Graduate Job Search – Doing the Usual Stuff? Don’t!
Posted by options on October 16, 2011 · Leave a Comment
Dear Graduate,
I hope you are not doing the usual in your job hunting activities. If you are STOP IT NOW! These are unusual times; to do usual things in unusual times is an invitation to disaster that you can’t afford.
Let me tell you the background to this ‘doing the usual’ story. Recently, I attended the Graduate Recruitment fair at the Olympia where I conversed with many graduates who are job searching. I asked questions about how useful the event was for them, how their job search is going, and what contingency plans do they have in place etc. From the answers, I noticed a growing anxiety among many.
Particularly, I spent more time with a young lady; a 2.1International Business graduate. Our conversation went thus:
“How is it going in job search front?”
“Not like I want it” she replied.
“What are you doing to change things then, like what strategies do you have in place to find a job?”
“The usual” she answered.
“What do you mean the usual?” I queried
“Well, I send my CV, register online, and attend exhibitions like this.”
“What more do you do?”
“What else can I do? There is nothing I can do but wait for recruiters to find me and call me for interviews”.
Our conversation went on a little bit further during which I commended her that doing the ‘usual’ is the right thing to do.
But today, doing the usual things is grossly inadequate to make secure employment as soon as possible. Whereas sending CV’s are great but that is a passive way to gain visibility. In the market with so much competition, you need to be a lot more visible. One way you could gain more visibility is to write articles for your professional body, newspapers or magazines. 
Doing those extra little things will give the necessary exposure to places where you would not normally have access.
Wishing you the best!