Graduate Job Podcast

For the 123rd episode of the Graduate Job Podcast, I speak with a listener of the show Daniel, as he shares he secured his dream graduate job in finance with an international IT services company. Daniel signed up for the How to Get a Graduate Job course back in September last year, and we discuss how following the steps in the course led him to graduate job success.  In the episode Daniel shares his experience of going through the application process for a range of different finance, business and accounting firms, sharing his insights into what he learned from the CV application stage, completing dozens of different psychometric tests, and his tips and tricks for passing the recorded video interview stage. We also deep dive into the assessment centre stage, as Daniel shares his insights into how you can impress at this final hurdle. As I said, it’s an inspiring episode, and if Daniel can do it, you can do it too, so strap yourself in and listen to our chat today. Now the links to the show notes today including a full transcript you can download and links to everything we discuss can be found at www.graduatejobpodcast.com/Daniel.

 

MORE SPECIFICALLY IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

  • How Daniel secured a graduate job in finance with a top international IT services company
  • Daniel’s top tips for impressing in the recorded video interviews
  • How to make sure your work experience stands out from the crowd
  • How to cope with the stress of an assessment centre
  • Why Daniel joined the How to Get a Graduate Job course, and why he thinks you should too.

SELECTED LINKS INCLUDE:

Direct download: GJP-123.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:39pm GMT

For episode 122 of the Graduate Job Podcast I have a brilliant episode for you that is going to open your eyes to the graduate opportunities that are available to you with start-ups, as I am joined on the show by Kabir Bali co-founder of Jumpstart. Jumpstart has set up an innovative graduate scheme where you can apply to start-up firms with venture capital funding who are looking for great graduates, and as well as finding amazing roles with Jumpstart you also get the graduate scheme experience of a month of training and development, and also the social side of joining with a cohort of other people. And in today’s episode, we delve into Jumpstart more generally and how you can apply. We go through the types of start-up firms that they work with, what they look for in candidates and how you can stand out at each stage of the process. We discuss how you can improve your CV, why you need to show not tell with it, and why you should definitely talk about any side hustles or university societies that you’ve been a part of. We also cover why you can expect at least £25k in each role, and normally some equity to boot as well. It’s an informative episode and no matter the type of graduate job you have thought about applying to, from start-ups to global giants, it’s an episode that you arent going to want to miss. As always you can find a full transcript including all of the show notes and links to everything, we discuss at https://www.graduatejobpodcast.com/jumpstart/.

MORE SPECIFICALLY IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

  • Who Jumpstart are and how you can apply
  • The training and development you can expect with the Jumpstart programme
  • How the application process works
  • What they look for in candidates
  • Why you need to show not tell with your CV
  • How to impress in your interviews with start-ups
  • Why talking about your side hustles is so important when you apply
  • Why you can expect at least a salary of £25k and normally equity as well

SELECTED LINKS INCLUDE:

Direct download: GJP-122.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:55pm GMT

For episode 121 of the Graduate Job Podcast I have a cracker for you that is going to completely change the way you send emails, as I am joined by business communications expert and best-selling author Kim Arnold who takes us through what you should, and more importantly what you should not be doing when you send job-related emails. In today’s episode, we discuss the secrets to writing emails when applying for graduate jobs, and go through the hints and tips which will help you stand out from the crowd. We explore speculative emails for jobs, why most of them are so bad, and what you can do to make sure that the recruiter will sit up and pay attention to yours. We delve into why you need to stop thinking about what you want and instead focus on what the recruiter is going to care about when you send your email, and how thinking about a hamburger can help you do this…. yes, a hamburger. We explore that tricky topic of chasing recruiters for feedback, how to do it effectively, and crucially how long to wait so that you aren’t coming across like a stalker. And Kim also shares how humour could be your secret weapon in getting a response as you look for a graduate job. It’s a fun episode and no matter what job you are applying for, you are going to be sending emails, so it’s not an episode that you will want to miss. As always you can find a full transcript including all of the show notes and links to everything we discuss at https://www.graduatejobpodcast.com/email/

