Graduate job tips

The internet has done much to help graduates find their perfect job. At the click of a button it's possible to find the latest selection of graduate jobs online, now that websites such as Guardian Jobs exist. However, the internet can also be a hindrance. Have you ever Googled yourself? If so, what did you find? The two worst outcomes are: nothing and something unprofessional and downright embarrassing.

Why is ‘nothing’ such a problem?

The problem with a ‘nothing’ result is that employers may think that you have nothing significant to show for yourself if you're presence is unrecorded online. Competition is fierce for jobs, and right now you have to go the extra mile. Employers want to see that you are contributing in some way; this can be to your local community, football club, university or charity, as long as it shows you are engaged. You can opt for a simpler route and write a blog, create a profile on a business network such as LinkedIn or try and get some work published, which is particularly important if you want to break into the media.

The problems of ‘bad publicity’

They say that there is no such thing as bad publicity, but when it comes to getting a job, there is. If there are things on the internet you wouldn’t want your mum to see, there are definitely things an employer should not see.

According to research from ExecuNet, 77% of recruiters use search engines to find background information about a candidate and 35% decide not to pursue the candidate further if they don’t like what they see online.

While 82% of graduates expect this, only 33% check online before applying for jobs to see just what results are returned. Anything published online by you, or about you, should be error free and positive. The last thing a potential employer wants to see is an error-riddled blog - or worse...

And whilst you are only human, you do need to remember you are selling a product when you apply for a job. You are trying to sell your image; and the same way that you wouldn’t buy a product that was unappealing in any way, make sure that you are a product an employer will want to buy into - and that means always, always, checking out what has been published about you online.

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