Your final year of University can be a stressful time. Joining the working world can seem daunting and the mere thought of finding a job can fill anyone with dread.

Thankfully there are ways to make the process easier, beyond studying really hard for exams, spending hours on essays and having a part-time job.

Here are three ways to improve your chances of getting a job straight out of University, and get a head start in your career.

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1. Network

It’s important to leave University with a strong contact base from the profession you want to go into. Utilise sites like LinkedIn to start and participate in conversation relating to your chosen industry.

See what events are going on. If your University is running a careers day, then attend it! Find people from the industry and speak to them. Let them know you’re interested in working for them and find out how their hiring process works. If you know what they’ll be looking for come graduation, you’ll have ample time to prepare. At the very least it gives you the ability to name drop someone in the interview, which is a great conversation starter.

If the University isn’t organising anything, why not do it yourself? If you wish to become a Legal professional, then join the Legal society. Have your say, and organise trips and speakers. Not only will this help in your education but also looks great on your CV.

Do all three of the above and you should be left with a number of contacts who will help you once you leave University, on top of a wealth of topics of conversation to use in interviews.

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2. Build a relationship with a recruiter

Working with a recruiter is a great way to increase your chances of being hired straight out of university. Some will be recruiting for graduate level roles. Even those who don’t will still want to connect and keep in contact for the future. So be on the lookout for recruitment events as they will allow you to network with like-minded individuals; and get the inside scoop on companies.

They’re also a great resource of helpful tips and tricks. Worried about your interview manner? Practise with a recruiter. It’s their job to be able to spot talent and to know who will and won’t perform in an interview. Take on board their feedback and improve.

Alternatively, if you want to expand your knowledge of a particular industry, then becoming a recruiter in that sector is a great way to do so. Being trained and working alongside industry experts can help you to get your dream job. After all, if you know what a company wants when it comes to hiring the right person then you can tailor yourself to meet their expectations.

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3. Manage your online profiles

Companies are increasingly factoring in candidates’ social media accounts when making a decision about hiring them. It’s important to control what you put on your Facebook, Twitter etc.

Tidy up your LinkedIn, change your Facebook privacy settings and keep your 140 Twitter characters PC. You don’t want to fall at the final hurdle due to a compromising photo of yourself passed out in a kebab!



So there you have it – our three tips to help you hit the ground running after University. Of course, they’re all part of a bigger picture. Which includes qualifications, work-experience etc. Whilst we cannot help with these, we can help to show you how to best represent them.