It is a challenging time to be a jobseeker. There could hardly be a worse time to look for job, but believe it or not, graduate recruitment has not been hard hit by the current financial crisis. Employers have learnt from their mistakes and realise that cutting graduate recruitment now will create a skills shortage in a few years from now.

Here are some tips to help you secure your first graduate job.

If you live in an area without too many graduate positions available, your career will probably be greatly assisted if you relocate to a more industrial city. It can be a big change, but employers will see your move from University as proof of your ability to cope with big changes.

It’s important that students make the most of their time at university. Employers see graduates as adding real value to their companies, but often a degree alone is not enough. It is important that graduates make themselves as employable as possible, through academic attainment and softer skills gained through hobbies, activities, volunteering and work placements.

It’s important to be able to show employers that you actually want to work in the industry or role in which you are applying. Put effort into your degree, manage your time well and appear enthusiastic at interview. If necessary, learn more about the sector and role beforehand.

You may not perceive that bar or shop work can be useful in a chosen career path, but vital skills such as financial prudence, time management and communication skills are all verifiable through part time employment and are sought-after qualities in any employee.

Flexibility is a good attribute to acquire while you are at university. Balancing work with study, with sports and socialising, as well as moving away from home, prove you are flexible and practical. These things may sound basic, but learning to adapt to different situations may end up being extremely important, if the employer relocates or the job requires a lot of travel or working from home.

Graduate recruitment schemes are more likely to offer graduates good jobs than direct entry applications or enquiries. You can expect to receive full training packages, flexibility to move across departments within a company or organisation and learn lots of new skills. Graduate positions are more likely to offer performance-related bonuses, good pension schemes, private healthcare and support in further education.

Get the most out of university, make sure your degree is worthwhile and make sure you get out there and meet people! Try new things and build self-confidence and personal skills. In today’s competitive graduate recruitment market, you need more than just a qualification.

John McE writes articles for GRB (Graduate Recruitment Bureau), a specialist recruitment agency offering graduate jobs over a range of sectors. GRB offer support with CV help, industry knowledge and graduate job advice.

[tags]graduate recruitment, graduate jobs, graduate careers, degre jobs, degree careers, degree jobs[/tags]