I'm glad most find the guide to be useful. Do give your feedback here or if you have something to share as well. Thanks.

Also, I've updated the 1st post with additional points and something on communication.

This post has been edited by Geminist: Jul 31 2011, 06:42 PM

Good Advice! Thanks alot, it would be very helpful for me as Im graduating end of this year.
But Diploma.. HAHAHha LOL

this is extremely helpful for freshies

simple but sounds good!

Thanks for the tips. Looking forward to hear some more. Perhaps from those who had a lot of interviews experienced.

If I may so humbly add my input regarding one aspect of a job which I believe have not been touched yet - Resignation and accepting a new job offer

Woops, just noticed that there's a thread specifically for resignation. It's been a while since I browse through this part of the forum. Mod, you can choose to delete this post since it's redundant. Thanks.

Now unless if you're really loyal to a company, and the company has been treating you well, you would at one point of your career resign from your job. I've went through 3 jobs in 4 years, and the job changes are mostly attributed to career development prospects.

One would think that tendering of resignation is as simple as handing in a letter, but I've learnt that it's more than that in my 1st resignation.

1. The most basic item needed to tender would always be a letter of resignation. There are lots of samples available online to refer to.

2. You can choose to have a short chat with your boss before actually handing in the letter. This is a matter of courtesy and a sign of respect IMHO, where you would tell him that you've been offered a position in so and so, and you would like to seek his advice and thoughts on this. A good boss who cares for you will give you a fair advice, while some bosses may not care as much. This would also pre-empt the boss to try to counter offer you in some cases, if he thinks that you're valuable enough to retain. Give his advices a deep thought for at least a day or so, before handing in the actual letter when you've thought it through.

3. Always be sure of why you want to resign. While you can choose not to tell your boss, it is once again a sign of respect if you are open enough to discuss about that, especially if you're still planning to work in the same industry. Having strong reasons to resign, such as career advancement, better exposure, better pay, better benefits, better work-life balance etc would at least let your boss know that he has tried hard enough in the event that he chose to counter offer. Remember, never burn bridges because you may never know when you may need his help in the future, or even better a job offer somewhere down the road.

4. Make decisions, and don't regret them. I've been in 2 cases whereby I chose to leave shortly before the bonus payout, and my bonus was forfeited. You can try to time your resignation after bonus is announced/paid out, but that is never the ideal case. Companies hire people because they need people, and it's half of the time urgent.

5. If I'm not mistaken, you have the right to collect the offer letter from your new employer, take 7 days to vet through it before signing and returning it. Check with the HR of your new hiring company on this. In this time period, you may also choose to present the offer letter to your current employer if you intend to get them to counter offer and give you a better salary for finally deciding to stay with your current company. You can then reject the offer in the other company.

6. By the way, don't forget to try to request for a higher pay in the new company, if you can justify it. The usual salary increase is 20%, but if you're asking for 30% you'd better be able to justify it. You can most commonly justify through experience, forfeiting an upcoming increment/bonus to join the new company, traveling distance, additional cost that you may have to incur just to work in the new company, etc. Find out, and aim high but not too high until they reckon that your request is bordering ridiculous, and choose not to hire you instead. But it is always advisable to ask for more, then negotiate. If HR calls you and say what you min acceptable salary is, you should have thought it through and have a solid answer that you are comfortable with, because that's what's most probably they will be giving you.

That's more or less what I have for now. Shall add in more if I can think of additional things.

This post has been edited by LaR_c: Sep 2 2011, 01:47 PM

Good Sharing. Thanks =)

I am a fresh graduate few months back this year. I went for a job for a month, and had made a decision to move on to another job that has bright future. My advice,

during the interview

1) when asked for expected salary range, give a reasonable number that can actually cover your traveling (fuel plus tol) and food cost ( in case the company do not provide travelling allowance etc.)
2)check whether there is insurance coverage for you - if u need it
3) working days and hours (will it work for you?)
4) Usually interviewer would explain to you about your job scope. If not, you can ask about it, at the end of the interview,when you are given chance to ask.

After the interview
1) watch for the contract paper which you might be asked to signed. Read the T&C first! - I didnt get mines anyhow
Some employers might not give, as they would set a period before they confirm you

During work
1) If unsure, stop it there and ask somebody who knows better than you, just to avoid some potential disastrous mistake.
2)Ask questions, make yourself a useful busybody but not to the extent of disrupting people busy working.
3) if you are dealing with documents, familiarise yourself to the types of documents and pattern of filing, etc. Have a look around the working place, to see what they actually have.
4) Maintain a cheerful attitude, be alert , have some good eye contact when somebody is talking to you
5) As you made a mistake, you to prepare yourself for the consequences, and if asked to justify, be ready to give a concrete reason for committing the mistake. During the 1st week, mistakes may be excusable, but it should be avoided later on. Don't repeat same mistake twice.

