Category: Graduate Jobs

The job market has undergone seismic shifts over the past few decades, transforming the journey to secure a graduate job into an uphill battle for most graduates. This struggle starkly contrasts with the experiences of previous generations. So, why are today’s graduates finding it increasingly challenging to step onto the career ladder, while their parents navigated this passage with seemingly less difficulty? We explore the reasons why in this post. 

The Surge in University Attendees

The root of today’s job market dilemma can be traced back to the late 1990s. Following Tony Blair’s ambitious pledge to see 50% of young people attend university, the UK saw a significant surge in the number of university attendees. This initiative aimed at enhancing job prospects, boosting salaries, and improving social mobility. However, it inadvertently led to an increase of graduates competing for a finite number of graduate roles, disturbing the once-balanced ratio of graduates to available positions.

Euan Blair, Tony Blair’s eldest son, represents a poignant counter-narrative to his father’s vision. Advocating for apprenticeships, Euan believes that not all school leavers, including the academically gifted, should pursue university education. This stance highlights the growing recognition of the value of vocational training and its role in preparing the youth for the job market. However, a recent survey revealed that 85% of underemployed graduates admitted needing work experience before entering the workplace. 

International Students and the Job Market

The UK’s appeal as a global education hub, attracting 350,000 non-EU students annually, adds another layer of complexity to the graduate job market. While these students contribute significantly to the economy and the vibrancy of academic research, their desire to remain in the UK post-graduation exacerbates the competition for graduate roles. 

Impact of the Financial Crisis and the Pandemic

The 2008 financial crisis further compounded the difficulties faced by graduates. The resulting economic turmoil, particularly in southern EU countries, led to heightened youth and graduate unemployment rates, prompting many to seek opportunities in the UK. This influx of job seekers, coupled with the existing oversupply of domestic graduates, intensified competition. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated these challenges, disrupting industries, and accelerating changes in the nature of work. 

Lockdowns and economic uncertainties led to hiring freezes and reduced internship opportunities, limiting graduates’ ability to gain valuable work experience. The shift towards remote work and the rapid adoption of technology has also transformed the skills required in many roles, leaving some graduates feeling underprepared for the new job market demands. Of the 180,000 graduates employed in graduate-level jobs 90,000 were hired within the tech, digital/IT sector. 

The Academic Paradox

78% of graduates secure a 2:1 or first-class degree. However, this academic success does not translate into job market advantage as it might have in the past.

The prevalence of degrees has shifted the baseline for entry-level positions, making work experience and employability skills the new differentiators. Unfortunately, many graduates find themselves in a catch-22, possessing the requisite academic credentials but lacking the practical experience and skills demanded by employers.

The Shift in Expectations and Reality

Today’s graduate job market compared to that of a few decades ago reveals a profound transformation. 

Parents who once navigated their post-education transitions with relative ease now watch their children struggle with a vastly different set of challenges.

The oversaturation of the graduate pool, combined with the evolving demands of employers, calls for a new approach to securing graduate-level employment.

Conclusion

In summary, it is not your son or daughter’s fault that they are struggling to find employment in today’s job market. This is a problem that nearly every graduate is facing after they leave university. You can help or son or daughter by ensuring they have all the skills they need to succeed in the workplace before they leave university. You can do this by getting your child a graduate coach. Contact us by using our contact form.

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Gone are the days when securing a spot in a reputable university guaranteed a smooth transition into a rewarding career. 

Today, parents find themselves on the front lines, offering support to help their children navigate a job market where the supply of graduates significantly outweighs the demand for their skills.

In this post, we discuss the new role of parents in helping their children post-graduation to help them find their footing on the career ladder. 

The Stark Reality

Back when you graduated, getting a graduate-level job after university was a significantly easier transition. Today’s graduates find themselves in an era marked by an ultra-competitive graduate job market. 

Recent statistics paint a sobering picture: 1,820,000 graduates are underemployed, signalling a mismatch between their qualifications and their job roles.

A staggering 90% of graduates struggle to identify a career path that aligns with their skills and passions. 

Additionally, 86% find it challenging to craft a compelling CV, while 85% describe job interviews as daunting experiences. 

Equally telling is that 85% acknowledge the necessity of work experience, a prerequisite that many find challenging to fulfil.

The Evolving Role of Parents

The change in the competitiveness of the graduate job market has facilitated a paradigm shift in how parents support their graduate children. 

The job of ensuring your child’s career prospects no longer stops at university admission; it evolves to meet the demands of a complex graduate job market.

Parents are now tasked with providing multifaceted support to their graduates that extends beyond financial assistance when they return home. Emotional backing, guidance in professional networking, and helping refine job search strategies are paramount.

However, this involvement is a delicate balancing act. Parents must empower, not overshadow or take over. The goal is to equip graduates with the tools and confidence needed to secure meaningful graduate-level employment, not to steer the ship themselves.

Read what not to do when your son or daughter is looking for a job. 

Emotional Support: A Cornerstone

Emotional resilience is critical in the face of inevitable setbacks that will arise during the graduate job search.