MORE SPECIFICALLY IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

  • The secrets to writing emails when applying for graduate jobs
  • Email tips that will make you stand out from the crowd
  • How to write a speculative job email that will get results
  • Why most speculative emails for jobs don’t work
  • How thinking about a hamburger will help you get a graduate job
  • Why a good email is all about the company, and not you
  • How to effectively chase a recruiter for feedback on an interview
  • How long to wait before chasing a recruiter?
  • Why humour is so powerful when you are emailing recruiters

SELECTED LINKS INCLUDE:

Direct download: GJP-121.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:39pm GMT

For the 120th episode of the Graduate Job Podcast I speak with graduate recruitment expert, author and Netflix TV show producer Andrew Osayemi, who takes us through how his disastrous teenage love life will help you get a graduate job. In today’s wide-ranging episode, Andrew shares his experiences from both sides of the graduate recruitment fence, and we discuss why getting on a graduate scheme is just like dating. We cover how getting a graduate job is like getting into a top nightclub, and the strategies you need to adopt to get into both. We explore why you need more than just good grades when you apply, and how playing poker led Andrew to career success. We delve into the skills you need to succeed in a job interview and why you should definitely be practising your small talk skills and utilizing the power of telling stories. It’s a fun episode and no matter what you are applying for, not one that you will want to miss. As always you can find a full transcript including all of the show notes at www.graduatejobpodcast.com/dating.

MORE SPECIFICALLY IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

  • How Andrew’s disastrous teenage love life helped him get a graduate job
  • Why getting on a graduate scheme is like dating
  • How getting a graduate job is like getting into a top nightclub
  • Why you need more than just good grades
  • How playing poker led Andrew to career success
  • Why you should practice your small talk skills
  • The power of telling stories when you have a job interview

SELECTED LINKS INCLUDE:

Direct download: GJP-120.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:10pm GMT

For the 119th episode of the Graduate Job Podcast, I speak with a listener of the show Sibrah, as she shares how she managed to get an amazing 5 graduate jobs on top graduate schemes. Sibrah signed up for the How to Get a Graduate Job course back in September last year, and we discuss how following the steps in the course led her to be so successful in getting so many job offers.  She shares her experience of going through the application process for a range of different firms, sharing her insights into what she learnt from the CV application stage, completing over 40 different psychometric tests, and just how she managed to have a 100% pass rate at the recorded video interview stage. Getting a graduate job on one graduate scheme is an achievement, so you are going to want to keep listening to find out just how Sibrah managed to get 5 offers of graduate jobs. Now the links to the show notes today including a full transcript you can download and links to everything we discuss can be found at www.graduatejobpodcast.com/Sibrah. In the show today I also announce that the How to Get a Graduate course is now OPEN again for enrolments. As a very special offer for a limited time only I’m including £375 of 1-2-1 coaching with yours truly if you sign up before the 31st of August. That is 5 hours of one-on-one coaching with me where we can practice recorded video interviews, get you ready for assessment centres, get your CV perfected, whatever you want to cover. You have 5 hours with me to use as you see fit. This offer will run to the 31st of August so don’t hang about, sign up now at https://howtogetagraduatejob.com/.

MORE SPECIFICALLY IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

  • Why Sibrah joined the How to Get a Graduate Job course, and why she thinks you should too.
  • How Sibrah managed to secure an unbelievable 5 graduate jobs!
  • Sibrah’s secrets for having a 100% pass rate for recorded video interviews
  • Her advice for making sure your CV stands out from the crowd
  • How she kept on top of over 40 applications for different graduate schemes
  • The £375 of bonus coaching with me that is on offer if you sign up for the How to Get a Graduate Job course before the 31st of August!

