New graduates often face challenges when it comes to leaving university and determining their best career path. Seeking a job after graduation can be tough, often due to a lack of experience, and frequently new graduates are forced to compete with better-qualified job candidates. 

The job market is competitive, and it can be difficult to stand out among other applicants. New graduates have to figure out what kind of job they want to pursue. They will also need to gain a clear sense of their skills and abilities and how they can be applied in a professional role. 

Why self-promotion is important

Networking and building connections can help new university leavers, but it will only be successful with strong self-promotional skills. Many new graduates feel shy about self-promotion for fear of seeming too forward or arrogant. The truth is that sharing skills, abilities, and accomplishments with a potential employer shouldn't be overwhelming. 

Advancing prospects, feeling more fulfilled, and finding better career opportunities can all come from good self-promotion. If graduates omit or downplay achievements, or hide their true experience it could mean that promising job opportunities are missed, or worse, be awarded to a less suitable candidate. For new graduates, developing strong methods of self-promotion is in their interest. 

Develop a professional CV

Good job seeking begins with having a strong CV and designing a clear and professional one that will grab the attention of recruiters or HR departments. Tools such as VisualCV provide an online platform that helps candidates quickly design and share a virtual CV with potential employers.

When writing and designing a new CV graduates should include things like

• Education

• Schools attended

• Degrees

• Relevant coursework

• Honors and awards

• Work experience

Internships, part-time jobs, or relevant volunteer work should be added, and skills and achievements should be highlighted. CVs should be constructed using a clear and easy-to-read format and without errors or typos. A good CV will make an impact and compels hiring managers or HR professionals to keep reading. Stats, numbers, ratios, and anything that demonstrates success or improvements work well as they are more punchy and engaging than simply writing a detailed explanation. 

Certifications and licenses 

Obtaining relevant certifications or licenses gives new graduates an edge and makes them more competitive in the job market. It shows an employer that they have the skills and knowledge required to perform a specific role. 

For example, if a new graduate is interested in working in a healthcare-related field, they may want to get certified as a nursing assistant or medical technician. If they are interested in working in finance, it can be a good idea to become licensed as a financial advisor or stockbroker. 

Other examples of relevant certifications and licenses include -

• Teaching certification 

• Project management certification 

• Paralegal certification 

• Environmental science certification 

• Graphic design certification 

Having a licence or certification in hand shows potential employers that graduates are serious about their careers and have the skills and knowledge it will take to succeed. But it doesn't just benefit the employer, professional certifications, and licences often require ongoing education or training, which can help new graduates stay up-to-date on the latest developments and trends in their chosen field and improve job prospects.

Network and build connections 

Networking and building connections are proven to be one of the most effective ways of uncovering prospective job opportunities. Attending job fairs presents the chance to meet employers and learn about available job openings. Professional associations can help graduates to connect with people in their field, and alumni groups can be contacted to see if there are opportunities to connect with alumni in a similar business sector.

Person-to-person connections are powerful, but networking online using tools like LinkedIn, is just as productive. New graduates can use LinkedIn to reach out to people and introduce themselves. Many employment opportunities are posted on LinkedIn and connections can refer graduates to potential employers. Additionally, LinkedIn groups help connect people across related fields of interest, which provides an opportunity to connect with hiring managers and learn about job opportunities.

Seek a job after graduation using video tools

A strong online presence can be created by using social media channels, and video tools are an extremely effective form to modernize your outdated resume. It provides a captivating and effective way for new graduates to create a video resume that showcases skills, shares experiences, and lists accomplishments.

Graduates can create an online CV or introduction to 

• Share updates, articles, and other content.

• Share writing samples, design portfolios, or graphics.

• Connect with other professionals and join groups.

• Create and share videos that showcase skills, experiences, and accomplishments

• Conduct virtual interviews with potential employers or other professionals

• Attend virtual networking events or conferences

They can then edit video with Movavi, Shotcut, Openshot, or any other powerful video editing software to add labels, music, titles, transitions, etc. This will help create an attractive resume that stands out from the competition.

Internships and job shadowing 

Participating in internships or job shadowing is a great way for recent university graduates to gain experience and learn more about a career. Unpaid opportunities present job applicants with the chance to work closely with professionals, learn new skills, and gain hands-on experience in a real-world setting. 

Many companies will advertise opportunities online or in university newspapers. Going down this route can yield valuable information, both for the graduate and the employer. It is a chance for recently qualified candidates to demonstrate their capabilities and gauge interest in the job. For employers, it's a way to assess the skills, abilities, and suitability of a candidate before extending an offer of employment, saving both time and money on the hiring process.

Final words

With the sheer volume of websites online and the availability of things like video tools, networking and self-promotion are far easier than ever before. For new graduates, this is good news as it can help them to stand out and get ahead in a competitive job market.