快猫短视频

Class of 2010, unfurl yourself from that fetal position and stand tall. Sure, competition for graduate jobs is fierce, but don鈥檛 fear. 快猫短视频 is here to help you shine with our guide to bagging your dream job or PhD 鈥� and keeping it.

Where to start?

It is graduation day and thousands of soon-to-be job-hungry graduates don their mortar boards and black gowns to receive their degrees. Most focus on not tripping up on stage but one girl has more important things on her mind. As she bends down to shake hands with the vice-chancellor, the audience sees a sign on top of her mortar board. It reads: 鈥淚 need a job.鈥�

Harvey Mackay, author of Use Your Head to Get Your Foot in the Door (Piatkus, June 2010), was one of the parents in the audience that day. He reckons this kind of creativity can give graduates the edge when job hunting, especially in these tough economic times. Other examples of unconventional, yet successful, job applications include the advertising executive who by posting a message that popped up every time they Googled themselves, and the graduate who stood on a and unfurled a giant version of his CV.

While creativity might be a useful tool to get you noticed, don鈥檛 forget to try more conventional methods as well. It is important to cover as many options as possible to make sure you are on top of every opportunity that arises, says Lorna Crombie, director of scientific recruitment consultancy based in Durham. So scan university job boards and company websites, scour the job section of 快猫短视频 or your subject鈥檚 specialist journal, and form good relationships with recruitment agencies.

As with most things in life, who you know is as important as what you know, says Crombie. This no longer applies just to the real world. Virtual networking is something to include in your battery of job-hunting weapons 鈥� just make sure that your profile is suitable for the eyes of potential employers.

For PhD seekers, think about directly contacting the research groups you would like to work with. 鈥淢ost scientists would respond well to a speculative email saying that you really love their work and you want to come and work with them,鈥� says Simon Vincent, head of research funding at , based in London. 鈥淏e prepared for some rejection but there鈥檚 always a chance you鈥檒l catch someone鈥檚 eye. If you do, who knows, the supervisor might have the funds and be waiting to give them to someone just like you.鈥�

I have always had a passion for鈥�: CV and Covering Letter

Competition is tougher than ever this year so it is essential that you nail your covering letter and CV. If this isn鈥檛 perfect then you will struggle to get your foot in the door. Start with the obvious. If you say you have an eye for detail but you haven鈥檛 checked for spelling and grammar then no one will take you seriously. And don鈥檛 rely on the automatic spellchecker to keep your application error-free as unsuitable but correctly spelled words can slip through. 鈥淢y favourite CV typo is by someone who had a Home Office licence which qualified him to 鈥榚xperiment on rats, mice and rabbis鈥�,鈥� says Crombie. Take-home lesson: get a friend to proofread your application before sending it off.

Don鈥檛 neglect the covering letter; it should be just as much an advert for your skills as your CV. A good letter should convey why you are applying for the position and why you are interested in working for the particular organisation, says Irene Holenweger, a human resources advisor at in Zurich, Switzerland. For her, the most important thing is to be authentic and passionate about the research, although do try to limit the number of times you profess your passion for the subject; there are only so many times you can use the p-word without sounding insincere. You should also demonstrate that you are flexible, creative and up for new challenges, she says.

All this goes for PhD positions, too. Show an interest in the work of the group you are applying to by reading some of their research papers, and make sure you are aware of the big questions in their field. Clearly stating why you want to do a PhD is also crucial, says , head of the college of science and engineering at the University of Edinburgh. Don鈥檛 see it as an easy way to postpone getting a job, and take it more seriously than the person who signed off their email application with: 鈥淚t would b gr8 2 work with u.鈥�

While text speak is cringingly concise, it is just as important not to waffle, so check everything you put down is relevant to that specific job. 鈥淥ften applicants sum up three years鈥� worth of science experience in one sentence, yet go on for paragraphs about a part-time job they have outside of the scientific industry,鈥� says Paul Talbot, a consultant at recruitment company , based in Tamworth, Staffordshire. 鈥淪cience graduates need to tell us about final-year projects and the science techniques used in them. If they have taken a year in industry they need to focus on that.鈥�

Preparation, preparation, preparation: The interview

So you have impressed an employer with your relevant and typo-free CV and now they want to meet you. A successful interview is likely to depend on you doing some detective work beforehand. Even if they don鈥檛 ask you about their latest research paper or their competitors, make sure you have these facts up your sleeve so you can mention them at an opportune moment.

Find out who is going to interview you and look them up online. Any common ground that you can find will help build up a rapport during the interview 鈥� perhaps you both went to the same university or have similar research interests. Know where to draw the line, though. Knowing the name of their university squeeze is sure to set alarm bells ringing.

But just what kind of person do recruiters want to see in the interview chair? A malleable student who can be moulded to fit the company or someone who gives off an air of worldliness and experience? Perhaps surprisingly, it is the former. 鈥淲hat are often lacking in graduates are qualities like enthusiasm, energy, self-motivation, ambition and humility. Arrogance or a know-it-all attitude are probably the most off-putting traits,鈥� says Crombie. 鈥淓mployers are often looking for versatility, people who are not too set in their ways and are open to suggestion about what direction their career might take.鈥�

Of course, the way you dress and present yourself sends signals about the sort of person you are. Last year, researchers from Sonoma State University in California and the University of Texas at Austin found that levels of self-esteem, extroversion and how religious a person is can be correctly judged from a person鈥檚 physical appearance (Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, vol 35, p 1661). So even if the employer invites you in for an informal chat, take it seriously and leave your university hoodie at home.

