Graduate Job Hunt Blog

Jobs you can do with a fashion degree

2014-06-06T08:18:00.002-07:00

Jobs you can do with a fashion degree

With more and more people graduating from university with creative degrees, competition for the best entry-level jobs can be fierce, especially as the country is still in recovery from the credit crunch.

The best way to get your career started is to think about the other kinds of jobs for which your degree and your skills are relevant.

If you’ve got a degree in fashion there are a huge amount of options out there to choose from, any one of which can lead onto a successful and satisfying creative career.

1. Designer

For most students starting out on a fashion foundation degree, their dream will most likely be to see their creations walking down the catwalk in Paris, London or Milan.

Though you may not see your name up in lights just yet, there are a lot of fashion designer jobs out there waiting for you.

The easiest way to find a job as a designer is to apply to a large organisation with big design department. That way you’ll get the experience and the contacts you need to launch you career in fashion.

2. Stylist

Being a stylist can involve working in a number of environments from photo shoots and TV sets to boutique shops and private homes.

Although being a stylist gives you an outlet for your creativity, it’s generally not as intense as design so makes the ideal choice for graduates who are looking for a more even career-life balance.

3. Buyer

Responsible for the stock of a shop, buyers have a huge hand in creating the look and identity of a clothes store.

Whether you work in a small boutique or a large department store, becoming a buyer is the perfect choice for those who want to shape high street fashion and change the way the world dresses.

4. Costume designer

An exciting option for any fashion graduate with an interest in theatre, TV or film, costume designers can have a big impact on the final look of a production.

There are generally fewer jobs in this field, so do consider that costume design can be a difficult areas to get into.

By thinking a little bit more broadly about the fashion industry, and spreading your net a little wider, you should be able to find a career path that gives you the perfect mix of fun, creativity, and fashion.

The importance of graduate training

2014-05-28T10:54:00.001-07:00

The importance of graduate training

Qualifications are important as they show a prospective employer your level of academic achievement, your desire for success and allows them to assess your competence for a particular role. You may also be offered opportunities for further training once you’ve been awarded a job.

A complex workplace for graduates

Obviously, a degree is important but with an ever-increasing number of graduates stacking shelves in a local supermarket, or working for nothing as an intern, it might be a good idea for graduates to look at employment opportunities in a different way. Local colleges offer a diverse array of training courses and have close links with employers. Staff training courses with West Suffolk Collegewill give you the opportunity to progress along your chosen career path and develop the skills required in the modern workplace.

Training on the job

If you show initiative and competence and want to progress into management, you might like to consider further training. Your employer should be able to help you find a course that allows you to work and study at the same time. Courses run by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) in conjunction with a local college are an excellent option. If you’re concerned about finance you may be eligible for a 24+ Learning Loan. Some employers may offer help towards course costs, as your training will benefit their company.

Course costs

If you are between the ages of 19-23 and in receipt of Jobs Seekers Allowance, you may not have to pay your tuition fees. It’s always a good idea to ask your local college what financial aid schemes exist. With 881,000 unemployed between the ages of 18-24 it’s worth exploring all potential opportunities in order to avoid that weekly visit to the Job Centre.

The range of courses

A degree is important, but workplace training is even more relevant in the modern employment market. When you are looking for a job, try to ensure that you will receive training once you are employed. Some professions, including accountancy and the law, expect their graduates to engage with practical training schemes. Other less obvious companies also offer graduate training programmes, which can lead to jobs in management, customer service or finance. The European Social Fund finances a wide range of opportunities across the UK in order to help graduates hone their business skills. It’s never too late to add value to your degree.

Some career paths you might not have considered

2014-03-04T03:58:00.001-08:00

Some career paths you might not have considered

It’s no secret that the jobs market is a tough nut to crack, especially when the country is still clawing its way out of an economic downturn. If you're struggling to find a job, or are simply looking for something different, exciting or challenging, here are three options you might not have considered:

1. Freelancing

There are many areas in which you can freelance, from journalism and marketing to television production or even fitness coaching. Many people like the idea of being self-employed but you should also be prepared for the realities.

While you are indeed technically self-employed you will usually be working on short-term projects for a series of clients and you might find the deadlines are tight and there are high expectations. It can also be difficult finding enough work, especially at first. You could find yourself spending almost as much time hunting for clients as actually working, or turning to agencies that will take part of your fee. You will also have to sort your own tax and other financial affairs and, while you can often set your own hours and working patterns, you will not usually be eligible for holiday pay.

2. Working at sea

There is a huge variety of careers waiting for you in the maritime industry. The UK remains a major force in the international shipping industry and commercial shipping is a significant contributor to the country's economy.

A career at sea brings with it a wealth of opportunities, from the rank of captain to chief engineer, electro-technical officer or an on-board hotel operations manager. There are also a host of related shore-based opportunities, such as surveying ships to check seaworthiness, roles in port and harbour management, maritime law and arbitration. For more information on careers and courses, check out Warsash Maritime Academy careers at sea.

3. Joining a start-up

At the start of 2013, there were an estimated 4.9 million businesses in the UK and the vast majority were small and medium enterprises.* New businesses start up all the time and, if you get in at the ground floor, you might be part of an enterprise that changes the world.

However, you should also be aware of the risks. Around 20% of new businesses fail within the first year and only half will make it beyond their third year. That said, many people prefer being a big fish in a small pond to being a cog in a multinational corporation. If you're filled with the entrepreneurial spirit and have a great idea, you might want to start your own small business.

Good leadership skills

2014-02-19T08:04:00.001-08:00

Good leadership skills

While education and training are important in order to be a successful manager, the journey doesn’t stop when you get your qualifications. In reality, the journey is just beginning because being a good manger is largely down to the experience you gain along the way.

It is likely that you have had experience of working for both good and bad managers. If you thing about the characteristics which place effective and poor leaders into different camps, you’ll probably find that they are simple. If you are aiming to reach management level in your career, you want to be the best leader you can be.

After all, a good manager means a happy work place.

Knowing your stuff

How much your work environment changes depends on the sector you are working in. But one thing is certain; your professional terrain will include change at some point or another so you need to have the skills and knowledge which will help you and your team make the transition as painlessly as possible.

Leadership and management courses Suffolk provides valuable training for developing these managerial skills. Study changes in your sector until you know them inside out and assess how they will affect your business in the future.

Once you have done this, take the necessary course of action to be as prepared as possible.

People person

It is not necessary to be friends with members of your team but you will need their respect if you want work to flow as easily as possible. Similarly, being respected does not mean being feared – a mistake that some managers make. If you choose to manage employees through being intimidating, you will only breed resentment and lose team members.

Be sympathetic but firm with staff and make sure that they have a forum for airing their opinions and views on the work environment and projects. They will appreciate you for it.

Clear vision

If you are keen to go into management, one quality you will need is the ability to react to unexpected situations calmly. Change may occur in your workplace or wider sector overnight or from one day to the next. If new ways of dealing with a situation are needed, embrace them with a level head.

Remember, it is easier to follow a calm leader with a clear vision.

