What next?

Making smarter career choices

A free guide for graduates

Janet Davies
Editor
mygraduatecareer.com

What next?
If youre graduating this year, the current news headlines can seem pretty
depressing. More employers insist on selecting candidates with a 2:1 or 1st class
degree. Male graduates are faring less well than women in the employment market.
Graduate unemployment is up by 25%. Student debt has reached record levels.
Theres no two ways about it, its tough out there. However, even if the graduate job
market was much more robust and there were more than enough openings available
theres always the other fundamental question to consider: What kind of career do I
really want to pursue and how do I get on the first rung of the ladder?
In this free career guide we offer you some practical tips and tools for making
smarter career choices after graduation and how to act on them.

Which one are you?

Driven decided: When it comes to choosing what you want to do with the rest of
your life, you may be one of the lucky ones. You know, the kind of person who,
when madly clutching their Oscar for Best Actress at the Academy Awards,
gushes on about how theyve been dreaming of this marvellous moment since
they were just six years old. Some people do just know what they want; they go
for it and actually achieve their goals. Job done. Brilliant. Weve all met people
like that, or seen them on TV anyway.
Driven but undecided: Perhaps youre more like the central character in Sylvia
Plaths novel The Bell Jar, Ester Greenwood, who imagines her life branching out
before her like a fig tree where from the tip of every branch a wonderful and
exciting future beckoned and winked if only she could make up her mind which
one to choose.
Dazed and confused: Like so many people, do you just simply not have a clue,
not least because you have no idea what actually goes on in a modern
organisation? Well, why would you if youve never worked in one and you dont
know anyone else who does?

A vital step forward

Embarking on a career path is an important event although people often tell us that
they just drifted into their occupation, often continuing to do a job that didnt interest
them, for a company they didnt like that much - just so they could pay the bills. So,
what steps can you take when youre starting out to make sure that you provide
yourself with a greater chance of feeling fulfilled and successful?
Dont worry if you cant decide immediately what you want to do. Try a few ideas out
first and you may be surprised at what new opportunities turn up. You may at least
find out what you dont want to do.
We hope youll find this guide both useful and thought provoking. Keep checking into
the mygraduatecareer.com website where we post all the latest resources to help
you get your career off to a flying start or sign up to the newsletter. And, if you like it,
be sure to tell all your friends.
Good luck and happy hunting,
Janet Davies, Editor mygraduatecareer.com

www.mygraduatecareer.com

Top tips for starting out with confidence

Dont rush into anything.
Just because you feel pressured by others such as your peers and your
parents. Its your life and you are the one that has to live it, not anyone else.

Think carefully about what motivates you.

Do you prefer to lead or follow? Do you prefer to work on your own or in a
team? Do you prefer to push the boundaries or follow a structured route?
Whats your favourite medium? Do you prefer to work with words, numbers,
images, sound, technology, science, your hands, the outdoors, people,
animals, plants? Think carefully about what kind of roles would offer you the
chance to work with your favourite media most of the time.

Write your thoughts down.

It can take a while for your ideas to crystallise but once they start to take
shape theyll be vital in helping to set your direction and hopefully
experiencing a Eureka! career moment.

Do your research.
What kinds of roles and organisations would offer you the opportunity and
stimulus you need? Use portal sites such as mygraduatecareer.com and
careersiteadviser.com to help you track down useful places to look for case
studies, ideas and opportunities. There are more ideas on websites that can
help you to do this effectively later on in this guide.

Open a Linkedin account

LinkedIn is a bit like Facebook but for business and professional people. Use
the company research feature to see what types of people work for them.
Where were they educated? Where did they train? Which organisations have
they worked for? What job titles do they have? Theres a wealth of useful
career tracking information within Linkedin just waiting for smart people like
you to tap into it. You can find our step by step guide to setting up your
profile properly on the mygraduatecareer.com site and you can also apply to
join our group, network and get your career questions answered.

Spread your net beyond the net.

Your parents and their friends may have seemed boring to you until now what
with their poor taste in clothes, music and conversation but, if you ask around,
you might find that some of them actually have pretty good jobs in interesting
organisations. They will probably be able to help you with genuinely useful
insights into the real world of work and what it actually takes to be successful.
Why not ask them to help you with writing your CV, advice on your interview
performance, your interview outfit or work shadowing?

www.mygraduatecareer.com

Choose an employer offering room for you to grow and learn.

