Don’t wait for the job to be advertised. Some say that less than 20% of jobs are actually advertised. If you want to work for a company send them your CV and explain that you want to be considered for future positions. This shows initiative and allows you to apply before anyone else. There is nothing to stop you contacting multiple companies as long as you show a keen interest to work for them, don’t send everybody the same letter. People want to employ somebody who want to work for them not just someone who is desperate for a job! Make sure you contact the right person within the company and do so by name.

Fine tune your CV (curriculum vitae). Make sure your CV stands out (for the right reasons). Check the spelling and formatting, any mistakes at this point could see your CV relegated to the ‘no’ pile. Only list relevant skills and qualifications. There is plenty of information online to help you with your curriculum vitae.

Make use of job sites. Make sure you sign up for job sites in order to see the widest range of positions available and get information and tips to help you apply. For instance Careers & Jobs has a wide range of recruitment and employment information including thousands of vacancies for UK jobs.

Practice your interview technique. Whilst you cannot predict exactly what will happen during your interview there are some common questions you can be prepared for. Interviewers will expect you to expect these questions! Common questions include:

• Why do you want to work for us?
• What can you offer us that others can not?
• What are your good/ bad points?
• Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

Make a good first impression.

“You only get one time to make a first impression. Within the first 60 seconds you already make an impression,”

Bordan Tkachuk, chief executive of technology firm Viglen.