Five jobs you can do with a law degree

2014-01-20T06:52:00.000-08:00

Five jobs you can do with a law degree

Are you reconsidering a direct career in law? If so, you’re not alone. Many law students decide part way through their course that they’d prefer to take another direction in their career and whatever the reasons for your change of heart, the good news is there are other things you can do that will make use of the law knowledge you have attained.

It might even be that you do want to go into a law career but there simply aren’t any positions when you leave. It’s a competitive field and in some countries more students study law then there are positions available.

Having a back-up plan in case you struggle to find work once you’ve completed your degree is a great idea. The great thing about studying a Southampton Solent University law degree is you’ll pick up quite a range of different skills.

You can use these to get into quite a few different careers and here are five of them.

1. Counselling/advice worker

The communication skills and great analytical skills that you learn via a law degree come in useful within advice worker positions. This could include counselling or customer service advisors as being able to look at a problem and analyse it to find the best outcome is a really useful skill to have when helping people.

2. Legal secretary

Often seen pretty much as the bottom of the ladder in the legal world; being a legal secretary can actually get you a great start in the business. You’ll be in an ideal position to apply for any new legal roles as they come up.

3. Chartered secretary

Another secretarial role, a chartered secretary needs to have a really good understanding of both company law and business. If you’re interested you may want to take a look at the Institute of Chartered secretaries as they offer a qualifying scheme that would be useful to follow.

4. Charity management or administration

Do you have a particular interest in human rights? If so, working as part of the management or administration within a charity could really appeal to you. You’ll be doing something you enjoy while campaigning and raising money for a charity you believe in.

5. Police force

A lot of law students end up going into the police force. This is a fairly obvious career transaction if you’ve studied criminal law and while it is vital you understand the law when practising in the force, there are many other skills you’ll need too.

London Living – Life in London for International UG Students

2013-12-02T05:51:00.001-08:00

London Living – Life in London for International UG Students

So you’ve decided to head to London to carry on with your undergraduate studies. You’ve been seduced by the city that has captivated the attention of the world for centuries.

Your student years are a special time in your life. The world is fun, fresh and exciting. Anything seems possible. You’re surrounded by people who are as desperate as you are to experience everything that life can throw at you, to soak it all up like a sponge. There is no better place than London to do that.

The first thing to remember is not to lose your sense of adventure. To look at picture postcards, you might think that London was just the immediate area around Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace.

It isn’t.

Unlike some other cities, which appear ordered and regimented, built along a grid system, London is a higgledy-piggledy mess of different districts and areas, each with their own distinct charm. Think about them as a series of villages without any fields in between. So visiting some of London's more far-flung areas is very much worth doing, because each is so different to the others.

It must be said that London is the UK's most expensive city, and it can feel like a tough place to enjoy if you haven't got that much cash on the hip – and most students don’t.

But there is actually a huge amount you can do for free in London. There are a myriad of websites, groups and clubs which will point you towards free activities in the capital, from outdoor film screenings to life drawing classes.

London's cultural scene is second to none, and most of the best museums and galleries (Imperial War Museum, Tate Modern and Tate Britain, Natural History Museum) are completely free for visitors if you fancy a bit of 'brain food'.

For actual food, the markets in Borough, Brick Lane and Portobello Road are definitely worth a visit. If the delicacies on offer are a bit out of your budget, they are still great places to walk around.

For something a bit livelier, try the famous Notting Hill Carnival; a magical time when the streets of West London are filled with the sound of steel drums and the aroma of sizzling jerk chicken. London has a huge number of open-air parties and get togethers going on all over the city. You don't need an invite, just find out where they are and head on down.

Undergraduate student life in London can be amazing. Make the most of it.

A Look At What Goes Into Making A Perfect Student Home

2013-06-04T05:52:00.002-07:00

Whether you're a student embarking upon your first rental adventure or a landlord keen to make the ideal rent-friendly student pad, there are a number of differences worth noting between a great student home and a great family home. The lifestyle of most students varies to most working people and the flow of a student property should differ as a result. Here, we take a look at the most important factors which contribute towards creating the ideal student property.

The Shared House Dynamic

In student accommodation, the shared living areas are arguably the most important. Rather than creating a space which is perfect for relaxing and getting cosy, many students will prefer a living space which lends itself to socialising and making friends.

The furnishing should do all it can to maintain an open plan scheme, avoiding the exclusion of any one seating area. Natural light is as important as ever, as are small house plants which are great ways to bring life into a room.

The Internet Connection

Life for many students revolves around the internet – work, play and socialising. With several occupants and friends likely to need access to the internet at the same time at regular points throughout the day, a high speed and reliable connection is absolutely essential. Whoever is responsible for establishing the internet connection should consider using a reputable supplier such as BT Home Broadband to ensure that everything runs as smoothly as possible throughout the student year.

Outside Space

The outside areas of student homes are often neglected by landlords, perhaps due to the short tenancy periods. Whether you're a green-fingered student who is keen to create some extra space, or a landlord looking to attract students for the coming academic year, a little work in the garden can go a long way.

A positive outside space will not only provide living space for students, but is also a great way to entertain friends. Working out in the fresh air can also be a great help to your productivity, as can any change of scenery.

Regular Cleaning

As a landlord, there is not really that much you can actually do to ensure that tenants tidy the property on a regular basis. While not all students fit into the stereotype of living in an untidy environment, those who do are probably looking to make a change. A mutual agreement for all tenants to clean as they go is not always easy to establish, but is undoubtedly the most effective way to keep a property clean and relationships stable.

The Graduate Job Market and your Rights

2013-04-10T11:12:00.002-07:00

Today’s graduate job market is a tough one. With a steadily drying up economy, it seems as if it’s the worst time in history to be a bright graduate. But don’t fear - there is work out there!

Many of the problems in today’s graduate market occur because people simply aren’t aware of their rights when it comes to employment. If you’re a first-class honours history or geography graduate, who’s struggling to find work, the chances are, you’re not going to be up to speed on the rules and regulations concerning employment in the services industry.

Below is a quick guide to what you are entitled to and the things to watch out for when offered a job.

Minimum wage

Although the cost of living has risen greatly, minimum wages are yet to see a dramatic change. Most people who spend all day struggling to find and apply for jobs aren’t even aware of the national minimum. So here is a rundown of what you are entitled to (as of October 2012):

Workers aged 21 years or more: £6.19 per hour

Workers aged 18 to 20 inclusive: £4.98 per hour

Workers aged under 18 (but above compulsory school age): £3.68 per hour

Apprentices aged under 19: £2.65 per hour

Apprentices aged 19 and over in the 1st year of apprenticeship: £2.65 per hour

Cash in hand

If you’re offered a cash in hand job, however tempting it may be – do not take it! Paying workers cash in hand is illegal. Many employers seek to exploit the current state of the job market by not declaring some of their workers and outgoings. Also, chances are, they will be paying you under minimum wage by doing so.

Proper training at all times

Wherever you are working, proper training must be given at all times. If not, potential injuries could occur as a result. This can be anything, from operating machinery, to working in a kitchen environment.

Should anything happen to you in the workplace where you are not at fault, a company such as Injury Lawyers 4U should be contacted immediately, and a claim made against your employer. You should never be afraid to do so, as employers have a duty of care to all of their workers. Any accident which is caused through negligent action or miscommunication should be reported and compensation claimed. These costs are usually recovered from the business’ insurance policy and will prompt companies to review their health and safety practices for the benefit of all employees and staff.

