There is a certain amount of relief when a student finally graduates from college; the years of hard work through all levels of school have finally paid off and they now stand, degree in hand, with their future laid out before them. That relief tends to be short lived when the reality strikes home that student loans now have to be paid and it's time to get a real job! Trying to land that first big job is always a daunting task, but perhaps even more so, at the moment given the tight job market. Companies are now offering fewer graduate positions and with literally hundreds of candidates applying for the same role, the interview process is even more important. With that in mind, here are some tips that can help you when making the transition from school to work. Research and prepare: If you have graduated from college with great grades, then that means that you have spent a great deal of time studying, which is a trait that you should carry over to your interview process. Take time to do homework on the company you are interviewing with and find a way to naturally weave that knowledge into your answers. Your pre-planning shouldn't only be limited to the actual interview, but also how to get there. Showing up late will put an immediate strike against your name and potentially eliminate you from the interview process. Plan the route you need to take to get to the location and don't be shy in giving yourself an extra 10 minutes to get there. Practice makes perfect: Job Interviewing can be a daunting experience which is why it's a good idea to do a few mock interviews before the big day arrives. You can ask a friend or family member to conduct the “interview”, but make sure that it is someone who is subjective and who isn't afraid to tell you that your answers were not that strong. A great tip is to write down 10 examples of achievements or skills that you would like to portray to the interviewer and integrating these examples into your answers. The worst mistake is going to the interview without preparation and stuttering your way through the interview. Creating a professional image: Most people are aware that they have to dress the part when going for an interview, but that extends beyond the clothing. Make sure that your hair is neat and tidy, and that you are well groomed; having a hairstyle that looks like you just stepped out of bed will quickly negate the fantastic suit you are wearing. As a recent graduate, portraying a professional image is vital to your success. Remember that a hiring manager will make an immediate impression about you the second you walk in the door. A positive first impression is vital to your success. Being prepared, arriving on time, and looking the part is only a small part of the process. You have a limited amount of time to impress the interviewer, so use that to sell yourself as best as you can, without coming across as arrogant or pushy. Confidence is as important as your education, and it may just end up being the deciding factor between you and another candidate.

Making the right impression in your job interview is one of the most important steps in your future career. Many people don't know this, but job interviews require careful planning and research, otherwise you will significantly reduce the chance of getting the job. In the current economic climate it is very hard to land yourself a job, thus planning your interview before is the key to success The first (and often the most important) thing to prepare for is your attire. Don't wait until the last minute to find something to wear – you should prepare for it days in advance and get it properly cleaned and ironed. Remember that you should always dress to fit the context of a job. If you're applying for a casual gardening company, a suit might not be ideal, but if you're applying for a position as an accountant or a banker, then a full suit would be the required minimum. Despite what people say, first impressions are everything. Conducting research about the job and company you're applying for is imperative. Consider doing a web search and learn as many facts about the company as you can. You can subtlety include these facts during the interview (when appropriate) to show the interviewer that you have done your homework on the company. Don't overdo it though – you don't want to sound like you're repeating their whole website! Non-verbal messages are often more important than words, so make sure that you greet your interviewer with a firm handshake. Maintaining correct posture and eye contact are also two very important non-verbal messages as they make you appear more confident and presentable. These are two big qualities that hiring managers will be looking for. You should also be able to recite your resume off by heart. As a general rule, you should not need to consult your resume. The interviewer will already have a copy of your resume, and they will ask you questions about it, so don't try to make up an answer as there is a big chance that you will get it wrong. Highlight your achievements and the value added skills you can bring to the job and back up your statements with examples. As preparation is the key to a successful job interview, consider doing a short role-play with a friend or family member. Ask them to question you on your resume and the job to fully prepare you for the interview. The more you are prepared the greater your chances of success. Following the interview, thank the interviewer for his or her time and ask when they expect to make a final decision and don't feel discouraged to follow up with them if you haven't heard back within a few days. Good luck!

Job seeking can often be a lonely and frustrating business, but if you organise yourself properly, define what your preferences are and what goals you would like to achieve, then, it can make the job searching process more enjoyable. Whether you're looking for a job or a change of career, the approach should be similar and there are certain things that should be in place before you start on your path to finding suitable employment. Too often people jump straight into sending out their resume for every job under the sun. This approach is not just wrong but can be a total waste of time. Preparation is key to job seeking and those that prepare properly ultimately come out ahead. Job Preparation and Research Before you even begin to start thinking about applying for jobs, ensure that your professional resume is up to date and that your cover letter is targeted towards the jobs and industry you are applying for. Focus your resume on highlighting achievements and the value added skills that you can bring to the organisation. Remember that demand for jobs is ultra-competitive and when potential hiring managers may receive in excess of 500 resumes for one position, your resume needs to be perfect in order to stand out from the crowd. Once your resume and cover letter are ready to go, you need to decide exactly what type of work you want to do and where your skills are best suited. This will make the job search process more straightforward. Focus your job search There are many different tactics you can implement to search for jobs. Don't get stuck into only applying for online jobs because they are easy to apply for. Create profiles on different networking sites such as LinkedIn. A LinkedIn profile is a fantastic way to attract recruiters and potential head hunters. You can also use networking sites to find job vacancies, network with hiring managers and meet other job seekers who are in the same shoes as you. Remain Positive and Focused Job seeking is not easy and can often take a long period of time. Rather than sitting at home waiting for the phone to ring, utilise this time to learn a new skill. (Have you ever wanted to learn a new language?) Perform community service or even just try to improve your health. The more you focus on the negative the more depressed and stressed you will become. Set out a certain amount of time every day to job search and spend the other time in the day doing something else. Having a common sense approach to your job searching will make it easier in finding suitable employment. Adopting a flexible approach, a willingness for work and a good attitude will give you more leverage and help in your quest of finding the ideal job.

