Alex Thomas examines the making or the breaking of your career…
I’m sure that the majority of you are not worried at all, or haven’t even thought about getting a graduate job. We are, after all, studying at the University of The Year. Employers love that stuff, right? Having gone through the process myself this year, I too started off with a similar attitude. It didn’t take me long, though, before I realised it wouldn’t be a walk in the park, but more like a walk around campus; an uphill effort to get to your destination.
We are constantly bombarded with stories of unemployed graduates and high applications to job ratios (56 applicants for every graduate job) which highlight the fact that a good degree alone is not enough.
One way of securing a job upon graduation is by getting a summer internship. High Fliers’ annual review of the graduate market said 75% of graduate vacancies advertised by City investment banks and half the training contracts offered by leading law firms are likely to be filled by graduates who have already completed experience with the employer. Many recruiters are warning graduates who have no previous work experience that they have little chance of receiving a job offer.
Can you afford not to get a summer internship? Having secured myself an accountancy internship this summer, here’s a guide to getting that golden opportunity:
1. Start early and prepare; update your CV and start to think about what industries or careers interest you. Sectors range from marketing and journalism, to engineering and finance, so starting to explore all of your options is a good way to start.
2. Don’t leave your applications too late, they can be time consuming and many companies will fill up before their closing dates, which makes it much harder to get jobs later on. Don’t lose out to the early birds.
3. There are lots of resources for internships or graduate jobs. I found The Times and RateMyPlacement were the best, but other good sources include Target jobs and Milkround. Don’t apply to any old scheme, as there are so many out there. Find schemes that interest you, make a list of potential companies and rank them in order of preference.
4. The application forms can be time consuming and tend to ask similar questions. I found it handy to have a word document with all the questions and my answers, so I could work on them at my own leisure. It’s also handy for the repeated questions that inevitably blight the application process. If the time that you saved a cat from a tree was when you reacted quickly to a bad situation, then why do you need to constantly write up other examples?
5. Apply to at least 12 companies, although for very competitive markets such as investment banking, apply for more. Making a note of the deadlines and the stages you have reached is a good idea so you don’t get confused.
6. Prepare for rejections. If conservation work on the beaches of Costa Rica or conquering your fears with the largest bungee jump in the world didn’t impress employers enough, they were probably just jealous.
7. You may be asked to perform psychometric tests, which include numeracy, verbal and non-verbal reasoning assessments. It is well worth practicing before; you can even buy practice kits if you fancy. It is amazing how many companies use the same testing software with similar questions and answers, so if you practice enough it really does pay off.
8. When you get that interview don’t put too much pressure on it. The key is to be well prepared but also be relaxed and confident in your abilities. It might help you to organise a mock interview so you know what to expect; helpful housemates can be invaluable. Be yourself, because they don’t want someone reeling off standard answers; they want someone who would add something to the company. Glassdoor.co.uk is a really good web-site for finding out what others have been asked in interviews. It may not sound much, but if you are prepared to be asked what their share price is or who the CEO is then you stand a much better chance of getting the gig. Think of it like The Apprentice, but much more friendly. Good luck!
Alex Thomas
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