5 Things Graduates Should Be Doing in January to Improve Their Job Prospects
January is genuinely one of the best months to be job hunting as a graduate. Here's how to make the most of it.
January has a reputation as a slow month. It isn't, at least not for graduate hiring. Budgets reset, headcount plans get approved, and companies that paused hiring over the holidays come back to the market quickly. If you're a graduate looking for work, January is one of the best times to be active.
1. Update your CV before you do anything else
Don't start applying with a CV you last updated in October. Review it with fresh eyes, cut anything that doesn't earn its place, and make sure your most recent experience is properly represented.
2. Reconnect with recruiters you've spoken to before
If you've already had conversations with recruiters, January is a good time to check in. A short, specific message ("I'm actively looking again, here's what I'm after") is far more effective than silence followed by a sudden flurry of applications.
3. Do your research on the sectors that interest you
The graduates who stand out in commercial interviews are the ones who've done genuine reading. Not Wikipedia: industry news, founder interviews, company announcements. Fifteen minutes a day compounds quickly.
4. Get comfortable talking about money
Most graduates find salary conversations awkward. Practice articulating what you're looking for and why, not defensively, but clearly. Knowing your number and being able to say it calmly is a skill worth developing early.
5. Apply specifically, not broadly
Twenty tailored applications will outperform two hundred generic ones. Work out which roles genuinely interest you and make the case for those properly.
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