Help! I'm a graduate...now what?

Graduating can often be an over-whelming experience for many. You're out in the real world with a plethora of options to choose from. If you're ready to embrace the future to its full potential, the outcome will be significantly rewarding. So let's get right down to it. Find a role that is in line with your needs and then start checking off the below: Use industry and keyword filters to further refine your search.

Getting your CV ready
Arguably the stepping stone into your chosen employer's world. This 1 or 2 page document is where it all begins and highlighting your experience and qualifications in a clear and concise way is critical to proceed to the next stage.

Layout matters – Employers spend around 20 to 30 seconds scanning your CV so it needs to remain clutter-free and easy to read. For helpful examples try our free CV templates.
Tailor your CV to your audience – It may sound like a time consuming process, but making the effort to tailor your CV to suit the requirements of each particular job that you are applying for can greatly increase your chances of securing an interview.
Keep it error free – It's deceptively easy to make mistakes on your CV and exceptionally difficult to repair the damage. Spell check and pass it around to trusted friends and family members for critique.

Getting your cover letter ready
With the amount of competition out there for each individual job, one way to stand apart from the crowd is by including a supporting cover letter with your CV.

While your CV will precisely list out your selling points, your cover letter will help make each area come to life and give you enough real estate to sell yourself.

Know the employer – Research the company, learn about their culture and business needs, and speak directly to those needs. This will help show your willingness to learn and pro-active attitude even before the first interview.
Be passionate – This is where you get to really talk about how your volunteer work/extra-curricular activities are directly relevant to the job in question and will help bridge the experience gap.
Understand what the role requires – Show a clear understanding of the role and how your real life examples position you as the ideal candidate.

If you're still not feeling too confident about starting up your own cover letter, try one of our free cover letter examples to help you along.

Questions, questions, questions
With a shiny CV and cover letter to support each job application, it's only a matter of time before you land your first face to face meeting with the guys in charge.

At this point rehearsal is critical and it pays to go over some common interview questions with a friend or family. We've even got a "Virtual Job Interview" to help emulate that feeling to keep those nerves from going hay-wire on the big day.

Do your research – You are certain to be asked specific questions about the company, so make sure you've done your homework on things like their last year's profits and latest product launches.
Look the part – Appearances shouldn't matter, but the plain fact is that you are often judged before you've even uttered a word. Make sure your shoes are polished, your clothes fit correctly and that your accessories are subtle.
Ask questions – You should always have some questions for your interviewer to demonstrate your interest in the position. Prepare a minimum of five questions, some which will give you more information about the job, and some which delve deeper into the culture and goals of the company.

Satisfied with your current CV? Thinking of making a few alternatives? Why not upload or create a brand new CV on Monster. Make it "public" and let employers find you.