Are you worried about your career prospects or job applications? Here’s the deal: it will take time, effort and dedication to succeed in the job market. But the good news is King’s Careers and Employability is here to help.
I’m Neha, a second-year BA Philosophy & Modern Languages student, and I recently interviewed Jai Shah, Team Leader and Careers Consultant, to gain some key insights into the range of support services offered by King’s Careers and Employability.
Here’s the scoop on what we discussed:
How can I stand out as an applicant?
Researching industries and organisations is key in the job application process. While it may seem overwhelming, it can make all the difference in standing out among a sea of qualified applicants. King’s Careers and Employability has 1-to-1 Application Advice or Career Coaching and Planning appointments, employer panels, and a career pathway King’s CareerConnect page to help you choose among different companies and organisations to pursue.
Is there a specific timeline to start applying for jobs?
No, there isn’t a single timeline for everybody. According to the Institute of Student Employers (ISE), graduate programmes and internships contribute to only 10% of the job market and there is still a huge demand for talent outside of that. So, while grad scheme and internship seekers tend to start completing their applications by November, the remaining 90% might have a different timeline.
Check out the careers education pages on KEATS to learn more about which programme path and timeline is right for you. We also advertise a wide variety of roles and opportunities including internships, part-time work and volunteering alongside graduate jobs on King’s CareerConnect.
How do I improve my CV and interview or assessment performance?
Tailor your CV to highlight relevant skills the employer values, and evidence specific examples, numbers or percentages to showcase your achievements. We have introduced an AI-enabled CV reviewer CareerSet that provides precise feedback and a score for an uploaded CV or covering letter.
Reduce interview anxiety with thorough preparation – review the job description, practice with example questions, or book a personalised Practice Interview appointment with King’s Careers and Employability.
Excel in aptitude tests and assessment centres by preparing with resources available exclusively for King’s students and graduates.
Myth or fact: jobseekers should expect to make anywhere from 20-50+ applications before landing an offer.
Luckily, this is a myth.
Quality over quantity is the rule of thumb when it comes to job applications, meaning you should focus on crafting a smaller number of highly convincing, well-tailored applications, as opposed to a larger number of lower-quality, less convincing ones. If you apply to too many opportunities, you won’t have time for fundamentals like researching the role, organisation and industry of interest. We hear from many employers that poorly drafted AI-generated applications are flooding their inboxes and application systems. We would advise against relying on AI to produce your application as it will not enable you to focus on the quality and tailoring of your application that helps it to stand out within a competitive market. If you’re struggling to with this part, I’d recommend visiting the King’s Careers and Employability KEATS page.
How can I use LinkedIn to increase my employability?”
Try to establish relationships with people in your network instead of solely aiming to increase the number of connections you have. Also, don’t be shy when it comes to reaching out and asking for advice from others, even if you don’t know them too well. Ultimately, it’s a networking platform: connecting with and learning from others is exactly what the site was made for, so take advantage of it. This is a clever way to gain more knowledge about your field of interest while meeting new people.
If you’d like to elevate your account with a professional profile picture, be on the lookout for free LinkedIn headshot sessions offered by the King’s Careers and Employability once per semester.
If you want to learn more about King’s Careers & Employability, check out their Instagram and Tiktok page to stay updated.