We had the pleasure of visiting Harper Adams University yesterday where Andrew delivered an insightful lecture to 1st year agriculture & business students. From CV tips to LinkedIn must-haves, Andrew provided invaluable insight to over 100 students to kickstart their career and get ahead of the game.
So, what were the key takeaways from Andrew’s lecture?
1. Be proactive & ask for help
There are thousands of people out there willing to help you. Take pride in asking for help & don't suffer in silence! From careers and trade events, to teachers, lecturers and anyone you encounter that inspires you. Asking them for help is a sign of strength and willingness to learn. It demonstrates characteristics like determination and drive which are standout traits hirers are looking for!
2. Find a Hero
Have you seen a job role and thought, 'that could be me one day'? Focus on this, reach out to the professional, ask them questions and follow in their footsteps! Have an end goal set in sight.
3. Listen & Network!
You will be surprised at how much learning you will achieve from listening to those in the industry. Use the power of LinkedIn to connect with people in the sector, ask questions and expand your network! This is a great example of helping your future self, these actions may seem simple to do now, but you will kick yourself a couple of years down the line trying to remember the name of a certain company that made an impression...
4. Turn problems into good problems
We can't ignore the fact that we face multiple problems every day. But, how you approach them makes all the difference. There will always be a solution and a simple change in perspective will allow you to discover it quicker than you thought.
5. Refining your CV & Cover Letter
With many years of experience in the recruitment industry, it's fair to say Andrew has seen a lot of CV’s… One of the most crucial points he made was to provide engaging examples of the characteristics you claim to have. Some examples may not directly align with the job role, but they can still showcase key abilities in diverse scenarios. It's great to say you possess leadership qualities for example, but hiring managers want to see an example of you showcasing this. Andrew also mentions the importance of researching your chosen company's values. Employers are looking for not only the right skills but also the right personality & cultural fit. Demonstrating that you share similar values can set you apart from other candidates.
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