ideas.

Making a decision

• It's rare to be 100% sure about a decision, but think about which concerns you can alleviate by talking to the employer, those in the role, or by doing some work shadowing to experience it first hand.
• Friends and family can help weigh up the pros and cons of different options, or your careers service can help.
• Consider forming a plan A, plan B, plan C list; it's good to have back ups if your first ideas do not work out.
• There's not just one job out there that's right for you, but many that would suit, so consider a wide range of options.

Developing your skills

• Consider what skills employers want. Familiarise yourself with common selection criteria for your chosen field and think about whether you have all of the required skills.
• If there is a gap in your skills, you might not need a course to fill it. You'd be surprised what you can teach yourself or learn through different types of work experience and/or volunteering.
• Build on your career interests. Keep learning by joining societies, professional associations, a relevant LinkedIn group, and reading blogs and publications. You could even showcase your learning through your own blog or public social networking channel, such as Twitter or YouTube.
• It might be that postgraduate study could help develop the relevant skills that you need. Research courses thoroughly and talk to those in the job field to make an informed decision about how a further qualification could be of benefit.
• Other short courses, such as those offered through adult education classes, college courses or distance/online learning, can also be beneficial.

Making applications

• Research the field, potential employers and recruitment deadlines, and begin to plan for them.
• Make sure that any visible social profiles of you, e.g. on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, are professional and consistent in case a prospective employer finds it.
• Don't apply to anything and everything. Focus your applications on what you really want and spend your time making a smaller range of high quality applications that are truly competitive.
• Apply early if you can. Early applications invariably have fewer competitors for the employer's attention.
• Give yourself time to complete your applications. Every single one needs to be tailored to that specific role and selection criteria. Don't use a generic CV or covering letter.
• Get feedback and advice on your CV and applications from your careers service.
• For more information, see applying for jobs and CVs and cover letters.

Reviewing your progress

• Set a series of realistic goals for yourself and times to review them to identify how you are progressing.
• When you review, be honest. If your strategy isn' working, it could be time to change it.
• Follow up when you haven't been successful to learn from your experience.
• Stay focused on your strengths and not your weaknesses.
• Keep talking to people, learning from them and gaining support from friends and family.
• Keep researching - it'll pay dividends at interview and beyond.
• Stay motivated by structuring your time to include breaks and rewards.
• Keep positive!

AGCAS

Written by Lucy Hawkins, Oxford University

Date: 

January 2012

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