The Annual Graduate Finance Job Hunt

Every year thousands of students collect their degrees and begin the annual graduate finance job hunt. Good graduate finance jobs can mean plenty of competition, and choosing the right company and industry can be tricky. Thankfully there is plenty of information and advice for graduates who are still making their final career decisions.

Finding Graduate Jobs

It’s understandable to become nervous at the thought of finding the perfect graduate job. Thousands of students finish university each year with no real career plan in place. Outlining a career plan should help when trying to figure out which jobs you would actually enjoy. A career plan should list the graduate jobs you can apply for with regards to your relevant qualifications, and the business sector you would ideally like to work in. List your strength and weaknesses and how they would apply to your job. Research further qualifications and training needed to progress within your chosen career or to become fully qualified.

Where to Find Graduate Job Advice

Careers advice and information are important tools when it comes to finding graduate jobs. Resources that will prove invaluable will include:

• Job Fairs
• Recruitment Agencies
• Careers Advisors
• Directories that list the major graduate training schemes
• Graduate Jobs Websites
• Finance Qualifications Institutions such as the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
• Business Websites; many businesses will advertise their graduate vacancies on their own websites

Graduate Recruitment Fairs

Graduate job fairs are an excellent way of meeting graduate recruitment companies. There will be representatives from many different finance fields including investment and retail banking, accountancy firms and tax companies. Graduates can actually find placements at job fairs but if not it is still an invaluable place for graduate job information. Graduates will be able to find out what companies actually do, and what they provide for graduates in terms of training and career prospects.

Networking for Graduates

Graduate recruitment fairs are an excellent place for graduates to begin networking. Talk to company representatives and find out information that will help when applying for jobs. Professionals already in the finance field will be a great source of information and will be able to give you tips on how they started their careers. They will no doubt also know the best companies to work for with the best graduate schemes. Networking will also include anyone who is employed in the finance recruitment world including recruitment and employment agencies. Spread the word that you are looking for graduate employment and make people aware of your qualifications, ambitions, and goals.

Graduate Recruitment Agencies

Recruitment agencies do specialise in finding a wide range of graduate jobs. They will hold career days and evenings where graduates can meet recruitment representatives who will guide them through the graduate recruitment process. Recruitment agencies do have a wide range of contacts in the finance field and should be able to find suitable jobs, even if they are not graduate placements. Check recruitment agency websites for details or simply pop into one of the many recruitment agencies that specialise in graduate jobs.

Contact Employers Directly

Taking the proactive approach is a good way of getting employers to notice you. Contact employers directly even if they have not advertised vacancies. Send your CV to employers with a covering letter explaining why you would like to work for them and what you could bring to their company. You may not actually receive an interview with this approach but the company will keep your details on file should any suitable position become available.

Hunting for that perfect job is never easy even if you have all the necessary qualifications. Competition is fierce for the best graduate placements and thoroughly researching your options and researching any company that invites you for an interview is vital. Make sure to use all of the resources available to you and take as much professional careers advice as possible.