The bigger the organisation, the more opportunities they generally offer to
start off as a generalist, find your niche and then grow and develop into it. Big
doesnt always mean beautiful though. So, dont rule out smaller, less wellknown organisations to work for because you may find it easier to progress up
the career ladder in a more tightly knit or more entrepreneurial community.

Pick an employer with a brand & values close to your own.

Numerous research studies (and common sense!) have shown that the more
closely aligned your values are with those of your employer, the more
engaged youll be working for them and the more likely it is that youll want to
stay and develop your career with them. Will you be proud to work for that
organisation whatever your role? Which employers are the leaders in their
field? Is there an organisation that acts as the gold standard for their
profession? Websites such as Vault and Best Companies reports from
organisations like The Times are useful starting points.

Combine your choice of field and organisation carefully.

Most organisations have a number of more generic job roles in disciplines
such as HR, IT, Finance, Sales, Marketing, Customer Service and Admin and
a variety of unique roles that only exist in their industry. Try to find out what
they are because it might open your eyes to opportunities that youd never
even considered and some sectors will pay better than others for similar
sounding roles. How might a career in technology differ say in the financial
services sector to the retail sector? Would any role in a company like Google
appear more exciting to you because, well, its Google?

Be open-minded and adaptable.

Many of us are doing jobs that didnt even exist 5 years ago, let alone 20.
Being a Lawyer or a Doctor today, two of the oldest professions, is vastly
different to how it was 30 years ago. What will it be like 30 years into the
future? Keep investing in your personal development, stay adaptable and
seize new career opportunities as they present themselves.

Stand out from the crowd.

Experienced recruiters can spot the focused, passionate winners theyre
looking for a mile off. Becoming a driven decided, even if thats not where
you are now, is the best way to get your foot on that all-important first rung of
the career ladder.

www.mygraduatecareer.com

Researching career opportunities online

Most of the major employers have their own career sites these days and there
is wide variety of job boards online. Job boards are advertising websites that
carry a wide variety of jobs and career opportunities that have usually been
placed by recruitment consultants on behalf of their clients. Job boards are
not recruitment companies; they simply act as a marketplace to introduce
recruiters and candidates to one another.
To encourage the recruiters to place ads on their job boards, they offer price
packages that compare favourably with other types of advertising and tools to
manage their vacancies. They also usually advertise their brand heavily in
order to attract large pools of good quality candidates.
Almost all newspapers and magazines now offer recruitment advertising
online as well as in print. Their readers and subscribers have already
identified themselves as being interested in particular kinds of industries or
skills, making them very attractive to recruiters in their sector.
Things have improved a lot since the world of online recruitment sprang up
just a few short years ago. However, many job boards are frustrating to use
because the roles arent categorised correctly or the search criteria yield very
poor matches. Theres no point in having a nice little career tips section on a
job board if the job search quality is poor. If you want to find consulting jobs in
the Midlands, you dont want to see environmental jobs in Newcastle coming
up in your results. Its an extreme example but do experiment with a few
searches first before you bother to register your CV or set up an email job
alert.

Did you know?

There are more than 2000 registered job boards in the UK
60% of employers advertise their jobs online
Around 10 million CVs are registered in the UK
jobs is consistently a top 10 search term in Google
Every major newspaper has an own brand or a licensed job board
Every major business (B2B) magazine has an own brand or a licensed
job board
Jobsite spent 15 million on their most recent marketing campaign

www.mygraduatecareer.com

Youre hired! Top tips for job hunting

Most job applications for graduate schemes and internships are completed
online these days and there are also lots of jobs advertised online. Here are
our insider tips on successful CV writing and using online tools effectively.

Why you?
If you want to stand out from the crowd, you have to work out what skills and
qualities you have to offer before you start applying for jobs, either offline or
on. That way you can focus your efforts on selling yourself to recruiters and
employers in a meaningful way. Now is not the time for modesty either as
employers want more than just qualifications these days. The candidates that
really stand out are the ones that can also show that they are dependable, are
prepared to learn and have a positive attitude towards working with others. If
youve got it flaunt it!

Create a CV that sells you.

