Approaching the world of work for the first time can be a daunting experience for graduates. They now have the task of choosing which direction they want their working career to take, but they may not be ready to make that decision just yet. The types of jobs applied for will undoubtedly be influenced by the nature of the education undertaken, but students never need to be held back and can always take the career path they crave. There is plenty of advice available to digest and take heed of to get them on their way.

Flexible job hunting

One thing that modern students learn as they progress through higher education is how they need to be flexible and able to adapt to the situation in which they find themselves. This is a skill that will serve them well in their career also, and is something that is looked favourably on by employers. While students often have their ideal career mapped out, things do not always work out as they expect and they will suffer setbacks. This is when they have a chance to shine and show what they’re really made of.

As a graduate, one of the first priorities when searching for a job is to decide where you want to work; are you happy to relocate if necessary or are you tied to a particular area? Some may, for example, be focusing searches around jobs London has to offer. If a student has just acquired a university degree and is looking for graduate placements, most of them will be situated in the capital.

That said, if graduates can be flexible in the location of employment, they may well reap the rewards; much employment is located in London, but when it comes to graduate jobs Birmingham is home to a fair few as well, and there plenty of places across the UK. Even though London may have been a first priority, perhaps as much for the lifestyle it offers as for the jobs available, this doesn’t mean that graduates should completely exclude other locations. Dream jobs may well become available in the country’s second city, and having to relocate to work in Birmingham is a small sacrifice to guarantee a great start to a fledgling career. As a young adult there are few better times to move, too, as graduates are likely to have fewer ties to a specific city and have little holding them back.

Using the tools available

Recent graduates and school leavers will face considerable competition in securing their first job. This means that it’s up to the individual to show potential employers that they’re the ideal employee. The easiest way to do this is to make sure the CV is of the highest standard and fully highlights the skills on offer. Tweaking CVs for each application made ensures the skills a graduate has directly correlates to the position available.

There is plenty of advice on the Internet on how graduates can structure CVs and how to make ensure a resume that stands out from the crowd.

Finishing full time education is an exciting time, when not only can graduates look back at what they’ve achieved, but can also look forward to the job prospects that lie ahead. Job hunting can be a daunting prospect, but as long as they make the most of the resources available for job seekers and are able to adapt to opportunities that arise, graduates should be buying that new office tie very soon indeed.

See also: Graduate recruitment – is it right for my small business?