Your HND...what next? : Getting a job

The job market for HND graduates

Employers know and understand the benefits of the HND qualification and the contribution Diplomates can make to an organisation. Most employers feel that today’s work environment requires people with a wide array of skills. These include technical skills, which you have acquired in your specific course, as well as transferable skills such as communication and logical thinking.

There are many jobs that offer good training prospects and career paths that do not require a degree. You need to understand that your qualification offers a wide scope of opportunities and that you can make a positive contribution to your new job.

Staying with your employer

If you are staying with your employer, you should discuss any prospects for promotion and professional development. Be aware that a significant number of vacancies are unadvertised and that networking plays a considerable role in finding the right job. Read about networking and speculative applications in job hunting.

Finding a new employer

While seeking new employment before or after any further studies it is important to be aware of the following:

• available job opportunities;
• currency of the job market, including competitive and shortage areas;
• how your HND qualification fits into your long-term career plans.

At this stage you should start gathering information about your particular strengths and skills. A good starting point for any job search is what jobs would suit me?, which allows you to create a profile of your skills, motivations and interests to generate ideas for your career direction.

Your skills

You have developed valuable technical skills related to your HND subject. Think about how you can best use these skills in your work. Throughout your studies you have also gained core transferable skills which might be useful in jobs that are not directly related to your HND subject. Refer to skills gained to see how you can incorporate those skills in your CV, and how to use them to sell yourself in the job market.

Your qualifications

Think about how you can use your current qualification. Consider whether it would be useful for you to pursue further qualifications. Refer to further study for more information.

Work experience

Employers value work experience, whether you have had a part-time job, a placement or voluntary work.

Refer to CVs and covering letters and interview tips for more information on how best to put your CV together and useful tips on interviews. Also see job hunting for ideas on where and how to look for jobs.

Speak to your university careers services, and use the information resources available in their careers centres. Research the employer links and destinations of HND Diplomates from your university to gather current labour market information. Most university careers services offer employability advice and guidance in the form of job search and vacancies.

Keep your options open and explore the employers and the opportunities under graduate employers.

Finding vacancies

You should consider a wide range of sources when looking work. The internet has an almost unlimited capacity for vacancies, either via specialised job sites or via companies’ corporate websites. Explore vacancies and specific job requirements regularly.

Many websites offer an email/text alert service and can inform you about suitable vacancies as soon as they appear online. Sign up to job vacancy alerts or look at graduate job search for job vacancies.

Other vacancy sources include:

• local and national newspapers;
• professional and trade journals
• your university careers service;
• graduate recruitment websites;
• recruitment agencies; 
• internet job boards;
• trade associations and professional bodies for your industry;
• networking and personal contacts.