This document provides 10 tips from the Employability and Careers Centre for final year students looking for jobs. The tips include applying early to take advantage of deadlines, having a strategy to prioritize employers to apply to while fitting in job hunting around studies, focusing efforts on high-quality applications rather than many rushed ones, using the STAR method to communicate strengths in applications and interviews, including cover letters with CVs, demonstrating skills through experiences like work and extracurriculars, preparing for later stages of the recruitment process, making a good first impression at interviews, it's okay not to know what you want to do yet, and seeking help from the Careers Centre throughout the process.

1. Employability and Careers Centre
Top Tips for finding your ideal job -
10 things final year students should know
1. Graduate employers are already recruiting for 2013 – check deadlines and apply early!
Many employers have deadlines this term and some will close recruitment as soon as they receive enough applications.
Follow their social networking pages for updates.
2. Have a strategy: Fitting job hunting around study can be hard - research employers and opportunities so you can
prioritise who you apply to.
3. Focus your efforts: You’re far more likely to succeed with fewer applications you’ve put time into doing right,
rather than lots of rushed ones.
4. Think STAR: This method is great for communicating your strengths to employers in applications and interviews. It
helps answer competency questions effectively by outlining how you’ve used a particular skill in terms of a Situation,
Task, Action and Result. Find out more on the Careers website by accessing the section on application forms in
‘Destinations’ (http://bit.ly/destinationsSTAR) from any campus networked PC.
5. Cover letters are a must: If you’re required to apply with a CV, you should always write a customised cover letter
telling the employer why they’re getting your CV, why you’re interested in them and why you’re suitable.
6. Experience is essential: Think about skills employers want and how you can demonstrate you’ve developed them
through your experiences. This could be through e.g. part-time work, volunteering, being involved with clubs and
societies and personal experiences, as well as specific work experience if required for the career you’re aiming for.
7. Be prepared: If you make it through to the next stages of the recruitment process, get ready. Research employers
in more depth and practice psychometric tests via the Careers website (http://bit.ly/essextests). Extra support is
available for assessment centres so let the Employability and Careers Centre know if you have been invited to one.
8. First impressions count: When attending assessment centres and interviews, you should be on time, be polite,
dress smart and be aware of your body language.
9. It’s ok to be clueless: If you’re still not sure what you want to do, don’t panic! It’s not too late to decide. Try
Prospects Planner (http://bit.ly/careerassess) to do a career self assessment and book an appointment with a Careers
Adviser.
10. Help is at hand every step of the way: See www.essex.ac.uk/careers for careers information, resources and
events. Pop in to the Employability and Careers Centre on square 2 to pick up free publications and leaflets or to book
an appointment for support with career choice and all aspects of the recruitment and selection process. Follow us on
facebook (EmployabilityandCareersEssex) and twitter (@UoE_Careers). You can also speak to staff in your department if
you’re not sure what to do next.
Employability and Careers Centre October 2012
www.essex.ac.uk/careers
Information Skills Career choice JobsOnline Internships Advice Applications