You have a 2:1, but what else can you offer?
Ibec’s Stella Lacken advises students to identify and develop their own unique selling points
S TELLA LACKEN has interviewed hundreds of final year students for the Ibec graduate programme and says that while employers value academic excellence and work experience, they are becoming increasingly more interested in what else an applicant offers. Here, she shares valuable tips on how to develop your unique selling point (USP).
CONSIDER TAKING UP A LANGUAGE
Having a second language will make your application stand out. However, it is important to bring your language to a fluent business level. A recent survey found that 26pc of employers feel graduates lack fluency in foreign languages. It is important to put your theory into practice. Join a language group, actively speak the language while on holiday, go on Erasmus or find an international placement. Living overseas also allows you to become independent, grow in maturity and develop a greater sense of cultural awareness.
BUILD YOUR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Practical experience is invaluable as it creates work-ready graduates and develops skills such as teamwork, problem solving, time management, communication and commercial awareness, while also providing the student with an ideal chance to test the water to ensure they choose the right role after college. It is also a great opportunity to gain a permanent position as many companies recruit graduates from internship programmes.
BE ACTIVE
What makes you unique? Are you involved with clubs and society? Taking this a step further, are you involved in the daily running of a society? This shows leadership potential and also allows you to build your network, find your true passion while building your strengths.
SOCIAL MEDIA
If you are using social-media platforms, be aware that future employers may check them, so treat them with due care. If you are interacting with employers on social media, you may consider setting up a business Twitter or Facebook account with a professional picture that can be used across several social-media platforms. Set up your LinkedIn account on day one of college. It is important that your LinkedIn profile is up to date and you are actively engaging with influencers or groups that are of interest to you.
VISIT YOUR CAREER GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT
The career guidance department in your college is one of the best resources available to you over the next few years. They can help develop cover letters, CVs, and facilitate interview preparations, sharing useful hints and tips. However, do not expect them to do all the work.
WRITE WELL
The ability to write well is a vital skill that employers value highly. Opportunities to develop your writing skills throughout college are a worthwhile investment.
BE AWARE OF THE SKILLS EMPLOYERS REQUIRE
At every interview, employers will expect you to demonstrate your in-depth knowledge of the company and industry, know why you want to work with them, highlight what you can contribute to the team and have relevant examples to display your experience. In addition to this, employers will be assessing your attitude, work ethic, level of self awareness, resilience and motivation, and your communication skills, among others.
ATTITUDE
Your qualifications and work experience get you the interview, but a positive attitude gets you the job. Whatever opportunity you are presented with throughout college, it is important to ensure you listen to what you are being asked and you are willing to go above and beyond what is required.
SELF-AWARENESS AND REFLECTION
In order to learn, you must reflect on your experiences. Reflection has become a key component of many course curriculums. Reflection encourages self awareness as it allows you to identify your strengths and the areas you need to improve. It also allows you to reflect on your team members and gain a greater understanding of their knowledge, values, qualities, skills and why they behave in certain ways. The more selfaware you are, the greater your ability to adapt your style to work better with others.
EXCELLENT COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS
This is one of the key skills most employers desire. Getting involved in clubs and societies as mentioned above are all ways to develop your personal style, confidence and skills in this vital area. Stella Lacken is programme executive of the Ibec Global Graduates Programme