My tips for university graduates trying to secure positions in 2021

There is a great deal of optimism for the second half 2021 and there is already some decent momentum in many industries.  As we continue to set up for the “new normal”, this spring and summer may still be a transitioning period for students and recent graduates searching for new positions.  Many companies will be hiring back experienced full timers or easing those people back into full time roles, before they set up the framework for hiring part time students or recent graduates with minimal work experience.

If you know someone/have someone in your family in the latter category, there are some things that can be done in order to increase their likelihood for success in securing long term positions.

Here are my tips!

1.     Consider short-term work or work outside of your area of expertise.  This is becoming more common at all levels as many people move towards a model that includes a main job, a side hustle and volunteer work.  All employers do/will understand why resumes look the way they do for the time period of 2020-2021. Customer service work, warehouse distribution, or food delivery may be unexpected ways to pay the bills and to stay busy, but they can also compliment the time that you spend in trying to position yourself into the field of your chosen profession.  This approach can also work to your advantage by showing your ability to adjust and adapt versus others who may choose to not work at all or live off family/government support until their specific field starts to hire full time employees.  Companies are attracted to positive people who roll up their sleeves and make the best of a difficult situation and they also prefer employees who do not have an ego or who think that certain jobs are too menial for them. Show off your initiative and work ethic! 

2.     Prioritize your transferable skills and soft skills that can assist you in following your desired career path.  There are likely ways to highlight and develop these skills that you can leverage later when applying for future positions.  Opportunities to work with customers, present to people, problem solve or work in teams are the most attractive attributes for companies.  Where can you position yourself with this kind of work in addition to leveraging your strengths? 

3.     Continue to network.  This skill is one that should constantly be refined throughout your life and is not something that should just be done when you are between positions.  There is evidence that you will be between jobs on average 3 times during your working career.  There is also an 80% chance that your next job will come through networking and not through a job posting.  The smart money is on networking and not applying to jobs online. 

4.     Practicing for video interviews and phone interviews is what separates the best candidates from the rest of the pack.  It is one of the most overlooked and forgotten aspects of a job search.  Don’t try to “wing it” during an interview.  Your competition is practicing for their interview for the exact same position.  You have 1 chance to make a good impression.  Anticipate interview questions and practice your answers to behavioural questions prior to your meeting.  If you are already investing your time into the interview, you may as well increase your chances of success.

5.     Create and refine your professional presence on social media.  Join professional interest and industry groups online that can help give you exposure to the field and the people in your desired profession.  Interact with similar professional social accounts to expand your network and improve your industry knowledge while you build your online profile.

6.     Consider more professional training and education BUT be wary of adding debt.  It is important to ask yourself and others if extra knowledge will accelerate success in landing your desired position, or will it just add unnecessary debt and further delay the start of your working career.

7.     Stay positive and focused on your end goal.  Keep clear on what you want to do and do anything you can do to accelerate that into happening during real time.  Remember that your situation is temporary and that you are learning and gaining much more experience about yourself and your environment than you realize.  

Farewell,

Mike

Recruit King

Experts in Off The Market Talent

www.recruitking.ca

mike@recruitking.ca