If your CV is just one of many hundreds that a recruiter sifts through every
day, make sure that yours isnt the one that ends up on their reject pile. Put
yourself in their shoes. Would you pick out a CV thats full of spelling mistakes
and doesnt explain why they should hire you? A simple CV, no more than two
pages long, free of errors and big on benefits is what will make them pay
attention to yours. If you have to fill in an application online follow the
instructions to the letter or you may not be considered from the start. You can
find more practical advice on CV writing on the mygraduatecareer.com
website.

Focus your efforts carefully.

Be choosy about where you post your CV online. A CV database is only as
good as the candidates within it. Only register your CV with websites that
carry the jobs that you are actually interested in, and you can reasonably be
considered qualified to do.

Bookmark your favourites and set up news alerts

Once youve found the best combination of places for you to use for jobhunting online, bookmark them in special job search folder on the toolbar of
your computer and set up news alerts if you can. That way youll find it easy to
keep up with your favourites and you wont keep reinventing the wheel. Weve
done a lot of that hard work for you already on the mygraduatecareer.com
website by selecting all the best resources in one convenient place.

Be safe online.
Many people worry about identity fraud and resist registering their CVs online
for that very reason. You dont have to give your National Insurance number,
your bank details or your date of birth on your CV. Your address a valid email
and telephone number are essential however if you want them to contact you!

Get busy.
Looking for a job is a full-time job and finding the right one can be a bit of a
numbers game. So, you have to put in plenty of effort but dont forget to give
yourself a few breaks and the odd treat to keep your motivation levels up.

www.mygraduatecareer.com

Apply before the deadline

If theres a closing date advertised, apply in plenty of time before the deadline
expires. Recruiters are far more likely to give your application the attention it
deserves when you do.

Is it a real job?
Recruiters will often place positions on several different websites and
sometimes forget to take them down, even when the job has already been
short-listed or filled. If in doubt, call the recruiter beforehand to check the
situation to avoid wasting your time applying. You never know, another
candidate may have dropped out, or perhaps it wasnt filled from the short-list
youd be surprised how often that happens. Either way, you may get to
make a personal contact with a recruiter who could help you in the future.

Dont be anonymous.
People buy people, so get out and meet recruiters whenever you can at
careers events or at their offices. Recruiters may not have a job for you today
but, if theyve met you and made a connection with you, you could be the first
person that comes to mind when they do, perhaps even before they post the
job online.

Track your efforts.

Keep a thorough record of all your applications, follow-ups, interview dates
and so on. You may need it to show youre really looking for work if youre
claiming benefit, and it helps to keep you organised, motivated and on track.
You can download a free job tracking spreadsheet on the
mygraduatecareer.com website.

Network like mad.

As the old saying goes Its not always what you know, its who you know that
makes a difference. Many jobs are never advertised online, or anywhere else,
because they go to people who have been recommended by other contacts or
employees. Recruitment is an expensive business and, if someone will vouch
for you too, that can make a big difference especially to a smaller firm. So,
dont be afraid to ask them for help and let your tutor, careers adviser, friends
and family know what youre looking for. You could be just the person their
employer or a friend is looking for.

Shine at interviews.
After all that hard work online, if youre lucky enough to get an interview, make
sure that you make a good first impression. Look presentable and smart,
smile, shake hands firmly and make the interviewer feel that they can trust
you. They want to know you really want to work for them not that they are any
port in a storm and youll be off as soon as something better comes along.
Theres lots advice on this topic on the mygraduatecareer.com website.

Keep at it.
It can be really discouraging when you get a few rejections. So, if you feel a
bit downhearted, don't pretend it isn't happening. Get it off your chest, talk to a
trusted friend or go for a good long walk to work off the stress. Keep believing
in yourself and others will believe in you too.

www.mygraduatecareer.com

Website reviews
This section isnt a list of every job board or career website there is out there,
we dont have the time, the ink or the energy, and, more importantly, neither
do you! Besides, the various website directories on the mygraduatecareer
website are quite comprehensive enough. Make sure you check out the site
regularly to keep up to date any new ones that spring up or sign up to our
newsletter.
This is simply a starter selection of websites that will hopefully help you find
whats right for you, and to inspire you to uncover some hidden gems of your
own. Depending on the type of career opportunity or job you are looking for,
you should be able to put together a combination of options that will give you
good, relevant coverage of all the opportunities out there.

