As a female graduate, you need to make the right career choice. It's so critical for graduates to secure a placement scheme in the right company. But how do you know which companies are the best ones to apply for? And how do you know what you want to do with your career, and where you want to head?

Look at a company's values

Believe it or not, a huge differentiator between companies is their values. Some companies values are quite bland and generic - and yet for other companies their values set their moral compass. Values provide great insight into the type of culture you can expect to work in, or whether for example they're a very team-orientated company where collective outcomes and collaboration are rewarded. The values of a company give you clues about the type pf words their people use, how they operate, what drives their thinking. And if you're interviewing, make sure you know exactly what the company's values are and what they really mean. Exemplify them in your responses - and your questions.

Understand what the business does

This may sound obvious but it's surprising how many graduates fail to do enough research into what a company provides, who their competitors are, what growth they've seen and is projected, where their global locations are, what's their history? What  media stories have covered the company in the last few years? What are their pain points? What are their competitove strengths? You know the saying - "Failing to plan, is planning to fail". 

Know about your interviewer

If possible, find out who'll be interviewing you. Check them out on LinkedIn. What's their job? How long have they been with the company? Did they start on a graduate scheme?

Convey your qualities

And remember to ask yourself "Why would I choose me?" Be clear about your greatest strengths, your competitive qualities, make your match with the company and graduate programme really obvious. And remember to always articulate your sheer enthusiasm and eagerness about being part of the company - and, importantly, to thank your interviewer!

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