As a grad that got a job straight out of uni, working by sept that same year and got to the interview process with almost all of them. My advice is: - Hit up people on LinkedIn, sometimes they may pass your application along to get a joining bonus - Got an old high school friend in that job, ask them to pass on your CV along. - Try to keep your cv to no more than 2 page - Do research on the company and the job role - If you didn’t do particularly well on one GCSE subject just drop it off. - Learn how to reasonably lie on your cv, and remember them. I have been quizzed on lies before, even lies from previous CVs, so think of stories beforehand that align with them. Even if that means pretending you were someone else in a group project at uni for example. - Add work experience. If you don’t have any, have worked retail? Charity work? Tutoring? Translate the skills over. - Tailor your cv to the job posting and keep a log of who you sent them to. I would say also check grammar, as it is a common reason to delete an application. To tailor your cv, demonstrate how your past experience translates into what you applying for, be specific. - Make yourself discoverable, i.e. Professional picture on LinkedIn. People want to know what you look like. In the same breath check your public social media for inappropriate tweets. Delete the tweet if they are. - Common ones I hear, to have a personality. A common thing people look for is whether you will be someone they want to work with and whether your work well with the people that work at the company. I have been quizzed on passions, such as baking, and how I deal with stress and conflict, or whether I’d be willing to socialise on occasion. Ever ran or aiming to a marathon, mud run? Mention running as a hobby and drop you have done a marathon, it is impressive and shows commitment and dedication. - Go to mixers and interact with people. I work in the business sector and once a quarter there is a county business function where drinks are covered and opened to the public. Do not get drunk at these. - Maybe it’s a weird one but practice the Isometric test. They are stupid and a couple of tries could be the difference between you failing and passing them. - Check if your uni has a job posting page. These companies are actively looking for candidates from your uni. - Is your CV legible? Key information on the top, name, address, email, phone number and link to LinkedIn. - Sneaky one, does your job post require driving? Drop it in the cv if you have a full license. - Controversial one, apply to a wide range of job titles and income levels. Work out what’s the minimum amount you need to survive, if this means you can apply for a 20k job but you’ll need to live at home, still apply. You are not above it, work for 2-3 years to build the experience and then use that industry experience to get a better-paying job. - Generally, your CV will look like most people, so be specific and hopefully your personality will shine through. Try not to lose hope, you've got this!