Grad Week: Soft skills, CVs, job interviews

It was Grad Week at The Irish Times this week. We examined topics ranging from the jump from academia to the working world to what it is that graduates expect from their employers these days.

Even if you have some time yet to go before you graduate, you may find some of the following articles to be of practical use.

Why do companies choose one job applicant over another? Ask any number of experienced interviewers that question and you will most likely get a different set of answers from each of them. Éanna Ó Caollaí reports.

So you've been called for interview. Your CV is up to date and you've done all your research on this company. You really, really want this job. Peter McGuire looks at the eight common mistakes made at interview.

Should I take a job or an internship? This is a common question. Internships can be an effective way to gain work experience and increase your employability – but is there a downside? Peter McGuire reports.

Over the past decade or so, a pattern has emerged in the world of interviewing, whereby competency-based interviews have become the norm. Competency-based interviews involve giving examples of past experience to illustrate how suitable you are for a particular position. Jenna Clarke-Molloy reports.

If all this talk of careers is making you hungry, try out Deborah Ryan's Potato and black pudding hash with poached eggs and, yes, an 'iPhone hollandaise'.

The "real world" of work and career requires a lot of adjustment and it can be daunting to start off with. The CV is the key which unlocks the interview process and can lead to a job you'll really enjoy, but it is important to make sure yours stands out in what may be a large pile. So how can you get it right? We asked careers experts.

Dedicated graduate programmes are increasingly important to recruitment and more companies are going down this route. The following is a selection of graduate programmes on offer to the class of 2018. Áine McMahon reports.

For a recent graduate, the move from academic to professional life can be daunting. A nine-to-five lifestyle is a far cry from college days, and can be a shock to the system. Jenna Clarke-Molloy reports.