The 2002 Australasian Graduate Recruitment Benchmarking study found that, on average, there were 36 applicants for every graduate position advertised in 2002. So, how can you make sure you're on the right shortlist? A recent Sydney Morning Herald article gives some tips from the experts:

• be pro-active at the beginning of your final university year (the average recruitment process takes 9.1 months)
• preparation is vital - do as much research as possible, using the internet (check out the great links on CareerBoard to help you with this), careers fairs and the media
• relevant work experience pays dividends
• instead of applying for 100 positions, narrow the field to 20 or 40 and do more thorough research so you can tailor your applications
• many graduate programs recruit online - allow yourself plenty of time to complete your application (& follow instructions)
• ask intelligent question at interviews, avoiding subjects well covered on a company's website or in other promotional material. Employers want to know you are switched on.

If you need help with your job search, check out the different job search seminars run by Student Services on your campus (see 'Events' section on left side of the main CareerBoard screen and click on 'workshops'). There are also many resources in the Careers Library on your campus to help you put together your job application and prepare for an interview.