http://www.thesite.org/stepfinder/blog.php/29-AfterThought Step Finder - TheSite.org - Getting help with finding support in the UK en Tue, 21 May 2013 11:01:14 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.thesite.org/stepfinder/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.thesite.org/stepfinder/blog.php/29-AfterThought http://www.thesite.org/stepfinder/entry.php/25-The-Story-of-a-Graduate-Job-hunter Tue, 17 May 2011 17:58:30 GMT The final month of my student life was probably the most enjoyable of my education ‘career’ – an early hand in on my dissertation gifted me with an early start to that final precious student-summer. I studied Theology at the University of Nottingham, and had thoroughly enjoyed my three years there. Like many around me, I hadn’t yet given much thought to what I was going to do next. My tutor had... The final month of my student life was probably the most enjoyable of my education ‘career’ – an early hand in on my dissertation gifted me with an early start to that final precious student-summer. I studied Theology at the University of Nottingham, and had thoroughly enjoyed my three years there. Like many around me, I hadn’t yet given much thought to what I was going to do next. My tutor had asked me once whether I’d got any thoughts on my preferred career, and when I responded with a shrug, he simply nodded and commented that it was ‘a standard response’.

I wish he’d probed me a little harder; had I thought about my options? What were my interests? Where did I think my skills lay? I don’t for a moment blame my tutor that I didn’t set some time aside in my final year to plan my job hunt, but now, gifted with hindsight, I wish I had given it a little more thought from the comfort of my loan-fuelled student life. Having enjoyed a summer of barbeques and mourned the loss of the University ‘bubble’, I eventually dug out my CV, with the hope of updating it. Aside from a few volunteering roles, the main addition was my shiny new ‘Degree’ result; the culmination of 16 years of education in a BA Hons. I merely set about the job hunt firm in my belief that a graduate role was just around the corner!

With my new CV and a cover letter convincing the world I could sell snow to an Eskimo, I started sending off applications; a few to some charity jobs, some to web editing positions, and a bunch to television production groups. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, so my cover letters were fairly general, selling myself as a fast learner and a keen worker. I was bright, my education career showed that, so surely employers would look at my potential, see that I was keen to work, and start me out at the bottom. That’s how it works, isn’t it? I set myself up in front of my computer with ample coffee and good will, trawling though countless online job sites, looking for fun sounding roles, adding my CV to many of them in the hope that someone might recognise my potential.

It’s only now, nearly a year on, that I realise most of these applications would probably have been discarded straight away – or laughed at, shown around the office, and then chucked in the bin. Job hunting is a skill, and one that I certainly didn’t have in the summer after I graduated. Nothing had prepared me for it whilst at university, and it takes far more than just common sense and hope to get you an interview.

Whilst my parents and friends had looked over my CV for me and made some generally positive noises, I now know that they weren’t the right people to go to for such a specialised service. My CV didn’t get any recognition; any replies I got were always rejections. No one was willing to offer feedback on my application, such were the volume of applicants. After a few months of hoping that various rewordings and restructurings would get results, I ran out of steam. I felt very rejected, thoroughly worthless and clueless as to what to do next – a feeling far too familiar with many graduates and job seekers.

The most valuable piece of advice I received as to how I might turn myself around was given to me by an advisor at the Career’s Centre of the University of Nottingham – a service I had somehow avoided during my three years of study – thankfully for me, many of these free university services exist for the alumni as well as for the current students. For me, they were the key difference between a countless rejections, and finally being invited to an interview. Just like the washing up or changing the oil in your car, reworking or even starting a CV can be such an easy task to put off. I now realise the importance of getting guidance as to how to set about it properly, and that there are professionals out there who are keen to help.

