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A quarter of engineers are confused about how to look for a job
One quarter (25.4%) of engineers felt confused by the job hunting process; 64.1% of engineers have never been taught any interview techniques

A quarter of engineers are confused about how to look for a job

With a flurry of school leavers and graduates set to enter the job market over the next few months, new research from the UK job board, CV-Library and Engineering Jobs, has found that many engineering candidates feel unprepared and overwhelmed with the prospect of looking for work.

The study surveyed 1,000 individuals across the UK and reveals that 25.4% of engineers felt confused by the job hunting process.

The survey sought to uncover how much candidates know when starting their job search and found that a whopping 68.7% of engineering professionals have never been taught how and where to look for a job.

Other key findings include:

* 64.1% of engineers have never been taught any interview techniques

* In addition, 60.9% said they didn’t have any support when writing their first CV, with 37.5% revealing that they taught themselves and 20.3% stating that they used an online template … but, 56.3% said that they would tailor every CV and or cover letter for each job they apply to.

Lee Biggins, founder and managing director of CV-Library, comments: “Leaving education and entering the world of work can certainly seem daunting if you aren’t prepared.

“Even the most seasoned professionals will feel nervous about looking for work and attending interviews.

“However, as long as you put together a well-written CV and brush up on your communication skills, you’ll stand a far better chance of making a great impression.”

In addition, the study found that 83.3% of engineers would kick off their job hunt by looking online, while 16.7% would feel confident enough to go directly to employers.

Biggins continues: “Nowadays, most people will start their job hunt online and this can certainly be a great approach when it comes to searching through a whole host of relevant jobs.

“But, if you’re not sure what sort of role you’re after, recruiters can be a great help. Whichever approach you take, be sure to tailor your CV to each specific role and be on-the-ball during your job hunt.”

CV-Library reveals the following top tips for school and university leavers that are entering the job market over the coming months.

Perfect your CV

Your CV should be no more than two pages long and should include sections on your education, experience and relevant skills.

Always give it a good proof before you send it anywhere and use an easy to read font, such as Arial or Calibri.

Write a winning cover letter: The cover letter accompanies your CV and needs to bring to life the information that is already in there.
This means you can’t simply repeat what’s in it, so instead, provide examples where possible that show why you’re the right candidate for the job.

Tailor your application

Tailoring your CV and cover letter is extremely important – scan the job advert and pick out the key skills that the employer has highlighted.

You should then pepper these naturally throughout your CV and cover letter.

Practise common interview questions

You’ll certainly feel much calmer about attending interviews if you’ve done your research and preparation.

Do a quick search online for common interview questions and spend a good couple of hours practising your responses.

Follow-up

Whether it’s after you’ve applied for a job and not heard back, or following an interview, it’s always a good idea to drop the employer an email to show your interest in the position.

Just be wary of coming across too keen and bothering them.

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