Job boards and online information for graduates

Students and graduates are very well catered for these days with online
opportunities to research jobs and internships and make job applications. In
previous downturns, many organisations that cut back graduate recruitment
lived to regret it. When the upturn came, as it surely did, there was no new
talent coming though the ranks. So, dont just assume that 2010 is a bad year
to find a graduate job because, in the words of that great Gershwin brothers
song, It aint necessarily so. The job market for graduates has dipped, not
crashed totally.
Milkround.com
How we wish a resource like this had been around in our student days!
Whether youre looking for a recruitment event, a job, an internship,
employment news, and trends or information about employers, there is more
than enough to be getting on with here. Its also well laid-out and informative.
seasonworkers.com
Gap years arent just for students of course and this site features fantastic
opportunities to work at home and abroad, as well as information on
destinations, work permits, and message boards where you can share
experiences and ask fellow travellers for help.
Wikijob.co.uk
Finding a job to apply for is one thing, but with the average graduate
recruitment team seemingly all under the impression that they are vying to win
an award for designing tasks for The Apprentice, its a wonder anyone gets
offered a job. Thats where the excellent Wikijob website comes in, providing
vital insights into how the top gradate employers go about their filtering
processes, what kind of questions youll be asked, what tests youll be set,
and how to get through it all with flying colours. The online forum provides the
opportunity for candidates both past and present to share their hot tips,
insights and rants, with moderators providing practical feedback.

www.mygraduatecareer.com

General job board websites

Totaljobs.com
This is usually the best job board for data quality and ease of use as well as
the volume and variety of jobs it carries. It has a general jobs area and special
pages for graduates.
Monster.co.uk
Monster has good international coverage, a special area for graduates and
lots of extra added-value services plus its very easy to use.
Allthetopbananas.com
Excellent for coverage as it gathers together all the jobs advertised
everywhere else!
Jobsite.co.uk
Investing a lot of money in advertising, easy to use and carries graduate jobs
but doesnt appear to have a dedicated area like the other major generalist job
boards.

Specialist or niche job boards

Executive job boards
We know youre not at this stage yet but its useful to look ahead. Online job
ads were slow to take off in the executive job market but quite a few job
boards have sprung up in this area now. Opportunities in this category also
appear on social networking sites as Linkedin and the job boards associated
with the quality press such as The Telegraph, The Times, The Guardian.
*Once youre looking for a senior level job, however, youre still better off
relying on your networks and building relationships with Headhunters who
have a good reputation and contacts in your target sector or profession. Or,
use the web for research and approach the employers youre interested in
working for directly.
Exec-appointments.com
Owned by the FT, it probably has the best quality jobs of all the executive job
boards but no facility for registering your CV for recruiters to search.
Executivesontheweb.com
Good selection of roles and services, most of it is free with some premium
services available for an additional fee
*Myexecutivecareer.com
Well, we would say that this is the greatest wouldnt we because this is one of
our sites but that said, it actually is. Standard membership and CV registration
is free. Premium Membership for access to all the valuable career planning
content is 45 a year. Well be very pleased to welcome
mygraduatecareer.com visitors once established in their first roles.
www.mygraduatecareer.com

Job boards from newspapers and magazines

These websites tend to carry high quality recruitment ads by specialist
recruiters that have usually also appeared in print. The high profile daily
newspaper ones are listed here. If you read a special interest magazine, or
youre a member of a professional organisation, they probably have an online
job offering that you might not have exploited before. Nows the time to check
them out!
Jobs.guardian.co.uk
Recently updated, this website has lots of interesting career tips and extras
and great videos. It has probably the best selection of media, charity and
public sector jobs - completely in tune with its readership and their values.
jobsthetimes.co.uk
The Times carries some great jobs, and used to feature excellent reports such
as their Top 100 Graduate Employers, Best 100 Companies and Top 50
employers for Women. However the new pay wall makes these inaccessible
at the moment unless you subscribe. Has a special section for graduate jobs.
Jobs.telegraph.co.uk
This job board has had quite a makeover. It is easier to use and search for
jobs, career advice is provided by James Caan of Dragons Den fame and
Corinne Mills of Personal Career Management. Unlike guardianjobs and
jobsthetimes, it seems to lack a distinct brand identity that will resonate with
the Daily Telegraph reader profile.
Newscientistjobs.com
This is a great example of how to create a jobs service in tune with your
industry sector, the readership of your magazine and its specialist
employment and educational needs.

