Graduate career readiness: Apply

Looking for opportunities?

• Find thousands of full-time graduate level jobs, many with local companies through the Careers Service JobShop.
• Plan ahead effectively by using our timelines to see what you need to do and when to be ready for graduate application deadlines.
• Find specialist vacancy sources using Prospects Job Profiles.
• If working locally is a priority for you, see our Regional Jobs Guide.
• Sign up with the key national websites which have jobs for recent graduates, like Prospects, TargetJobs, and for STEM roles - Gradcracker.
• It is estimated that as many as 50% of jobs are handled by recruitment agencies, so it makes sense to include them as part of your mix of job seeking methods.
• If it's a postgraduate course you're after, use the Prospects PG database.

Here are some other resources that will help you:

• Confidence Builder - boosting your confidence by capturing your capabilities using the Huddersfield Graduate Attributes - A great source or raw materials for your CV!
• Values Based Self Affirmation - a way to raise your spirits up and boosting your morale by writing about the good stuff in your life.
• Power-ups - simple steps to feel more positive about each day.

Want to know how to make your own luck? Here's how

Lots of jobs aren’t advertised on traditional jobs boards. Instead, they’re part of the ‘hidden jobs market’. You can find these by:

• Using LinkedIn to look for jobs and having a great LinkedIn profile, see our LinkedIn Guide
• Making carefully targeted speculative job applications.
• Expanding your network of contacts by getting involved in online groups, student societies, work experience, virtual internships, or volunteering. The more people you know, the more likely you are to find things ‘by chance’. See our self-help guide Make Your Own Luck.

Perhaps you’d rather make a job instead of taking a job? Starting your own business may be easier than you think, and the Enterprise Team is on hand with advice and support.

Need help with the recruitment process?

Understanding how each stage of the job recruitment process works will give you the skills and know-how to succeed.

Practice takes perfect, so use the Graduates First tools to practice psychometric tests, online interviews and see what employers are really looking for.

Here are some other resources that will help you:

• Applications Tracker - a simple way to track your job applications so you stay in control.
• Scaled-Up Plans - like SMART goals but better!
• Informational Interviewing - how to contact people for inside advice on various aspects of careers. While you shouldn't use an informational interview to ask for a job, you can certainly get valuable advice on how to improve your job seeking strategies.

Job seeking is rarely smooth. Here are some things you can do if it's not going to plan:

• If you're feeling unconfident about parts of the application process, use our Confidence Clarifier self-help guide to identify the specific issues and plan how to fix it.
• Hands Over Heart - finding the compassionate words you need to hear when things are tough.
• Managing Mistakes - how to move on constructively when things haven't gone to plan.
• Go With the Flow - a pragmatic approach to making job applications when you haven't finalised your career choice

Finally, you can get more advice and encouragement by booking a 20 minute Advice Appointment.