As parents, play a pivotal role in building this resilience, offering encouragement and perspective during moments of doubt.

Acknowledging the effort and progress, regardless of the outcome, helps to create a mindset of perseverance and self-belief in your graduate.

Read our guide on what to do to comfort your child when they get rejected from a graduate job. 

Financial Backing and Practical Aid

With many graduates feeling the pinch of underemployment, financial support becomes a practical necessity for some. 

Yet, equally important is assistance with tangible job search tasks—be it reviewing CVs, practising interview questions, or exploring avenues for gaining relevant work experience. Parents can also facilitate networking opportunities, leveraging their personal and professional connections.

In addition to supporting financially with living costs, parents are investing in their sons’ and daughters’ careers, through graduate career coaching. 

Read our PDF on why career coaching is an investment not a cost. 

Four ways we are a good investment 

1: Your son or daughter will get a great job. It will be in a role fit for a graduate and in 90% of cases it will be in an industry they are suited for and enjoy. The other 10% will move into better jobs over time as it’s easier to land a job from another job than if you are unemployed.

2: Your son or daughter will have acquired several life-long skills; for example, how to give a presentation, conduct in-depth research into a company and its competitors, how to talk about themselves in an unselfconscious manner, but perhaps most importantly, they will have gained immense self-confidence.

3: We can talk to grads in a way that their parents find difficult or even impossible. We know the modern-day job market inside out, and like coaches in any field, when to encourage and when to admonish. We can be spoken to in confidence at any time by both parents and grads. 

4: Grads who sign up for our six-stage programme can opt for ongoing career mentoring. We like to support grads as they climb the job ladder, helping them achieve high-salaried positions, often within two to three years. We give them mentoring advice to help them negotiate pay rises, when to move jobs and when to stay put, how to deal with a toxic boss, and in fact, every aspect of their careers.

The Case for a Graduate Career Coach

Amid these challenges, enlisting the expertise of a graduate career coach emerges as a wise investment. A graduate career coach specialises in navigating the job market’s intricacies, offering personalised advice and strategies tailored to each graduate’s aspirations and strengths.

From identifying suitable career paths and improving interviewing skills to optimising CVs for applicant tracking systems, a career coach can significantly enhance a graduate’s employability.

This investment in professional guidance can be the difference-maker, helping graduates not only to secure a job that matches their qualifications but also to embark on a fulfilling career path. Parents, by advocating for and supporting the decision to engage a career coach, can play an instrumental role in their child’s professional development.

Conclusion

The graduate job market’s competitiveness has changed the parental role from bystanders to active supporters in their children’s job search journeys. 

By providing emotional, financial, and practical support—while encouraging the use of professional services like career coaching—parents can significantly impact and influence their graduates’ career trajectories.

Get in touch with us today via our contact page.

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In the words of Bill Gates, everyone needs a coach. However, it’s hard to convince graduates of this, especially when they’ve graduated from a good university with a good degree grade. As parents, you may have already benefited from career coaching or mentoring during your career which has given you a leg up or put you on a path of success and can see how a graduate career coach is the answer to help your struggling son or daughter to finally land a good graduate job that is a good fit for their skills, with a competitive salary and progression opportunities. 

This post shares tips on how to convince your son or daughter to agree to graduate career coaching. 

Why graduates need convincing to get a graduate career coach. 

Despite the sobering statistic that 78% of graduates never land a graduate-level job (a job that requires a degree), graduates, often fail to believe that they will end up in underemployment. 

This is especially the case when they have a stellar academic record. However, the truth is that a degree alone is not enough to secure a graduate job. This emphasis on academics over demonstratable employability skills is engrained in graduates as grades were used as a primary success metric to track their progress and performance relative to their peers throughout their schooling. However, when it comes to graduate recruitment grades are not a good differentiator between candidates. 

After all, think of the tens of thousands of graduates with at least a 2:1 degree or above each year. Graduate recruiters use broader metrics as indicators of success in a candidate that extend far beyond grades. 

The demonstration of key employability skills is prioritised by graduate recruitment teams because it is a stronger indication of a candidate’s ability to do the job well as well as their potential to exceed expectations. Secondly, graduates are generally unaware of the fierce competition in the graduate job market. 

Equip with a new degree, most fresh graduates enter the job market completely unprepared and often clueless about what career is right for them with very little if any interview experience. The saying ‘you don’t know what you don’t know’ holds here as graduates tend to be unaware of the great expectations graduate recruiters have of them and firmly believe that their degree alone is enough to get them interviews and a job. 

Why parents often see the need for a graduate career coach before graduates do

As parents, the period between your son/daughter returning from university and getting their first graduate job can be challenging. You are doing your best to support them as they face inevitable setbacks on their journey to employment, but at the same time as they are now an adult, you are mindful of letting them take the lead and make their own decisions. 

Naturally, after 6+ months of searching with little or no success however, many parents begin to worry about their adult child’s job prospects and sometimes even their mental health due to the toll the job search can have on candidates. 

