A practical job-search guide for students and early-career candidates

Start with a clear target

Before you apply, write down the kinds of roles you want and the skills or experience they ask for. Look at job descriptions for recurring requirements. Use them to decide what to learn, what to highlight and which roles are a realistic fit. You do not need to apply to every opening you see.

Keep a simple record of applications. Note the role, employer, date, application link and next step. This helps you follow up without relying on memory.

Make your résumé easy to scan

Put your name and contact details at the top. Use clear section headings, consistent dates and a simple layout. Keep the content relevant to the role. Include education, projects, internships, work experience and skills you can discuss honestly.

Describe what you did, not just the name of a project. For example, replace “worked on a website” with “built the product listing page for a class project using HTML and CSS”. Add an outcome only when you can explain how you arrived at it. Do not inflate your contribution or add skills you cannot demonstrate.

Keep a master résumé, then tailor a copy for each role. Bring the most relevant experience and keywords into view when they genuinely describe your work. Proofread the final file and check that its text can be selected and copied. That is a useful way to spot formatting that may not come through clearly in an application system.

Apply with care, including off campus

Use college placement channels and direct applications to employers. For off-campus roles, check the employer’s own careers page where possible, and read the role requirements before applying. Keep your application details consistent across your résumé and forms.

A short message can state the role you are applying for, why your experience fits and where the résumé is attached. Make it specific to the opening. If you cannot verify who is contacting you or what the next step involves, pause and check before sharing personal information or making a payment.

Practise interviews with examples

Prepare a brief introduction that covers what you are studying or have done, the skills relevant to the role and what you are looking for. Practise aloud, but do not memorise a speech word for word.

For common questions, choose examples from projects, coursework, volunteering or work. Explain the situation, your part, the action you took and what you learned. If you do not know an answer, say so. Then explain how you would approach finding it. Prepare a few questions about the work, team and next steps. Ask questions that matter to your decision.

Handle salary conversations calmly

Before a conversation, decide what information you need: fixed pay, variable pay, benefits, location, joining date and any conditions attached to the offer. If asked for expectations, you can ask for the budgeted range first. You can also give a considered range based on your needs and what you understand about the role. Be clear about whether you mean annual or monthly pay, and whether a figure is fixed or includes variable components.

Read the written offer before accepting. Ask for unclear terms in writing. Do not rely on a verbal summary when the details affect your decision.

Understand a PPO and your first paycheque

A pre-placement offer (PPO) is an offer made through a placement process, but the label alone does not tell you its terms. Check the role, compensation structure, joining date, conditions and response deadline. Ask the placement office or employer to clarify anything you do not understand.

When your first paycheque arrives, compare it with your offer and payslip. Check the pay period, earnings and deductions. Keep the payslip and ask payroll about items that are unclear. Make a simple budget for essential costs, savings and flexible spending. Review it after you have seen your actual take-home pay.

Keep the process manageable

Set a regular time to search, tailor applications, practise and follow up. After an interview, note what went well and what you would improve. A rejection is information about one application, not a complete measure of your ability. Adjust your approach, keep applying to suitable roles and continue building evidence of your skills.