These are the steps you can take to secure your dream job before graduation
From Fashion to Tech, we’ve covered the top industries
Graduate prospects are a deep sea of contradictions and rejection. Prepare to be hit with job roles looking for both a fresh graduate and someone with at least 2-3 years industry experience.
We spoke to leading professionals across Media, Advertising, Broadcasting, Fashion, Music, Tech, Finance, and Law to give you some genuine, industry-specific advice on how to boost your CV and secure the internships you need before graduation.
Fashion
Rebecca Claire Holmes, Fashion buyer at Urban Outfitters
Know what you’re going into. Diversity in your experience can help, but relevant experience and internships are imperative. In my role, for example, a foundation course will be required. The biggest turn off for me is someone not understanding the job role and what’s required.
Music
Alastair Webber, A&R Manager at Island Records
Try something bold in out the real world – you can do this while you’re at uni. This could be managing an artist in their early stages, setting up co-writes for songwriters, organising events or an independent label. These are all much easier to do now than before with so many platforms available. Create something different that the industry wants or needs.
Broadcasting
Connor Boals, Supervising Producer at Great Big Story
Create your own momentum. Start telling stories and producing content during your studies. It’s 2017, you have no excuse. I meet tonnes of applicants that are great on paper but have no body of work that demonstrates they can actually pull it off. Volunteer anywhere and bring a camera along. It’s terrifying to feel inexperienced or under qualified but remember that none of us really know what we’re doing.
Oli Dugmore, Content editor at LBC
You should cater your CV from placement to placement and send a different one for every application. I have two templates – one which includes my employment at McDonald’s and the other for the Conservative party. Play the field.
Law
Nick Green, Birmingham Managing Partner & European Head of Real Estate at Squire Patton Boggs
Non-law work experience and hobbies outside of academia show a candidate’s real character. Explore these whilst you’re still at university. I want to see the individual coming to life by their interests, not just a well-written CV. Strong school and university grades are a given for this job and most firms will look beyond these, so you need to differentiate yourself. Don’t make it up as you can expect to answer questions on this at any interview.
Finance
Emma Hardiman, Strategic Development Director at Charles Stanley
Aim to get at least 2 internships during your time studying. You need to be able to articulate your contribution and how this made a difference. Your internship needs to be more than simply turning up each day to the office.
One thing I don’t see often on CVs is the individual having sought out a mentor. There are a number of networking events in the city (often run by alumni) to help you find one. These can help you take your first steps into your chosen field.
Media
Bobby Palmer, Front Section Editor at ShortList Magazine
There’s more experience out there than your university newspaper. As long as you’re writing, it doesn’t matter about the scale of the publication. Every commissioning editor’s email is just a Google away, and if you email 100 and get one internship out of it you’re winning.
Start freelancing, don’t just stick to your blog. Much of this job is about pitching ideas, working for editors and taking critique.
Ted Stansfield, Digital Editor at AnotherMan Magazine
Have other things going on outside of academics. When I’m interviewing interns, I’m not too interested in their involvement in university clubs and societies, but a demonstrated interest in what they’re writing about is a total prerequisite. If you secure yourself an internship, treat your editors like your professor and glean as much as you can from them.
On another note, avoid spelling mistakes on your CV. You’d be surprised at how many people send me CVs with typos in. Don’t do it, full stop.
Tech
Oscar Salandin, Mixed Reality Designer at Microsoft
Long CVs are a mistake. A CV should not be more than 2 pages and mine is a single side for that reason. People don’t have the attention span to read all the way through and this gets worse the more applicants there are. Do not shrink the font size to accommodate it or no one will be able to read it. Just cut it down.
Matthew Clatyon, Co-founder and CTO of Mixcloud
For software, I would advise students get involved in open source projects. Build something small and evolve it over time. Be willing to share the code with any potential interviewers, as this lets people see your hard work and innovation. Most of the world’s information and software tools are now online and available for anyone to try for free. You have all the time in the world at university to do this – find the information that’s not taught on your course.
Get experience from the likes of Sony and IBM with an internship from RateMyPlacement
Advertising
Giles Montgomery, Creative Director at Ogilvy and Mather
Short of starting your own agency, internships are the ONLY way to gain experience and you should start seeking them out as soon as you’ve got some good work to show. Aim high. Target the top people in the top agencies. Badger us politely and relentlessly. Never underestimate what you can get just by asking.
Be ready to learn. The biggest mistake you can make is believing you know it all. As far as I’m concerned you are Jon Snow and you know NOTHING.
Nick Hirst, Head Of Planning at adam&eveDDB
I wouldn’t do anything zany to stand out on your application – we receive elaborate presents, websites, videos and all kinds of things that usually seem contrived and end up hiding true potential.
We need curious, perceptive, imaginative people that can help us towards creative ideas – nothing else. Find the thing that makes you the individual we have to meet, and forget about the fancy packaging.
Ollie Sidwell, Co-Founder of RateMyPlacement
Getting work experience as an undergraduate is invaluable. Fifty-nine per cent of students return to a graduate job after obtaining a placement or internship; the figures speak for themselves. You’ll learn and develop your skillset, build professional networks as well as test drive your career to ensure you’re making the right decision before leaving university.