I’m still looking for a job, but since I adjusted my CV and job seeking strategy after some sound advice, I’m now getting interviews and have gained experience from a number of temp and intern roles. It’s a tough job market at the moment, and I certainly wasn’t expecting this after university. I can only keep going knowing that it won’t last forever! ]]> AfterThought http://www.thesite.org/stepfinder/entry.php/25-The-Story-of-a-Graduate-Job-hunter http://www.thesite.org/stepfinder/entry.php/24-Working-for-Free Tue, 17 May 2011 17:56:54 GMT When I graduated in July 2010, I wasn’t sure what I really wanted to do with myself. I quite enjoyed writing, and really enjoyed those aspects of my degree that had let me find a ‘creative voice’. Looking through various career advice websites, such as www.prospects.ac.uk, it was indicated that the job roles that best suited my skills and preferences were all within the media industry. Great, I... When I graduated in July 2010, I wasn’t sure what I really wanted to do with myself. I quite enjoyed writing, and really enjoyed those aspects of my degree that had let me find a ‘creative voice’. Looking through various career advice websites, such as www.prospects.ac.uk, it was indicated that the job roles that best suited my skills and preferences were all within the media industry. Great, I thought, I’ll see what’s out there. I crafted a cover letter showing off my talents and forged a CV that was ok-ish, and started applying to various entry-level positions. I poked around small local publications, called up offices, sought out any route I might be able to exploit. Eventually, I was offered an internship by a small local paper for 5 weeks unpaid work experience. Whilst I didn’t really like the idea of working for free, I realised that I was in no position to argue – and besides, they were going to give me lunch! A paid role would surely follow once I’d gained enough experience and shown my dedication in working for free.

In the last 7 months, I’ve taken part in three internships, none of which have paid me any more than travel and lunch expenses. The media industry – like most others – is bursting at the seams with applicants, and gaining experience is now so valuable for the job seeker that employers can offer very little by way of remuneration for an intern’s hard work. Standard internships will run from 3-6 months, with expenses paid – if you’re lucky. I’ve had countless friends who’ve worked for more than 3 months with one company, and when the internship comes to an end, they’ve had nothing more than a smile, a ‘thank you’ and a nudge out the door.

One of the most difficult things I found about interning is probably the mindset. How can an employer get away with making me work for free? Why should I? It really doesn’t seem fair! As soon as I managed to overcome that mindset, the easier it became to understand the value of the internships. I had to learn that if I was really dedicated to breaking into that dream career, then working for free was just part of that process, and a brutal fact of the times.

There are other frustrations that go hand-in-hand with interning. For one, I’ve found the geography of industries in the UK impossibly unfair; the black hole of London sucks in so many of those companies who would offer me the best internships, and unless you live close enough to the capital, chances are you won’t be able to live on expenses alone for more than a few months. I spent 6 weeks surfing around the sofas of some of my London based friends, spending a great deal of savings in the process – and I’ve been fortunate. Many of my friends have spent the best part of 3-6 months living out of a suitcase in pursuit of a way in.

I also found that the list of support options for those interning for free isn’t a long one. Due to the nature of the Job Seekers allowance, any internship that saw me working more than 15 hours a week resulted in me being ineligible for support. When I phoned both the local council and national advice lines to ask if any support existed for those who were interning with no pay, the reply was very simple: no. The allowance is there for those who are seeking a job – if you’re working more than 15 hours a week, then you clearly aren’t seeking hard enough.

The best support I received was from my friends and family – desperate pleas and favours is all I’ve had to go on. It’s been a very uncomfortable lifestyle – living in someone else’s space with nothing more than a suitcase – but I couldn't find an internship closer to home, so that’s what was called for. Any longer than 6 weeks/2 months though, and it probably wouldn't have been worth it!

I eventually learnt that the best thing to do was not to become bitter with the situation – which is often easier said than done; I made sure that I was giving my employer my all - you never know who might be impressed with your efforts. It's been tough to come to terms with the fact that many months of my early career will been spent working for free, but I realise it won't last forever, and the more experience I gain through opportunities like this, the more likely I'll be to find that paid job. ]]> AfterThought http://www.thesite.org/stepfinder/entry.php/24-Working-for-Free