Recruitment Cycle For Graduates

Interviews

Interviews are a two way process. They are an opportunity for employers to find out more about you and for you to find out more about them. Think of an interview as a conversation with a purpose. If you have been invited to an interview, then your application has been effective and you now have the chance to talk directly to your prospective employers or their agents. Not all interviews will be successful, however, all experience will be useful in helping you prepare for future applications.

A successful interviewee demonstrates good planning, focus and enthusiasm. Researching the job and the company and thinking in advance about possible questions and answers will help prepare you to perform well in any interview. 

Reflecting on your previous performance is a good way of preparing for future interviews. You may already have been interviewed for a part or full time job, work experience, voluntary work or a university course. Were you well prepared? What went well? What could you improve?

Although there is nothing like the real thing, practicing answers to potential interview questions will help you recall answers and examples in the interview itself. Knowing that you can do it in a practice session will give you confidence on the day itself. It will also build your belief in your ability to do the job. If your research and preparation have been thorough enough, there should not be too many surprises.

Learn more about practicing for interviews here

Application

Now that we are into action mode – let's tackle the application form! 

Application forms are widely used to recruit staff. They are also used by universities to recruit for postgraduate courses. Ultimately, the purpose of an application form is to get you an interview, whether for a job or a course.

Your application form will often be your first point of contact with an employer, and it is vital that you make a good impression. Understanding the types of forms and questions you are likely to encounter, and how you might fill in and answer them will help you make accurate and effective applications that stand out from the crowd.

See our Application Top Tips

Research

1. Find out what you don’t know   

See our upcoming events/seminars on MyCareerPath in the ‘Events’ tab 

2. Skills inventory  

What are your skills and strengths? 

Make sure you practice the online assessments that all graduate employers use! They are easy to complete, and will only take up a few minutes of your time. Try them out on Team Focus here 

3. Create your Professional CV  

Your Coop CV and your Professional CV are not the same! 

We recommend that you use CareerSet first to get instant feedback on your CV and the advice on developing it further.  

Also, check out our CV Guide. 

4. Make sure you’re on LinkedIn  

You need to have a large network so you can use it later in your career! 

LinkedIn is far more than a networking site with job vacancies – the site offers a way for students and graduates to explore their career options. 

LinkedIn is a networking site, somewhere to find relevant jobs and an intelligence gathering tool for career development. 

Find more information on LinkedIn here 

5. Find out where to look  

The best tool to learn about your target job market is Linkedin. 

UL Alumni search will show you where past students of your course have landed in the job market.