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Are you in a conundrum with your career or confused about CVs? Our career experts can help. We’ve assembled some of the most experienced graduate recruitment specialists around to cut through the confusion and make sense of your dilemmas.

This issue’s expert panel are:
•    Maria Lucio, consultant at Career Analysts, www.careeranalysts.co.uk.
•    Lindsay Hanson, joint founder of recruitment consultancy Resourcing Matters, www.resourcingmatters.com.
•    Simon Reichwald, MD of graduate recruitment consultancy Graduate Success, www.graduatesuccess.com.
•    Corinne Dauncey, from jobs website TipTopJob.com, www.tiptopjob.com.
•    Simone Aloé, HR recruitment manager for the UK, Procter & Gamble, www.uk.pg.com
•    David Priestley, director of recruitment firm Source People, www.source-people.com
•    Jenny Ungless, life coach for jobs website Monster, www.monster.co.uk
•    Rachael Moss, head of marketing at staffing services company, Select Appointments, www.select.co.uk.
•    Arvind Devalia, life coach and author of Get the Life you Love and Live it, www.getthelifeyoulove.com.

I’ve just been told I’ve got a job I applied for, but there’s another job I really want that I’m still waiting to hear whether I’ve got or not. I have to tell the first employer whether I definitely want that job or not. Should I say yes and then jump ship if I get the second job – or refuse and hope I get my favoured firm?

You could follow the old proverb ‘a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush’, and accept the first. Graduate employers begrudgingly accept that candidates do jump ship but it’s frustrating. I would recommend really thinking through the pros and cons of each job and going for the one that feels right for you. You should have a good sense of how the interviews have gone to judge your chances of being offered a job. Simone Aloé

Be honest and tell the firm that’s already offered you the job that you would like to think about their offer a bit more and you are also awaiting to hear from other possible offers - they would expect you to have other offers too. Ask for more time to commit but on no account should you accept and then jump ship later – you never know when your paths might cross again. Arvind Devalia

Best advice is to involve the company you really want to work for. Tell them you have another job offer and that you are under pressure to decide, asking them when they will be making their decision. Then ask the company that has made you the offer when their deadline is as this may give you some time. If they threaten to withdraw the offer unless you decide quickly, ask yourself if you really want to work for them, is this the way they will treat you once you’re an employee? It comes down to integrity, ask yourself what is the right thing to do? Instinctively you will know the answer. Simon Reichwald

I’ve been told I have to handwrite a covering letter for an application but my handwriting is absolutely atrocious. Will this wreck my chances of getting the job?

Take your time and do the best job possible. Sadly bad handwriting, whether integral to the position or not, is likely to affect your chances. Although this is a psychological bias and handwriting has no obvious connection with your organisational skills, there are a number of studies to suggest that these biases occur rather frequently. Maria Lucio

It’s not normal for potential employers to ask applicants to ‘write’ a cover letter. However, if you have been asked to write it, they will probably analyse your handwriting to find out about your personality, traits and character. Spend some time writing it as neatly as possible and ensure that it is legible to the reader. Ask a friend to proof it and see whether they are able to read it without any problems. Corinne Dauncey

I’m in my final year at university, how much time should I devote to finding a job? I don’t want to jeopardise my finals by ignoring my studies.

There’s a balance - I would recommend spending around one evening a week. You should spend time researching companies to see if they offer something that you are interested in, and then apply for a few jobs you really want. I would recommend this over applying randomly for anything and everything. Simone Aloé

A growing number of students don't make any applications until after their final exams because it’s so timing consuming. With more students doing this most big companies are recruiting again in the summer to fill their remaining places. Do be aware that leaving it to the summer will mean there are fewer jobs around. Simon Reichwald

So many jobs seem to need a 2:1 degree nowadays, but I’ve only got a 2:2. I was thinking I could pretend to have a 2:1 to get my foot in the door, and then come clean about my 2:2 later if I got an interview.

No - graduate employers are looking for people with integrity who will manage their business in the same way. Instead, you should go to the interview with an answer prepared as to why you didn’t get a 2:1, as it likely to come up as a question. Simone Aloé

Instead of focusing on your degree, try instead to ‘sell’ your experience, skills and personal attributes as a way of securing the interview. Rachael Moss

This is a bad idea. If you were found out it is grounds for immediate dismissal once employed. Simon Reichwald

I’ve got some interviews with firms quite a long way from where I live. Should I ask the companies if they can pay my travel costs?

Most companies will pay reasonable travel expenses but my advice is to always ask first and get permission - then keep all receipts. Lindsay Hanson

Travel expenses are more often than not paid for by the company. It should be written in your invitation letter to the interview so check this first. Companies recruiting graduates don’t expect students to be able to afford to travel long distances to attend interviews and selection centres, so this will not jeopardise your opportunity to get the job. Corinne Dauncey

CV ADVICE: Should I employ a CV writing firm or specialist to help me?

Employing a CV writing specialist can help you in a number of ways. First they can help you build a generic CV that best highlights your skills and experience. They can also give you useful tips and insights that will allow you to tailor your CV successfully, depending on the organisation you are applying to. Maria Lucio

Using a professional CV writing service can be helpful to make sure that the overall format and presentation of your CV is as good as possible. However, I would caution against getting someone else to write the whole thing for you: your CV is your tool for marketing yourself, and it needs to reflect you and your personality. Also, most employers can spot a ‘professionally’ written CV a mile away! Jenny Ungless

I’m thinking about putting someone down as a referee who has an important title but doesn’t really know me. How important are references and referees?

Employers would want to check with your referees to confirm your credibility and it is therefore important that they talk to someone who knows you well. So do not put down someone who does not know you and whose permission you have not even sought. Arvind Devalia

A person’s title is of no consequence. The best people to approach for references are a previous employer or if you do not have a relevant employer then a university lecturer. Where possible it is polite to ask permission. David Priestley

I don’t think you need to worry about them on your CV, just note that references are available on request. Simon Reichwald

INTERVIEWERS’ JARGON: GOAL DRIVEN
What does it mean?
Setting targets or goals and paving a way to achieve them.

How can I become ‘goal driven’ and demonstrate it to interviewers?
Employers are looking for people who decide they are going to do something, say they are going to do it, and then actually do it. Think back through the things you have achieved: were you clear on what you wanted to achieve before you started? If you were, that’s being goal driven. Simone Aloé

If you’re in a quandary over your career, ask the experts for free. E-mail your questions to editor@gradjobs.co.uk. We can’t answer questions personally but will publish the best ones in the next issue of GradJobs.

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