The Career Academy16/10/2017

I've finished my study, now what?

You've wrapped up your online course. Here's how to turn it into a job offer.

Interview preparation photo

Stand-out CV

  • Keep it short: 1-2 pages. Lead with what is most relevant to the role.
  • Tailor each application: mirror the job's must-haves in your summary and skills.
  • Prove impact: use action verb -> task -> outcome (ideally numbers).
  • ATS-friendly: clean layout, no tables or images for the core content.
  • Show fresh learning: list your course, key projects, and tools used.

Volunteer

Short stints (even 2-6 weeks) build evidence fast and expand your network. Treat it like real work: deliverables, feedback, references.

Networking (without the ick)

Start with people who already want you to win (friends, family, classmates), then branch to alumni and community groups.

DM template:

Hi {Name}, I've just finished {Course/Area} and I'm exploring entry roles in {Field}. If you have 10 minutes, I'd love to ask 3 quick questions about how you got started. No pressure if now is not a good time!

You got an interview!

Pre-interview checklist
Day-of and after
STAR cheat card

Keep answers about 60-90 seconds. Name the result (numbers if you can), then the skill it proves.

  • Situation: brief context.
  • Task: what you owned.
  • Action: what you did (specifics, tools, behaviours).
  • Result: the outcome and what you learned.

Mini tools

Elevator pitch builder
Your 2-line pitch will appear here.
CV bullet upgrader
Your upgraded bullet will appear here.
Interview emails (templates)
Thank-you
Polite follow-up (if you have not heard back)
Download application tracker (.csv)

Simple spreadsheet with useful columns (date, company, role, source, status, next step, follow-up date, notes).

Small daily actions win.

Apply to 2-3 roles per day, reach out to 1 person per day, and track your applications.

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