SELECTED LINKS INCLUDE:

Direct download: GJP-119.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:52pm GMT

For the 118th episode of the Graduate Job Podcast, I speak with a listener of the show Saffy, as she shares her experiences of how she managed to secure offers of training contracts from two top legal firms. Saffy is an alumnus of the How to Get a Graduate Job course, and we explore how she balanced training contract applications while finishing a dissertation in lockdown, and the trials and tribulations of dealing with rejection and overcoming setbacks. We also cover all stages of the application process for a training contract, from 500 word written competency questions to recorded video interviews, legal case studies, assessment centres and the dreaded partner interview. She shares what went well, mistakes she made along the way, what you need to do to stand out from the crowd as you apply for a training contract, and also why she recommends that you sign up for the How to Get a Graduate Job course. No matter if you have never heard of a training contract or even thought about a career in law, this episode is packed chock full of advice that holds true no matter what type of graduate job you are applying for. Now the only link you need to remember today is www.graduatejobpodcast.com/Saffy where you can find the shownotes with links to everything we discuss and a full transcript you can download and also details for the relaunch of the How to Get a Graduate Job course, and the special early bird bonuses it will be coming with.  But, without further ado, let's head on over to my chat with Saffy.

MORE SPECIFICALLY IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

  • What you can expect when you apply for a training contract
  • What you need to do to impress law firms through the application process
  • The biggest mistakes candidates make when they apply for a training contract
  • Questions you will face in the assessment centre for a training contract
  • Why you should expect to be in it for the long haul when you apply to law firms
  • What you can expect from a legal partner interview
  • Why Saffy joined the How to Get a Graduate Job course, and why she thinks you should too.

SELECTED LINKS INCLUDE:

Direct download: GJP-118.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:23am GMT

For the 117th episode of the Graduate Job Podcast, I speak with a listener of the show Athavan, as he shares his experiences of getting a graduate job with top graduate employer PwC. Athavan is an alumnus of the How to Get a Graduate Job course, and he shares his insights of applying for graduate schemes with the big 4, finance companies, the Civil Service and general business management graduate schemes. We discuss the struggles he went through, advice at each stage of the process, and errors and mistakes that he made along the way. No matter what type of graduate job you are applying to, Athavan will be sharing insider tips to help you perform and stand out from the crowd. Now the only link you need to remember today is www.graduatejobpodcast.com/Athavan which has all of the links to everything we discuss today, including the details and dates of when the How to Get a Graduate Job course will reopen. So without further ado, let's head across to my chat with Athavan.

MORE SPECIFICALLY IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

  • What you need to do to impress when you apply to PwC or the big 4
  • Questions you will face in the assessment centre for a graduate job with PwC
  • How to ensure you get through the initial application phase when you apply for a graduate job
  • What you can expect from the partner interview with the big 4
  • The importance of focus with your graduate job applications
  • Why Athavan joined the How to Get a Graduate Job course, and why he thinks you should too

SELECTED LINKS INCLUDE:

Direct download: GJP-117.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:11pm GMT

For the 116th episode of the Graduate Job Podcast, I speak with a listener of the show Callum, as he shares his experiences of getting a graduate job with top graduate employer P&G. Callum is an alumnus of the How to Get a Graduate Job course, and he shares his insights of applying for graduate schemes with FMCGs, consulting companies, and engineering firms, the struggles he went through, advice at each stage of the process, and errors and mistakes that he made along the way. No matter what type of graduate job you are applying to, Callum will be sharing insider tips to help you perform and stand out from the crowd. Now the only link you need to remember today is www.graduatejobpodcast.com/Callum which has all of the links to everything we discuss today, including the details and dates of when the How to Get a Graduate Job course will reopen. So without further ado, let's head across to my chat with Callum.

MORE SPECIFICALLY IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

  • What you need to do to impress when you apply to Proctor and Gamble
  • What P&G look for from graduates
  • Questions you will face in the assessment centre for a graduate job at P&G
  • How to impress when you apply for consulting roles with the big 4
  • The importance of focus with your graduate job applications
  • Why Callum joined the How to Get a Graduate Job course, and why he thinks you should too
  • His advice for how you can stand out when you apply for a graduate job

 SELECTED LINKS INCLUDE:

Direct download: GJP-116.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:27pm GMT

For the 115th episode of the Graduate Job Podcast, I speak with a listener of the show Jack, as he shares his experiences of applying for graduate jobs, specifically in finance and accounting with the Big 4 and a host of other firms. Jack is an alumnus of the How to Get a Graduate Job course, and a current final year student, and he shares his insights of how he juggled the applications with his uni work, the struggles he went through, advice at each stage of the process, including just how long you can expect to have to wait between stages, errors and mistakes that he made along the way, and his advice of what you need to do to get a graduate job. No matter what type of graduate job you are applying to, accounting and finance through to banking or consulting and anything in between, Jack will be sharing insider tips to help you perform and stand out from the crowd. Now the only link you need to remember today, other than www.howtogetagraduatejob.com is www.graduatejobpodcast.com/Jack which has all of the links to everything we discuss today. So without further ado, let's head across to my chat with Jack.