Sources:

http://www.revenuebenefits.org.uk/blog/national-minimum-wage-increase-from-1-october-2012/

Your degree and what you can do with it!

2013-01-21T06:08:00.001-08:00

Coming away from university with a qualification that is too diverse in terms of lacking speciality can be a real problem once you find yourself scouring through the jobs market to launch your career.

Many people when starting university are still of an age where perhaps they do not know exactly where they want to be in 10 or 15 years time; which is perfectly understandable. Studying a degree which has a very broad spectrum of learning and therefore possibilities makes a lot of sense at the time to someone reluctant to commit to something but knowing what to do at the end of it can be problematic.

Further education

Many post-graduates decide to go down the avenue of furthering their education into a more specialised field. This can be done by either studying another similar degree or enrolling on a post graduate course such as a Masters Degree.

As logical as this might seem however, after several years of continuous study many people are not too enthused by the prospect of spending any longer living as a student and are keen to get to work in the real world where they can start to earn money. Other people may not have the time or finances to commit to furthering their education and have no real choice in the matter.

Transferable skills

The good news is that most university degrees have transferable skills that are valuable to any employer. Many degrees have potential applications that you may not have yet considered: foreign language students can teach abroad, engineers can look into oil careers and English Literature graduates can enter the field of publishing.

Recent news that North Sea oil recruitment could increase as a ‘boom’ is experienced has shown just how lucrative certain areas of employment can be. Between 40,000 and 50,000 new jobs are expected to be generated from this growth and mean that graduates with a variety of skills could find themselves in employment quicker than they anticipated – providing they demonstrate the necessary traits of course.

Experience and qualifications

Perhaps it is here where most graduates fall down. Academic proficiency is one thing which employers are keen to see but that doesn’t mean it is the only thing they consider. Prior experience is a highly valued skill but undertaking such an activity is not only beneficial from an employment perspective.

Additionally, undertaking work experience in a field you are interested in can help you ascertain whether it is really a suitable environment for you to work in. Often students can hold glorified views of certain workplaces and this means years of training may be left largely redundant when they find it is not quite what they expected.

Getting out into the real world as soon as possible is therefore highly recommended – if you gain experience in different fields of employment whilst studying then you’ll have a clear idea of where you want to be after you graduate and that can only be beneficial for your future.

Looking for a new job? Why it might be time you gave niche job boards a go…!

2013-01-09T05:00:00.004-08:00

When the time comes to track down a new job when you graduate, it can be hard to know where to start. From the old classics like Monster and Total Jobs to more tailored job boards and social networks like LinkedIn, there are now more places to find jobs than ever before so how do you keep up? Are some job boards better than others? And how do you know which is the right one for you?

The first thing I’m going to tell you is you need to forget about the big online job sites – they’re just not that relevant anymore. While generic job boards like Jobsite were popular in the 1990s, it’s now niche job boards that are really leading the way when it comes to getting a new job with some of the biggest brands. Unlike generic job boards, niche job boards only focus on a particular industry – this means that rather than just covering jobs from all over the market, they only ever advertise jobs in their particular niche.

The pros? The jobs on their boards are normally much more relevant to their target audience, and the fact they’re one of only a few job boards that advertise vacancies in their sector means they tend to attract some of the biggest names in their industry. This means that rather seeing an endless stream of jobs from the same old recruiters, you should be able to find unique jobs on niche job boards from key names that you actually want to work for. In turn, this means that you should be able to put together a better application which should give you a better chance of securing the job.

What’s more, because niche job boards only focus on a particular sector, they tend to be able to provide better, more specific advice for their candidate job seekers. Take the digital sector for example; rather than dishing out the same old CV and interview advice, here at Bubble Jobs we actually give our candidates advice on how to set our their social media CV and how to go about getting work experience in the digital sector – in theory, the more specific the advice, the more helpful job seekers will find it. This means that in addition to finding great jobs, when you use niche online jobs board you also get amazing, FREE on-topic advice – double win!

Anything else? Well, because niche job boards only focus on one particular sector of the market, they have got a unique perspective of their niche. They know which particular jobs in the sector are in demand at the moment and which jobs have fallen out of favour – this means they can advise you on which particular areas to focus your applications on, depending on the type of role you’re looking for. Similarly, because they have only one industry area to focus on, they usually have amazing blogs which feature the latest industry news and comment – this makes them a great resource for any graduate job seeker looking to break into the industry.

So there you have it; while generic job boards have their own appeal, it’s sites like Bubble that have something different and more specific to offer graduate job seekers that are looking to break into their chosen industry.

Author Bio

Amy Edwards works for Bubble Jobs, an online jobs board that specialises in advertising the latest online, eCommerce, digital, online marketing and web development and design vacancies from all over the UK and Europe.

What Do You Want To Do?

2012-12-03T11:05:00.001-08:00

Some people who go straight into the job market without going onto university education maintain a lifelong belief that the majority of those who take a degree are in some way 'putting of' the decision of what they are going to do with the rest of their lives.

The sad fact is that in some cases this is often true, usually not exactly by design but more as a consequence of the dog eat dog employment market that graduates of the post-financial collapse find themselves looking at these days.

For those whose studies are job specific, there is the consolation that the learning years have been directly focused on an eventual outcome. For the others, the reality of finding themselves qualified to degree level in subjects they love but which a restricted job market is not particularly pleasing.

Internships

The very fact that 'internships' are now an established factor in the UK is a sad indictment of the way that trends from the USA always find their way into the cultural landscape of the UK. Being expected to do a job for essentially no pay with the vague promise of 'gaining experience' isn't something someone who has spent years studying should expect to encounter. Yet, in today’s world it is often necessary.

Whilst it may not be ideal or the situation you signed up for when accepting that student loan, it is necessary if you want to succeed in a diverse and dynamic workplace. After all, what use is knowledge if you’re unable to put it into practice?

Know what you want

Ultimately, the question that anyone who has graduated should ask themselves is "what do I WANT to do?" and everything should flow on naturally from that point. Winston Churchill had a way with words and, borrowing one of his brilliant phrases: "when you find a job you love, you’ll never work again."

The truth of this is self evident. Many people enjoy a sport as a hobby, but a sizeable number manage to make it into a lifelong career too. I don't mean high profile world record beating athletes but the local tennis coach or golfing professional who teaches others how to enjoy their sport.

Today, post banking crash, the whole financial system isn't exactly held in high regard, but what if you love the kind of work involved in investment banking jobs? Many people might look upon gardening as menial work but for those who have a love of the ways of nature there are plenty of perks – and the same can be said for working in finance.

Ultimately, a person can only be happy if they listen to their heart and follow their own path.

So, what do YOU want to do?

Guest Post - God Save the Queen (it got Charles a Job)

2012-08-01T12:23:00.000-07:00

This week we feature a fabulous post from Charles Oben who gives 5 fantastic networking tips, a must read for any graduate unsure of how best to open career doors. Be sure to check out his fantastic blog here, his Visual CV is pretty impressive.