Even with a less-than-fruitful job search that has persisted for several months or even years, many graduates are reluctant to seek the help of a graduate career coach and often it’s the parents who step in and convince them of the need to get some professional help and support. 

With that said, here are some tips on how to convince your son or daughter to get a graduate job 

1: Emphasise the benefits of specialised career coaching and support 

A dedicated graduate career coach works closely with grads to uncover their unique blend of skills, interests, and career/life aspirations. 

This tailored approach helps pinpoint which graduate job titles align best with their profile, ensuring a clearer and more directed path towards graduate employment. Emphasising the bespoke nature of this guidance can highlight its value in helping them stand out in the highly competitive job market. 

Our one-to-one graduate coaching transforms the career prospects of grads, giving them lifelong skills gained through personal mentorship, practical tasks and an introduction to a network of contacts. We provide specialised support in areas like graduate CV writing, interview preparation, and networking strategies, all of which are crucial for a successful job search. This expert support can demystify the often-overwhelming process of starting a career as a fresh graduate. 

What our graduates gain:

• The right graduate job, not just any job. Guaranteed.
• Life-long career skills and a network of contacts.
• Continued career mentoring after landing a job. 

2: Highlight the returns gained from investing in yourself 

Investing in a career coach is investing in one’s future.

It’s about recognising the long-term benefits that come from professional guidance in these formative early career stages. Encourage your son or daughter to see this not as a cost, but as a valuable investment in their career development and future success. 

The time and money allocated to graduate career coaching will yield a return as a good graduate job will result in bountiful career opportunities. Furthermore, the skills, insights, and strategies they gain will serve them well beyond just landing their first job.

3: Encourage them to be open-minded 

Being open to new possibilities and directions is a cornerstone of career growth. A career coach can help them explore paths and opportunities they might not have considered, broadening their horizons and potentially leading to fulfilling roles they hadn’t yet considered.

Encourage your child to be receptive to the guidance and insights a career coach can offer, emphasising the importance of adaptability and openness in today’s ever-changing job market.

4: Highlight to them how competitive the job market is especially for graduates 

It’s important to be candid about the challenges new graduates face in the job market. With many vying for the same positions, having a competitive edge is more important than ever.

A career coach can provide this edge, equipping them with the tools, knowledge, and strategies to stand out among their peers. Highlighting this aspect can underscore the practical advantages of engaging with a career coach.

Here are some key statistics on the graduate job market: 

• 1,820,000 graduates are underemployed 
• 90% of graduates said they found it difficult to work out what job would suit them best.
• 86% said they find it difficult to create a good CV.
• 85% said they find interviews difficult and nerve-wracking.
• 85% admitted needing work experience before entering the workplace.

5: Share success stories with them 

Nothing speaks louder than success. Share stories of how career coaching has transformed the job search for other graduates, leading to opportunities and career paths they might not have secured on their own. These real-life examples can inspire and motivate them to consider how a career coach might help them achieve their own career goals.

Here at Graduate Coach, we have helped over 5000 graduates land their dream jobs at companies including PwC, JP Morgan, Amazon, UBS, NHS, KPMG and more. Find out more about our successes. 

Graduate Coach is here to help 

Here at Graduate Coach, we are here to help. We’ve helped over 5000 students and graduates to land their dream jobs. If you are a parent of a graduate who has been struggling to get a graduate job, contact us today. We will happily call you at your convenience to discuss how we can help your son or daughter with our one-to-one career coaching and graduate interview preparation. 

Summary 

Graduates and their parents alike are so proud on graduation day and filled with the hope of an imminent job offer. However, this hope turns into despair with every passing month when graduate employment is not secured. Even though the lengthy job application process takes its toll on graduates over time, they rarely seek professional support and it is increasingly the role of parents to identify the need for a graduate career coach, convince their son or daughter to get coaching and initiate the first steps of getting a career coach.

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Navigating the graduate job market is not easy. The competition is fierce, interviews are intense and the expectations from graduate recruiters are high. The transition from academia to employment is made all the more challenging by the fact that not all grads know what they want to do upon leaving university, making it difficult to put together a tailored CV. Plus how do you get experience without any experience? Fortunately, there’s a plethora of support available to graduates to help you to land your dream graduate job. This blog post explores the wealth of resources and support systems in place to assist graduates during their job hunt.

1: Graduate Coach 

Graduate Coach is the UK’s leading graduate career coaching company. We have helped over 5000 students and graduates land graduate-level jobs and boost their career development with our expert career advice. Our alumni earn on average £55,000 two years after receiving our help. We offer a number of services tailored to help students and graduates to land their dream grad job, including, interview coaching, one-to-one career coaching, online courses, books and more. 

In the words of Bill Gates, everyone needs a coach. This holds true for graduates looking for their first job out of university. Career coaching can help you to understand yourself and your skills, which graduate job titles would be a good fit, how to tailor your applications and how to excel in graduate interviews.

If you need support getting a graduate job, get in touch with us via our contact form. 

