With a wave of grads expected to join the workforce this summer, a recent survey by Student Beans, a leading provider of student discounts, revealed that 21% of students are uncertain about applying for jobs in their field of study. Confidence issues are a major factor, with around 30.1% of students admitting they lack confidence in completing job applications after their university experience. Whereas flexibility continues to be a top priority, with 45.5% of students anticipating hybrid work arrangements. In contrast, remote work is the least favoured option, with just 15.1% of students interested in full-time work-from-home positions, HR News reports.

Here we take a look at a few ways to help graduates secure their preferred job after university.

Be in-the-know

Gaining insight into the industry and firms you’re applying to can significantly enhance your applications. Research market trends, key players, company cultures, and job positions thoroughly. This will enable you to demonstrate genuine interest and understanding during interviews.

Focus on your skills

Identify and hone the skills pertinent to the job you're aiming for. Concentrate on both hard and soft skills to present yourself as a well-rounded candidate. Hard skills are the technical abilities necessary for the job, such as proficiency in a language, typing speed, or coding knowledge, whilst soft skills are not specific to any one role but are developed through experience. They include abilities like communication, teamwork and problem-solving.

Be strategic with your applications

Strategic job applications focus on quality rather than quantity and make use of networking opportunities to enhance your prospects. One key factor is making sure you customise your CV and cover letter for each job application. “I cannot recommend this enough – it’s a very common mistake I see – candidates using the same CV and cover letter for all the jobs they are applying for,” said Ilias Elsdon-Rentoulis, Careers Coach at Improve to Succeed. Indeed, ensure you highlight the skills and experiences with the most relevance to the job you’re applying for. Also, use LinkedIn to find and connect with other grads from your university who work in your target industry. 

Be professional

Professionalism can leave a highly favourable impression on potential employers. This encompasses your digital presence, communication skills, and conduct during interviews. Ensure your LinkedIn profile is current and review your old social media accounts. Consider making them private or removing any content you wouldn't want potential employers to see.

In addition, practicing common interview questions and preparing answers can be a BIG help. With competency-based interviews becoming more common, using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) can help structure your responses effectively. 

Also, if you're lacking confidence, practice interviews with friends, family, or your university's career services and seek constructive feedback.

Good luck on landing your dream job!