Queen Elizabeth rules. Why? Well besides the fact that she's now jumping out of helicopters, she’s also helping people get jobs. Or more precisely her Jubilee celebration did because it was a great time for networking – this was when I happened to meet one of my brother’s friends whose sister works in advertising. 2 weeks later I met said sister in person when I started working for the same company. The saying ‘it’s not what you know, it’s who you know’ exists for a reason. As I think networking is something too useful for any student to miss out on, I’m going you give you my own take on Networking 101 based on my experiences.

1. Who With?

Everybody. I like to think that every single person you meet either directly or indirectly knows somebody that you want to have in your network. So resist the temptation to rule people out because you never really know who knows who. Starting with family and friends is a given. It’s also important to not focus solely on the ‘big wigs’ of the industry – the CEO’s, the MD’s etc when you’re trying to build up a network. Because those lower down in the hierarchy can turn out to be just as useful.

2. How?

Meet people. Obvious yes, but true nonetheless so it’s important that you remember to put yourself out there. Attend events, go to talks, arrange lunch dates, do the whole shebang. LinkedIn is a good place to find out about events going on that are relevant to the industry you want to work in. But there’s tons of information out there on the internet. Find it, use it.

You could also mix that in with this whole online branding thing which seems to be the latest buzz. Depending on your particular interests – join lots of groups on LinkedIn, consider setting up your own website to showcase your talent and maybe start a blog. Then, and this is what some folks often forget, talk to people about it. Participate in discussions, comment in forums, share your content and ask for feedback. There’s no point being online if no one knows you’re there.

3. The Hook

You’re not going fishing, but you still need a hook - a reason for the initial contact. This is more so for meeting people in person but the same thing applies generally. So you need to have an angle, and often this means you need to do some research. Your hook doesn’t have to be ground breaking as no one likes a stalker, and if it’s all been done online it could be something as simple as commenting on an article, but you still need one. From that you can start a conversation, and from there, try to develop a relationship. A good hook can work wonders on a first meeting because if it sounds like you genuinely care about what you’re asking, people are more likely to remember what you said.

4. Networking 101

Good networking shouldn’t feel like networking. So try to keep things relaxed and make it seem like networking isn’t your only aim. It’s likely that it is, but it won’t do you any favours to keep reminding whoever you’re talking to of that fact. And when it comes to following up, try to be original. I doubt you want to be classed as just another student who wants Mr X to look at their CV. So try a different approach. If you do interesting things, interesting things will happen to you.

5. Stay In touch

Stay in touch doesn’t mean only contact someone when you need something; it genuinely means stay in touch, even if it’s just a quick hello here and there. Or if you’re not too keen on that then plan in advance – when you know you’re going to need something, start reconnecting with the person way before so that when somewhere down the line you magically happen to remember you need help with this or that, it seems far more genuine.

Lastly, and this is just common sense more than anything - be nice, but not fake, persistent but not annoying and know when to give up. No matter what you do, some people just won’t like you. As for when to call it quits, trust your gut, it’s smarter than you.

To find out more about me and my life as a recent grad, then please visit my blog: http://charlesoben.blogspot.co.uk/. (Beware, I’ve been told I’m prone to ranting)

Guest Post - Alice Davies Experiences Trying to Break into Digital Marketing!

2012-07-23T12:31:00.003-07:00

This week, Alice Davies' fabulous guest post telling us of her efforts to break into digital marketing in spite of holding a creative degree. After you have read this post be sure to check out Alice's blog.

Hi There!

So, just as I was about to settle down and write this guest blog post, an intriguing email popped up on my screen. It was certainly a not-so-familiar sight to me as I had become increasingly used to the huge amount of NOTHING that seemed to NOT filter into my inbox every day despite the hordes of cover letters, CV attachments and online assessments that I had filled out in order to gain the slightest bit of experience within the marketing world. I almost jumped at my computer screen trying to open the file, as this was no ordinary email... it was an “R:E” email, it was regarding something, something that I had applied to!

The email was regarding an assistant marketing position with SEO responsibilities that I had applied to a couple of days beforehand. You should probably know that this is my absolute dream position, and an aspiration that I will not let my creative degree get in the way of. The application had escaped my memory for a while amongst the hundreds of other emails that I had sent to many a marketing agency (I feel like I may be exaggerating). Once I had opened it, I felt the usual pang of disappointment as I saw the words “Regrettably” and “High Volume of Applicants” amongst the other pitying terminology used in the corporate world designed, I assume, to make you feel better.

To all businesses, just for the record, it doesn’t.

On the rare occasion that I receive this type of email, I will usually delete it before I can wallow in self-doubt and plot a personal vendetta against the admin assistant who sent it to me (damn you Tom!). But this time, for the purposes of “research” and to maybe find out what I was doing wrong, I kept reading. Suddenly, I came across the sentence:

“…we believe that other applicants are a closer fit for what we are looking for...”

Now, you should know a little bit about me in order to grasp some context as to why these few words angered me. I am a design student, I have a design degree and if it were just for that, I would walk away happily knowing that the employer had made the right decision. But during my placement year, I was hired as an office junior working on the design and conception of promotional website material, copywriting and there was a strong emphasis on SEO marketing techniques. This is where I first felt at home and started to really discover what I could enjoy as a career. All of this, I feel, had prepared me to become the perfect candidate for any marketing internship, somewhat naively it seems.

I could forgive Tom, and I will, as I’m not one to hold a grudge. But I feel this has highlighted the fact that companies often don’t have the time to tell you WHY you’re supposedly not suitable, what you could do to improve and if it is your completely unrelated degree which is holding you back.

Being at the start of my graduate journey, I have not yet discovered the answers to these questions. But I am determined to learn more, improve my skills and hopefully find employment with someone who can see my potential. Hopefully, one day, I can email Tom back telling him he missed an opportunity to give a creative, determined and bright young graduate the chance to shine.

If you would like to read more about my graduate journey, hop on over to my blog http://alishinwonder.blogspot.co.uk/ which will be updated regularly with personal experiences and reviews of the routes into graduate employment.
Alice
xXXx

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Guest Post - Guardianjobs - How Best to Protect your Online Identity

2012-04-10T06:10:00.000-07:00

How to effectively promote your online brand when hunting for graduate jobs

It can often be easy for employers to find information about prospective employees who are looking for graduate jobs. This makes effectively promoting one's brand all the more important.

Social Media Considerations
You can be found on Facebook by a potential employer. The Facebook privacy settings, when in default mode, will only give out basic information about you. Even this, though, can make a difference in an employer's eyes, as your interests will be listed. If you are happy to make your profile public, then people who aren't your friends will be able to view it.

Twitter allows its users to protect their Tweets. If you do this as soon as you join Twitter, then no information about you will be visible on the web. If you change your settings, when you have already Tweeted, then those Tweets can still be found on Google.

LinkedIn should really have information available for employers. You can, however, choose who is allowed to view both your activity feed and your connections and your personal activity broadcasts can be turned on and off.

Personal Website It pays to have foresight regarding protecting an individual brand. Social media is the easy way to promote oneself. It also helps to have something that will make you stand out from the crowd. Having your own website is one way of doing this.

