Fresh graduates tend to have little to no work experience when embarking on their first job search. Confronted with an increasingly competitive and thick labour market, many wonder how to stand out from the crowd and kick off their careers on the right foot. Hong Kong’s graduates are now entering the job seeking season, and to help those without prior experience, jobsDB shares their top 5 tips to win a job:
- Develop an impressive resume
Even with no experience, an eye-catching resume can give you the edge you need to secure a job. Don’t be afraid to get creative with the layout to stand out; employers like creative and presentable resumes. If you have no experience, it is especially important to review the role’s requirements and highlight specific examples of how you have utilised the required skills in other situations.
- Apply for entry-level jobs with no experience
Employers usually expect candidates to have limited or no work experience for entry-level roles and many are willing to provide training. Since the graduation season, “Wholesale and Retail”, “Financial Services”, “Trading and Distribution”, “Information and Technology”, and “Education” have listed the most job vacancies on jobsDB – if you are interested in exploring entry level roles and don’t have a preference on a specific industry, stepping into one of these industries might be a good start to your career. Don’t be afraid to apply to a variety of roles even if you have no experience.
- Highlight your soft skills during interviews
Employers pay serious attention to soft skills. Some examples include problem solving, leadership, and communication, which many graduates have acquired through class or extracurricular activities. You should identify what soft skills are important for the position you are after and practice articulating stories that show how you have used them..
- Make priorities
While it is important to seek the perfect job, fresh graduates should establish priorities among these factors and the job opportunities presented, especially if you have no experience and the job market is competitive. Remember, there is no absolute right or wrong when it comes to job searching; the key is understanding what matters most to you.
- Grow your network
Networking events are a good way to gain valuable contacts and information that may come in handy for your job searches.
Paul Arkwright
Publisher