www.mygraduatecareer.com

Job boards for specific industry sectors/professions

Careerstrucure.com
If you want to work in the construction industry as an engineer, architect,
project manager or in the skilled trades, youll find thousands of jobs on this
website from all the top recruiters both at home and abroad. It also features
useful career guides, information about working abroad and health and safety
matters.
Careersforleaders.com
If youre looking for a management job in the public sector youll find a
comprehensive selection of nationwide opportunities here.
Jobsnhs.uk
The NHS is Britains biggest employer and you can find jobs on this website
from matrons to hospital porters. The selection of job opportunities is good but
the application procedure seems cumbersome and appears not to offer a
searchable database of CVs for recruiters. Includes a link back to
nhscareers.nhs.uk where you can find out what its like to work in the NHS.
Secsinthecity.co.uk
If you want an office job in any UK city not just the City of London, this is a
good place to start. It allows you to search by job title (i.e. PA, receptionist,
office management), location and function (i.e. marketing, HR, Legal etc.).
The training section isnt bad though once you find it.
Top-Consultant.com
Their website isnt pretty but they really do a great job at serving their sector.
With job opportunities for management consultants, interesting newsletters,
salary surveys, career development, training, networking and recruitment
events, Top-Consultant are doing a top job.
Jobs.brandrepublic.com
Its not the most inspiring site design as a destination for its audience i.e.
Britains finest marketing and creative talent but it does the job. Its a shame
recruiters of the most senior client-side vacancies dont use it more
consistently although it carries a good selection of roles, particularly on the
agency side.
wfac.org.uk (Working for a Charity)
Supported by Society Guardian, this website is brilliant for those looking to
work for a charity. It acts as a gateway for everything you ever wanted to
know about working in the third sector skills matching, links to jobs, work
placements and training.
Womenintechnology.co.uk
This outfit is doing for women in technology what Top-Consultant has done for
consultants. Its really blending issues of equal opportunities in the workplace
with hard commercial values and succeeding and they have a special section
for graduates.

www.mygraduatecareer.com

Job-hunting via social networking sites

Using your network of friends, family and colleagues is the most underrated
way of finding a new job and social media websites such as Facebook and
tools like Twitter have become big targets for employers looking to cultivate
the youth market.
Facebook.com
Were constantly hearing all kinds of twaddle in the media about how
employers are using Facebook to target their recruitment activities and snoop
on potential candidates. Employers, we think its inappropriate to use sites like
these to vet or reject candidates. Candidates, if youve been attracted to a
recruitment event via Facebook for wereareallydullcompany.com then, by all
means, it could be time to take the cross dressing pics, and the ones where
youre modelling the contents of large bottle of vodka, off your profile.
Join our very own Fan Page on Facebook and see our expert tips on this
on the mygraduatecareer.com site under Managing your Netrep.

Linkedin.com
Linkedin (a bit like Facebook for grown ups only without the blackmail corner
photo gallery and dodgy public messaging walls) has started to gain a great
deal of momentum in the UK now. For ages, only the ever-confident
Americans seemed to use it, but shy Brits have begun to appreciate the value
of having their CV online for recruiters to notice them, of being able to get in
touch with former colleagues, and to use it to find information, promote their
services, find jobs and build new contacts through the many special interest
groups.
See also the mygraduatecareer guide for making the most of LinkedIn as
a graduate and join our brilliant group online.