A website allows you to project yourself in a positive way. It will also give an employer the impression that you are prepared to go just that little bit extra and are serious about your future career. Setting up a simple website is not too difficult or expensive. The site will only need to consist of a few pages and include relevant information. The domain name should include your real name.

The tone of the website should be positive without being boastful. List your skills and ambitions, but don't make claims that could latter lead you to being found out. An example would be if you exaggerate how much experience you have had in a particular field, for instance. Competition for graduate jobs is fierce, but always avoid the temptation of trying to find work at all costs.

Think about putting up information about different aspects of your life and not just information related to future employment. If you do charity work in your spare time then that should be mentioned, as that will create a good impression. Employers will not just look at your skills, when considering you for a job. They have to think about you as a person, too and how you will fit in with the rest of their employees.

Your website address should be on your social media profile pages and a possible future employer can then easily go straight to your website. This won't always be the case, so be sensible about the information that you do put up on your social media sites. Try and think like an employer and what would impress you and what would dissuade you.

Graduate jobs are chased after, by definition, by intelligent people. That intelligence should also be utilized in promoting your brand and portraying yourself in the best possible light.

Guest piece on Targetjob's new blog

2012-01-18T09:20:00.000-08:00

Hello there

Major graduate recruiter Targetjob's have started their own blog and I have been fortunate enough to be asked to be their first blogger.

This week's post will be a link to my Targetjob's post

I hope you all enjoy it

Guest Blog - Breaking into the Marketing Industry

2012-01-12T06:13:00.000-08:00

This week' post is from guest blogger Jos Canavan who details her take on the current job market. Jos is a Science graduate who is trying to break into the Marketing Communications, I hope you enjoy her informative post.

Jos' Post

Being a recent graduate, the flurry of media attention focusing on the dire state of the graduate job market is of great interest to me. Like Michael, I have turned to the blogging platform in order to keep myself motivated during my transition from student to employer, with my particular focus being on my desire to work in marketing communications. With a degree in Human Sciences, I can wholly empathise with the alleged setback of having studied a ‘non-specific’ subject, and am whole-heartedly out to prove that I am fully capable of realising my dreams.

As I mentioned, my chosen career is marketing communications. A lot of employers ask me, ‘Why marketing?’, and I guess from looking at my degree in Human Sciences it might seem a bit random. It can be frustrating to be overlooked based on my traditional academic background; recruitment agencies I have dealt with have mostly expected me to, in the very least, be dead set on healthcare PR or similar. But do all language graduates want to become translators? Do all geography graduates want to become weather presenters? This is how ridiculous it seems to me when it is assumed that I want to work in science. Because for a while now, I have been immersed in a desire to work in marketing.

Picture me: seventeen years old, young, impressionable, and with little to no real idea of what it truly takes to build a career, save for the ominous lure of ‘uni’. At the time I actually happened to be working as a PR & Marketing Coordinator for a chiropractors, a role I had secured by luck based purely on my personality during interview; no mention of relevant experience was made. I had researched and applied for the job to save me from the uninspiring duties of my first job as a sales assistant, and although it was the first time I had heard the terms ‘PR’ and ‘marketing’, I soon grasped that this was something that interested me. But with a ‘career’ seemingly so far off, this mindset came to influence me in my next step in life. Sure, I thought I enjoyed marketing, but what if I came across something else that I’d like to do later on? In the same way that marketing had fallen into my lap, another job might easily come to appeal to me more. When the time came to decide what university course to apply for, I trusted in the notion that a degree - any degree - would fare me perfectly well when it came to pursuing a career. So I aimed for the most interesting-sounding course, with the added bonus of having studied at a leading institution as my safety net for when it came to starting work.

Perhaps it is merely that I’m now on the other side of the fence and can see the grass for myself, but I can’t help feeling that this was the trap that a lot of young people of around my age fell into. Whilst we were at uni, the trend seemed to change and, suddenly, it was somewhat less of a prestigious achievement to have degree in an academic subject. I think this is the hardest part of being an academic graduate trying to get into the marcomms industry – it is not uncommon to sometimes feel like all those years of hard work (and money I might add) might have been better spent doing a more vocational subject at a less distinguished institution.

**PLEASE NOTE: In no way do I mean to say that these unis are not ‘as good’ as esteemed institutions of academia; indeed, the universities I refer to are specialists in such subjects, offering students the best resources available to learn their trade – trust me, I know this. And I’m so jealous.**

I definitely think it’s true that a rather unspecific academic degree subject meant more a few years ago than it does now, and not just in relation to the marketing industry. The most frustrating thing is knowing that you are very capable to be very successful in a role, but miss out due to the competition. You can find yourself pouring your life and soul into an application for something you desperately want, knowing that you’d be able to succeed. But the reality is that it’s a tough old job market out there, now more than ever, and there are thousands of marcomms grads out there, who have dedicated their student life to creating campaigns (lucky things), and likely can’t picture themselves doing anything else. Meanwhile there’s us academics who must seem to be swooping in and stealing their opportunities. The experience card, however, does trump them all, and I’d be willing to bet my degree (though having written this post I’m not feeling sure about how much of a loss that would be) that an academic grad with a wealth of relevant experience would win out over a marcomms grad with no real-world experience. This notion is my beacon of hope!

Now that I’ve more than likely thoroughly depressed you, it’s time to tell you what you already know.

1. Get experience;

2. Read all you can about the industry and keep up to date;

3. Believe in yourself, and others will too.

And definitely re-read Michael’s past posts for some more advice. If you’re interested in marketing, you might be interested in my personal blog, covering marketing campaigns and my high-life as a Human Sciences graduate trying to break into the industry http://jos-can.blogspot.com/

Get Linkedin!!

2011-11-17T15:01:00.000-08:00

This post is all about Linkedin and how it can help you in your job search.

What is it?

First of all, what exactly is Linkedin? To put it quite simply, it is sort of like Facebook only instead of putting up pics of night outs and liking groups such as ‘Cartoons were better in the 90’s’ you give a professional account of yourself. Linkedin allows you to do this in a number of ways. Firstly, when you fill in your profile, Linkedin encourages you to upload your previous work experience and qualifications as you would on a CV. After that you can fill out any skills you have that set you apart from others, if you have great communication skills for example, say so. One of Linkedin’s best features is that you can gain recommendations from people you have worked with in the past. If your references are good this can really highlight your skills and show that you have been a valued employee and will be again.

Why Would I Want it?

After you have set up your profile you are basically left with a professional looking online CV. Advertise your profile, a good tip is to put a link to your Linkedin profile on any covering letters you write. Doing so allows employers to gain a better picture of you, this means that when they are reviewing your CV you cease to be just another resume and become a real person, always a plus. Even if you decide not to advertise your Linkedin profile when applying for a job, you would be naive to think that prospective employers aren’t using social media to find out more about you. One study showed that over 60% of modern employers admitted to trying to learn more about potential employees from their Facebook profiles. Personally I think this is an invasion of privacy, sadly though, one that happens and cannot be ignored. For this reason I think it is important that every graduate job seeker should think about setting their Facebook to private and setting up Linkedin. This ensures that instead of stumbling across pictures of you on a uni night out, invariably with a traffic cone on your head, you can present the professional image you would like to show to employers.

