The Core Philosophy: Don’t underestimate your value. Employers want graduates because they are eager to learn, have fresh knowledge, and lack “bad habits.”
- Internships & Placements
Experience puts you “head and shoulders” above other applicants. If you secure a placement or internship, maximize it by doing three things:
- Impress & Secure References: Do a good job and ask your supervisor if they can be a professional reference.
- Document Everything: Write down every machine, technique, and software you use. This is gold for your future CV.
- Reconnect: When you start job hunting later, reach out to them first. It’s the easiest way to get a foot in the door.
- Networking (The Modern Way)
You don’t need to attend fancy dinners to network. Use social media (LinkedIn/Twitter) effectively:
- Reverse Engineer Careers: Find people in the job you want. Look at their profile to see what they studied and where they worked before they got there.
- Connect with Recruiters: Follow agencies (like STEM Recruitment Solutions) and hiring managers.
- Utilize University Links: Don’t ignore lecturers and university job fairs.
- Define Your Priorities
Before applying, stop and analyze what you actually want. Don’t just apply because you qualify.
- Lifestyle Questions: Do you need to work from home? Do you hate traffic (need shift work)? Is salary the only driver?
- Passion vs. Skill: Analyze your studies. Which modules did you enjoy? (Example: The author realized after 5 years of lab work that they actually preferred customer-facing roles).
- Your Application (CV & Cover Letter)
The CV Content Rephrase “irrelevant” jobs to highlight transferrable skills.
Bad Example: “I worked in a cafe when I was at uni.”
Good Example: “Alongside my studies, I was responsible for caring for up to fifty customers at one time, whilst providing excellent customer service and processing payments correctly.”
The CV Format
- Keep it simple.
- Avoid extensive colors/structures that distract the reader.
- Use bullet points rather than walls of text.
The Cover Letter
- Address it to the Hiring Manager.
- Read the job advert and identify Key Words (e.g., “self-motivated,” “team player”). Include these in your letter.
- If the job requires a specific degree/project, mention your specific grade and project details.
- The Interview
This is your time to shine. Preparation is non-negotiable.
- Research: Know the company products and look up your interviewer on LinkedIn.
- The STAR Method: Prepare 10 scenario-based questions using the Situation, Task, Action, Result format.
- Dress Code: Ask beforehand.
- Cheat Sheet: It is okay to bring notes! It shows preparation.
- Tech Check: For Zoom/Teams interviews, have the app on both your laptop AND phone as a backup.
- Handling Rejection
If you don’t get the job, you have still gained interview experience.
- Action Item: Always ask for feedback. Sometimes you didn’t do anything wrong; someone else just had more experience.
- Perspective: Getting an interview is an achievement in itself.
Let’s Get You Hired Don’t let your CV sit in a folder—let’s get it in front of the right people. Visit the STEM Recruitment Solutions website today to view our latest graduate opportunities.
Don’t forget to follow us on LinkedIn to keep up to date with new openings and recruitment trends. Your future in STEM starts here!
Your new career starts HERE!
Alex Sharp
Director
Alex.sharp@stemrecsolutions.co.uk
