Step 4 Make a choice

Seeking opportunities

How you enter your chosen career depends largely on your own personality and the type of industry. In many sectors, such as journalism and broadcasting, you'll probably have to continue working until an opportunity arises. In other areas you may have to apply for lower level positions and work your way up, spotting any opportunity that arises for gaining more skills and experience. Some students successfully access a place on a graduate recruitment programme at one of the major graduate employers.

Making contacts and networking is crucial and not as daunting as it sounds. Look at the section on creative job search and the hidden job market in our applying for a job section for hints and tips on this. Talentbank.com will link you to a wide range of graduate jobs.

Targeting applications

All jobs require a unique set of transferable and specialist skills. For each opportunity, identify the specific skills required and use your application to prove that you're the right person for the job. Avoid cutting and pasting text from one application to another it can get you into all sorts of trouble many employers report receiving applications meant for their competitor! There is no such thing as a general CV. General applications are more likely to be unsuccessful.

Our applying for a job section provides information on every aspect of the job application process.