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.
Featured image by Los Muertos Crew from Pexels
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