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Where to start?

Graduates, like the rest of the population, are facing the most challenging job market for years.  Tough competition means you must pull out all the stops in order to impress prospective employers.

Candidates who apply a thoughtful, carefully researched approach are those most likely to stand out.  Employers will be looking to see if you understand the employer's business and genuinely want to work for them.  Show them that you have the skills and attitude they are looking for by using examples from your work experience or other non-academic duties.  

Now is an ideal opportunity to take on temporary or unpaid work, ideally in a directly relevant field but any experience, whether it is in a restaurant, office, call-centre or charity, will provide valuable work-related skills which you can use to talk about on your CV and at interview.

Do make sure that your application is error-free as employers will be unforgiving of any mistakes.  In a recent Personal Career Management survey, 9 out of 10 CVs surveyed had errors. Every candidate should check, double-check and then get someone else to check their application for them as the mistakes you miss, will stick out like a sore thumb to someone else.  It may sound like common-sense, but the fact that 9 out of 10 people in the survey got it wrong, means that you only need to take a little extra care, to have raced ahead of 90% of the potential competition.

If you're unsure or get stuck there is lots of help available for you, from on-line resources, to self-help books, to working with a professional career coach.  Don't ever be concerned about seeking help.  Successful people are often those who know when they need help and go out and get it.

Good luck
Corinne Mills

Corinne Mills is MD of Personal Career Management and career expert for Telegraphjobs. She is also the author of the UK's no. 1 CV book "You're Hired!  How to write a brilliant CV" and graduates can visit the Advice Zone and pick up a copy for £7.99 saving £2 off the retail price of £9.99.

Details of Personal Career Management's Graduate Job Search Programme will also be available at the Advice Clinic at the National Graduate Recruitment Exhibitions.

Personal Career Management have helped thousands of people to explore their career options and move into their target role.  Visit www.personalcareermanagement.com