www.mygraduatecareer.com

Professional recruitment firm websites

Virtually all recruitment agencies, staffing and headhunting firms have their
own websites these days; there are literally hundreds of them. Some are little
more than electronic brochures, others allow you to register with them online,
some offer extra reports and salary surveys to help you in your search.
Registering doesnt necessarily mean that they will look at your CV or contact
you, and sometimes the jobs on their own websites can be little more than
window dressing. So, visit their websites to work out what they specialise in,
and the kinds of companies they recruit for before you register online or
contact them. Stick to the ones that display the appropriate professional trade
association logo e.g. the REC (Recruitment and Employment Confederation)
or some other level of professional code of conduct. You really need to get to
know the recruiters in person so that they remember you, and what you have
to offer, if you want them to actively tell you about suitable openings.
Adecco.co.uk
Adecco are a big player in the contract and outsourced staffing market for
jobs up to around 45K. They have offices all over the UK so we recommend
that you use their website to research and understand the wealth of
opportunities they offer, and then (if theyre right for you) make an
appointment to see them.
Joslinrowe.com
Joslin Rowe specialises in financial services sector recruitment across all job
types and they have offices in London, Scotland and overseas. So, whether
you want to work for a Bank or a Hedge Fund, their recruiters should have the
right kind of contacts to help you if they think you are a candidate they can
place.
Odgers.co.uk
Right at the other end of the scale, Odgers Berndtson are the leading global
executive search firm. If you aspire one day to be headhunted by them, or
other top search firms, you can find more insights about how to get on to their
radar on the How to get headhunted page at myexecutivecareer.com.

www.mygraduatecareer.com

Employer careers websites

More and more employers have excellent careers sections on their websites
now. So, if you know which employers youd like to work for, apply to them
directly and use their websites to conduct further research for your interview.
These examples show the range of opportunities on offer perfectly.
Careersiteadviser.com
This career site features employer career sites which makes it both unique
and useful for serious job seekers looking to apply direct or research
companies before an interview. It also carries career advice including their
Career TV webcasts - real interviews with real people in the recruitment
business.
Tesco-careers.com
The Tesco website was a finalist in the 2009 Onrec.com awards for Best
Corporate Graduate site. Retail can often be dismissed as a career
destination for high fliers but theres more to working for Britains most
successful retailer than stacking shelves from HQ careers to cutting edge
dot.com opportunities candidates can find everything they need on this
excellent site.
PwC.com/eng/careers
PricewaterhouseCoopers works very hard to earn its stripes
winning employer of both graduates and experienced hires
competitive professional services sector. They have recently
website to make the opportunities available clearer and give
what its really like to work there.

as an awardin the highly

upgraded the
insights as to

www2.goldmansachs.com
Goldman Sachs, considered by many to be the premier financial services
employer brand name to have on your CV, have an excellent careers section
on their website (which is every bit as glossy and classy as youd expect). Its
right at the front too, not hidden away where you really have to root about to
find it. It includes their coveted graduate as well as experienced hire
processes in great detail demonstrating that they understand that top
businesses are built with top talent.
mckinsey.com
McKinsey & Company, well the website generally looks and feels very dated
indeed, the careers section particularly. Rather disappointing for the leading
strategic consulting brand but it does include all the information you need to
apply for a role there so it is functional if nothing else. What is worth doing is
downloading reading many of the brilliant reports and insight pieces that they
publish in profusion.

www.mygraduatecareer.com

About the author

Janet Davies is the co-founder of a portfolio of popular career
advice portals - mygraduatecareer.com, myexecutivecareer.com
and newlifenetwork.co.uk. A business graduate, she enjoyed a spell
in both finance and HR management before moving on to senior
executive roles in sales and marketing with American Express,
NatWest, Ogilvy & Mather, Credit Suisse Private Banking and the
HR Services consulting practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
She has a wealth of experience in the field of talent management and leadership
development as well as being a seasoned speaker on people management and a
respected business writer. A sought-after media spokesperson, Janet has
contributed to numerous features on career matters in The Guardian, The
Independent, The Times, The New York Times and The Sunday Times. She is a
regular guest on both BBC and commercial radio at a national and regional level and
has also appeared on BBC Breakfast and 'This Morning'.

Career sites in our portfolio

mygraduatecareer.com | everything students and graduates need to get
their careers off to a flying start - all in one convenient place.
myexecutivecareer.com | the ultimate career planning resource for aspiring
and established senior executives.
newlifenetwork.couk | the UKs top career advice website career planning,
redundancy help, how to find a new job or start a business.

Published by | mygraduatecareer.com
Editor | Janet Davies | janet.davies@mygraduatecareer.com
Copyright | Janet Davies, Davies Development Services Ltd.
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part by any means without written permission
of the publishers is strictly forbidden. The publisher accepts no responsibility for errors,
omissions or the consequences thereof.

www.mygraduatecareer.com