MORE SPECIFICALLY IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

  • How to impress when you apply to the big 4
  • What you need to do with your initial graduate application
  • Tips to balance juggling applications and academic work
  • What you can expect from a partner interview
  • Why Jack joined the How to Get a Graduate Job course
  • His advice for how you can stand out when you apply for a graduate job
Direct download: GJP-115.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:55pm GMT

Welcome to the 114th episode of the Graduate Job Podcast, the UK's number 1 and longest-running careers podcast. The clocks have gone forward the days are getting longer, and the graduate recruitment process is in its final throws for another year, and I’m here for another episode of career’s advice. Today, I’m going to take you through a predicament which many candidates currently find themselves in, for all different sorts of graduate schemes, being on the dreaded waiting list! In today’s episode, I share 5 tips for what you can do if you find yourself in this annoying position. Nobody wants to be on the waiting list for a graduate job, but you don’t have to just sit there twiddling with thumbs, and after today’s episode you won’t. You can find a full transcript including links to everything I discuss in the show notes at https://www.graduatejobpodcast.com/waiting

MORE SPECIFICALLY IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

  • Why patience is the key
  • Why you need to show your flexibility
  • The importance of practising as you do wait
  • Why you should reflect on how you can improve
  • Why you should look at the positives from the situation
Direct download: GJP-114.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:53pm GMT

For episode 113 I have a special episode to coincide with National Apprenticeship week here in the UK. Now you might be thinking that you are too old for an apprenticeship, or that they aren’t relevant because you have a degree, and on both counts, you would wrong, as you will find out as we bust some apprenticeship myths. And to help me bust those myths back by popular demand we have a friend of the show and a company which is consistently voted one of the best places to work in the UK and is home to one of the most sought after graduate schemes, and apprenticeship schemes, it is of course Mars. Joining me first today I have Vikki who is the Apprentice Manager at Mars who gives us an overview of apprenticeships at Mars and what you can expect through the application process. Then for the second part of the episode, I speak with Holli who is currently an apprentice at Mars, and she shares insights into what it is actually like as an apprentice, the work she does, her experiences and going through the application journey. As I said, I’m sure this episode will explode some myths you might have about apprenticeships and will open your eyes to the opportunities which are out there. As always, you can find a full transcript and links to everything which we discuss in the show-notes, which today you can find at https://www.graduatejobpodcast.com/Marsapprentice

Direct download: GJP-113.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:58pm GMT

A warm welcome to the first episode of the UK's number one careers podcast for 2021. It might be cold outside but I have a special guest who will warm you up with his brilliant careers advice as we tackle the perennial issue of how to get a job you love, it is, of course, the one, the only, John Lees. In the show today we explore whether it is still realistic to expect to find a job you love, and how as a graduate you can find the right job and role out of the thousands of companies out there. We cover why speed is of the essence and why you need to take advantage of your confidence window when you start applying. We delve into how to understand your skills as a new graduate and how to make sure you aren’t overlooking your natural talents, and we also address the thorny issue of money, and just how important it should be in your search for a graduate job you love. And finally, we discuss why you should listen to your gut and not your parents as you look for a graduate job. As always, you can find a full transcript and links to everything we discuss, in the show notes, which today are at www.graduatejobpodcast.com/love2.

 

MORE SPECIFICALLY IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

  • If it is realistic to expect to find a job you love
  • How graduates can find the right job and role for them out of the thousands of companies out there
  • Why speed is of the essence when you start applying
  • Why you shouldn’t mistake rejection for feedback
  • How to understand your skills as a new graduate and not overlook your natural talents
  • How to factor the question of money into your search for a graduate job you love
  • Why viewing every role as a project is the secret to career success
  • Why you should listen to your gut and not your parents as you look for a graduate job
Direct download: GJP-112.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:28am GMT

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