Graduate to Employment: A Guide for 2020 Graduates
Congratulations!
GCU Careers Service wishes all our 2020 graduates our warmest congratulations. Well done, you have achieved so much. We want to continue to support you on your career journey and remind you that you can use your university Careers Service for up to 2 years following graduation.
Graduating this year looks a bit different to other years, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruption in the job market. However, we are still hearing from employers who are recruiting and as organisations continue to adapt, new opportunities are emerging. Regular expert updates on the graduate labour market are available via Prospects Luminate
We have developed this guide to help you navigate your way through this new job market and to provide support at each step of your search.
We have a team of experts ready to help, with careers information, advice and guidance. You have access to our full range of services including – one to one appointments, online tools, careers information and our online jobs board.
How can we help?
One to one support - each School has a dedicated Careers Adviser
Glasgow School for Business & Society:
Gail Ferrier
To book an appointment click here - these are currently being offered remotely.
Here are just some of the things we can help with:
- Career options and job searching
- Interview techniques and practice interviews
- CVs/Cover Letter
- Applications: online forms and personal statements
- Applying for Postgraduate courses
- Assessment Centres and Psychometric testing
FINDING JOBS:
Your job search can be both proactive and reactive. Reactive job searching is applying to jobs that you have seen advertised, alternatively proactive job searching is looking for work by sending out speculative applications and networking to find opportunities and access the hidden job market, both can be very effective.
Job websites:
CareerHub - GCU job board has local, national, and international vacancies.
Skills Development Scotland (SDS) has developed this job hub in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
There are many other job sites, and the most popular are outlined on our Job Search Guide leaflet.
Networking:
Many jobs are never advertised so building networks and knowing more about your chosen career are great ways to find out where those jobs are.
Online networking is a good place to start. Consider setting up a LinkedIn profile and becoming active online. As well as a great way to make professional connections, LinkedIn is also an excellent way of seeing what previous GCU students have gone on to do and where they started their careers. Find out more about online networking by reading our Jobsearch Using Social Media leaflet.
Of course, networking also takes place in person, as graduates you already have many networks:
- Friends and family
- Fellow students and lecturers
- Work colleagues and former work colleagues
- Professional Body contacts
- And many more
Meet Employers:
As a GCU graduate you can participate in employer activities organised by the Careers Service. This is an excellent way of keeping your knowledge of your sector up to date and an excellent networking opportunity. It could even be an opportunity to explore other sectors. We have new virtual events coming soon to ensure you can connect with employers:
• Virtual Jobs Fairs
• GCU (Santander) Internships – Going Virtual
• The Internship Journey – Employer and Intern Perspectives
• Career Conversations – Virtual Conversations with Employers
• Employers in Profile - GCU Alumni and Employer Guest Blogs
• Employer Webinars
• Featured Employers – On Social Media and Events Platforms
• Hackathon Competitions – Remote and Interactive
Keep a look out for up and coming GCU events as well as Employers' own events on our website.
Graduate Jobs Fair Online - Wednesday 22 July 2020, 11am - 4pm
Aimed at the class of 2020, the Graduate Jobs Fair Online is an opportunity to explore your next steps and meet employers from across Scotland and the UK who are looking to recruit graduates for UK based roles starting in 2020.
Why should I attend?
- There are lots of employers still hiring and they want to connect with you – the Graduate Jobs Fair Online is a great opportunity to speak with employers and learn more about the graduate opportunities on offer.
- The virtual fair is open to students from all disciplines – around half of the organisations will welcome applications from all disciplines so come along to find out where your degree can take you.
- Browse exhibitor stalls and speak to representatives to get advice and tips on your applications and understand what it is like to work with them.
- Make the most of technology to connect with prospective employers!
Please see our events webpage for further details as they become available.
Career Success
Career Success can be accessed from our homepage and is constantly being updated to meet the demands of the changing job market, it contains several tools to help you improve your employability such as:
- A video interview simulator
- CV builder
- LinkedIn profile builder
- Video tutorials on careers and employability related topics.
