5 tips if you have recently graduated (or are about to) and have begun searching for your first job

Get help to land your first job

You can increase your chances of ending at the top of the pile of applicants: Speak to a career adviser about what you can and would like to do. You can also get individual feedback on your application and CV.

As a graduate, you do not have 10 years of relevant job experience, but fortunately you have a lot of other qualities to offer a potential employer. See what you should pay particular attention to when you apply for your first job.

Some of the guides we provide are universal, for example our tips for your application and CV here, however we do have 5 tips that will be especially valuable to you as a graduate.
  1. Do not be scared by not being experienced with everything listed in the job posting. The postings are always wish lists on the part of the enterprises, and far from always does the candidate with most experience end up with getting the job. If you have a lot of drive, you are very motivated and interested in the enterprise, that may often balance out some of your lacking experience.
  2. Emphasize in your application that you possess the newest professional knowledge. Provide concrete examples of what you can use your knowledge for in the job that you apply for. But only state what is relevant to the job.
  3. Is your education not generally known? Help the employer to understand what you can offer by briefly explaining in your CV which skills you have achieved through your education. Once more, only emphasize what is relevant to the job.
  4. Did you achieve relevant job experience from study jobs, apprenticeship or as a trainee, then describe it as if you have had a job. Make a section under "job experience" with year, job title (what did you work as) and place of work in the headline. Describe below which relevant assignments, roles and results you have gained experience in.
  5. If you have not had a relevant study job or worked as a trainee, you probably have other experience to draw on.

Example: Laura is a newly graduate who wants to apply for a job as a marketing assistant. She has no relevant job experience. The enterprise is looking for a candidate who thrives on being busy. Laura chooses to emphasize in her CV that she has had a job as a bartender and that she is therefore used to a high level of activity and keeping a clear head when she is busy. The enterprise also wants an employee who can communicate clear messages. Therefore, in her CV Laura chooses to emphasize that she has been a volunteer football trainer where she obtained experience with communicating clearly to the players. When you apply for a job, you must always clarify your relevant skills.

Watch these videos about writing an application and a CV when you are newly educated:
How to write your application when you are newly educated
How to write your CV as a recent graduate

How to write your CV and your application

See an example of the CV of a newly educated person
Get the template for a CV for newly educated
Write a targeted CV
How to write a motivated application

Take a course in job application

You can become even better at applying for jobs and attending job interviews. Take one of HK's many job application courses: "CV and application", "Learn how to master the job interview" and many others.
Check ot our courses (in Danish)

HK’s job portal

Find your new job through HK’s job portal, which searches the internet for new job postings every day.

HK's job exchange database

You can also create a profile on HK's job exchange database, which is HK's recruitment unit that matches HK members with the enterprises' needs for new employees.
HK's job exchange database (in Danish)

Good advice for the job interview

Have you been invited to a job interview? Well done. See how to prepare for the job interview.