How to Increase Your Chances of Recruitment as a Fresher

As a student studying abroad, it is natural for you to aim for a job in the city or the country that you choose to study in. As a fresher or a student with little experience, going through the job hunting, recruitment, and selection process can be daunting. Therefore, it is important for a fresher to understand how to navigate the recruitment process and increase your chances of getting hired, possibly for your dream job.

Here are 5 ways to increase your chances for recruitment as a fresher –

• Build a strong network – Networking is an essential part of a student’s life as you get the chance to meet new people and explore new opportunities. Networking can increase your chances of finding a job as you meet industry professionals and individuals who have job offers and connections that can help you secure a job. One way to network is to attend career fairs, campus hiring events, and conferences where you can meet people from your industry and get recommendations for jobs.
• Develop your skills – Identify if you have the skills required for the job that you wish to apply for, and make sure to mention them on your resume. If you need any additional skills for a job of your liking, you can take up online courses and training programs to gain practical experience. Your skills are what will get you close to your dream job and help you upgrade your resume, and also give you a kickstart at your first job.

• Practice your interview skills – As you will apply for multiple jobs as you try to find ‘the one’, you will go through a series of interviews and assessments with different companies looking for different things. It is important to practice your interview skills beforehand, which means you should go over the basic interview questions like “what are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?”, etc. This way, when you go in for an interview, you will be familiar with the process and will be able to answer the questions smoothly. Also, it is helpful to read up about the company and the role that you have applied for so that you can ask questions and get your doubts answered. Asking questions to the interviewer shows your interest and knowledge about the job. 
• Create an online presence – These days, it is extremely important to have an online presence on job-relevant social media channels like LinkedIn, Indeed or Monster.com where you can apply for jobs and share your portfolio and skills. If you have any personal blogs, projects, and achievements that you have worked on in the past, you can showcase those in your portfolio online for recruiters to get a glimpse of your work. Having an online presence also helps you connect with recruiters, so make sure you keep updating your profile.
• Tailor your cover letters and resume – Most companies ask for cover letters where you write about your willingness to work for a certain company, how you can contribute to the role, why the particular job is good for your career path, and how can the company help you achieve your goals. Make sure to have a template for the cover letter and add in the relevant details based on the different roles you apply for.