Graduation is a cause for celebration, a culmination of your efforts and your new entry ticket into the world of work. Despite this, for many of today’s graduates getting that first job is far from straight forward, with figures suggesting that only a fifth of graduates get a job within the first sixth months after graduation.

Difficulties in the job market mean that graduates now have to stand out in the crowd, especially when the skills and talents of rival candidates can be almost identical.

But how is this done? Employers are always looking for the perfect candidate who ticks the boxes when it comes to employee criteria and there’s nothing stopping you from being said candidate. By tailoring your approach and by going above and beyond other candidates to show your skills, you can be that ideal candidate that all employers are looking for. It will be hard, but definitely worth it.

Creating the perfect CV
Your CV is the first thing an employer will see about you, so make sure it’s full of information that employers can soak up. If you’re job seeking straight after University take some time to do work experience to bolster your CV, and if you have the time to take extra examinations or get more qualifications make sure you do it (this can include anything from part-time education to just passing your driving test, anything that you can add to your CV).

Secondly, take the time to revise and correct your CV. A concise and grammatically correct CV can mean the difference between an employer taking the time to read it or just throw it away. It’s an all too common mistake which many graduates slip up on.

Be aware of applications
It’s all well and good applying for lots of different jobs, but don’t send your covering letter and CV to every employer in the country. Taking the time to research and tailor your application approach for each employer that you’re applying to goes a lot further than a template covering letter and CV.

Employers can tell the difference between a candidate who has taken the time and effort to perfect their pitch and one who hasn’t. It’s also important to note that not every job is going to be a perfect match for you, so try to devote your application time to jobs where the requirements are suited to your skillset.

Drawing attention
With the job market being as difficult as it currently is, try to think of ways to make yourself stand out from the crowd. Applications per job in 2012 were between 52-54, meaning only the most unique candidates will get the job. Make sure you take the time to stand out.

You can do this by:
• Create a portfolio of your work that you can take to interviews, and expand as and when you need to.
• Take the time to create examples of your work. If you’re an architecture graduate, use your time to create projects and show employers your evidence, or if you’re a business graduate, take time to research your field of interest and use examples of recent successes to create pitches that you can demonstrate to employers. There is always a way of showing off your talents, regardless of what you graduated in.
• Write a blog about the industry you’re interested in. Use social media to gain exposure and be activate in the community. If you can show employers you’re investing time in being part of the industry it shows them just how interested you are.
• Think outside the box. Create a unique way to market your talents ( look into the examples set by other graduates).
Finally, don’t lose sight of your goals. Persistence and a positive attitude in how you approach job seeking will show employers that you’re eager, and after all the hard work, landing that first job will be that much sweeter.

Bio: Tom Chandler is a journalism graduate writing on behalf of tombola, a major employer in the north east. He has written about a broad range of student issues, recruitment topics and current affairs.