What can I do with it?

Once you’re on Linkedin, you quickly realise what a powerful networking tool it can be. Providing you can trust them not to slander you like they would on Facebook, begin by adding your friends. After that use Linkedin to connect with people who might help you get ‘an in’ to the industry you are looking at. For example, I went to a few digital marketing training courses before I found employment. After these courses I added a lot of the course organisers on Linkedin and received a lot of industry advice from them that I would otherwise not have been privy to. As well as networking, Linkedin allows you to subscribe to industry discussion groups that will help you keep abreast of the relevant issues in your industry; this information could make all the difference at a job interview. Finally, Linkedin is brilliant for allowing you to search for available jobs, connect with people in charge of hiring or, if you are lucky, get picked up by a company recruiting on Linkedin. I will end this post with a little story I recently heard of how using Linkedin creatively helped a young graduate find work. This graduate, upon hearing of an upcoming graduate jobs fair, researched what companies would be there. After this, she contacted employees of the companies she was interested in using Linkedin and enquired what biscuits they most liked. On the day of the jobs fair she turned up armed with each employer’s favourite biscuits and a copy of her CV, one of these employers, impressed with her dedication gave her a job. Hopefully this little anecdote demonstrates how Linkedin can help remove the barriers that stand between you and were you want to be.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post, I hope it has been helpful.

Michael

Turn your blog into a job!

2011-11-10T13:02:00.000-08:00

When I started writing this blog I was unemployed. Over the past two weeks I have since managed to find employment, I work as an SEO consultant for an online marketing company. I started this blog in order to acquire new skills and also to act as an online portfolio for any prospective employer. I believe that this blog has played an integral part in me gaining employment and over this post I will share my experience in the hope that it may help somebody else.

I graduated unsure of what I wanted to do. After having a good think about both my strengths and what I enjoyed, I decided to pursue a career in digital marketing. After coming to this decision I decided to bolster my undeniably lacking CV by taking part in two free digital marketing courses I was fortunate enough to see advertised on my University’s jobsite. Through these courses I not only gained a good deal of knowledge but I also made some valuable contacts who I kept in touched with using Linkedin. Around the same time I also started my blog.

Initially I did not think anything would really come of the blog, I thought I would use it more as a motivational tool. I reasoned that having the blog would force me to be proactive to ensure I had something to write at the end of each week. Every time I made a post I uploaded it to twitter using the hashtags #jobs #careers. After two posts, graduate recruitment companies such as Milkround and TargetJobsUK began mentioning it in their tweets which directed more traffic towards my site. I must admit there is a certain thrill to watching your numbers of readers grow and your words being read in countries such as Lebanon, Russia and Bangladesh. As for the recruitment companies, I can only imagine they found the blogs through the twitter hashtags. I would then DM the recruitment companies thanking them and would often get an email back. I was beginning to build a bit of a rapport with people who help others get graduates jobs.

Around this time I found a recruitment agency called Give AGrad A Go and registered having seen a few jobs I was interested in. In my covering letter I included a link to my blog, stating it as further evidence of my communication skills. Doing so must have caught the eye of one of their representatives, Ben, who then phoned me and discussed in detail what kind of jobs I was looking for. During this conversation he stated that in future if I saw a job I was interested in to email him directly. Building this kind of relationship is a big help, I believe that when you are applying for jobs through recruitment agencies, it helps that they see you as a real person rather than just another CV on the screen. I must say that even though I did not end up finding work through Give A Grad A Go, they were brilliant throughout my search and I really recommend them. In a bid to use the blog to develop a similar relationship with another graduate recruitment compay, I emailed Inspiringintern’s a link to my CV and asked if I could write a guest blog for them. Their employee Hannah was very obliging and even allowed me to use my guest post on their site to direct traffic back towards mine.

However, the biggest help in me gaining employment came through the blog bringing me into contact with TargetjobsUK. After TargetjobsUK retweeted one of my posts, I emailed thanking them and asked if they could help direct more traffic my way in the future. Their online marketing exec, Jackie, replied and said that she would be willing to place a link to my site on their website in exchange for reciprocal link. She also asked if it was ok for her to write a guest blog on my site, talking not only of her own experience but also what TargetjobsUK had to offer graduates. I was more than happy to oblige as I thought that any insider knowledge of the market could only help readers of my blog, if you find Jackie’s guest blog in the archive I am sure you will agree. Over the course of the week whilst Jackie wrote her guest blog we exchanged emails. I mentioned to Jackie that I had an upcoming interview for a junior SEO role. Jackie was unbelievably helpful and offered some of her knowledge of the field. During my interview I was really lucky. They asked what knowledge I had of SEO and the information Jackie had given me really came in handy. I was also asked whether I had any experience of blogging, luckily I did and I felt confident telling my prospective employers that I felt my recently started blog had been a success. I was asked to email a link of my blog over to the company for them to have a look at which I did. I must have done something right as a week later I was offered the job.

I hope that this post does not come across as me boasting in any way. I started this blog unemployed, hoping but not actually believing, it would help find me work. Looking back I believe that the blog most certainly helped me gain employment and I could not recommend writing a blog highly enough to any current job seeker. Keeping a blog not only allows you to demonstrate your communication skills to potential employers but also enables you to provide something extra that may help you stand out on your covering letter. As well as this, the blog was also a brilliant networking tool which allowed me to acquire knowledge that helped me land my current role. I also believe that even if I had not been successful in my interview, through the contacts I was starting to build with Give A Grad A Go and Inspiringinterns another interview would hopefully have not been too far away. Thank you for reading this post, hopefully I have demonstrated how keeping a blog can be an essential tool in finding employment, I hope you have found it useful.

Michael

Impress when Assessed!

2011-11-01T07:29:00.000-07:00

Being invited to attend an assessment day raises a lot of emotions; excitement, nervousness and a fear of the unknown. This post aims to take the sting out of your big day by offering some effective tips. More likely than not, your assessment day will see your performance monitored in three main tasks; a standard interview, a group exercise and a relevant test. Here is how to cope with them.

The Group Task:

Although the group tasks can take many differing forms such as planning an imaginary pitch or taking part in a group role playing exercise, they are all testing for the same skills; negotiation, problem solving, time management, and most importantly, team work. The assessors will not be too concerned with whether you succeed in the task but more with how you coped throughout it. Here are some tips that can help you stand out.

1) Understand the brief - ensure that you and everyone else is sure about what they have to do to begin with, re-read the brief outline if needs be.

2) Keep an eye on the clock –when making your plan suggest how long each section should take, throughout the task also ensure that you keep the group aware of the time or nominate a timekeeper, this will impress the assessors.

3) Make sensible, constructive comments – ensure that you contribute and contribute well, assessors can only score what they see and hear.

4) Talk to the group, not the assessors – a sure fire way to be marked down.

5) Be nice – show regard for the quieter members of the group, ask for their thoughts on the tasks. Demonstrate tact when disagreeing with a group member i.e. ‘that is a good point but perhaps we should think about...’