2: Interview Attire Support

We’ve all heard the phrase dress for success. First impressions matter, and how you dress for an interview regardless of whether it is in-person or online can significantly impact your chances of success. 

Recognising this, several charities and organisations in the UK offer support to those who might not have the means to purchase appropriate interview attire. For example, Dress for Success and Suited & Booted provide free professional clothing for job seekers to wear to their interviews. 

These services not only help you look the part but also help to boost your confidence during interviews.

3: Mental Health Support

Searching for a graduate job can be a stressful experience. Additionally, due to the competitiveness of the graduate job market, receiving several rejections is common. Rejection after rejection can have a negative impact on confidence and self-esteem. This can be worsened if seemingly all of your university peers are receiving offers.

The good news is, there’s ample mental health support available. 

Many universities extend their counselling services to recent graduates, offering a safe space to discuss any anxieties or stress related to job searching. 

Additionally, charities like Mind provide resources and support for mental health. They offer advice on managing stress and can guide you to professional help if needed.

4: Recruiters who Specialise in Graduates 

There are several recruitment agencies in the UK that specialise in helping graduates find their first professional role after university. These agencies understand the unique challenges graduates face and work closely with companies looking to hire fresh talent.

Engaging with such recruiters can provide you with access to a wider range of job opportunities, including some not advertised publicly.

Here at Graduate Coach, we have compiled a list of graduate recruitment agencies. 

5: Online Resources and Job Boards

The internet is filled with resources tailored to job-seeking graduates. Websites such as Prospects and Graduate-Jobs are dedicated to graduate careers, offering job listings, advice on job searching, and insights into different industries.

Leveraging these platforms can help you understand the job market better and identify potential opportunities to apply for. 

6: Company Events and Career Fairs

Career fairs and events allow you to meet people, showcase your skills and learn about job opportunities. 

Attending company events, career fairs, and industry meetups is an excellent way to network in person and learn about job openings.

Many businesses and organisations host events specifically targeting graduates

Actively search online for career-related events such as career fairs, open days, industry events and networking opportunities. 

7: Charitable Organisations and Support Groups

There are numerous charities and support groups dedicated to assisting job seekers.

For instance, The Prince’s Trust offers programs and workshops to help young people develop skills and confidence to enter the job market. 

Conclusion 

The journey from graduation to securing your first graduate role can be challenging, but it’s important to remember that you’re absolutely not alone. There are a wealth of resources designed to support you through this transition. 

Identify what is holding you back, then take advantage of the help and support that is available, to help you to accelerate your graduate job search. Remember, here at Graduate Coach, we help students, graduates and international students to land their dream job by offering 1-to-1 career coaching and interview preparation. 

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Diving into a communications degree ignites a world of opportunities across a diverse landscape of careers. Whether you thrive in the limelight or prefer the dynamism behind the curtain, this field is ripe with possibilities that cater to every pace and preference. As the digital world continues to spin at a dizzying speed, communications professionals are in high demand, with the digitisation of content continuously opening new avenues.

The versatility of a communications career cannot be understated. It’s an industry where versatility is an asset, allowing for fluid transitions between roles—each furnished with a chance to enhance your professional toolkit. Whether you aim to be a master in a focused discipline or you’re inclined to wear multiple hats, here’s a glimpse of potential career paths for those armed with a communications degree.

Pursuing Public Relations Excellence

In the bustling world of communications, the role of a Public Relations Specialist stands out as a keystone in shaping the image and voice of an organisation. These strategic communicators are the torchbearers of an organisation’s brand, deftly navigating the ever-changing media landscape. With a career that spans government agencies, corporate sectors, media conglomerates, and non-profits, a PR Specialist is often the starting block for ambitious communications graduates. Here’s an insight into the growth and dynamism of this career.

The Evolution of a PR Maven

A journey in public relations often starts with the foundational role of a Public Relations Officer. Armed with a communications degree, graduates dive into the high-energy realm of marketing and communications agencies. This initial foray is rich with learning and paves the way to ascend into roles such as Coordinator, Specialist, Consultant, and ultimately PR Manager. With each step, the opportunity to branch out across diverse sectors beckons.

The PR Specialist’s Craft

At the core of a Public Relations Specialist’s job is the art of curating a positive public identity for clients. This is accomplished through various channels:

• Engaging and forging robust relationships with stakeholders.
• Crafting compelling media kit materials and event narratives.
• Gauging and steering public sentiment.
• Managing crises and organisational narratives with aplomb.

Core Capabilities for Success in PR

To flourish in public relations, one must possess a specific set of talents. These include superb interpersonal and articulate communication skills, topped with the ability to:

• Advocate and articulate with clarity and confidence.
• Strategically untangle problems and generate solutions.
• Act swiftly and thoughtfully in high-pressure scenarios.
• Juggle multiple tasks without dropping the ball.
• Stay ahead of the pulse of media trends.
• Forge and nurture vital stakeholder connections.

