A Graduate’s Guide To Making Yourself Stand Out
The current job market is extremely competitive. And, unfortunately having a degree and working hard won’t always land you your dream job.
You know that you possess a combination of skills and experience that makes you the perfect candidate for the role.
So, how do you make yourself stand out from the crowd?
It’s true that perseverance and personal branding are essential to bag yourself your dream job, but what else can you do to boost your chance of landing that position, beyond high academic achievement?
Keep reading for our top five pointers that are essential to making yourself stand out from the crowd:
1. Break the traditional CV rules
Depending on the sector you want to enter, make your CV stand out by showcasing your creative skills.
Think outside of the box and update the ‘uniform’ template, using platforms such as Canva to build an innovative style CV.
Be sure to feature brand colours, fonts and formats of a company you want to work for.
For example, if you were applying for a job in social media, you could present your CV in the style of an Instagram profile and grid.
2. Be commercially aware
Make sure you dedicate a few minutes every day to reading or listening to the news.
This could include listening to a news podcast on-the-go, in between lectures or simply reading an article while commuting.
If you know what industry you want to enter, read dedicated sector newspapers and magazines to keep up with the market and trends.
A good knowledge of current affairs and issues will impress employers. It could make the difference between a hire or a rejection.
3. Make sure your online presence is up to scratch
If you haven’t already got a LinkedIn profile, sign up and create one. Make the most of the platform by adding in all your qualifications, experiences and skills.
Employers can easily search you up and look up your professional background.
It is also a great platform to use to network and connect with relevant industry people.
After attending events or meeting an individual, make sure you send them a personalised invite to connect – this shows to potential employers that you’re interested in their messaging and will leave a lasting impression.
However, make sure you clean your profile up regularly and ensure that they showcase the best version of yourself.
4. Develop new skills
Developing additional skills is beneficial and helps to make you stand out.
Show you have initiative by taking some online courses, there’s a plethora of free courses available to suit a wide range of skills.
Have a go at learning skills in social media, computer skills, coding or first aid in the workplace.
Do you have any additional tips on how to stand out?