Everybody knows that getting a job these days is way, way difficult. And it is more formidable for the new graduates entering the job market. Competition for the best job opportunities is fierce and one needs all the tools to bag the crucial first interview.

Getting a job right out of college is not for the faint-heart. Extreme patience and determination are just some of the virtues you need to have because what we have is a tough employment market. Although employment is said to be picking up again this year, the graduate recruitment is not as it was before the crisis. 

While it is important that you get your dream job, sometimes it is not possible. Simply being a graduate of a good school or be in perfect corporate clothing or smart business attire is not enough. So how can you improve your chances of getting a job amidst the sea of competition?

Sell yourself

Just like the way one markets a business, a graduate needs to stand out. This is quite hard to do these days as there is a sea of competition for the job. Selling yourself is done by taking inventory of your strengths and promoting these strengths and how they complement the requirements of the job you are applying for. This is a simple matter of acknowledging your skills and convincing others of your worth, and most importantly this would show what you can do for the company. Because new graduates do not have the work experience that others might have, what one can do is promote skills that you have acquired through study, volunteer work, and part-time employment, as well as general life experience that are transferable or that can be used in any situation. Examples of these are good communication and interpersonal skills, strong time management, problem solving ability. Sometimes it’s hard to sell yourself because you feel it is bragging but this is a necessary tool when looking for a job. The best way to do it after you have taken stock of your skills and strengths is find specific examples that can demonstrate these strengths. In an interview, you should be able to fluidly and intelligently talk about these.

Customize your application

One of the most important skills when applying for a job is research. Study the job description and the requirements of the job for which you are applying for. Make sure that your application is tailor-made for the position you are applying for. First thing to do is make sure that you address your application to the relevant person listed on the application as well as the specific company and position you are applying for and the reasons why. While it is understandable that as graduates you are applying to multiple firms, it is imperative though that you put specific information, the background skills and strengths that are relevant. Never send a generic application or cover letter that lists than general skills that may or may not be relevant to the particular job. Always check your application and list down transferable skills and strengths like those mentioned above and skills that are pertinent for the specific position listed.

Make error-free CV and application

You want to show that you will be a valuable addition to the company and making sure your application is error-free is imperative. This would show would-be employees your attention to detail and in this case even very small errors make a really bad impression with recruiters. If you can make a mistake in your spelling or information in your own CV then you will not impress the recruiter positively. Ask a family or friend to proof read over your CV and application to ensure that even minute details are accurate.  One may think that checking CV and application for errors is simple enough and obvious but this is often one of the most overlooked elements and most often one of the reasons why one is not called back for an interview. 

Most of the time employers spend as little as 45 seconds skimming a resume before determining if it’s interesting enough to warrant a closer look and an interview. If your resume is hard to read – unclear, lengthy, with spelling and grammar errors, contains irrelevant information – it might bore the recruiter or might become disinterested. Make sure your application and resume is informative but concise, carefully and clearly laid-out, and 100% accurate in content, spelling and grammar. This would ensure a positive impression to the recruiter which you could enhance with a really good interview.