Mastering the Social Media Spectrum

Navigating the universe of social media presents an exhilarating frontier for those with a degree in communications. Social media has matured into a pivotal battleground for brands seeking to captivate and connect with their audience in real-time. For recent communications graduates, the entry point might typically be roles like Social Media Assistant or Content Creator before climbing up the ranks to Social Media Coordinator and eventually management roles.

Building a Social Media Career Ladder

In the sprawling field of social media, starting off in entry-level positions such as a Social Media Officer or Content Specialist is common, offering a rich foundation for growth. Ambitious professionals can grow to oversee entire digital landscapes, graduating to coordinator roles and then to management levels where the power to analyse and engage becomes pivotal. Specialisations such as Social Media Analyst or Community Manager beckon those with an itch for targeted expertise.

The Strategic Role of a Social Media Manager

Behind every vibrant social media page is a Social Media Manager curating a tapestry of posts, tweets, and content. These digital connoisseurs are tasked with:

• Monitoring conversation threads and audience sentiments.
• Fostering partnerships within the digital ecosystem.
• Leading cross-platform digital marketing initiatives.
• Translating social analytics into actionable strategies.

Essential Skills for a Social Media Connoisseur

Flourishing in the social media realm demands a kaleidoscope of competencies. A Social Media Manager must creatively spark conversations, anticipate trends, and relentlessly pursue audience insights while collaborating with influencers, visual artists, and writers. They must also possess the agility to recalibrate their strategic compass with the ever-shifting digital winds.

The Art of Persuasion: The Copywriter’s Realm

In the realm of marketing and communications, Copywriters stand as masters of the written word, wielding their pens like wands to enchant and persuade. Their arena spans marketing agencies, corporate communication departments, and even the adventurous world of freelance gigs. With an eye for detail that misses nothing, these linguistic craftsmen mould narratives that stick.

The Craft of Copywriting in Marketing

Copywriters are the architects of persuasion, crafting compelling content for both print and digital canvases. Their day-to-day is a lively mix of:

• Orchestrating words that captivate.
• Scouring drafts for perfection in editing and proofreading sessions.
• Upholding and enriching the brand voice.
• Mining audience data and subjects with a detective’s keenness.
• Embarking on quests for SEO gold.
• Weaving their narrative magic in cahoots with graphic designers and digital marketing wizards.

The Copywriter’s Toolkit

To step into a Copywriter’s shoes, one must stride with a portfolio brimming with more than just impeccable writing. Intricate attention to detail is paramount, alongside an adaptable nature, unwavering research skills, a wellspring of creativity, and a propensity for teamwork. These are not just skills but the lifeblood of a successful Copywriter’s career.

Therefore, a postgraduate communications degree can be the gateway to a dynamic and ever-evolving career in public relations, social media management, or copywriting. With the right skill set and a passion for creating compelling narratives, one can carve their path in this exciting landscape of communication and marketing. The possibilities are endless, and the journey is bound to be thrilling for those with an eye on the horizon.

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If you did not secure a graduate job at university, you might now be in a position where you have taken on some short-term work to make money and gain experience. However, you might have your mind set on getting a graduate-level job that better aligns with your degree or career aspiration. Juggling a full-time job while seeking a graduate job opportunity can be daunting. Yet, it’s a path many graduates find themselves navigating. If you’re in this boat, read on, as we will share practical tips for looking for a graduate job whilst working full-time. 

1: Set clear career goals – work smart, not hard

Don’t just start applying for graduate jobs willy-nilly and hope to hear back from a recruiter. Instead, take a moment to reflect on what you’re looking for. 

Do this by thinking about your skills and researching graduate-level job titles that align with your goals. 

Setting clear goals will not only help you narrow down your search but also save you time, allowing you to send high-quality focused applications. 

Furthermore, your CV and cover letters should be highly relevant to the role you are going after. 

2: Create a schedule – allocate some time to your job search each day 

When working a 9-5, there are not enough hours in the day to dedicate to your graduate job search. Furthermore, after a long day at work, booting up your computer to resume your job search may be the last thing on your mind.

This is where time management becomes crucial. Aim to allocate specific times for your graduate job search activities. Aim to allocate at least 15 minutes per day to check your inbox for any messages or replies from recruiters, then allocate a further 30 minutes to an hour to other job search activities such as updating your CV or sending out job applications. 

The main thing is to ensure that you stay consistent and give yourself enough time to rest each evening. 

3: Leverage and build your Network

Don’t underestimate the power of your network.

Do reach out to former classmates, lecturers, or colleagues who might have leads or career advice. Often, opportunities come from connections within your network.

Don’t hesitate to attend industry meetups or professional events, even if it means stepping out of your comfort zone. These interactions can open doors to opportunities that might not be advertised publicly.

Do go prepared to networking events with your CV to hand and business cards to hand to prospective leads. 

As you’ll be occupied during the day, you’ll need to plan networking time into your schedule. Utilise your evenings and weekends to build up and maintain your network. 

4: Optimise Your Application Process

Applying for jobs can be time-consuming, but there are ways to streamline the process. 

