Walk the talk

There are a few things that distinguish a student from a graduate job-seeker - here at the GRB we have come up with five changes you can implement if you are about to take the plunge.

There's no need to invent a brand-new you when you graduate, but there are things you can action to reinforce an image of a driven young professional.

What does your voicemail message say about you? If you are a job-hunter, your personalised message should make you sound professional in case a potential employer needs to contact you. Your message should still sound like you, but you should avoid sounding too casual or using any slang. The standard: 'You have reached the voicemail box of X, please leave a message and I will get back to you' is perfectly acceptable.

Recruiters have started searching for candidates' profiles on the internet as part of the selection process, and although it might not be ethical, there are no real restrictions to stop them. If you have a MySpace or Facebook, what do your pages currently say about you? Click here for a checklist of small changes that will make your profile employer-friendly.

Always use a professional email address on your CV. While Arsenalfan@...com may be fine for conversing with friends, it will give employers a negative perception of your level of professionalism and commitment to your job search. Firstname_Surname is a good prefix to an address as it includes your full name.

Avoid casual writing, even in emails. Although email is naturally a more informal means of communication, you should still stick to some guidelines. Conclude emails with 'Kind regards' or 'Best regards' (don't abbreviate to 'rgds'). Think about including a standard signature at the end of your emails citing all your contact details.

Finally, invest in a good suit! With all these other details in place, the interviews will soon start rolling in and now you have to look the part too.