This last point cannot be stressed enough. One of the key things assessors will be looking for is what you are like to work with. Although people often say assessment days are ‘like being on The Apprentice’, ensure that you do not come across like one of the contestants. Whilst it has become common place for Apprentice contestants to bullishly state something like “I was born to win, I cannot even spell the word lose”, do not make the same mistake. For starters announcing you cannot spell a four letter word will surely mean that you lack the communication skills the role inevitably requires. Secondly, they will not be impressed with this sort of attitude as they are looking for whether you are the type of person others already in the company will enjoy working with. A domineering attitude will not be looked upon favourably, be relaxed, approachable and use humour if the opportunity arises.

The Interview:

For the interview itself, the normal rules of preparing for an interview apply.

1) Do not be caught out - re-read your CV and covering letter so you cannot be put on the spot by a probing question.

2) Arm yourself with knowledge – research the company, find out who its competitors are, re-read the job description, read industry magazines or blogs to gain relevant topical information. In short, be as well informed as possible

3) Sell yourself well – As well as re-reading the job criteria, prepare examples for when you have demonstrated the necessary criteria. A good way of presenting these examples is the STAR technique which is...Situation – I was working at a busy holiday resort, Task – I was asked to encourage more customers into the restaurant, Action – I started advertising the restaurant to holidaymakers on the beach, Result - Increased productivity and sales for the restaurant.

Informal Activities:

Also, remember that it is not only during these three tasks you are being assessed but right throughout the day. I am assuming that you are already planning to dress to impress but something you may not have considered is how to act during the informal activities. Whether it is at lunch or during a tour of the building, you will still be being judged. Therefore make sure that you give a good impression of yourself. Be friendly and approachable whilst remaining professional. Also, use the informal breaks to mingle with any management present (not the point of being creepy mind). Make the most of this opportunity and ask intelligent questions about the company or the industry.

The Test:

In regards to the test there is little to be offered in the way of advice. The blurb the company send to you regarding the assessment day should tell you what sort of test you are likely to be taking (i.e. numerical, psychometric, written). Brush up on your skills prior to the big day, for example, if you are taking a psychometric test, swot up by taking mock psychometric tests online.

After the Assessment Day:

Finally, no matter how hard you try, you are statistically more likely to not get the job than you are to get it. If this is the case, do not see the experience as a waste of time. When I attended my assessment day we were told out of the 879 people that applied, we were the final ten. Getting to the assessment day is an achievement and proof that your CV is being taken seriously. By taking part in the assessment day you gain experience in this kind of environment, this in turn will make you better prepared for next time. You should also use the day to network. I was told that although I was unsuccessful I had impressed the assessors and to keep in touch. I did so and two weeks later I was offered the opportunity to interview for another role. Unfortunately, the role was not in the field I was looking for so I turned it down; still, the value of making an impression and networking at assessment days is evident. Finally, if you are offered feedback make sure you take it. It is only through learning where you went wrong that you can improve your performance for next time.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, I hope this post will help you prepare for your assessment day, good luck!

GUEST BLOG from TARGETjobs - Get started on your job hunt: it doesn’t have to be as difficult as you imagine

2011-10-26T06:41:00.000-07:00

This week's post is a really insightful guest blog from TARGETjob's Jackie Balchin. She works within the industry and her blog features some really useful advice on how recent or soon to be graduates can make themselves more employable. Enjoy!

As someone who works in the graduate recruitment industry, I see daily the headlines, blogs, tweets and newsletters about gloomy youth unemployment and, in particular, how recent graduates are affected.

If you’re looking for your first job, it’s a very hard situation to be in, and something I sympathise with completely having experienced it personally. However, let me assure you that there is light at the end of the tunnel, and there are things you can do to improve your chances. There is help and advice out there.

One thing I think all current students need to know is that your career, and effectively your job hunt, starts from the minute you start university. Employers always want to see that students have been proactive throughout their student years, and everything you do during your academic life has potential to be turned to an advantage in your job hunt.

What I mean is that if you sit through university thinking all you need to do is achieve great academic results and you leave everything to do with job hunting until after you graduate, then your job hunt could take longer.

However, if you make your first year count, get involved in societies (maybe lead one), are proactive in getting work experience and start looking for graduate schemes and jobs at the start of your final year, if not before, you improve your job hunting chances considerably.

Like anything, the more you put into it, the more you’ll get out.

But, often the most difficult thing to do with career planning and job hunting is getting started. This is true for many students. Your options aren’t clear and you don’t know where to focus: What work experience and jobs should you apply for? What skills you can improve? Which extra-curricular activities you should do? It’s all very puzzling and you want help to make smart decisions.

If you’re really not sure what your options are, then the Careers Report tool at TARGETjobs is a great way to take positive action. You complete some pretty simple behavioural questionnaires and it produces a report highlighting your skills, areas you can work on, what motivates you, and most importantly, a list of job suggestions best matched to you. You can also complete some practice psychometric tests. It’s great if you need a push in the right direction and it gives you feedback you can act on.

Some students start their career planning with particular employers in mind and want to find out what it takes to get their foot in the door. For this approach, the Employer Insights section on TARGETjobs is the best place to go.

The Employer insights are independently researched reports that cover the essentials on top UK graduate employers: business basics (what the company does and its work culture), graduate career and work experience opportunities, and most importantly, how the employer hires graduates (what they look for, application and interview process, etc). There are discussion areas for each employer, so you can ask specific questions and exchange tips, and you can ‘follow’ employers to get updates on their recruitment, which makes them perfect assistants throughout your job hunt.

Alongside these two tools, there are plenty of other things on offer at TARGETjobs – the focus for advice is providing features and nuggets of help for whatever stage of you’re at in career planning, and for whatever point you’re at in university life. And, of course, you can also browse work experience opportunities and graduate jobs.

My final piece of advice is to reiterate the theme I started with: don’t leave your job hunt until the last minute and don’t take the downbeat headlines to heart. Unemployment figures are gloomy, but don’t let them set your boundaries and constrain you. Many small steps and actions taken throughout your time at university will get you ahead and much closer to landing your desired graduate job.

For more information on graduate jobs, careers advice and work experience visit TARGETjobs. To stay up to date with our latest news and job hunting tips, follow us on Twitter @targetjobsUK or find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/targetjobs

Tailor Your CV!

