Leaving education to enter the professional workforce can be a very daunting task.
With many young adults finishing their studies within the next few months, it is important to start planning for how you want your future to look.
Beginning to job search before leaving education is strongly encouraged as larger corporations will often open their graduate opportunities months before the role’s start dates. This is in order to process the inevitably high volume of applications and complete multiple interview stages.
It is said that on average, it takes approximately 5.6 months for a graduate to achieve their goal of a first job – How long does it take to get a job? [2025 UK survey].
In planning so far ahead, you will have more opportunity to attend careers fairs, networking events and internships, in which you can build a variety of connections and gain valuable work experience. Utilising these experiences will strengthen your initial applications to stand out in heavily saturated candidate pools. At g2 recruitment, we are always on the hunt for people with potential and will often acquire them through such events.
By following these steps, you can ensure you’re on the right path to securing your first role in recruitment after education:
Personalising your CV and Cover Letter
It is advised to customise your CV and cover letter for each specific company you apply to, in order to yield the best results.
While sending mass applications may save time, employers often look for specific keywords and skills, some of which may be filtered by AI.
By tailoring your skills to match each company’s needs, you can reduce the risk of being screened out by AI filters.
Many larger corporations use AI-powered tracking systems to filter through resumes before they even reach a human recruiter, so strategically highlighting key words that you may have found in the job specification or company website will ensure that your CV will pass through to a real employer.
However, at g2, we do not rely on AI but instead on our team of expert Talent Acquisition consultants who ensure that every application is viewed and evaluated appropriately, eliminating AI preference and increasing personalisation.
Reflect on your previous experiences
Remember, this is more than likely your first full- time job after education.
It can be extremely beneficial to reflect on previous jobs that you’ve had and understand what soft skills you have gained from them, and how they can be used in your future professional career.
Any other non-professional work experience – such as retail and hospitality – will have transferrable skills that will appeal to entry-level employers. Some of the most coveted skills that employers look for are: communication and teamwork, problem-solving skills, and high emotional intelligence – Indeed (8 Sought-After Skills Employers Look For | Indeed.com UK).
Thus, all previous experience and skills that you have gained should be carefully selected and utilised to appeal to us as potential employers.
Visit our website or find us on job boards
The most efficient way to apply for opportunities is through reputable job boards and company websites.
Many of these platforms store your personal information, eliminating redundant and monotonous steps and saving you time. This allows you to focus more on customising your CV and cover letter.
Furthermore, continuously checking the latest job activity on a company’s website may lead to hidden opportunities that are not immediately advertised on job boards.
While well-known job boards like LinkedIn and Glassdoor are excellent for finding roles and expanding your professional network, platforms such as Handshake are also worth considering. These platforms are specifically designed for undergraduates and recent graduates, meaning the companies posting jobs are aware that applicants may have limited or no prior experience.
Therefore, the best approach to applying for jobs is through respected platforms that streamline the process and store your details, while also exploring specialised sites that focus on entry-level roles for students and recent grads.
Prepare for your Interviews
Interview preparation is vital to securing a job offer.
As it is the employer’s first personal impression of you, a single interview can make or break your application, so researching the company and its values is key to standing out as it demonstrates to the interviewer that you have a solid understanding of both the role and the company.
Knowing the company’s values allows you to tailor your interview responses, showcasing how your skills and experiences align with their needs.
For many, interviews—whether in-person or online—are the most nerve-wracking part of the application process.
“G2V’s Talent Teams are led by recruitment professionals who specialise in finding raw talent and preparing candidates for a corporate multi-stage competency-based interview. You should be prepared to answer questions around competencies you have not considered before and present real-life examples of where you’ve demonstrated them.
Don’t fear! Our team are a friendly, approachable bunch and have all been in the same position as you – so enjoy the process and hit apply now!” – Nikita Parmar, Head of Internal Recruitment at g2.
Alongside this, certain tactics such as memorising and practicing a few experience-based STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) responses can improve your fluency and ease, helping to reduce anxiety and allowing you to present yourself with greater confidence.
So, are you ready to apply?
With all this being said, many of us know how landing your first professional job is more challenging to achieve in practice.
It is important to have an initial idea of what you want in your mind – while you may not find your dream role first-time, you can begin creating a pathway for yourself and choose a role that focuses on the specific skills you will be a stepping-stone for your desired industry.
