I’ve recently been recruiting for a couple of graduate schemes on behalf of my clients based in Hertfordshire and over the last couple of weeks I’ve been somewhat shocked (more, in a parental tone - “I’m very disappointed in you”) about the unprofessional behaviour of some of our nation’s graduates. 

There are fundamental mistakes being made across the recruitment cycle, but mainly the ‘early stage processes’ where I can’t provide any guidance - well, at least not until it is too late for that particular candidate as they are cast onto the rejections pile.  These mistakes range from the CV/application itself, failure to read the candidate requirements for the role, spelling mistakes, email addresses, telephone manner etc etc etc – all very small but fundamental to that all important first impression. 

See below for my list of helpful tips for any graduate (or school leaver, or any job seeker come to think of it) – some tongue in cheek, some deadly serious.  Please read this before it is too late and you find yourself wondering why you didn’t secure that interview for the job that you really wanted....

Your CV – oddly enough, this is very important. Therefore spend time and careful consideration about what you decide to include.  “I love going out drinking with mates”, “socialising” and “watching tv” do not count as an interest or hobby and prospective employers won’t be impressed by this. Try listing some more appropriate pastimes that show things like commitment, drive, motivation, dedication and ‘going the extra mile’.  These include sports, extra-curricular groups, challenges, charity work, actual interests that don’t make you look crazy.  No, employers don’t want to know that you can sink a pint in less than 5 seconds, that you have 7 piercings (of which, by the way, only 3 can be seen whilst fully clothed) or you organised your hall of residence’s first annual buckaroo challenge.  Seriously, your CV is there to give a first impression of you – do not scare anybody off but do inject some personality to a point.  If you think something could be interpreted negatively – do not include it!

Cover letter – do not send the same one to every job without amending and without checking it over. Tailor each covering letter to the role that you are applying for. It sounds obvious, but you don’t want someone to read “I’m looking for a fast-paced, exciting environment and a varied role that includes lots of travel” when applying for a position in your local library.

Spelling/grammar/language – a big discussion point across the education/employment sector is our ability to compose a sentence, punctuate and spell correctly.  Check your CV thoroughly. Spell check. Check it over again.  Ask somebody else to read over it.  Then check it one last time.  No text speak. No un-necessary punctuation.  CV is an appropriate abbreviation – LMFAO is not.  In all seriousness, applications are rejected on spelling mistakes alone – do not make this all too common mistake that could cost you an interview.

Candidate requirements – if there is a list of prerequisites, it will be there for a reason.  Degree subject, qualifications, grades, ability, character, location, work permits etc.  If somebody specifically states that you must have a 2:1 degree or above, do not send your application if you have 2:2 or a 3^rd listed on your CV!  If they ask for a humanities or business degree and you graduated in Biomedical Science, do not apply.  Do not lie. Do not hope that somehow you’ll be the one candidate that they’ll let off. Do not fool yourself into thinking that the person at the other end of your application will miss the fact you only achieved 3 x Ds at A Level and they specifically asked for 3 x Bs or above.  The recruiter or hiring manager has been specifically tasked to find candidates matching the job requirements.  If they’ve asked for it and you don’t have it, you won’t get invited for interview. It’s as simple as that.  All jobs/organisations require different skills and experience so spend your time researching and applying for those jobs for which you qualify. 

Email address – please, please, please listen to me on this.  It is very easy to set up a second email address specifically for your job search and for making applications. If your current email address is anything like:-   [email protected], [email protected] or i_love_horses_they’[email protected]  - change it!  Your email address is the first thing an employer will see when your application arrives – make it a professional one.

Telephone manner/voicemail – you are graduating/leaving school/seeking a new role and therefore applying for jobs with your CV and contact number attached.  Inevitably an employer will be calling you to discuss said application and invite you for interview or perhaps to conduct an initial telephone interview.  What do you think that potential employer will be looking for exactly when they call you? For you to answer the phone with “yeah?”, “what?” or “talk to me”? For you to have a ridiculous and highly unprofessional voicemail that makes you sound like a gangster, a hippy or a possible axe murderer?  When you talk do you grunt, sound uninterested or speak unprofessionally because your mates are standing next to you and you don’t want to damage your ‘street cred’?   You may laugh, but we hear it. A lot. Change your voicemail. Answer the phone professionally and politely. Sound interested and engage with the person on the phone.  Remember why you applied for that job and demonstrate your enthusiasm and interest in being invited for interview.  Forget what your mates think as when you’re earning £30,000+ in your first year of work, you’ll be having the last laugh.  Do this and you will get that interview – I promise.  Don’t do this and you won’t even get through the door.

Stand out, don’t fall out - how? Keep it simple. Lose the jargon (there's no prize for being over technical or overcomplicating your educational and employment record) and make it relevant to what the employer is looking for. Most of all, use a clear structure where the employer can look and find your skills and strengths quickly. Remember, a prospective employer will be looking through tens if not hundreds of CVs and applications, so think, "how can my CV stand out above all others?". Often graduate applicants' CVs and applications will cancel each out on academic achievements - but, what distinguishes one applicant from others is an ability to persuade the employer that the candidate has strong credentials in other key areas.  Sometimes just a professionally constructed, easy to read and well written CV is more than enough.

Think Specialist Recruitment is a support staff recruitment agency based in Hertfordshire and working across the Herts, Beds, Bucks and Greater London area.  If you're a graduate or school leaver looking for an office based role, call us on 01442 450585 or check out our latest vacancies online. 

Share