Ripe apples, turning leaves, misty mornings and recruitment fairs. It must be October, and the start of a busy time for Strutt & Parker’s recruitment team who will be going to five graduate recruitment events this month and in November. As many as 90% of our graduate trainees in England come from Reading University, the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester and Harper Adams University College in Shropshire. We will be visiting all of these institutions and others over the next few weeks eager to meet students whom we hope and trust will be eager to meet us.

Recruitment events take different forms from the traditional setting of large halls with many different employers represented to formal presentations and question and answer sessions in lecture theatres. And, says head of recruitment Tim Nightingale, “we would hope to meet interested candidates for a drink afterwards as well.”

“The recruitment fairs are important to us because we find so many of our staff at them but they shouldn’t be seen as a dead cert way of getting a job or the only way to get into Strutt & Parker as a graduate,” says Tim.

“A good CV and a good covering letter are what give the all-important first impression. A literate letter and an interesting CV with name, address, age and contact details clearly visible at the top are always going to be looked upon favourably.

“I see an awful lot of poor applications from people who may be good candidates but who let themselves down with careless spelling, bad grammar and gaps in their CVs.

“Putting a bit of work into your CV will always pay dividends. I like an interesting CV that paints an accurate picture of the individual. Some people who read CVs like them to be a certain length. As long as they are interesting and truthful I don’t care what length they are.

“The covering letter is a good way of getting more information about yourself across. Sound enthusiastic and mention your background, how you heard about the position and maybe what attracts you to the job.

“At the end of the day we are looking for people who will fit in at Strutt & Parker. So do some research and find out about the business, what we do and who our clients are.”

Tim is also happy to speak to graduates on the phone. “If people have any queries during the application process it is good to call. I try to advise everybody as best I can.

Anyone feeling apprehensive about getting in touch should be reassured that Tim likes to treat candidates the way he hopes a prospective employer would treat his own daughter.