The office that I worked in previously pushed me general works and and also for clinical operations. Things were tough as i was expected to perform both, but weighing more to general side. Basically, stamping, photocopying, cutting pappers... yikess..The manager was supposed to hire a second general clerk, and i clearly didn't apply for a clerk position. However, another freshie who joined work much later than me, has the pleasure to work within her work zone. Unfortunately to say, I faced unfair treatment which I regret till now.
Plus, the handing of salary was much delayed, but the knowledge I gained was valuable on the other hand.

It can be stressful for some of you. Freshie life is painful i know

However, this was my bit of experience i gathered in my previous office. Hope it helps.
But now, a better job is there for me, with the fringe benefits.

Usually first month salary for new employee they will pay in cash. Make sure you to treat your colleague.. Haha..

this is important. i better write this one down.

Good Sharing Pal..
anyhow, i cant wait for graduating soon. Is it possible for me to find a work out of my field of studies.?

Hi Spawn89,

I graduated last year and worked already more than a year. For me graduate is only a ticket. I worked in field almost out from my field of study. At first, I felt very unhappy but I realized that I got new knowledge in other field. It is a bonus actually since you have two choices if u feel like to change a job. (maybe after two years of working, to go back to ur field of study since company still looks at you as a fresh or to continue in the current field maybe at same or other companies with two years experience). It just my opinion.

hi guys i am currently studying dual majors in marketing and management in the university of wollongong in the bachelor of commerce undergrad degree.

i will start my 2nd year in feb 2012. my primary major is management. In my first year

scores in my management units were 77, 80 (those were my major units) and in the rest units i got 60+, 65+ (which included economics, accounting, finance, business ethics, statistics which were not my major units)

from 2nd year onwards all my subjects will be major units based on management and marketing. I hope to score 75+ in those.

But my question is when i apply for a job in marketing or management they will only look at my final year results and maybe 2nd year results right? as 19/24 subjects will be based on management and marketing only the rest five in which I didnt do well in my first year will they also look in those? will it affect my interview and possibility of getting a job?

my uni doesnt give out a gpa but i can calculate the gpa on a scale of 4 using the australian system should i give the GPA of my major units only in my CV/resume?
or the overall which includes the 5 other subjects?

Is there a thread here also from which I can know what are the average results/gpa/marks obtained by the fresh graduate to get their first job with income of 2.5k to 3k plus?

If the interviewer call back and said I've been accepted for the job. What should I said on the phone when I'm still blur for the T&C?

Accept first, came to the office and only reconsider after reading the T&C? or said I'll reconsider when I read the T&C through phone?

Thank you

I think you shouldn't worry too much about not having the gpa system. The big companies would have certainly heard of other systems and it shouldn't be a problem, since you'll definitely not be the first person having this. Just include your official transcripts in your application and if possible some basic explanation about how the grading is done in your university.

A major factor that can greatly improve your chances would be any internships/work experiences that you might have obtained during your studies. If you have done these, make sure they are well detailed in your resume. From my personal experience, this can be a major game changer.

Another thing you can try is contacting your alumni who are working in the industry that interests you.
Personally, I always say yes on the phone and ask when I can get the offer letter. You can still reject it later if the offer isn't good enough, since you haven't given any written confirmation but only a verbal interest. Saying you'll only 'consider' the offer on the phone wouldn't be advisable in my opinion. Just say yes and then decide once you have the offer details.

Thank you for the lesson ... I've never experience to accept via phone .. most of the time I've rejected and say sorry I'm not interested

wow, a very good guide for me as fresh graduates!! Will take my time to finish reading all post.

Thanks to TS for great guide, it's useful even for 'old' grad like me : )

Is helpful tips for fresh graduate. Thanks a lot!

Definitely great guide, I'm currently doing 1st year degree and its worth to have a brief of what I should/shouldn't do in the future.

hi. just a quick one. how do you tackle the current company that you're currently doing your internship at? i mean, apart from avoiding silly mistakes and try to impress the hiring manager with leadership skills etc.... what are the methods/strategies to get hired before/once graduated? thanks a bunch sifu!