CAREERS What recruiters want

For the best chances of being hired for a job you want. Here are some dos that you should consider.

No idea what you want to do?

Try out different things. Take your time. You are likely to be working a long time as life expectancy for most people extends — some of you will live to be over 100, while the age at which you might receive a pension will recede. Register with a temp agency and do a few short-term contracts in different companies to get a sense of what you enjoy — and what you don’t.

Didn’t get the job you went for?

If you do know what you want, there is no need to despair when you don’t get in through the front door. You didn’t make the graduate training scheme, it can be soul-destroying applying for grad scheme after grad scheme, only to get nowhere.

Try for smaller organisations in the same industry, and try for different routes in. For instance, a starter role in internal auditing reviews all elements of a business and gives you a bird’s-eye view — so you can decide which bit you really want to work in.

Try for a job in the company you want to work for, even if it is something you never thought of doing. Call the HR department and ask which temp agency they use, then register there. It is easier to make a move from the inside.

The two-year rule

Your early, permanent jobs need to show you can take responsibility and stick at things. If you do get a permanent, career-shaping job, you should ideally stick it out for two years. Of course, this does not apply to stacking shelves or working behind a bar — or indeed any job where you are truly miserable. But two years is enough time to show future employers you are reliable.

Build a network

Everywhere you study, and everywhere you work, you should cultivate at least one person who you will always stay in touch with and can look to for a reference. This is your “social capital” and will help you for your whole career. Networks are not just something you build — you also need to maintain and to mobilise them.

Once a year — the start of a new year is good for this — write to them all and let them know how the past 12 months has been for you.

Become financially literate

The ability to understand and even discuss the finances of the company you are trying to join will always help at interview. There are some great online courses to help you get to grips with company finances, whatever you studied before.

A favourite are those run by Financetalking.com, which has courses for every level of non-financial beginner — including a 20 minute “coffee break” course (learn something useful in the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee), called “How to analyse a company”.

Your job-hunting ‘agents’

Finally, have you told people you are looking for a job? Write to everyone you know and explain what you are looking for, and attach your CV. It will only take one of them to know of an opening somewhere and you could be finding your dream job.