Tips for Securing Graduate Trainee Positions

***Insights from Over a Decade in Talent [Part 1 of 2]*** ➡ After more than a decade in the talent space and 7+ years leading recruiting and people globally, I'm sharing some tips and insights that may help others in the job search process: 🔷 Do Thorough Research. Study the company's website, LinkedIn, news articles, and employee profiles. Know how to pronounce the company name and be clear on the role you're considering. 🔶 Update Your LinkedIn Profile. Ensure it reflects your latest achievements and skills. Many recruiters will check it before or after your interview. 🔷 Find Connections. Look for people in your network who might have insights about the company or role. They could provide valuable information or even a referral, which can help get your application seen more quickly and possibly secure an automatic first-round interview. 🔶Conduct Informational Interviews. Before applying, learn more about the company and role through informal chats with current or former employees. Be mindful to not message a lot of people—be selective and tailor your messages. 🔷 Mind Your Social Media. Some employers will look at your online presence even beyond LinkedIn, so consider what you want them to see (or not see). 🔶Know Your "Why". Be clear on why you want the role and how it aligns with your career goals. It should be compelling and specific to you—not generic or untrue. 🔷Attention to Detail. Ensure your application is error-free. There should not be typos. 🔶Personalize Your Cover Letter. Address it to the hiring manager or a specific person whenever possible instead of "To Whom It May Concern." This shows effort and attention to detail. 🔷Prepare Thoughtful Questions for the Interview. Develop a few questions about the role, team, and company to demonstrate genuine interest and critical thinking. Hold most of your questions until the end when the interviewer asks if you have any, but avoid overwhelming them with too many. 🔶Highlight Relevant Achievements. During the interview, don't just recite your resume. Focus on key accomplishments and how they relate to the role. Use examples to show rather than tell. 🔷Practice Self-Kindness and Be Your Own Advocate. The job search process is challenging, especially today. Treat yourself with compassion, and remember to celebrate small victories along the way. Be your own coach and advocate, reminding yourself of your strengths and capabilities. ➡ Stay tuned for Part 2, where I'll share more tips on navigating the interview process and handling job offers effectively. 🎤 What's Your Take? 🔸 Which of these tips do you find most valuable, and why? 🔹 What resources do you rely on when preparing for a job search? 🔸What's the best piece of advice you've received during your job search? 🔹How do you suggest staying motivated during a lengthy job search?

Planning to Study or Graduate in the UK?🇬🇧 Don’t Miss Out on Graduate Schemes! 🚀 As someone who has studied and worked in the UK, I've seen firsthand how many students miss out on amazing job opportunities simply because they aren’t aware of graduate schemes.Let me break it down for you: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲𝘀? Graduate schemes are structured training programs offered by top companies to fresh graduates, designed to develop you into a future leader or specialist in your field. Think of them as a launchpad into some of the biggest names in the industry, often with the added bonus of visa sponsorship. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁? These schemes are not just jobs—they’re career accelerators. They offer: - Extensive Training: Companies invest in your development from day one. - Rotational Experience: You get to experience different departments, helping you understand the business from multiple angles. - Mentorship: You'll have access to senior professionals guiding you along the way. But here’s the catch—they’re extremely competitive and application deadlines come fast. Most applications open one year in advance, meaning if you’re graduating next summer, you need to apply this September! 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝘂𝘁 Here’s the harsh reality: If you’re not aware of graduate schemes or delay your application, you risk missing out on some of the best job opportunities in the UK. These schemes are often filled on a rolling basis—so the later you apply, the slimmer your chances. If you start applying in November for schemes that opened in September, you might find yourself stuck on a waiting list, watching as your peers secure offers before Christmas. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗔𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁 So, how do you ensure you’re not left behind? Here’s what you should do: 1. Start Early: Research graduate schemes in your field and note down their application deadlines. 2. Prepare Your Application: Tailor your CV and cover letters to each scheme, highlighting relevant skills and experiences. 3. Practice Aptitude Tests: Most schemes require online assessments—practicing them can give you an edge. 4. Ace the Video Interviews: Get comfortable with the format and practice answering questions that showcase your competencies. 5. Network: Leverage university career services, attend job fairs, and connect with alumni to gain insights and recommendations. By taking these steps, you can position yourself to not only compete but excel in the graduate scheme application process. Don’t wait—start preparing now, and you could have a job offer secured before the festive season! If you are graduating from a UK university now and not sure how to approach graduate schemes feel free to DM and connect, over the next few weeks I’ll share more detailed content on how to prepare for applying to the graduate schemes in the UK! #careerguidance #graduatescheme #jobsearch