1: Create a template for your graduate CV and cover letter that you can easily customise for each graduate job application. This will save you time and ensure that you’re tailoring your application to each specific role.

2: Make use of job search engines and LinkedIn to filter and apply for jobs that fit your criteria. 3: Put together a spreadsheet to track your graduate job applications. 

4: Set up job alerts and notifications. 

5: Focus on Quality Over Quantity

While it might be tempting to apply for as many jobs as possible, focusing on quality applications is more effective. 

Take the time to research the companies you’re applying to and tailor your application to show why you’re a good fit. A well-crafted, personalised application is more likely to stand out than a generic one. Graduate recruiters are trained to identify genuine interest. 

6: Seek Feedback

Feedback and guidance will help you to make changes to your job applications/interview techniques and essentially help you land your graduate job sooner. 

Take any advice you get to improve. Don’t be discouraged by setbacks; each interview is a learning opportunity.

Sometimes feedback isn’t readily given during the job search process. Many rejection emails will come with generic feedback if any. At all times, seek out feedback. 

-Ask for feedback after interviews
-Ask for feedback after rejected applications where possible
-Ask people in your chosen industry to review your CV

7: Take Care of Yourself

Lastly, don’t forget to take care of yourself. 

Job searching can be stressful, especially when you’re balancing it with a full-time job. 

Make sure to set aside time for activities that you enjoy and that help you relax. Managing stress is crucial to maintaining the stamina needed for your job search journey.

8: Showcase your current experience on your CV

As you’ve already graduated and you have some experience under your belt, you can leverage this as a way to stand out from other students/graduates.

Employers are interested in your employability skills so be sure to showcase them on your CV and refer to them in your interviews to give you a competitive edge. 

Closing thoughts 

Embarking on a job search while working a full-time job is undoubtedly challenging, but it’s far from impossible. 

Remember, every application counts and every interview attended brings you one step closer to your desired graduate career path. It will be worth it in the end. 

If you are struggling to land a graduate job, get in touch with us via our contact form. We can help you. 

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The dissertation is complete. The last exam is finished. Your degree is done and you can finally release that held breath. Yet, the euphoria quickly gives way to adulthood. Now comes the challenge of figuring out where to go next. You’re not alone, we’ve all been there. 

In fact, that’s why I’m writing this – here’s 10 tough truths I learnt about life after university.

Lesson 1: Job Hunting

You’re not going to walk into your dream job at the click of a button. In fact, you might find that there’s a period of (for lack of a better word) unemployment. My first job took a month of applying. We’re oft told ‘get a degree, it’ll lead to a job/it’ll open your prospects/it’s a magical solution’. Sadly, that’s often untrue. There’s some stiff competition out there. 

With 900,000 students graduating each year, a 1st or a 2:1 is no longer enough. Whilst having a degree is an achievement – let’s not deny that – it alone won’t secure the graduate job of your dreams.

Stand out in a competitive job market with 1-2-1 interview coaching >>

Lesson 2: Everything Comes to an End

After years of being joined at the hip, detaching yourself from the university crowd can be painful. Universities collect students from across the world, so it’s inevitable that you’ll lose touch after as people gravitate back home, or onto the next leg of their journey. 

It’s normal to feel some sort of loss for the life you’ve known for 3 or more years. It can be disorientating transitioning from university to working life, but now’s the time to invest in your career and look forward.

Lesson 3: Learning the Value of a Paycheque

Who doesn’t enjoy a cheeky coffee, a sneaky drink, or a delivery dinner? But nowadays everything has a high price tag, be it your weekly shop, utility bills or council tax. It’s becoming harder to keep a tight reign on finances. Let alone living your best life. 

One way to conserve cash is by practising resourcefulness. That gym membership? Save water by showering there at the end of your workout. Your phone insurance? Buy it through a comparison site that gives added benefits like a free coffee once a week. Your current account? Take advantage of cashback offers. You don’t have to be traditionally frugal to be smart with money.

Lesson 4: Broaden Your Horizons

When you start working, time is tight between sleeping, eating, and working. It can be a shock to the system to realise how little you actually have for downtime. 

Make the most of your weekends. Everyone needs to crash sometimes – especially when starting a new job – but getting out is good for your mental health. Plus doing something different (remember the first time you ever took a train?) is a confidence boost to boot. 

Lesson 5: Fake It ‘til You Make It

Meeting new people is scary. The thought of becoming a hermit crab can be a darn sight more appealing. But no one learns from playing it safe. Confronting your fears is an opportunity for the expansion of you as a person and your career. Make an active effort to be visible in your chosen field by attending job fairs and following the major players online. It’s an easy way to get out there, make connections, and stay in tune with the industry.

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Lesson 6: Every Day’s a School Day

As humans, we’re perpetually growing, building out our ideas and schemas of the world around us. That doesn’t stop when we reach adulthood. It certainly doesn’t stop because we finished our formal schooling. In fact, ‘soft skills’ can take decades to hone. Every day is an opportunity to practice our communication, adaptability, and problem-solving skills.