Starting on the right foot: The first month

Congratulations, you have landed that elusive job. But the hard work isn鈥檛 over just yet. Whether you are on a graduate scheme or a permanent contract, in these tough times there is no guarantee how long any job will last, so it is crucial to shine from the very first day. 鈥淎rrive on time 鈥� which in business means early,鈥� says Ian Heath who heads up the graduate scheme for energy firm , based in Windsor. 鈥淚ntroduce yourself to as many people as possible and remember to use as many names as you can.鈥� It is also important to come across as someone who is willing to help and take on extra responsibilities, says Charlie Ball from the based in Manchester. That might mean taking on new projects and activities or generally showing a sunny and helpful disposition.

But just how keen should you be? Recent research by the Trades Union Congress, based in London, reveals the number of people doing 鈥渆xtreme鈥� amounts of unpaid overtime is rocketing, with 900,000 of us working more than 10 hours each week for free. Before you commit to such hours, ask yourself this: will staying late actually earn you brownie points, or could your time be better spent elsewhere 鈥� at networking events, for example? Be sensible. Working late for a good reason might get you noticed, but going for drinks every-so-often might impress the manager, too. A recent Ipsos Mori poll in the US found that line managers tend to see workplace friendships as a sign of commitment to the company.

After a week, it is time to show that you mean business, says Heath. 鈥淭ake a pen and notepad to meetings and use them to show you are serious about retaining key information.鈥�

For PhD students, taking a moment in the first week to find out about your supervisor鈥檚 schedule is wise, says Kathy Barrett, a careers advisor at . Check out other commitments they have for the year to assess how much time they might have for you. If they look busy, try to ally yourself with other members of the research group who might be able to help you out.

鈥淚n a new role, no one knows you or has expectations,鈥� says Ball, which is why it is the perfect time to face your fears. Science graduates tend to be lacking in certain skills, such as team work, so if you can show you have them right at the start, you will steam ahead of the competition. Top of the list is giving presentations, he says. 鈥淢ake it plain from the beginning that you have no problem doing that kind of thing. And that goes double if you actually do have a problem with it.鈥�

After about a month, it is time to start showing you can deliver results, says Heath. 鈥淭hink creatively and present ideas for improvements or innovations.鈥� By now you should be getting into your stride, and 鈥渂e able to show that you can deal with difficult colleagues, challenges and disappointments in a professional manner鈥�, he says.

Blitzing the first appraisal: One year in

It has been a year and you are loving the job, but can you do anything to boost your chances of staying put? After all, last in often means first out. Judgement time is likely to be your first-year appraisal, so find out what is involved, and gather the evidence you need to prove you are ticking the right boxes, advises Ball. 鈥淭he idea of the appraisal system is to make sure you are doing all the things you need to be doing, so make sure you are actually doing them and that you have plenty of evidence,鈥� he says. Your attitude at this stage is also important. Be proactive and show you are keen, but be prepared to take constructive criticism on board, too. Regular meetings with your manager should help to avoid nasty surprises when your appraisal rolls around.

Talking about future training and development will show you are keen to progress, so come prepared with ideas. What鈥檚 more, grabbing these training opportunities means that if the worst comes to the worst, you will be more valuable to anybody else who might be interested in employing you.

Postgraduate study is less structured, but if your supervisor doesn鈥檛 plan some kind of review after a year into the PhD, it is a good idea to suggest it yourself. 鈥淎t this point you probably want to be asking big questions, like what can I publish from here, and what鈥檚 my next step?鈥� says Barrett.

Finally, the appraisal is likely to be linked to your salary. If you are disappointed with your feedback, make your concerns known, says Ball, but be diplomatic and realistic. It is a good idea to know the market rates, he says.鈥� Even in the current climate, good people still have options, so always make sure your CV is up to date.鈥�

Checklist: do鈥檚 and don鈥檛s

DO: Make smart choices聽聽聽聽

If you want to do a PhD, get a lab-based project in your final undergraduate year. This shows a potential supervisor you are competent in a lab and that you know what you are letting yourself in for.

顿翱狈鈥橳: Cut and paste聽聽聽聽

Applying to all organisations with the same covering letter and then forgetting to change the name is embarrassing. Each application deserves its own CV and covering letter.

DO: Try to combine passion and work聽聽聽聽

Even Lady Gaga has applied for an internship to in something she is passionate about 鈥� designing improbable headgear.

顿翱狈鈥橳: Take your graduate role for granted聽聽聽聽

There is a lot of competition for graduate places so don鈥檛 be late, don鈥檛 be over-familiar with senior employees, don鈥檛 swear or use slang, and don鈥檛 look disinterested or fall asleep during induction presentations.

DO: 狈别迟飞辞谤办听听听听

A network of well-chosen contacts will set you apart from your peers as well as being useful in finding new job opportunities.

顿翱狈鈥橳: Speak without thinking聽聽聽聽

You don鈥檛 know it all, so avoid marking the start of your job by expounding your opinions on the state of your industry, the company you are in, or science in general鈥� unless you鈥檙e sure you know what you鈥檙e talking about.

顿翱狈鈥橳: Fight the system聽聽聽聽

The dole queue is full of people who looked at their firm鈥檚 appraisal system and thought it was stupid. Whatever your opinion of your company鈥檚 appraisal and HR procedures, a new employee is not going to get them changed

And the no-brainers聽聽聽聽

顿翱狈鈥橳: Swear repeatedly during the interview, take your mother with you, chat up the interviewer, text or take mobile phone calls, or turn down the job because you won鈥檛 be able to get home in time to watch Star Trek. (Unfortunately, all of these represent true stories.)