I regularly privately talk to #ALX_SE alx_africa grads who are looking for jobs. Finding a job is a lot of work. The two main mistakes they make are not being organized and not applying to enough jobs. So here is a recipe for success: 1. Make sure you have a clear schedule. Apply every day for at least a few hours (meaning at least 10-25 applications per day) and train on interviews every day for at least a few hours. 2. Keep track of every job you applied to. Url, date, who / how did you apply, etc… use excel / google sheet. 3. Most of the companies will not even answer you. That’s “normal”, don’t be discouraged. For my first FT job after graduation, I had to apply to hundreds of companies before I got my job. 4. That’s not a reason not to try to talk to them. Ping them regularly if they don’t give you an answer. Find other ways to reach out to the decision maker. Use your linkedin to find ppl working at this company, talk to them. Keep track of that in your excel file (you can also use Mariem Ehab’s linkntrack.com extension) 5. Focus in a few job boards that match your criteria and apply to every new job post every single day. For instance if you are looking for a remote job, you can use Youssef Charif Hamidi & Abdulrhman Mohammed’s remoteotter.com. Every day you should apply to 10-25 jobs. No exception, no excuse. 6. Continue training for tech and HR interviews while applying for jobs. You can use Mounssif BOUHLAOUI & Sophie Rigault-Barbier’s https://prepforsuccess.ai for that. Train every single day. At least 2hours. No exception, no excuse. 7. If you get to an interview and didn’t get the job, make sure you ask for feedback so that you can focus your interview training on the right thing. Did you suck at HR questions (i.e. where do you see yourself in 5y?) or was it a technical problem? Focus on bridging the gap. Do this relentlessly for a few months and you will get that job. It’s not easy, but that’s the job. Now stop complaining and go get that job! GL everybody!

Landing Your Dream Grad Role: Tips from a Noogler 🚀 Hey everyone! 👋 I've recently had a surge of messages from new grads asking about job search strategies, interview prep, and how to stand out. It's awesome to see so many driven individuals out there, and I'm happy to share some insights based on my own experience. One of the biggest hurdles I see new grads facing is getting callbacks. My key takeaway? Your projects are your calling card. 🌟 Think beyond tutorial projects. Focus on building things that solve real-world problems, even if they're small scale. 🛠️ Hiring managers want to see that you can identify a need and create a solution. A strong portfolio demonstrates not just coding skills, but problem-solving abilities and thinking about the end user and the use case – a crucial differentiator. 💡 Want to get a better idea of what I mean? 🤔 Feel free to check out some of my projects on my GitHub profile. Seeing real-world examples can often be more helpful than just reading about it. 👀 For technical interviews, especially at places like Google, consistent practice is vital. 🏋️ LeetCode is your friend, but don't just grind through questions blindly. Understand the underlying patterns, especially for topics like Dynamic Programming. My interview prep also included using a DSA timing flowchart to structure my practice and ensure I was hitting the right benchmarks ⏱️. My interview prep involved months of dedicated practice, focusing on medium-hard level questions and aiming for timed completion. 🎯 Remember, it's not just about getting the right answer; it's about demonstrating your thought process. Structure your responses clearly, ask clarifying questions, and consider edge cases. Resources like Striver's SDE sheet and the "How I Passed The Google Coding Interviews" video on YouTube can be incredibly helpful. 📚 And speaking of interview prep, I can't stress enough the importance of mock interviews. This was a game-changer for me. 🚀 I used platforms like Pramp to practice with peers, and I also reached out to senior engineers in my network for personalized feedback. Getting that real-time experience and constructive criticism is invaluable. It helped me identify my weak spots, refine my approach, and build confidence. Honestly, I attribute a significant chunk of my job search success to mock interviews. They're a must-do! 👍 The job search can be tough, but remember to stay persistent and keep learning. Every interview, even if it doesn't lead to an offer, is a learning opportunity. Keep applying, keep practicing, and keep building. Your hard work will pay off! �� #jobsearch #newgrads #softwareengineer #interviewtips #google #leetcode #coding #careeradvice #linkedin

"How do I find my first job after graduating," the question I'm most often asked from students. Graduate Outcomes Survey data, indicates that a significant number of graduates are still seeking full-time employment four months post-graduation. But why is this? The industry professionals I've asked, all give one of four responses: →A perceived lack of experience →Limited entry-level vacancies →Skills mismatches → and broader industry disruption. Over my five years at Macquarie University, I've realised a common misconception with students is that the job search begins after graduation. In reality, students who successfully secure graduate roles begin preparing for the workforce well in advance of their final semester. For current students and recent graduates, here are FOUR PRACTICAL STEPS to help improve the likelihood of getting that graduate job: 1️⃣Build Industry Experience While Studying:  Gaining practical exposure through internships, work placements, or volunteering is worth its weight in gold. Even part-time roles related to your field demonstrate commitment and industry insight, and it significantly enhances your CV. 2️⃣Upskill With Job-Ready Short Courses:  I was reluctant to include this, but I really do believe it. Complement your academic studies with short courses in highly valued, practical areas, such as project management, social media, and business communication. This demonstrates a willingness to learn and adapt to immediate workplace demands. 3️⃣Polish Your Resume and Cover Letter:  When direct experience is limited, your application needs to make a strong impression. Focus on articulating transferable skills, detailing relevant achievements from university or casual work, and tailor each submission to the specific role and organisation. It's ok to start with ChatGPT, but don't let it do the whole thing or your letter will sound like everyone else's. 4️⃣Know Graduate Program application deadlines:  Structured graduate programmes in Australia provide clear professional pathways. Monitor resources such as Graduate Careers Australia, Jobs and Skills Australia, university career centres, and of course LinkedIn job alerts. These opportunities often have application deadlines months before graduation; so make sure these are on your radar early. 🎥To make sure I'm sharing the most relevant information with you, this week we asked people at Martin Place in the Sydney CBD their advice in landing your first job. Great work with the edit Amy Shidiak. #LinkedInNewsAustralia