Congratulations! You are now ready for the world of work. But to land a great job, you’d need to do some looking and searching. The mentorship tasks outlined below have been specially packaged to give you a head-start on landing your first real job. By following through each task diligently, you’d master the tricks and principles that would see you hired faster than you ever imagined.
September
Tightening the Loose Ends - It’s your first month after National Service and you are either seriously hunting for a job or doing an extension at your Primary Place of Assignment. All you can think of right now is how to land that job you can be proud of. But remember, what you do with this first month has a lot to do with what follows after. By following through with the mentorship program last year, you should have ideally landed a job. We however understand that life happens. To this end, you’d focus on identifying and tightening the loose ends by working closely with your mentor to perform the tasks outlined below.
Tasks:
Understand the mistakes that keep you from landing a job so you can avoid them. Click here.
Learn the secrets of the best job hunters. Click here.
Review your job hunting endeavours from the previous year and identify lapses and loose ends. Read about what recruiters think and want here.
Review and Revamp your resume and other job search tools. For tips on writing a great cover letter, click here.
Review the list of all the companies you would love to work with and the roles you would love to work in. Be sure to add and delete companies and roles where necessary.
Student Deliverable:
A log of identified lapses and gaps in job search endeavours with strategies to solve them.
Reviewed list of preferred companies and roles.
Feedback form
October
Writing an Expression of Interest - Majority of jobs do not get advertised. If you always remember this in your job search and act accordingly, you will have a higher chance of landing a great job with minimal competition. However, you need to be able to communicate your availability early on to recruiters. This is where an expression of interest letter comes in. This month therefore, while you keep sending out applications (click here for log guide), you would be working closely with your mentor to understand what an expression of interest is and how to create one for yourself.
Tasks:
Read up on how to ask for a job without actually asking for a job. Click here.
Learn how to get your foot in the door when a traditional application would not do. Click here.
Grab the attention of recruiters on LinkedIn using these tips. Click here.
Make a list of companies you would love to work with as well as the role you would love to work in.
Highlight your strengths and accomplishments as well as reasons for wanting to work with each company and in each role.
Write an expression of interest letter for each of the companies listed. Click here.
Submit, email or post your letter to the appropriate quarters. Be sure it is appropriately addressed and the grammar is spot on.
Student Deliverable:
Expression of Interest Letter
Report on Applications
Feedback form
November
Leveraging Informational Interviews -Often the most current and specific information about a career field may not be available online. The best information comes from people who are actually working in that career field. With informational interviews, you will find out about career paths you did not know existed, get tips and insider knowledge about how to prepare for and land your first career position, learn what it’s like to work at a specific organization and initiate a professional relationship and meet people who may forward job leads to you in the future. Therefore, you would work closely with your mentor to;
Tasks:
Learn how to ask for an informational interview and get a yes. Click here.
Research career fields that you are interested in and outline them in order of importance if they are more than one.
Make a list of 10 individuals you would like to speak with. You do not necessarily need to know them physically.
Prepare for the interview. Click here.
Conduct the interview and be sure to follow up from time to time. Click here.
Student Deliverable:
Key Learning Points from at least two interviews.
Feedback form
December
Job Hunt Strategy Review - You have been hunting for a job in the last three months. By now, you should have landed a job or attended a series of interviews. If you are still without a job at this point, you would have to work closely with your mentor to do the following;
Tasks:
Review the status of all applications sent using the monthly log report.
Review the common mistakes people make when hunting for a job. Make a note on which mistakes you are making and how you hope to address them. Click here.
Learn about the ten email types you would need in your job search. Click here.
Review your resume and cover letter and make adjustments where necessary.
Develop a weekly plan for job hunting. You can try this hour to hour guide right here.
Student Deliverable:
A three-month Job Hunting Plan
Feedback form
January
Widening the Scope - It is true that most jobs do not get advertised. But t is also true that there are many advertised jobs you are missing out on everyday. Beyond the internet, there are other avenues through which you can get the job of your dreams. These include newspapers, your alumni association, professional associations, etc.This month you would work closely with your mentor to perform the following tasks;
Tasks:
You can leverage on organizations where you got rejected. Reach out to someone you admire in that organization using this guide.
Make a list of other avenues where you can get a word about what companies are hiring and which positions are open.
Develop a plan to reach out to them or access them.
Apply to openings you identify and send in expression of interest letters where vacancies have already been filled.
February
Growing Networks through Events: Networking events are a great place to meet amazing people and land awesome opportunities. However, to make the most of these events, you need to understand how to network effectively and stand out. This month, you’d be adding to your knowledge on networking and developing a plan on how you hope to use industry events to your advantage. You would therefore be expected to work closely with your mentor to accomplish the following;
Tasks:
Read about how Alex landed her dream job by attending a networking event. Click here.
Introvert? Learn how you can network effectively here.
Make a list of networking events in your area and industry.
Outline your goals for wanting to be a part of each listed event.
Make a plan of how you intend to be a part of at least five of these events.
Student Deliverable:
Report on networking event attended.
Feedback form
March
Interviewing like a Pro: You have sent in a number of applications in the last few months. This means you should have had atleast one interview. If not, no worries. With time, you’d also have your chance. However, being invited for an interview is only the beginning. To land the job, you must be able to prove to the interview team or hiring manager that you deserve the position. To this end, you’d be learning the basics of interviewing like a real professional this month. You’d therefore be required to work closely with your mentor to achieve the tasks below.
Tasks:
Read about five tips to get interview ready. Click here.
Send an email to your mentor and the Student Success Manager requesting for a mock interview.
Itemize the high points and low points of each interview.
Create a report on your experience in both interviews with strategies on how you hope to improve on the low points.
Student Deliverable:
Report on interview with mentor and BI representative.
Feedback form
April
Interviewing like a Pro: Last month, you began the journey towards becoming great at interviews. We believe however that there might be little tricks and twists when it comes to interviewing for a role in your preferred industry. To this end, you’d be doing some research this month and learning the basics of interviewing for a role in your preferred industry.
Learn about the ten types of interviews you’d likely have and how to ace them. Click here.
Connect with the Hiring manager/Officer in your preferred company or industry and request for an informational interview. Click here to try out free mock interviews.
Have a number of questions relating to landing a job and interviewing in your preferred company/industry ready.
Set up an informational interview and write a report on key learning points.
Student Deliverable:
Report on Informational Interview with HR Manager/ Professional.
Feedback form
May
June
Developing Work Skills: The business place is fast evolving and very dynamic. You just might not be landing a job because you may be lacking vital skills that employers require. This month therefore, you’d work on identifying the skill gaps you have and Crafting a plan to bridge the identified gaps. To this end, you’d be required to work closely with your mentor to accomplish the tasks below.
Tasks:
Make a list of the skills that are essential for success in your industry. You can talk to your mentor, research online or talk to someone already in the industry for insights.
Select a work skill (hard/soft) and read about your selected skill and how to develop it.
Make a plan of how you would consciously develop your selected work skill.
Start developing your selected skill.
Waiting it Out: So, you finally found an exciting job and submitted your nicely prepared resume and cover letter and for days, maybe even weeks, you do not get a response from the recruiter. This situation can be really stressful as you do not know whether to wait around or just move on. This month therefore, you’d be learning to ace the waiting period and so you’d be required to work closely with your mentor to accomplish the following tasks.
Tasks: