Do's and don't's

What you should or should not do when looking for a job.

Start with yourself. The number one tip from all our contributors is: develop a clear picture of your interests, motivations, values and skills. Self-knowledge is the key to convincing employers of your value - you can only articulate what you have to offer if you know what it is.

Also, very importantly, ask yourself where you want to be in the next three to five years. If you do not have a vision, you will accept whatever your potential employer throws at you. If you do, then good. The next step would be to look for a career path which will take you to where you want to go, in line with your vision.
Research areas of interest. Consider careers that suit and interest you. List their pros and cons and speak to professionals in each area. If possible, gain some experience - even if it's only a few days' work shadowing. Establish a picture of the area (eg what it involves, topical changes, skills required) and try to build a network of people to help you.

Research employers. Investigate the top ten organisations in your sector of interest. Find out how employers would like to hear from prospective recruits.

Make an action plan. Know where you are aiming and keep a record of progress. Include areas you need to work on to boost your knowledge, skills and experience.

Practice makes perfect. Hone your interview technique and find out about the selection exercises you are likely to encounter.

Have unrealistic expectations. A degree does not equal a job. Nor does it guarantee entry at a certain level. Academic qualifications are part of the package: interpersonal skills, business awareness and other experiences are important too.

Be unclear about what you have to offer. Wherever you want to work, if you aren't sure about what you can offer, you can't convince the employer how you will help the organisation meet its objectives.

Be lazy in taking the initiative. Be the one who makes the most of recruitment fairs and utilise their careers service to the full. The candidate who registers with a few agencies, fires off a few CVs and sits back is rarely successful. Instead, speak with academics, employers and personal contacts and work with one or two carefully chosen agencies for more success. Advisers say that too many students tend to under-use their networking contacts.

Adopt an inflexible attitude. Our advisers recommend a positive, flexible and open attitude. This can mean anything from keeping an open mind about what jobs are suitable to moving further upfield than you had anticipated.

Waste your time on untargeted approaches. Sending mass mailshots of your CV accompanied by a generic 'Dear sir/madam' letter is a waste of time, paper and postage.
Underprepare for interview. Preparation begins before you submit the written application. It's not something you should do the night before the interview.

AGCSI/GTI Ireland 2007