You could already be working somewhere, but the chances of passing an interview are slim despite your long list of accomplishments. While having a reputable university’s name attached to your degree and having excellent grades may help you find a good job as a recent graduate, it is undeniable that these factors must be in alignment with additional efforts. Below we provide some useful tips on what fresh graduates should avoid securing a position in their desired workplace.
They say your resume can make or break your career. Now, as a fresh graduate, you don’t want to lower your chance of getting a position in your desired company. For that, you need to ensure your resume is professional. Avoid using colorful schemes and decorations or beautifying them with patterns. It is, after all, your CV and not your wedding invitation.
Keep your resume concise but accurate. Avoid including unnecessary details like height, weight, or complexion unless the job requires it. It is preferable only to have information relevant to the field you are applying for. This will give the hiring manager more information about your job qualifications and skill set.
When looking for jobs, especially as fresh graduates, students tend to apply for jobs that are not suitable for them. While this may seem wise, we recommend not doing so, as your resume will not be considered. It is best to apply to companies that have an opening with a role that matches your degree and skills.
Avoid mentioning any courses or projects you worked on in your early years. This is especially true for projects that are not aligned with the current role. It consumes space in your CV, and it might even be a project you don’t remember at that point.
If an interviewer asks about your strengths during the interview, make sure you don’t use any of the cliché lines. If you use them at any time, you must also have examples to support the statement. Your responses need to be logical and sensible. So, for instance, if you say you are flexible and can work as an individual or with a team, there has to be a reference to it. As a fresh graduate, you may not have the experience, so it is best to avoid such statements.
Your salary expectations should be clear from the start. Avoid making comparisons, such as someone is being offered AED 15,000 whereas you are only provided AED 7,000. There might be various reasons for this, such as different industries or even the type of company. However, if you feel you deserve that amount, you’ll have to have a strong statement to justify the amount.
Asking questions regarding the role is a good way to start. It shows the employer that you are interested in the job are proactive and will contribute positively. More often than not, interviewers have come across candidates who take up the job without understanding anything about the position or even the company. This then raises several issues at a later stage which can impact both you and the company.
Don’t be over-enthusiastic when going for the interview. They need to understand how you transfer your learning into action and grow in the organization.