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Getting a job? You've got your qualfication, so now you'll be offered a job? Not quite as easy as that though. What about all those others who graduated with you? How do you make yourself stand out from them?

Congratulations - so now you're getting a job?

You've got your qualification, so now you're getting a job? Not quite as easy as that though. Don't think that employers are waiting for you outside the graduation hall. That may have been true once, but it isn't anymore. When you apply for a job, you will find that there are many others who have the same qualification as you. So how do you make yourself stand out from those others?

Getting a job: Stage one

Stage one of the process is to find jobs that are available. Don't expect to get your "ideal job" and don't expect to get the first job you apply for. You'll probably have to apply for many jobs so you'll need to find a lot of adverts for vacancies. To do this use multiple strategies. For example:

• Look at the sort of things you can do with your major. Use web sites such as this "What can I do with this major/degree?" to help you.
• Use the internet to search for job listings in your area of expertise. Often you can enter your job profile on such sites and they will send you details of jobs that meet your criteria.
• Search the newspapers and professional magazines for job details. Sometimes these listings are online as well.
• Make sure that you are on relevant email discussion lists.
• Use job agencies.
• And whilst you are looking for a job that you are really interested in, make sure that you are doing something other than staying in bed late. Try getting a job part-time, take hourly work, do short term jobs, take short courses, do voluntary work - do anything that you can put on your CV to show that you are resourceful, can keep time, work in a team, engage with peers, know about the demands of the workplace and generally understand what work is all about. 

Getting a job: Stage two

Stage two of the process in getting a job is your application for the job you're interested in. More details on how to do this are provided in the page on "Getting a job: The application".

Getting a job: Stage three

Stage three of the process in getting a job is the interview itself. More details on how to do this are provided in the page on "Getting a job: Being interviewed".