Being a fresh graduate can be rough: not everybody experiences a smooth transition into the job market. Instead, most deal with anxiety thanks to the nagging feeling (or a real-life person reprimanding them) that they should be doing more to secure their first job.

If you’re looking to jumpstart your career, you should be used to checking job listings, submitting applications, following up with emails, and attending interviews as scheduled. In the meantime, what else could you do to improve your chances? Here are seven recommendations.

1. Finetune your CV

Take this time to improve your resumé or CV by asking friends or relatives to give you an honest assessment of your credentials. Bear in mind, however, that if they are in a different line of work or industry, their advice might not necessarily be relevant to your situation.

Nevertheless, do graciously thank them for their feedback, consider the details carefully, then decide which points to take on board and which to discard.

You could also contact the companies you have previously applied to, to ask for feedback on why there has been no response, or reasons for their rejection. This requires some guts and gumption, but take the leap and it could be beneficial to your future job applications.

2. Join public-speaking groups

Interviews are terrifying but, like everything else, practice makes perfect – or at least, it makes it less scary. And to boost your interview skills, one good approach would be to join public-speaking groups.

Why? Simply because public speaking can be even more daunting, and going through it will likely make interviews seem like a walk in the park!

Look up organisations such as Toastmasters International or other groups online. You might not even need to attend sessions in person, as certain groups offer the option of virtual meetings.

3. Engage in freelance or gig work

Times are tough and the cost of living is high. Many come into the workforce saddled with PTPTN and other education loans. To make life easier in the interim, consider engaging in freelance work or side gigs.

If you lean towards copywriting, coding or graphic design, platforms such as Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr offer simple opportunities. If you are interested in tasks such as ridesharing or deliveries, e-commerce platforms and even TikTok could provide avenues.

Heck, if you have talent as a musician, why not explore performance opportunities or go busking? You would not only earn some income but gain invaluable experience that makes your CV look more impressive.

4. Sign up for training or technical courses

Signing up for free training and technical courses, whether online or in person, can go a long way towards improving career prospects. It shows future employers you are serious about learning, and that ongoing education and upskilling are important.

Channels through which you can do this include EdX, Khan Academy and Coursera, among others. If you’re wondering which areas to explore, you can’t go wrong with:

• communications, a key soft skill that enables you to convey ideas effectively, listen to others, and promote teamwork;
• software tools such as Microsoft Excel and Powerpoint, which are still widely used and can come in handy in the workplace;
• statistics – not the detailed course you would have learnt in university as part of your Economics degree, but basic, practical applications used by professionals daily.

5. Consider a home business

Instead of joining a company, how about starting your own business? True, most businesspeople gain working experience before embarking on self-made journeys, and it also requires you to have certain resources such as skills and startup costs.

Nevertheless, in this digital age, it is possible to start a business with very little initial outlay. For example, you could make and sell items through e-commerce sites or via platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.

And, of course, you can broadcast and market your venture on social media with just your smartphone.

6. Volunteer

Charity is often perceived as something you do for free and in your leisure time. But volunteering can provide you with greater insights and a clearer perspective on what you wish to do in terms of your career and life in general.

Volunteering also cultivates a sense of community and purpose. You can then determine for yourself how you wish to give back to society, as well as the types of companies you wish to apply to, i.e. whether their organisational goals align with your values.

7. Help your family

There is a phenomenon in China called the “full-time child”, when new graduates return to their parents’ home and help them out while they apply for jobs in the meantime. Notably, the unemployment rate among youths there is at an all-time high of 21%.

This might sound like an undesirable option, but there are crucial implications. People are living longer, with the proportion of individuals aged over 60 projected to rise from 12% in 2015 to 22% in 2050. Meanwhile, people are also having fewer children.

With older generations potentially having to spend more money on aged care, this could be a good financial solution that helps both you and your elderly parents or relatives, while allowing you to spend precious quality time with them in their golden years.

This article was written by Su-Wei Ho for MyPF. To simplify and grow your personal finances, follow MyPF on Facebook and Instagram.