Getting a job after you graduate University

Let’s face it.  

When you graduate from Uni and are trying to get a job within the industry, the competition that you’ll face is the people you sat next to in class each week.  

And so, when you find yourself in a large cohort of people who are applying for the exact same jobs, you’re probably wondering what you can do to stand out from the pack and be a successful candidate. 

 In case you weren’t aware, but there are only 176 jobs* advertised on Seek that mention the word “graduate”, across all industries and classifications. Then if you think of how many people are in your cohort, you’ll quickly realise there are not enough jobs being advertised to go around.  

So, you then might be wondering what you can do to put your best foot forward and be the one to secure a job.  

To help out we’ve nailed down 3 topics that’ll help you get ahead of your peers.  

1. Making the most of your Work Integrated Learning (Industry Placement) 
2. Writing the most effective Resume 
3. Interviewing tips and tricks

Making the most of your Work Integrated Learning (Industry Placement) 

With it now being compulsory to complete real on-the-job training within your degree, as a student you are being given the best opportunity to get exposure to potential employers.  

If you knock their socks off and make the best impression you might just land yourself a job offer upon completion, or at least you’re putting yourself on their radar. This will also come in handy when you reach out to them once you’ve graduated, or in a few years' time when you’re looking for a job.  Because that's what you will be doing, capitalising on your network, right? 

So, how to do make the best impression: 

• Be enthusiastic. Sounds simple but showing that you’re genuinely interested and are there to learn will be more beneficial than you might think.  
• Show initiative. Getting started on a task quickly or even finding something you can do without being directed shows drive. And drive is what will help you make a lasting impression.  
• Ask questions. You’re demonstrating you’re not just there because you have to be, but that you’re there to learn and you’re taking it seriously.  

Writing the most effective resume 

If you’ve never had a resume or are looking to spruce up your current one, we’ve put together a checklist of things you could include.  

And if you’ve never had a resume before, there are plenty of sites such as Canva, Indeed, and Career Link that have free templates to help you get started.  

Resume checklist:  

1. Personal header: including name, phone number, email, suburb you live in 
2. Work history: including professional experience, volunteering positions, coaching, or any other role where you’ve gained skills that are beneficial to the role you’re applying for 
3. Achievements: pop in any achievements you gained in past roles 
4. Education: highlight any courses you’ve completed (or are still completing)  
5. Hobbies or interests: particularly if this is your first role and the company values cultural fit, by showcasing your hobbies, you might find common ground and increase your chances of being hired.

There’s one last thing but it’s too important to have it on the list.  

And it is to make sure you proofread the final version of the resume you're applying with. Seriously.  

There’s nothing worse than seeing “attenton to detail” written on a resume, and it’s a quick way for people to assume you haven’t put time into your application.  

So, if you take anything out of this, review your resume once completed.   

Interviewing 

Ooo this one can be tough. But take it from people who interview multiple people a day, it doesn’t have to be as scary as you might think.  

Interviews can be tricky, but particularly if you’re interviewing for a graduate position just know that you’re not expected to know absolutely everything at this point in your career.   

Yes, they might ask you technical questions in relation to your degree that you should be able to answer, but hopefully, this takes a bit of pressure off for you.  

We can’t tell you what every single technical question will be, but here’s 3 common questions you could be asked:  

1. Tell me what you know about (insert employer’s name) and why you want to work here 
2. What made you get into your chosen field
3. Where do you see yourself in 5 years' time 

At the end of the day, it’s important to be yourself and showcase your value. If you’re stuck on figuring out what your value might be, here’s a few that we can think of to help you get thinking.  

• New perspectives. Having just finished/or finishing your degree, you will bring along new learnings and fresh ideas. 

And  

• Eagerness to learn. You’re keen to get stuck in and grow your skillset but also help assist in the growth of the business through expanding your role’s capabilities 

After an interview, it would also be beneficial for you to follow up with the Hiring Manager or interviewee. This shows your genuine interest and investment in the opportunity.  

If you’d like some more help in these departments or simply would like to chat to someone about more tips on landing your first role, we can help.  

Email the office at info@eightrecruitment.com.au or call 02 4069 0880 to chat. 

*As of March 9, 2023