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Lesson 7: Stay Busy

Finishing uni isn’t the end of the road. It’s a big milestone that no doubt you’ll need a rest from. But you’ll get bored pretty quickly if you let yourself switch off completely. Staying busy keeps your mind sharp and your motivation high. Finish that work of fiction, grow windowsill herbs, do a wardrobe clear-out. 

Lesson 8: Don’t Get Caught in the Comparison Game

Social media has a sneaky way of making us feel like life is a competition. As you’re doomscrolling social media feeds, you’ll see many meals, posed pics, and self-promotional posts. It makes it hard to know what’s real, and even more difficult to gauge how much of a ‘success’ someone is making of themselves. It’s all too easy to feel inadequate because our real life doesn’t measure up to the perfect image projected by others.

Lesson 9: A Career Doesn’t Have to Be a Calling

There are some careers – think science – that you have to pursue like a lion and a gazelle. You have to do the right A Levels, the right degree, maybe even take it to Masters and a PhD. But many graduates go on to do something that’s unrelated. For example, just because you did English Lit doesn’t mean you have to be a writer. Understanding your loves, your strengths, and what you want from life is key.

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Lesson 10: Everyone Makes Mistakes

It’s true. From little hiccups to great big whoppers, no one’s perfect. Think of them as lessons rather than mistakes. Don’t be too hard on yourself when things don’t go as planned. Growth doesn’t come from perfection. It comes from challenges and mistakes, and every experience is an opportunity to learn and improve.

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For many recent graduates, the transition from academia to the professional world can be both exhilarating and daunting. It’s not hard to see why: you get to really start your life and the career that you’ve always wanted, but at the same time, you know for a fact that the job market is incredibly competitive! In fact, right on the final days before graduation, this is what stresses out so many students. 

What if I can’t find a job? What if no one wants to hire me? How long will it take? What can I do for income in the meantime? All of these are completely valid points, too. However, with that said, sometimes it might be best to just start a business. You can’t always sit around for eight hours a day and hope you hear back from a recruiter. Sadly, it just doesn’t work that way, and you could apply to thousands of jobs and land absolutely nothing.

You need solid experience to get a job, but you need a job for said experience. You know all about this Catch-22. But there is one way to go about this, and this often goes overlooked but holds tremendous potential for growth, learning, and fulfilment: entrepreneurship. But why go for this? Well, this might actually be your ticket to getting a good start after graduating, and here’s exactly why!

You’ll Be Unleashing Your Creativity Exactly How You Want To

As fresh graduates, you bring a unique perspective, fresh ideas, and boundless creativity to the table. You’re reading to start the world, you’re ready to really make an impact, and sometimes, you can make that impact for yourself. So, with that said, starting a business allows you to channel your creativity into building something meaningful from the ground up. 

Whether you’re passionate about technology, sustainability, or social impact, entrepreneurship provides a platform to innovate, disrupt industries, and address pressing challenges in new and imaginative ways. Sometimes, only you can give yourself the choice; sometimes, only you can make a change. If you’re going to be your own boss, then you can do just this. 

You’re Learning On-The-Go

Internships don’t always teach you what you need to learn, and company or employee training might not do it either. So you might be expected to know something that’s not even possible for you to learn at any time. Then, of course, you might be at risk of losing your job, and the list could just keep continuing. With that said, however. 

Starting a business provides a hands-on education like no other. As an entrepreneur, you’ll wear multiple hats, from product development and marketing to finance and operations. While sure, having lots of responsibilities at first can be a bad thing, at the same time, it can also be seen as good. This is because it is a nice way to learn about other departments, and it really helps in building that foundation of knowledge. 

This gives you the chance to learn about tools that you didn’t even know existed, like document data extraction, but this also means that you can teach yourself how to properly read data and make data-driven decisions (not something that’s often taught in university). Each day presents new challenges and opportunities for growth, allowing you to develop a diverse skill set, hone your problem-solving abilities, and cultivate resilience in the face of adversity.

You’re Taking Control of Your Own Destiny

So, you really need to keep in mind that entrepreneurship empowers you to take control of your destiny and shape your own career path. You don’t always get to have this choice when looking for work; sometimes, you have to deal with what they give you, and who would even want that? So, instead of waiting for opportunities to come knocking (and they rarely do), you have the freedom to create your own opportunities and pursue your passions on your terms. 

It’s Easier to Build Up a Network

Starting a business provides ample opportunities to network with like-minded individuals, industry experts, and potential collaborators. It sounds a little odd, but people are less inclined to reach out or network with you if you’re just an employee. People love the passion and risks that business owners take, so you’ll come off as more enticing to them. On top of that, the connections you make early in your entrepreneurial journey can prove invaluable as you navigate the ups and downs of building a business.

Failure Will Be Nothing More Than a Stepping Stone

There’s absolutely no doubt about it, but entrepreneurship is not without its challenges, and failure is an inevitable part of the journey. But this doesn’t make you a bad business owner in the slightest. In fact, you should see failure as a valuable learning experience that propels you forward. Everyone will fail in their career at least once, and starting a business early in your career allows you to embrace failure as a natural part of the learning process and build resilience in the face of setbacks.

