'I want to work in another country'
You will need to apply using the preferred CV style of that country. Explore working and studying abroad. Clearly, if you can write correctly in the language concerned, drafting the CV in that language as well as in the preferred CV style should improve your chances.

 

'I'm going for technical jobs using the technical content of my degree'
In this case you may wish to go for the skills-based approach describing how you have used your specialist knowledge in work, along with dealing in detail with the academic content of your course and projects undertaken naming any dissertation by title.

 

'I'm a mature student'
As one mature student has said, 'I had to convince employers that instead of getting educated and then getting vocational experience it could be done the other way round without any harm'. Employers vary a great deal in their attitudes towards age and recruitment. As a potential applicant you need to identify the possible prejudices of specific employers and assess how to address them. Among these concerns might be:
• possible low mobility;
• high salary expectations;
• lack of flexibility;
• age-prejudice of other employees.

 

Many of these fears are often groundless and you can take steps in your application to anticipate and correct these. Understand that as a mature applicant you should research occupations and employers, as any new graduate should. Draw on your previous work experience to provide evidence of core skills and of reliability and achievement in the work place. As a mature graduate you have much more to offer an employer than just your qualifications - make them see that.

 

'I'm from an ethnic minority'
There is some evidence that candidates from ethnic minorities may undersell their people skills, so do promote the personal strengths as well as the academic ones. The evidence you provide on people skills can come from the family, ethnic community, past experience overseas. Choosing employers to apply to is important. No graduate can confine their applications to large well-known companies only, so spread yours among a range of medium-sized as well as among well-known campus recruiters.

 

'I want to break into a career area where gender is an issue/raising a young family as a working person could be seen as a problem'.
At the same time many people, particularly women, feel that gender plays a major role in recruitment and subsequent career success, even if overt discrimination is less prevalent than formerly. One of the best ways to reduce the risk of unfair discrimination is to market yourself so effectively that employers cannot ignore your suitability for the post. Research the company and the post you are applying for and the key attributes required. Consider ways in which you meet these and the evidence you might present, and where you will place it on the application form or CV so that it makes the greatest impact. Give concrete examples and argue your case as specifically, clearly and concisely as possible. It is important to think positively, especially when the job is traditionally dominated by the opposite sex, to concentrate on your strengths always so as to counter any negative stereotypes and provide clear evidence of your suitability for the job.

 

'I'm a student with a disability'
People with disabilities have the same skills and abilities to offer employers as has anyone else. Like others they need to choose a career pathway that is best suited to them and makes best use of their strengths. Choosing an employer is important for everyone. It may be helpful to identify those who have a demonstrated commitment to being disability-friendly. Check whether the company recruitment literature includes a policy statement on disability, whether its job advertising carries the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) 'two ticks' symbol and whether it is a member of the Employers' Forum on Disability. However, do not limit your application to companies of this kind: always make your applications on the basis of opportunities available.

 

'Should I disclose my disability to an employer and if so, when?'
You may feel that your health or disability does not actually affect your ability to do the job you are applying for and you may feel that the employer will not view you objectively if the disability has been declared in the application. At the same time, disclosure can be positive where it shows how you have developed skills in adverse circumstances or have overcome significant obstacles reaching your current level of achievement. Disclosure improves your access to equal opportunities and the training schemes in place under current legislation on any discrimination. There may be a health and safety implication, eg a requirement for workplace adaptations, which the employer needs to know from the outset. A failure to disclose the truth on an application form when asked, or on a medical form, could give rise to dismissal later on. Give careful consideration to disclosure therefore - for an example of how to handle it see The covering letter.

'I'm a gay student'
Marketing yourself as a gay student is about the issue of disclosure and how much to reveal to an employer and at what stage in the selection process. There is no reason in law to do so but where your skills background - organisational, teamwork etc has been built up through membership of gay/lesbian societies it is a question of marketing these in that context. The advice is either to mention the activities up front or simply not name them specifically. Either way, take a neutral line/avoid a campaigning approach - unless applying for a specifically related job, eg with a lobbying group.

'I've a track record as an activist'
If you have been active in organising events, standing for election etc as a member of a political or ethical organisation, your involvement shows commitment and constructive time management. This can be very positive and the skills gained may be easily transferred to a variety of work areas. All employers, however, may not share your views and the application process is not the time to seek to convert them. Choose your potential employers with care, ideally, applying where your political or ethical background will be an asset. Sending speculative letters with a CV to employers of your choice could be useful. The Institute of Business Ethics list of supporters could be a helpful source along with researching companies' ethical codes, environmental management, equal opportunities policy, policy towards suppliers etc.

'I have a criminal record'
If you have concerns about this it always pays to seek advice. Your university careers adviser will be able to give you information referring to disclosure of criminal records.

 
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