Job hunting is a journey, one that when you are in the midst of it can feel like the longest of journeys. It is valid to feel like that, but when you really think about it, aren’t the longest journey’s the ones where you learn the most about yourself? As a graduate, you’ll be doing a lot of trial and error before it lands you a role, and the learning never stops even when you do find a job. With being behind the scenes in a creative recruitment agency, I’ve started to notice how much grey area there is and just how much I underestimated the impact it would have on how successful you would become as an applicant. In this week’s article, I’ll be going over a few more insights on job hunting when you are about to graduate, so that you too can figure out your way out of the foggy experience that you can encounter as a graduate looking for work.
Junior roles aren’t always for the inexperienced graduate
This one was a big learning point because you will find yourself assuming that a role with ‘Junior’ in the title is for graduates, graduates who are looking for their first experience in the industry. If there is something you’ll need to know, it is to never assume what is written in a job description of an advert, there is a reason why they are explicit with experience.If it is a requirement then it is, if it is a desirable or bonus to your application it would be clear right there and then. It can often mean that training will not be available in the same way especially if it is a small practice. This isn’t always a way for employers to call out good applicants from great applicants but to make it easier for you to adjust to the working environment of the practice. You’ll find that training is offered or explicitly mentioned in the job description and that having little to no experience is difficult to prove when you’ve been working on university projects. It isn’t impossible to show interest but experience and interest are not the same, on paper at least.
Don’t put a deadline on the time you expect to land a role
In the UK the timeline to become an architect is within a 7-year span, but it’s a blueprint not everyone follows, and the more you talk to those who are practising or have recently become architects you’ll soon realise that it can take longer. This isn’t to say don’t be organised in how you apply to roles, that is very much still important. To put it simply, don’t put pressure on yourself to land a job right after graduating because although it is definitely possible it doesn’t always happen as quickly as you might picture it. And that is okay. Remember that as long as you are checking in with yourself and making sure that you are changing your approach every once in a while don’t place an expectation that you will get a job as quickly. Keep your approach varied, as in don’t just apply through job adverts, apply speculatively or through social media (LinkedIn) or even approaching seniors in companies you aspire to work with, keep trying different things. You’ll soon come to the realisation that there isn’t a right way to do things, but you have to keep trying. The outcomes are learning opportunities so don’t label any application or interview as a failure, you need the time to make the progression and these are just the milestones you need to overcome. You need to find what works for you and that can take some time.
Don’t delay on making applications to a role that is advertised, the sooner you apply the sooner you’ll get noticed.
If you see a role that you like, chances are that you aren’t the only one. You see when a job advert is released or an application opens up, apply immediately because that is the time in which employers have made it a high priority for them to find a candidate. This isn’t to say rush an application at all, but you want to put yourself forward as soon as possible. The individuals reviewing your applications are human too, and so being first in line gets your application the first glance. This isn’t to say you’ll be guaranteed to progress to the interview stage, after all, it is what is in your application that sets you up for that.
Found this helpful? Do check out this article where I share 4 more insights into what I wish I knew about job hunting as a graduate.