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The efforts made by Brainsouls to connect with clients must include digital marketing. More individuals enter the over sixty percent of the world’s population. They are those who use the internet daily. It is no longer enough to have an online presence. Companies must view online advertising as a critical component of their plan. It is to assist clients via online avenues and cultivate connections through the years.

What is Digital Marketing?

The web-based advertising of businesses, goods, or offerings is known as digital marketing. Developers of social networking accounts who promote their customers on these platforms are online marketers. Determining whether this is the perfect job might be aided by discovering more about the sector. An internet marketer is a person who promotes offerings and increases their visibility. It is by reaching out to prospective clients through a variety of digital media. They may be in charge of execution, tactics, organising, and innovation.

Business Analysis: What is it?

Assessing, controlling, and evaluating advertising results is known as marketing analysis. It is to maximise efficiency and optimise the return on invested money. Massive volumes of data are sorted through by marketers. It is to extract information that will enable more effective client and target promotion. The marketing staff uses these insights to create content that encourages conversions, optimise existing products, and create sponsored branding campaigns.

Jobs in Digital Marketing:

After you finish with a degree, you may explore different careers. These jobs might let you put different skills. It includes marketing, brand promotion, and online interpersonal abilities you’re learning in school. Finding information about various occupations and their requirements might be helpful. It helps you to organise for the future in your professional life.

Methods to Get a Job in Digital Marketing:

Study The Fundamentals:

The first logical step for anyone new is to familiarise themselves with the term. It is vital to learn the primary elements that comprise it. The method of advertising over the web is referred to as digital marketing. It offers a variety of platforms covering every facet of internet advertising. It’s important to know that there are many procedures within that field.

Get a Degree:

A bachelor’s degree in online advertising can assist learners. It helps in gaining an in-depth awareness of the discipline’s foundational concepts. It assists in how to use the techniques to meet the tactical goals of a company. Recognising moral issues may help a business uphold its dedication to improving society. It also entails knowing the difficulties faced by companies in an international setting.

Gain Expertise in Digital Advertising:

Despite starting roles, you’ll additionally need to have a background in digital marketing. Engaging in independent projects is a typical strategy to get expertise. Speak with people in your circle. It is to find out whom they would recommend and what chances there are for providing services. For temporary and independent contractor positions, check out employment portals. 

Get Professional Skills in Advertising:

Although fellowships are a means of gaining knowledge, there are methods to develop expertise. Offer a neighbourhood company or aid your services as an intern. It is an excellent approach to practice. It is using a range of platforms like Brainsouls. Launch a venture of your own in online marketing. This might entail beginning a networking strategy or starting a web page.

Make the Most of Your Internet Existence:

To showcase your skills and prospective contributions to a company, your internet presence serves a role. These are some strategies to maximise your web visibility. Share posts about internet advertising on your social media accounts. Change the material on the social networking accounts. It is to post on your expertise or broader developments in digital marketing. Add your educational background, professional background, and abilities to your online resume.

Launch a Portal of Your Own:

The following step is getting your palms grim and start learning digital marketing. It is once you have mastered the fundamentals. Creating a custom website is an effective method to put strategies into practice. Digital marketing is quantifiable and useful; it is not a hypothetical topic. Understanding the philosophy underlying the internet and Search is insufficient. You must be able to put the various strategies into exercise.

Become an Intern in Digital Marketing:

Getting a genuine position as an intern in a reputable business is vital. It is another quick approach to expand your expertise. It is a suggested course. It will teach you the inner workings of a contemporary online advertising business. It will be more challenging to launch a marketing job without an employment history. It is because you will have to learn things from the ground up.

Follow Up With Changes and Continue Learning:

Techniques for digital advertising are always evolving. It’s a reality that the world of digital marketing is evolving. Every year, Search makes dozens of modifications to its natural and sponsored results. It implies that you ought to be aware that gaining knowledge will be an everyday component of your work. It is if you want to pursue a profession in online advertising.

Is Working In Online Marketing Effective?

A fantastic career option is marketing online. Businesses must enhance their online presence as internet advertising positions are rising globally. Specialists are paid more than those in other fields. Over $75,000 is an average yearly salary in the United States. For those looking to work at house, digital marketing is perfect. It is because it doesn’t allow you to be situated in one place.

Final Words:

The field of digital advertising is made up of a variety of fields. If you wish to work at the top of the wage scale, you must be a specialist in each of them. Practising on your website is the best approach to mastering marketing techniques. Make a blog and begin contributing articles. After spending some time perfecting web optimisation. Take advantage of the chance to work with a reputable internet advertising company. Focusing on several projects and collaborating with specialists will provide you with vital training.

Author Bio:

Rafia Tahir provides SEO writing and copywriting services. Her experience in the digital marketing field helps her in tackling topics ranging from career and business productivity to web development and digital marketing. She occasionally writes articles for Brainsouls. 

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