Finding a good job can take quite some time, considering the current economic climate and the competitive job market

Leading online job portal, Careers24, is encouraging those who are about to graduate to start their job search for 2018 as early as possible.

According to Careers24, this will offer graduates more time to research the job market and prepare their applications for the companies they believe may suit them best. Mark Kritzinger, Head of Careers24, says it is not too early to start post-graduation job hunt if you are about to graduate.

“Not only is the recruitment process for most companies lengthy and complicated, forward planning also gives graduates more time to research what kind of company they are interested in working at,” says Kritzinger.

Careers24’s third-quarter stats showed that young, educated and upwardly mobile job-seekers are doing more and more research on the companies they want to work for.

In fact, one of the more popular employers was viewed more than 150 000 times on Careers24 in the third quarter. This activity on the platform is showing that new job-seekers would rather work for a company which suits them, making it vital for companies to position themselves correctly online in order to attract the in-demand candidates.

Another reason it is important to begin early is that the competition in the graduate sector is fierce.

“Companies hiring graduates are well-aware that applicants will have minimal job experience but that means they need to sell their value in other ways. Before entering the job market it is essential for graduates to find out what skills recruiters are looking for and bolster their as-important softer skills like being organised, confident and resilient – all of which will come through in a good job interview,” adds Kritzinger.

While South Africa’s youth unemployment stats remain unacceptably high, there is always a place in commerce for emerging, hard-working and passionate recruits.

Trends suggest that while Generation Z, people born between 1994-2000, is the first digitally native generation, it is also a generation with a very different work ethic to millennials.