You may have graduated a while ago and your search for an internship or for permanent employment may have stalled. However, do not fear! We have ten tips that may just help you with your search and with interviews to motivate you on the way!
1. Check & update your profile regularly.
Making sure that your Step profile is 100% complete will increase your (see what we did there?) chances of finding exactly the type of internship or graduate job that you’re (okay…we’ll stop now) looking for. You may not have a degree in English language, however making sure that what you write is correct and coherent is important. Take your time when filling in your application and make sure that if you have done something worth mentioning that it is in your profile, it will not only impress us but also the company that we may be sending your application to. Regularly updating your profile will make it more visible and having only basic information will make your profile hidden when we are searching for candidates for a role.
2. Search for opportunities on a daily basis.
We receive opportunities on a daily basis, with majority starting asap. We contact candidates with roles that are suitable and of interest, but graduates that are pro-active and plan ahead are the ones that guarantee a role. Whilst drinking your morning fuel of coffee and watching your daily fix of Jeremy Kyle, jot down a list of roles that you have applied for, being organised will only ever work in your favour.
3. Don’t re-strict your search.
We primarily work with small and medium companies, and although large corporate companies may seem attractive, they also have many people already working for them and competition is tough. Don’t be too limited when searching or applying for roles, working in a smaller company means that you will be integrated and become part of the team rather quickly. Often given your own project to implement means that your responsibility may be greater but what you are doing will not only be beneficial in a company’s growth but also in gaining essential experience in the industry.
4. Brag about your experience (at least a little bit).
Appear confident, think about who you are talking to and how to impress them. If you answer with one word even to closed questions, you will appear unmotivated and not excited about a role. If you have genuine interest in something or have experienced something first hand then mention it, selling yourself to a company isn’t necessarily a bad thing. You only have one chance so ensuring that you are the right person for their company is vital.
5. Be Social.
Not just in person, but also online. Start a blog and document your creativity and show off your writing skills, this is a great addition to any experience or projects that you may already have. Get on LinkedIn, not only can you find useful articles but LinkedIn is a good place to research a company and likewise, so don’t go posting too much about your favourite film or band. Be professional, add what qualifications you have and what experience will be appropriate in your search within the industry.
6. Do your Research & prepare!
Whilst searching, make sure that you research the industry and particular companies that you could see yourself working for. Think about the skills that you already have, how could you adapt these to the position that you are applying for? Knowing the background of a company, their ethics and what it is they do is essential in showing that you have prepared. If you have been asked to do a task before your interview, don’t leave it until the night before! Make sure that someone checks it over for you, don’t worry about being too prepared.
7. Respond & seek feedback
Make sure that your phone is switched on and that you are contactable at least by email if not by phone. If you are successful, you may hear back rather quickly so sharing good news sooner rather than later is a plus. As for feedback, hearing where you have gone wrong is sometimes needed to ensure that next time you avoid certain habits that you may have in interviews, see it as practice. Similarly, positive feedback is also a nice pick-me-up when you may not have felt confident about a particular role.
8. Dress to impress.
As comfy as your onesie may be, get suited and booted. Looking the part is just as important as staying confident and being prepared for an interview.
9. Don’t be disheartened, get motivated!
Don’t be too disheartened if you don’t secure a position, outline the strengths and weaknesses of your application process and your interview. Rejection can be hard, especially if you really liked the company and thought that the interview went well but think positive; on-wards and upwards! Think of your achievements, stick motivational quotes around your room or create a montage in your room to your favourite motivational song, whatever works to make you believe that you will get that role!
10. Register with Step!
As well as receiving information about our paid internships and placements, we also advertise for sandwich placements, summer placements for undergraduates and permanent graduate jobs. We actively look for candidates for roles and provide tips and advice, helping you from the very start of your application process and beyond. If you haven’t been successful this time, don’t think that we will forget about you if you are right for a role, it is our aim to find that role for you!