Graduates First
Many graduate recruiters use online psychometric testing in their recruitment. Find out more and practice these tests on Graduates First available now on our Careers Service website. Register here for Graduates First
Career Guides
We have produced Careers Service guides on a range of career related topics. For example, our CV guide not only gives top tips on CV writing but also provides you with some sample CVs.
Download our Careers Service guides on CV writing and much more:
- Successful CVs
- Successful Interviews
- Cover Letters - Aiming To Impress
- Successful Applications
- Successful Jobsearch Using Social Media
- Jobsearch Resources
Email Enquiries
We have an E-guidance service available for brief enquiries. Email us here
KEEP UP TO DATE
In the current climate it is more important than ever to keep up to date with your occupational area. Arm yourself with the knowledge to make well informed choices. Your Professional Body is an excellent source of information on Industry developments and recruitment. Follow companies that you are interested in on Twitter and LinkedIn.
It may be that you are not sure which area is right for you or that you are keen to explore new occupational sectors. Career paths are not always linear and some of you will have more complex career journeys. Graduates may find it interesting to explore new sectors even if it is just to rule them out.
Everyone will follow their own career path. No matter what stage you are at in your career thinking, there are a range of useful resources, which will give you an overview of industry sectors:
Career Success provides useful information on industrial sectors, you can register on the Careers Service homepage.
Prospects and TARGETjobs both give brief overviews of your sector including graduate jobs, skills, salaries and job hunting.
Skills Development Scotland is an excellent source of information on industry in Scotland. The have especially good information on current and future skills which will be in demand in Scotland.
The World Economic Forum provides useful reports and insights for a more global perspective.
We have put together top tips and resources to help you maximise your employability, differentiate yourself from other candidates and remain motivated during this time:
Stay informed, Next Step Support is a new online resource providing regularly updated information to students regarding employment considering COVID-19.
Think about volunteering, Volunteer Scotland has thousands of volunteering opportunities where you can strengthen existing skills and experience as well developing new ones. Do It is an online volunteering platform which also provides volunteering opportunities from home.
Do a virtual internship, Udrafter is an online micro-internship platform where businesses can access student talent on demand and students and recent graduates get paid for completing degree relevant projects.
Develop your skills and learn new ones, SDS has compiled a list of free online courses where you can access additional training or development.
Connect with your Professional Body, many have student or unwaged rates and are a good way of keeping up to date with advances in your chosen industry.
Get a mentor, the Career Mentoring Scheme can match you to a mentor and will support you to make the most of this professional relationship, with mentoring workshops and guidance to support you along the way.
Make the most of your part time job - e.g. take up opportunities to work in different departments or any shadowing, promotion or development opportunities.
Attend a webinar, lots of employers are hosting online events, keep an eye on their social media as well as Eventbrite. We will be hosting webinars on a range of relevant careers topics, see our events page for details and to sign up.
Consider Further Study - many students go on to a postgraduate course, you could use this time to research this option further.
Most importantly of all use GCU Careers Service. We are here to help you so make sure you use us - we're currently offering online support and guidance, and hope that we'll be able to meet again soon on the university campus. Don’t forget that this first step will be one of many throughout your career and we wish you all the best for the next stage of your journey.
Search for information by topic:
COVID-19 Support:
- NHS information on health anxiety
- Healthline – How to deal with health anxiety during the COVID-19 outbreak
- CDC guidance on coping with stress from COVID-19
- World Health Organization self-care tips
Mental Health Helplines
- Breathing Space: T: 0800 83 85 87
- Samaritans T: 08457 90 90 90
- Hopeline T: 0800 068 4141
- Saneline T: 07984 967 708
Self-Help Apps
- NHS mental health app
- Headspace - meditation app
- Stress management app
- Stop Panic - Self-help for panic
- Calm - Meditation to relax, focus and sleep better
Information produced by GCU Careers Service, June 2020
(Additional content contributed by GCU Health & Wellbeing Service)