Finding the Right Job 

Searching for the Right Job for You

Whether your degree is field specific, vocational or general you may find it difficult to choose a career path you wish to pursue. You may be confused about what is available to you or you may have decided you do not want to follow into a vocation that your qualification is suited for. When you leave university, there is so much choice and deciding what job is best suited to you can be like trying to find a needle in a haystack, especially if you haven’t completed a degree specific to a vocation.

The key to successful career choice is: knowing yourself and what you want from your career, knowing what is available in the market place and being able to market yourself accordingly. 

1/ Knowing Yourself and What you Want from Your Career

There are several factors that affect your career choices:

a) You abilities - Abilities are formed by the time we are 14 and are our hardwired. Knowing what we are good at and what comes easy to us can help us in our career choice and do work that will come naturally and easily to us.

b) Your skills - Think about the skills you have gained whilst at school, university or any job experience you have had. What did you enjoy doing? What didn’t you enjoy?

c) Your interests - If we are in a job that we are interested in doing, this gives passion to the job. Make a list of all your interests and think about how you can use them in a career.

d) Your values - Values affect the way we want to live our lives and run our careers. Try to work out what your keys values are. 

2/ Knowing What is Available in the Market Place

Try doing some research as to what sort of jobs are available:

a) Have a look at different job websites or career books to see what sort of jobs are available. There is lots of information on different careers at your careers service.

b) Speak to as many people as you can to find out what they do or have done in the job areas that interest you.

Still stuck? Try your careers service where qualified careers advisors are on hand to help you decide what your next step could be.   It is important to keep an open mind and most jobs, especially in SME’s will evolve into a lot more than what is written in the job description.  This can be fun and exciting, and will develop your versatility as well as your skills and knowledge.

For information on abilities testing, psychometrics and careers counselling to help you with your choice, try contacting an independent careers counsellor such as Working Careers in Edinburgh (link - http://www.workingcareer.co.uk/services_for_individuals/who_benefits/graduate.php )

Or try a Careers Workshop that are run specifically for Graduate who require help with organising or planning their career (link to Careers Workshop)

Getting the Right Job 

Securing the Right Job

For all graduates leaving university, the prospect of entering the job market is daunting. It is often difficult to locate the most effective channels to search. Through registering with GFG, applying for jobs specific to you and your interests is made easier.

The crucial element to securing a job is preparation. In previous years, the interview was the most important element of the employment process. However, in today’s competitive job market, you are judged from the outset. The first step - in order to get to the interview stage - is make sure that your CV and covering letter is going to get you noticed. Therefore time and effort needs to be spent on producing a CV, which will grab the interviewer’s attention and result in the desired interview, and an opportunity for you to market yourself in person. It is very important that you take time and effort to do it properly.

Creating a CV

Creating a Covering letter

The First Interview

Although you have passed the first hurdle and secured the all-important first interview, preparation is still paramount. Regardless of the qualifications and experience you possess, your personality and personal presentation will still count when your prospective employer sizes you up. However, you can develop the skills required to make the interview less frightening, and one which you can approach with confidence.

Tackling the Interview