2011-10-19T14:53:00.000-07:00

Everything up until graduation everything seems rosy until you started looking at what jobs were available, and more importantly, what they are asking for. It quickly becomes apparent that your expertise in everything to do with Proust, Nietzsche and Postmodernism might not be needed in the work place. Well first of all, don’t panic! In spite of all around you condemning you’re hard earned degree to the “dustbin of history” (that is a Trotsky quote, I have placed it this blog simply because it may be the first and last time I use my History MA), there are definite positives. Firstly, you have completed your degree, in spite of what the naysayers tell you, this is still an achievement. It shows you are committed. Simply putting your degree result on your CV will not suffice. However, when you stop to think about it, you will be surprised at what CV enhancing, transferable skills you will have picked up along the way. Upon completion of an Arts Degree, it is safe to say you have demonstrated interpersonal, presentation, communication and organisational skills to name but a few. Whilst these skills will bolster a CV, on their own they are too vague and wishy-washy to bowl over any potential employer. You need to think about what your passions are, what your natural skills are. After you have done this, spend some time in your University careers service, research different employment sectors for what would interest you the most and also what for which careers require the skills you possess. I also advise making an appointment with an advisor, they can offer some really great tips or contacts for getting into certain industries. If you are completely stuck there are some online tests you can take to help hurtle you down your soon to be chosen golden path such as Prospect's one found at http://bit.ly/qmvRE1 and TargetJob's one found at http://bit.ly/mXTlX9 . Once you have decided which career you want to take things begin to click into place. You can then begin to tailor your CV to suit the sector you want to work in. After all, the CV is the employer’s only glimpse as to who you are and what you can offer. You have to ensure that what you offer closely matches what he or she needs. If you lack the experience, get some, through scanning the Internet there are plenty of training sessions, internships or part time roles in the sector you want work in. If you cannot find anything online, be proactive. Email some local companies in your chosen field, explain your situation and ask if there are any developmental positions available. If you sell yourself well enough a lot of companies will offer you a part time role and you never know, if you appear to be keen and diligent and make yourself useful, this unpaid role could lead to something more permanent. Even if you only end up making the tea at the company, you can market your time at this company in a more beneficial light on your CV. You now, even if only through observation, have experience and knowledge that set could set you apart from your job seeking competitors. Also, any chance you get to meet people in the industry you wish to work in, you should grab it with both hands. Networking is an essential part of job seeking. The people with experience in the industry will undoubtedly have the best tips on things like how to get started, how the industry works and, if you have worked hard and made enough of an impression, which employers are taking on. You never know, you could even get a recommendation. Whilst finishing your degree can be a daunting time, it is also an uplifting one. You have a blank canvas, the world is your oyster (or lobster as a mate of mine wholeheartedly believed was the correct version of the saying). As long as you remain proactive, have a CV that is tailored to the industry you want to work in and take make the most of whatever opportunities come your way, it can be quite an exciting time. Thank you for reading, I hope you have enjoyed it, next week’s blog will talk about my own personal experience at the dreaded graduate assessment day.

Experience Required!

2011-10-10T06:16:00.000-07:00

The biggest mistake I made career hunting wise (and I believe it to be a common one), was to complete my degree without ever having a clear idea of what I wanted to do after university. I attended my graduation ceremony, posed proudly for pictures in my gown and left with my golden ticket to future employment, a certificate saying MA graduate. I now know that this view was extremely naive. For most graduate employers the 2:1 is simply the minimum requirement and if you are relying purely on your arts degree for employment you can expect your CV to be filed swiftly, neatly and irreversibly in the pile labelled NO.

However, I did not know this whilst completing my degree. I took my studying seriously, worked hard to get the marks I needed and had a part time job to fund myself. As far as I was concerned, I was doing everything I could and I was on the right track. It was not until sometime after I graduated that I realised where I had gone wrong. I had never sat down and thought clearly about what I wanted to do, had I done so I would have then been able to find a part time job in this field or even volunteer at a relevant company during the holidays. If I could offer one piece of advice to students or graduates, it would be to work out what you want to do and then go about gaining experience in this field whichever way you can. The graduate job market is teeming with people with degrees, not people with experience, by gaining experience you are giving yourself a unique selling point over your competitors and standing out to employers. I began applying for jobs unaware of this knowledge. Scrolling through various job websites I spent the afternoon, upon seeing a job I liked, imagining my new exciting life within this career. I also became extremely accustomed to the gut wrenching, despondent feeling caused by the frequent and annoyingly predicable appearance of a certain two worded sentence. Experience Required!

All was not lost though. I soon stumbled across advertisements for jobs within recruitment that all seemed to read like this. “Experience not required due to quality in house training, degree 2:1 or above in any degree acceptable, handsome pay packet anywhere between £25-£55k, company car, mobile, frequent holidays and a clear path for progression”. Asking myself, why everybody wasn’t desperately seeking work in recruitment I sent my CV out to six recruitment companies the next day. Within forty minutes one of the companies had phoned back stating they were highly impressed with my CV, by 10.30am another company had also got in touch saying they would like meet me. “Bingo!!!” I thought, “I’ve hit the jackpot” It was only when all six of them had got in touch by the end of the day that I began to smell a rat. Having done a bit of research I discovered that the job that sounded too good to be true, was. As well as the money being dramatically less than what was stated, a frequent complaint on forums was that what was described primarily as a research job was in fact an extremely target driven and somewhat dishonest sales job. That many recruitment firms have a staff turnover of 70% every two years says a great deal about the job. Incidentally, it is also worthwhile to point out that when a recruitment firm asks if you have applied for any other jobs, be very wary of telling them, although it may sound like they are finding out more about you, they are using you to research the market. A common trick used by recruiters is to take the information you give them that Company X is recruiting and then contact this company stating they have a few ideal candidates for the role.

Anyway, I have gone a little off track, the point I was making was that the ‘dream jobs’ in recruitment aside, there was not a great deal out there that did not require experience. I realised I had to have a good think about what I wanted to do. The purpose of this post was to chat about how I felt upon entering the job market immediately after university. I was, as Paul McCartney sings, “out of college, money spent, saw no future, paid no rent”. However things begin to pick up when you definitively decide what you want to do. This is because it is only through knowing where you want to be that you can begin work out how to get there. One of the hardest steps in your job search is deciding what you want to do, after that everything gets a little easier and not half as dauntings. Thank you for reading.

The Beginning - a brief introduction to Graduate Job Hunt Blog

2011-10-06T05:54:00.000-07:00

Hello there, this first blog will outline a bit about myself, the purpose and rationale behind Graduate Job Hunt Blog and what sort of posts you can expect in the future. So who am I? I'm Michael, a 23 year old History MA graduate about to enter the murky world of job hunting in the height of a global economic meltdown. I am hoping that my job search will successfully disprove the old joke that there is no future in a history degree. Of course, there is a bright future for history graduates who choose the ready made career path into teaching, sadly, this profession has never appealed to me. So, with teaching struck off my list I decided to see what other jobs were available. A trip to the job centre post graduation quickly made a mockery of former teacher's claims that employers respect a history degree. I was told by a job centre advisor that "history is very none specific, I see that you have previous experience in supermarket work, would you like to apply there?” Without meaning any disrespect to those working in retail, it was not my plan to spend four years racking up nauseating levels of student debt to then return, cap in hand, to the same shelf filling role I had occupied during my A-Levels. I needed a plan, a strategy! Over the coming weeks and months (but hopefully not too many months) this blog will detail what steps I have since taken to build upon my "non-specific" degree and enhance my chances of gaining a meaningful employment. There are a few reasons for me doing so. Firstly, I imagine there are a great deal of Arts graduates in this position who might find useful tips on my blog, add suggestions of their own or simply take solace in the fact that there are others in the same boat. For those looking for solace I recommend listening to this little ditty (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2TbQrkk-wk). Secondly, I hope that writing this blog will help me to remain motivated and focused throughout my job search. Finally, I hope that potential employers may read this blog and, through reading of my efforts to find employment, gain a better understanding of me as a person. Thank you for taking the time to read this first entry, I hope you have found it enjoyable.