Job searching strategies
Learn how to look for graduate jobs and identify proactive approaches to job searching.
Looking for graduate level roles is a skill in itself and simply applying for advertised positions you see online is just the tip of the iceberg. In reality students find jobs through both reactive (for example responding to a job advert) and proactive (where you take the initiative, such as networking or applying speculatively) approaches. It’s important that you know both where and how to look for graduate jobs, as well as how to focus your job search. It’s likely you will be applying for lots of roles in your final year and targeting your job search will save you time and ensure that every application you submit counts. Even with an effective approach to job-searching, it might take many attempts before you secure your first graduate role! This is very common and developing resilience to cope with setbacks along the way is a crucial career management skill which will help you navigate your job search and future working life with confidence.
Ways to look for jobs
When looking for any graduate role, you should use multiple approaches to maximise your chances of success.
Below are the most common ways that students find and secure jobs and we recommend combining several of these approaches to ensure you aren’t missing out on opportunities:
Search for advertised jobs
Searching for advertised vacancies of the type of jobs you are looking for is probably the first place a lot of people would start their job search. Start with the jobs board in your Student Futures Account if you are a current Cardiff University student or recent graduate. Hundreds of local, national and global employers ask to advertise their job vacancies here.
Use popular jobs boards like Indeed, Totaljobs and LinkedIn. Also use websites like Milkround, Prospects, TargetJobs, RateMyPlacement and Gradcracker (for STEM disciplines), which are all geared towards university students and graduates. If you know what type of job you are looking for, there will likely be specific websites that only advertise vacancies in that field - use the job profiles on Prospects to identify these.
Use a variety of websites and set up alerts so that you receive targeted updates and don't miss out on jobs when they are added.
Whilst this is an important element of your job-searching approach, it shouldn't be the only one. Consider also utilising some of the more proactive approaches below.
Use your network
Networking is one of the most important skills you can develop to help you in your future career. The beauty of cultivating a professional network is that you never know who might be able to help you and when. From putting in a good word for you when an opportunity comes up to giving you the heads up about potential openings, your network can help you access the hidden job market, unadvertised opportunities that you may never find listed on websites like those listed above. Whilst it's impossible to officially verify, for many years careers experts have suggested that around 70% of job openings are not advertised.
When looking for jobs, consider who in your network may be able to offer support - this could be someone who works in your sector or for an employer you are interested in joining. It could even be a peer who has secured a similar role.
Apply speculatively
A speculative application is another key way you can access the hidden job market. A speculative application is when you send a CV (usually alongside a cover letter) to an employer asking if they have any suitable vacancies, even though they aren't currently advertising. Being proactive can really impress employers, especially if your cover letter is tailored to their organisation. A speculative approach is less likely to work at larger organisations, particularly where their roles are highly competitive and they have a formal, recruitment process, but can be a good way to gain entry into small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
When applying speculatively, it's important to:
- Identify a list of organisations you want to contact
- Be very specific about why you are sending your CV and cover letter - remember the employer is not advertising so has no idea why you are getting in touch or what you are asking for
- Be open and flexible - the employer might not be able to offer you a job, but could bear you in mind for future positions, offer a period of work experience or give you helpful advice for the future
Prospects also has useful advice on speculative applications.
Consider using a recruitment agency
A recruitment agency works on behalf of an employer to find suitable candidates for their vacancies. Joining a recruitment agency could get you access to jobs that aren't advertised elsewhere and can mean you are matched to roles that you are well-suited for. Some of the larger recruitment agencies such as Hays, Reed and Randstad are multi-disciplinary covering a wide range of sectors, whereas the smaller agencies tend to focus on specific sectors or industries.
The employer will pay the recruitment agency for their services, meaning there is no cost to you for using them. Whilst it can seem really appealing to have someone looking for work for you for free, you should still be selective with the agencies and the recruitment consultants you partner with. Make sure you are clear with them about your needs and wants from the start and don't ever feel pressured into accepting a job that you don't want. Also, don't sit back and let the agencies do the work for you! They should be used alongside your other job searching strategies.
You can search for recruitment agencies on the Agency Central website. Prospects also has useful advice you should read if you are considering using a recruitment agency.
Your job search
Consider the advice below on various aspects of the job search process:
- Identify what you want to apply for - your approach to job-hunting should be unique to you and what you are looking for. Don't just start looking for jobs without any idea of what you want to apply for - you will find it overwhelming and off-putting! Read our advice on career planning to get a better understanding of what would suit you
- Location - where do you want to work? Research the area and find out who employs people doing the type of work you are interested in. Is there a lot of jobs available in your sector of interest in that region? Similarly, if you want to work abroad, Prospects has country guides to help research the labour market of countries you are interested in
- Research your industry and sector - develop your understanding of your industry, sector and employers of interest (your commercial awareness) to help inform your job search
- Have a plan - set yourself short-term goals to work towards with your job-search. This could be goals relating to research, applications completed or time spent looking at jobs. Make your goals SMART to help you keep on track
- Keep track of your submitted applications - have a spreadsheet that you can use to add information about jobs you have applied for and jobs you plan on applying for. Make a note of any deadlines - this will help you prioritise applications and keep on top of what you submit
- Quality over quantity - You have a far better chance of success if you submit fewer applications which are well tailored to the role, even though these take more time to complete. Quality over quantity is key with well-crafted applications! Read our advice on CVs, applications and interviews
Whilst it's a fantastic problem to have if you receive multiple job offers back from employers, it can be hard to know which offer to accept. Think carefully before you accept a job offer - this is a legally binding contract and whilst employers may choose not to enforce it, you lose professionalism and credibility if you later rescind a job offer that you have accepted. TargetJobs has comprehensive advice on handling job offers, including multiple offers.
Resilience and dealing with rejection
Very few students and graduates get their dream graduate role the first time they apply! It’s important to expect and anticipate rejections – they are a normal part of job-hunting and learning how to deal with them so that they don’t derail your job search is a key skill. Developing resilience will help you cope with job rejections and other setbacks. Being resilient doesn’t mean that you aren’t disappointed when something doesn’t go to plan, it just means that you have coping mechanisms in place to regain focus and continue with your job search until you secure the right role for you. Resilient people are more likely to have a positive outlook, identify opportunities for learning and development (what we call having a ‘growth mindset‘) and know who to turn to when they need support.
Tips to boost your resilience
Resilience is not a static quality; like many other skills needed to successfully navigate your career, it can be developed over time. Try some of the following tips to boost your resilience:
- Reflect on previous experiences in life where you have adapted well to change, for example coming to university or starting a new job or hobby. How did you cope then and how will you do so again?
- Try new things; consider getting involved in work experience or a student society or maybe starting a new hobby. Gain exposure to new people and new situations
- Connect with others and ask for help – seek the support of your wider network and the university, including Student Futures
- Set yourself small, manageable goals. ‘Find a graduate job‘ could be the long-term goal but it can feel massive and overwhelming. ‘Spend one hour looking at x job website and note down any jobs I am interested in‘ is far more achievable. Achieving quick wins and accomplishing shorter-term goals will help keep you motivated and on track towards your longer-term plans
- Spend time on what else is important to you in your life. Job searching can feel stressful at times and engaging in things that distract you from it and bring you joy can allow you to regain a sense of focus
- Celebrate your achievements and recognise the hard work and effort you put in