Graduates – What kind of risks should you be taking in your job search?
One of the biggest hurdles’ graduates and new job-seekers can have, is standing out from the crowd with little or no job experience. Landing a graduate job can be very competitive because sometimes there just doesn’t seem to be enough ‘beginner’ roles out there. In order to stand out, you should be taking risks in your job search, this may not be for everyone and you may prefer to play it safe but being bold can get you the results you want. The amount of work and preparation you do will be worth it when you are working in your new role. There are good risks to take and although you may need to give them some thought, taking risks may just be worth it.
Go all in
Sometimes having another form of full-time employment that isn’t related to engineering can stop you from pushing to get another job. If you can, letting go of that job can help you find the time to search for a role you really want. This isn’t something that everyone has the option of doing and it can be difficult to make that decision. You don’t have to stop working all together, even if you worked part-time in a role, you would still have more time than before to put into your job search. Taking this risk can be a big step and may not suit everyone, but sometimes taking a leap of faith is all you need to push you even further.
Get out there and network
Whether you are at the beginning of your career or not, networking should always be made a priority when job seeking. The way you decide to network is completely up to you, but it’s important that you know what you want to get out of it. Who do you want to talk too? Are there any specific companies you want to talk too? How will you go about this? There are many questions that will need answering, but networking should be an enjoyable aspect of your job search.
For some, going and talking to new people may be completely out of their comfort zone, however, this part of your job search can help your confidence as well as help you learn skills for the interview stage of your job applications. It’s all a learning process and more often than not, professionals are very happy to talk to graduates and give them some advice. Being a part of the engineering community can be a good thing to include on your CV as well, networking isn’t all about job searching, it’s about finding interesting and like-minded people to share your journey with.
Challenge yourself
When you are scrolling through a job board or applying for roles, are you holding off on applying for certain roles? If you are, ask yourself why this is. Many job seekers will read a job description and think they would be capable of doing the job, but still don’t apply because they may feel like the job is a little out of their reach. When job seeking, you need to be able to believe in your own abilities and trust yourself. Try and put yourself out of your comfort zone and apply for roles that may push you a little. The worst thing that can happen, is that you don’t get that job. But if you don’t try, you won’t know. As long as you are qualified and have some of the skills they are asking for, there is nothing stopping you. Starting any job is a new learning experience and can sometimes be scary.
Consider temping
Some job seekers try and steer clear of temp roles, in the risk that their CV may look too ‘jumpy’. However, employers are no longer seeing this as a bad thing. You can learn a lot from temp roles. They give you the opportunity to learn a range of skills in a short amount of time, as well as being a good option if you are unable to find full-time work. You may even end up enjoying what temp work can give you. It can have its benefits, and it may be something well worth looking into.
Is relocation an option?
Relocating a significant distance may not be something that everyone is willing to do, but if there are more job prospects and you are willing to put yourself out there, relocating can open up a wide range of new opportunities. Relocation isn’t just about finding a new role, it’s about seeing new places and having new experiences. It’s important to take all aspects into account, like where you will be living and the people that you’ll be working with as well as the job itself. Relocating comes with its downfalls, you will have to move away from friends and family, but if you are ready for the challenge, why not explore the possibilities? If not now, then when?
Go off track!
Sometimes what you need to succeed is to branch out and try new things. When you are job seeking, you want to be able to focus on other things as well. You don’t want it to take over your other responsibilities and commitments. Take time away from your search and spend time with your friends and family, try volunteering or try a new hobby.
Not everyone may know exactly what they want in a job and at this stage in your career, that is completely normal. Taking risks and putting yourself out there can bring out a side of you, that you didn’t know was there. You may find new interests and push yourself to reach goals that you never thought you would. It’s all about new experiences and ultimately, getting the job you want at the end of it. Staying safe in your job search may be exactly what you need, but you may need to be bold and take risks to get where you want to be.
