Graduates' guide

Applications for graduate training positions have now closed but with many companies still to decide who will join their payrolls next year, candidates have an opportunity to boost their chances of landing a role.

After sifting through the numerous written applications, most companies will conduct first-round interviews. These may be over the phone or face to face.

It's essential to be prepared if you're hoping to make it through to the next round.

Employers will expect you to know about the broader industry they operate in, to be able to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the firm and the wider sector and to show you've thought about what that could mean for the company's future.

You can get plenty of information from newspaper and magazine articles and credible internet sites such as the company's own website.

Talking with industry experts, including your lecturers, and networking with current and ex-staff members can provide valuable insights, too.
 
A good starting point is to track down alumni from your university who have worked for the company you're interested in.

Interviews can be confronting but employers aren't out to trick you.

They want to find out more about you and how you've handled opportunities and challenges in the past.

For in-depth interviews, many employers use the STAR principle - situation, task, action, result. They want to know what happened in a given situation, the task or opportunity you faced, how you acted and the consequences.

Interviewers are trying to learn whether you have the skills they are looking for.

Claire Strik, graduate recruitment manager at KPMG, says she is looking for innovative team players who relish the challenge of solving problems and who can communicate their ideas with conviction and passion.

Before an interview, take time to plan your responses to potential questions.

Think of times you've worked under pressure, made a difficult decision, brought others on board even when you have no authority over them, made a mistake or worked with a difficult person.

Examples from previous jobs are most suitable but you can also draw on situations from community and volunteer activities.
 
It's a good idea to practise interviews with a careers adviser or friend so you get comfortable with interviews.

Eric Tran, from business advisory firm Sinclair Knight Merz, says he looks for students who exhibit communication and leadership skills.

"Academic results only form part of the selection process and are not the determining factor as to who we short-list for interviews," he says.
 
"We generally recruit potential graduates who have soft skills, which academic studies cannot teach you. We need the leaders of tomorrow and those who can communicate and build a business with our clients and continue to nurture this client relationship."

Applications may have closed for the mid-year intake of graduate programs but Tran says his firm, among other organisations, is looking at applications outside this date for outstanding students. 

Published: 02 August 2008