In these tough economic times, it’s more important than ever to have a solid game plan when looking for work – and here we look at four tips to help students find a job.
And if you’re a student in the UK, you’ll need to start thinking about your post-graduation career sooner rather than later.
Here, the team at Developing a Student offer their years of experience in helping young people aged between 18 and 24 land a job – and our tips could be your route to job success.
1. Start by Thinking About the Type of Job You Want
While this does sound like a basic issue, there will be students heading for their final exams without a clue of what to do next.
However, to help you narrow down your search, you need to start asking: What are your skills and interests? What are your qualifications?
This is also the time to use the internet (without getting distracted by cat videos …) – there are many student job websites and social media platforms that can help you find a job.
The most popular student job platforms in the UK are:
- Milkround
- Bright Network
- Prospects Planner
- Developing a Student.
To find the best results, it is important to use the right keywords when you are searching. For example, if you want to find a job in marketing, you should search for “marketing internships”, “marketing placements”, or graduate marketing jobs.
It is also important to be specific about the location. For example, if you want to find a job in London, you should search for “jobs in London for students”. The same goes for student jobs in Oxford or student jobs Belfast.
You will probably hear about jobs fairs and the ‘milk round’.
But what are job fairs and the milk round?
A job fair is an event where employers come to meet potential employees, often held at a university campus.
Milk rounds are similar but usually take place off-campus.
At both types of event, you can usually talk to representatives from the companies, find out more about their graduate schemes, and sometimes even hand in your CV.
Some of the UK’s largest companies, including banks and consultancies, recruit almost exclusively through job fairs and milk rounds.
So, if you’re interested in working for one of these organisations, it’s definitely worth attending one of these events.
To find out about job fairs and milk rounds in your area, keep an eye on your university’s careers service website or ask your careers adviser.
2. Updating Your CV
Let’s face it, you need to stand out from the competition.
There are loads of other students going for the same job as you (probably), so you need a polished CV.
Your CV is one of the most important tools at your disposal.
It’s your chance to sell yourself to potential employers, and if it’s not up-to-date or tailored to the role you’re applying for, you could be at a disadvantage.
Make sure to keep your CV or resume current and relevant to the types of roles you’re interested in.
If you’re not sure where to start, we have a cracking CV creation guide to help you.
You should also practice your interview skills at this time.
That’s so that when you’ve landed an interview, you will be prepared.
This means doing your research on the company and the role you’re interviewing for, as well as practising your answers to common interview questions.
If you can, try to arrange a mock interview with a friend or family member ahead of time. This can help you feel more confident and comfortable when it comes time to meet with potential employers.
3. Networking
Networking is also a great way to find a student job.
Indeed, this is an underrated option, but networking can be surprisingly effective.
It’s worth noting that some employers only recruit this way.
Talk to friends, family and acquaintances about any job openings they may know about.
Networking can be a great way to connect with potential employers and learn about new job opportunities.
You could also attend industry events, participate in online forums and connect with professionals on social media.
If you’re not sure where to start, try reaching out to your personal contacts to see if they know of any openings or can introduce you to someone in their network.
4. Start Your Job Search Early
There’s also another great tip to help students find a job, and that is to start your job search early.
Don’t prevaricate – the sooner you start looking for a job, the better. (And, yes, we probably do sound like your parents or your annoying friend!).
But there’s no doubt that by doing so, you’ll have more time to learn about different companies and positions – and be more likely to find a job that’s a good fit for you.
And from experience, we can recommend being persistent.
The process can be long and challenging, but if you don’t give up, you’ll eventually find the right opportunity for you.
Keep applying for jobs, networking and honing your skills until you find a role that’s a good fit.
And remember, even if you don’t get the job, you’re still gaining valuable experience that will help you in your future.
Tips to Help Students Find a Job in 2022 – Keep Your Options Open
One last thought about job hunting is to keep an open mind. You may not end up getting your dream job right away, but that doesn’t mean you won’t find success eventually.
Consider all of your options and don’t be afraid to apply for roles that are outside of your comfort zone. You never know where your next opportunity might come from.
Job-searching can be tough, but it’s important to stay positive and keep trying – please don’t give up at the first rejection.
Take a look at our student paramedic jobs, part-time jobs for students, flexible jobs for students or our online jobs for students.
Just keep applying and interviewing until you find the career that is perfect for you.
