Be Ahead Of Other Students In The Job Search

With the high level of competition amongst students and graduates and the need of companies to recruit the best, this has triggered a growth in the measure of sophistication of the graduate recruitment operation.

Companies now report responses to adverts running in the hundreds where previously they may have expected thirty or so. Because of this graduate job searchers are up against numerous competitors all with the same or similar experience. It is the responsibility of each potential employee to make themselves differentiate themselves from the crowd.

Every individual student or graduate job seeker has personal competencies that have been developed through the years not just in university but also before. These need to be identified by undertaking a critique of your transferable skills.

The step you now require to take is to make certain you keep in mind these unique selling points, can mention about them with regards to work and can bring examples forward at the right moment to reinforce your suitability for specific job openings.

Let us discuss ten key selling points that employers look for. You owe it to yourself to find where you are strong in particular areas and determine what evidence you have to support your claims:

Adaptability: How good are you at coping with change? We live in an ever developing world - the only certain thing is that things will change. Were there any times in your working career when you proved flexibility and a willingness to adapt? Think clearly about this and develop some set answers that focus on real examples from your working life.

Commitment: All people who run businesses require determination in the people they employ. It is a pain to establish commitment or loyalty if you have only had part time jobs or no jobs at all. A technique around this is to accent a commitment to customer satisfaction or quality. Did you ever go that extra mile to make a difference for the customer?

Communication: It is said a number of the troubles, which happen in organisations, are due to a breakdown in communications. As a student, can you show that you have an awareness of what constitutes good lines of communication, that you realise its importance for success and that you have demonstrated in a practical way your resolve to ensuring good communication in all working activities.

Creativity in Problem Solving: Can you show that your solution to solving problems does not rely on all the old familiar approaches but that your approach comprises of using not only reasoning but also thought and creativity?

Decision Making: Show that you have a technique. This approach will be logical and well considered, show that you can make judgements. Give examples of when confronted with a problem or an prospect you examined the options and decided where the business desired to be in the future. You then set some objectives and drew up an action plan.

Evaluation: You need to show how you are dedicated to providing for the analysis and review of the proceedings you have taken. Give examples of your learning strategy and how you applied it.

Foresight:A well-considered approach to looking into the future and seeing the concerns before they occur. How did you exhibit the ability to see the trouble a long way off before it was upon you? This is a important skill and one that future employers will appreciate and value.

Independence: How much do you desire to be supervised? Can you perform your own? Can you set your own agenda in line with the needs of the organisation? How did you show this? Give examples of when and under what events you took responsibility to good effect.

Team Player: Great success is a team game! Organisations will want to see that you can lead and be lead - negotiate with others - work collaboratively on troubles and encourage colleagues to give their best. What incidences of this do you have from your working life?

Value Added Marketing: You probably will not be a sales person but every member of the organization is expected to play a part in selling the product even in the care or public sector. Most organisations adopt a market lead approach to business. Regardless of what you think about this it is obvious that there is no business where there are no clients. Your future student or graduate employer will be looking for evidence of your support of the marketing function. How did you forward the image of your company to the customers?