With all the excitement, you might almost forget about the next momentous challenge that lays ahead… almost.

Entering the real world, or work, full price train fares, and rent PLUS council tax may be some shock to the system. To be able to afford the latter two and avoid being consigned back to your parents basement for the foreseeable future, you must only worry about one thing; the interview.

Before I take you step by step through what you should do to prepare yourself for the interview, a few wise words on job searching:

1)      Do not rely on Reed or any other site alone.
Register for every site, take time to tailor your alerts to your needs, and set them for daily. Although this can become annoying, it means you will not miss that perfect job when it flashes up for three days only. If you don’t know what you want to do, pick three sectors to set up alerts for, per site. Use your contacts you have made throughout university and in the world of work – everyone wants to help out a graduate as they feel sorry for us entering the job market at this pitiful time. Send your CV to previous employers, and other people in the industry you have met and tell them to feel free to punt it about between their contacts. Also don’t underestimate old forms of job hunting such as newspapers, and new like social media. Jobs are advertised everywhere nowadays so exhausts every avenue – daily. This includes going straight to company websites as some do not bother advertising anywhere else, especially the big names.

2)      Start a spreadsheet

As your inbox fills up with alerts, it can be easy to get snowed under. Flag the emails which have jobs of interest and go back to them later that day. Go through each one and consider A. Whether the job interests you, B. Whether you think you can do it, and C. Whether it is logistically possible (salary, location etc.). Once you have ticked those three boxes enter the job into your spreadsheet which will have 8 columns: Job Title and link to advert, Company and link to website, Salary, Contact details (or recruiter or person at the company), Link to job description, Application close date, Date applied, and finally a Response column. Order it by application close date. Also start a ‘job search’ folder on your PC, with subfolders of sectors, and then separate folders within those for each company, as you will need to alter wordings for each application and need to remember what you have said exactly should you be invited for interview, and when you are applying for 15 plus jobs a day it is good to be organised.

3)      Have a CV for each sector of interest

You will have a standard CV which will be the one you upload everywhere. But when applying for specific jobs directly to the companies it is good to have another set of CVs tailored for each sector. For journalism for instance it is best to have experience above education, but for the Civil Service you will want employment first etc. Do the same for cover letters.

4)      DO NOT only apply for ‘graduate jobs’

It is mightily tempting, especially if you haven’t really worked before, to only apply for ‘Graduate Jobs’ or training schemes. By no means rule them out, but you should focus on entry level positions, or even a bit higher if you already have vocational experience in your field as well as academic qualifications.

5)      Start at the top and work your way down

On day one of your job search, which should be around 4/5 months before you graduate, apply for your dream jobs. Internships abroad, higher level positions, things you know you can do but think you have a slim chance of getting – you never know. These are the ones that take longest to get back to you, so punch them out first. After that, work downwards, so things you know you can do and think you have a reasonable chance of getting and so on and so forth. If you get to a month before graduation and you still haven’t secured anything, please just go for everything. Even if that means pouring pints, or stocking shelves for a few months whilst you work this system again. Any job is better than no job, and once you have a gap in your CV you slowly slip down the employability ladder.

Right, so now you have the interview offers pouring in, it’s time to prep. You must take this as seriously as an exam, or you will not make the cut. It’s a lethal market out there, and you must be armed and ready to take on whatever they throw at you.

1)      Know the company inside out

Know the history, what its goals are, who its competitors are, and what its mantra is. Why is it different to similar companies? Get to know its brand, and personality, no matter how big or small. Go beyond the website to social media accounts, and also look into those who will be interviewing you if you know their names – they may have done something similar to you in their younger life, if so, take note, as this will get the conversation flowing nicely.

2)      Pick out buzzwords in the job description

Every job description / person specification is littered with buzzwords such as ‘organisation’, ‘team-work’, ‘innovativeness’, etc. Remember them, as this is the check list you will be marked against during your interview. I would say choose about 10.

3)      Examples, examples, examples

Use these buzzwords to formulate answers to related questions. E.g. “This job requires a lot of self-organisation – how would you handle that?” Across all the buzzwords you have picked out, come up with two examples for each. Use work, uni, volunteering, and even personal examples and try and get an even mix. Do not focus on one job or experience. Also do not say ‘we did’, stick to the first person, it is confident, and tells the employer exactly what you did. Be as specific as possible.

4)      Try and predict the questions

Use the buzzwords to try and think how they may frame the questions. Write them out in a document, and type up your examples in full sentences but as you would naturally speak them. Keep them short and snappy, but make sure to get in those buzzwords! Also always prepare a minimum of three questions to ask the employer yourself, one logistic (about hours, or pay), one about the company (even if you already know the answer which you should), and one that signifies you are in it for the long haul (scope for career development etc. even if this job is a stop gap you don’t want them to know that). Also ask what the next stage of the interview process is and when you can expect to hear.

5)      Rehearse

Rehearse these answers until you are blue in the face. Learn them off by heart, so as soon as who hear those buzzwords (or their synonyms) your natural reaction is to spout your two beautifully constructed examples. Get someone to read the questions to you, in your order and mixed up. They will often ask you further questions too which will be good practice to see how you deal with curveballs. With the amount you have prepared you should be ready for anything they throw at you.

6)      Remember the basics

Dress smart, don’t take too much stuff with you, take a notepad and pen with your questions in it (this shows you are prepared) and to take notes if needed, smile, make eye contact, give a confident handshake, and remember your manners! Be delightful, humorous within appropriateness, and leave with “thank you very much, it has been a pleasure to meet you and I look forward to the next stage”.

Done.

You can expect to go through at least 3 phone interviews, and 3-5 face to face interviews before landing a job – minimum. Do not be deterred. If unsuccessful, always ask for feedback, and work that in to this plan for your next. You will get there in the end. Also if you get offered an interview for a job you no longer feel is suitable, do it. The more experience you have inside the interview room the better and it always feels good to turn down a job. Although my last piece of advice would be take the first one you are offered. It’s a tough world out there, but you can do it.

Good luck!