Networking and negotiation: is it ever too early to be thinking about graduate jobs? ??
In this issue, we'll be discussing when to apply for graduate jobs and schemes as well as exploring negotiation as a top skill for students and graduates -- one of the key areas from our Employability Quiz . Careers fairs are a great way to test the water when it comes to finding out more about graduate jobs. Let's discuss why ??
Attending careers fairs: is it ever too early to be thinking about graduate jobs???
When you apply for jobs is often determined by the time of year. Graduate schemes are usually advertised between September and December for the following year, and graduate jobs are advertised (not exclusively) in the autumn and spring. It’s useful to think about what you want to do after university before you reach that point, because—for example— if you decide you want to do a graduate scheme, you’ll have to wait another year to start. If you’re unsure of the job you want, a careers fair is a good way of finding out what’s out there, from graduate schemes to internships.?
Why attend a careers fair?
Research: learn more about the companies and industries you’re interested in. It’s a low-stakes environment that doesn’t require much effort on your part — so if you don’t have the time to attend individual events hosted by companies, then a careers fair is the ideal place to show up and learn about multiple companies at the same time. This way you can gather more information on differences between companies, industries and the specific job roles available. It’s also a quicker and more personable way to find out if you align with a company and their values, rather than trying to work it out yourself from visiting their website and reading about their work. Where else would you be able to speak to so many employees at once and get your questions answered directly?
Networking: connect with professionals and start building relationships early on — you never know who might take an interest in you and what you have to offer! Start by introducing yourself and explaining what draws you to the company they work for and go from there. Don’t be afraid to ask to connect with them on LinkedIn either, they’re at the careers fair to find enthusiastic and interested candidates like you! Be open to exploring connections with a variety of people at the fair too because even if the person isn’t directly connected to the role you want, they still might have useful insight to guide you!
CV feedback: make the most of a careers fair by having a professional review your CV - they might not have time to look at it fully so you have more of a chance if you arrive early! Either way they can offer some short feedback for improvements.?
Understand job market and current trends: trends and in-demand skills change regularly in line with the changes to the job market. By attending a careers fair you can understand directly from employers the kind of skills, experience and overall candidate they’re looking for. In doing this, you’ll be able to see how well your current skill set aligns with these expectations. This will save you time and energy in the long run, as you’ll be more informed about what your desired career path requires, allowing you to prioritise what you need to learn/upskill.
Too soon to be looking into graduate jobs?
University is an intense experience that can take up all your time, especially for those who have part-time jobs alongside their studies. So if the thought of applying for graduate jobs is too much right now, that’s ok! Waiting until after university to apply for a job can enable you to reflect on what you need from work; your current skills, your workplace values, your career aspirations. This can enable you to spend time finding an employer that you align with, leading to greater job satisfaction in the long run. In the meantime, there are other ways you can increase your employability within your studies and activities that you’re already doing, without adding to the mental or physical workload:
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Skill of the month: negotiation ??
Negotiation is a transferable skill that involves finding compromises to reach positive outcomes. The aim of negotiating is to help settle differences by reaching a compromise that satisfies all parties involved in a situation. Typically, negotiation is a soft skill that brings together other abilities such as analysing, teamwork and communication. In a professional environment, you may negotiate contract terms, project timelines, and salaries. But before you’ve reached the workplace, you may have experienced negotiation at university, such as renegotiating deadlines or working in a team, or in your personal life, such as negotiating a cleaning schedule in a household.?
From our research at GotDis, we have identified negotiation as a challenging skill to develop. For example, 82% of respondents on our GotDis Employability Quiz ranked negotiation in the bottom three out of eight task skills. This suggests that negotiation is a challenging task skill amongst students and recent graduates, despite its importance in the workplace. Interestingly, 77% of female respondents ranked negotiation in the bottom three of eight task skills, whilst this figure was 59% amongst male respondents. These figures suggest that females are facing even greater challenges than males when it comes to negotiation skills, which is contributing to issues such as the gender pay gap.
Negotiation isn’t just based on assertiveness and leadership, two areas in which women may lack confidence; negotiation is built on empathy, communication, and active listening. Women can advance their careers with more relational and creative strategies that are geared to the building of long-term collaboration and trust through these key areas of negotiation. By rethinking traditional forms of negotiation as a form of collaboration, mediation, and problem-solving, women who face challenges in negotiation will feel more empowered to engage with negotiation in the workplace and beyond.?
How to improve your negotiation skills
?? Active listening - practice listening to what someone has to say, before asking additional questions to understand the problem through someone else's eyes. Take into consideration their goals, values and the situation they're in, before moving forward. When you are focused on what your next point or question will be, you may miss the critical information you need.
?? Build confidence - try to avoid getting discouraged by someone's opinion in a discussion. By demonstrating your confidence during a negotiation, you can highlight the benefits of your proposal or potential compromise for all parties involved. Try to control your emotions and focus on a realistic solution to the problem. If you see someone struggling with confidence during a negotiation, try to make them feel comfortable by actively listening to their problem and adapting your solution to meet their needs.?
?? Searching for options - Searching for options requires problem-solving skills. You need to understand all of the goals, values and situations of everyone involved, before thinking about a solution that satisfies these major areas for everyone involved. For example, if you are negotiating tasks in a team project, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each member of your team will be important when delegating tasks.
We hope this newsletter has inspired you to think creatively about your future career. Whether you decide to apply for jobs now or later, what’s important is that you understand what to expect when it comes to applications and industry expectations. For more insight into your own employability, take our quiz to find out where your strengths lie!