Competition (too few jobs and too many graduates) Here is the scenario… You have graduated college with a good looking degree; you feel on top of the world and ready to pick and choose your dream job. The reality however is that your one of a many in the same boat. While you feel as though you would be best suited for a particular role there can be hundreds of other people who feel the same way as you. I often tell the story about my days as a recruitment consultant where I used to recruit for graduate positions. I would post a graduate position on the job boards and by lunch time I would have 200 applicants in my inbox. So what can you do to differentiate yourself from the rest of the crowd? You need to ensure that your resume is in the top 5-10% of all resumes. A single mistake in your resume can be the difference between your resume ending up in the interview stack or in the deleted folder Downturn in the economy We are all sick and tired of hearing about the global financial situation, sluggish economic growth and rising unemployment. Unfortunately this is the situation which new graduates find themselves facing when looking for a job. My best advice is to network, stay patient and increase the effort into the job search. You are going to have setbacks and days when you feel like the whole world is against you. The real challenge will be ones of Continuing perseverance and confidence. Lack of Real world experience My advice to all graduates (and those preparing to graduate) is to seek work experience. I personally hated this advice while I was at university but looking back now my work experience helped me plan out my career and gain vital experience in competitive industries. When the time came to put forward my resume, my previous work experience set me apart from many of my competitors. Too high expectations Many graduates (myself included) complete university and expect to hand pick the job which they want. Furthermore, graduates have an expectation that they know what is best and should actually be the boss rather than working for the boss. So many times I have had graduates apply for job positions which are so unrealistic and then get despondent because they are not getting interview requests. It's important for graduates to realize that they need to gain the experience before they can call themselves the boss. Debate between further higher education and job seeking Do you continue to study or start straight away with the job seeking? Many graduates don't have a choice in this matter but for those who do continuing to study can lead to greater results long term (financial and job position) and also further help distinguish yourself apart from other graduates. On the other hand is it better to start working and get your foot in the door? There's no better education then real life experience of learning on the job.

Paul Jury, Managing Director - Recruitment, Australia & New Zealand We've all done it…made a controversial 'wall' comment, written a cheeky blog post or suffered as friends tag questionable photos of a big night out. It's a bit of harmless fun - until your intentions turn professional and you begin approaching prospective employers and contacts for a new job. Have you ever considered they might be sneaking a peek at your online profile? Can your professional network find your personal details on Facebook? Is your LinkedIn profile true to your professional resume? And, how can your online activity impact your career potential? The Privacy Issue Online privacy is a controversial issue in Australia and not just for the sporting world or celebrities! It is well acknowledged that our legislation is having trouble keeping up with the pace of new technology. Right now, unless it is considered 'defamatory,' there is little you can do to offset the publishing of your personal information; once it's there, it's there. So, should prospective employers be privy to your personal or social information? The simple answer is no; your job application should be based on merit and all other factors discounted; however if you do publish personal information on the internet and it is easily accessible, hiring managers can and might learn more than you want them to know. This includes content posted on personal websites, blogs, social sites (e.g., Facebook, MySpace), Twitter, old resumes and out-of-date information on professional sites and comments in forums. Also consider content on your friends' forums as on some websites your information can be viewed via the activity of others, despite your privacy settings. What Should You Do? Online and social media tools can be critical to your job search, whether you are a member of niche job boards or blogs, are making the most out of career networking sites, or are receiving Twitter updates about the latest contract opportunities. However, it is important that you consider the personal/ professional divide carefully and are aware of the pitfalls of being social media savvy. Not all publicity is good publicity and while you are actively job seeking, it is worth carefully considering the type of information that is out there and the potential impact of your online footprint. Google Do a quick online 'health check' by conducting a Google search on yourself. Whatever you find is pretty much what your prospective employer will see. If there's something potentially embarrassing or inappropriate (like that tagged photo), try to get rid of it. If there is a media article that is contentious that you cannot remove, be prepared to cover it off in your interview as chances are your prospective employer has seen it. Facebook Review your privacy settings. You can determine who sees your status, photos and posts and even your political and religious views. During your job search, it's probably a good idea to restrict all permissions to 'Friends' only. LinkedIn If you don't have a LinkedIn profile, get one, or if it's incomplete, update it. Most employers and recruiters are now using LinkedIn to find potential job candidates. A LinkedIn profile will give you the opportunity to post a professional photo of yourself, write a respectable bio, and connect with other industry professionals. Remember to make sure your profile information is consistent with your current resume. Blogs A blog is an extremely effective way to demonstrate your expertise on your profession's subject matter. By posting relevant content and educated opinions, this establishes your commitment to (and interest in) your industry, builds your credibility and also enhances your chances of being found by a headhunter. A professional blog also allows you to effectively build your own 'brand', encourages dialogue with like-minded professionals, and gives you an 'industry expert' reputation. TOP TIPS » Do review and adjust your social media privacy settings whilst job hunting. » Do try to clean up anything that's potentially embarrassing or inappropriate. » Do use professional networking sites such as LinkedIn to create a professional online profile. » Do consider posting anonymously or using a 'nickname' if you contribute to a blog or site that you don't want 'published' professionally. » Do post a decent profile picture. » Don't include a link on your resume to sites or blogs which include inappropriate/ personal content. By performing some basic searches and cleaning up anything that might not be appropriate for your professional network, you can avoid being discounted for a job for which you are otherwise qualified.