Some Context
Okay, so you’ve got pretty comfortable in the skin of a student. Sleeping until 11 (or later) and drinking beer until you can’t speak any more. Well, this might be uncomfortable to hear – but that’s not the way the world works. You won’t get any rewards for being lazy or partying all the time. Not unlessyou’re a rich heiress socialite at least.
Assuming you’re not, you’re going to have to realise that times are tough. I mean really tough. You might know that already, but if not – just remember that you are going to have to be very strong, dogged, determined and hard-working to get jobs and enjoy a fulfilling career.
It’s possible you have seen the job landscape for yourself, perhaps probing job sites sporadically over the summerlooking for a temp job – or checking the graduate jobs section for any prospects once graduation is done with. But here’s a big point, DON’T WORRY! Take solace, in the fact that it is still fully under your control – and consider the following points as guidance in your journey.
Evaluate Your Degree
The first thing to say is that employers look for certain kinds of degrees, and a certain quality of degree too. The biggest and best employers consider a First Class Honours as an essential aspect for prospective employees – and they prefer people from the more academically difficult fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
If you’ve got a First in Pure Maths from Oxford then congrats – most employers will be interested and hopefully give you an interview at the very least so you’re well placed to walk into a good job right out of university. If you’ve got a 2:1 in Media Studies from the School of Hard Knocks then you’re going to need to have a few tricks up your sleeve to make yourself stand out from the crowd.
If you’ve got a First in Pure Maths from Oxford then congrats – most employers will be interested and hopefully give you an interview at the very least so you’re well placed to walk into a good job right out of university. If you’ve got a 2:1 in Media Studies from the School of Hard Knocks then you’re going to need to have a few tricks up your sleeve to make yourself stand out from the crowd.
Approach Employers
It’s a natural thing for students to troll the various job boards looking for vacancies – and this can be helpful. But you need to cast a wider net, not just log in daily and check for a job you’d like. There are so many different ways to find job vacancies, newspapers and such like, but the key is to think beyond job listings – you need to get in touch with employers, approach them on a human level and not just apply for a job. You need to get to know them.
Figuring out the companies or organisations you’d most like to work for is the first step – and they don’t necessarily have to be 100% suited to your degree. For example, perhaps you’ve done Film Studies but are more interested in Journalism – so you should about approaching intermediary companies such film magazines or the arts sections of newspapers.
Once you’ve got a list of companies, do a bit of research and perhaps check if they have any available jobs. Get in touch via email, go into the office and talk to someone yourself and if they’ve got an opening then great – drop off your application. If not just talk to them, leave your contact information and ask them to let you know if something opens up.
Approaching employers is a great way to get familiar with companies, and a great way for them to get familiar with you. So just try and make a good impression – and you never know. You will need to keep in touch so they don’t forget about you, but remember there is a fine line between persistence and pestering – so keep your contact intermittent.
Figuring out the companies or organisations you’d most like to work for is the first step – and they don’t necessarily have to be 100% suited to your degree. For example, perhaps you’ve done Film Studies but are more interested in Journalism – so you should about approaching intermediary companies such film magazines or the arts sections of newspapers.
Once you’ve got a list of companies, do a bit of research and perhaps check if they have any available jobs. Get in touch via email, go into the office and talk to someone yourself and if they’ve got an opening then great – drop off your application. If not just talk to them, leave your contact information and ask them to let you know if something opens up.
Approaching employers is a great way to get familiar with companies, and a great way for them to get familiar with you. So just try and make a good impression – and you never know. You will need to keep in touch so they don’t forget about you, but remember there is a fine line between persistence and pestering – so keep your contact intermittent.
Consider Internships & Training
If you’ve found a company or industry you really love and would like to work for, but you’re still struggling to find anything concrete, then you should probably consider doing some form of training or getting on an internship program.
Training courses differ from academic degrees because they often focus on practical experience and technical skills – as opposed to overall knowledge. If you can get a vocational training experience, you might well be more desirable to employers as it shows you exhibit both intelligence and technical ability.
The right training course depends on what you want to do – but there are so many around there is bound to be something for you. Renewable energy courses are very popular at the moment, because the industry is booming, as are permanent makeup courses. You will usually be paying for this level of training – but it will give you valuable skills and there are a few schemes around that offer payment solutions.
Internships are excellent for getting in on the ground floor and learning some really useful skills. The only thing with internships is that they are for a fixed period of time – and they won’t necessarily get you a job once it’s over. They are valuable experience though, and you will be well-placed to apply for related jobs at other places.
Training courses differ from academic degrees because they often focus on practical experience and technical skills – as opposed to overall knowledge. If you can get a vocational training experience, you might well be more desirable to employers as it shows you exhibit both intelligence and technical ability.
The right training course depends on what you want to do – but there are so many around there is bound to be something for you. Renewable energy courses are very popular at the moment, because the industry is booming, as are permanent makeup courses. You will usually be paying for this level of training – but it will give you valuable skills and there are a few schemes around that offer payment solutions.
Internships are excellent for getting in on the ground floor and learning some really useful skills. The only thing with internships is that they are for a fixed period of time – and they won’t necessarily get you a job once it’s over. They are valuable experience though, and you will be well-placed to apply for related jobs at other places.
Work on Your C.V. & Interview Techniques
If you’ve been applying for jobs or internships for a period of time and haven’t had much luck – either not getting an acknowledgment of your application, being turned down on the phone or by email or not making it past the interview stage – then there’s probably something wrong.
When thinking about your C.V. you really have to sell yourself, put all your accomplishments on there that might be relevant. A lot of people don’t like the term ‘selling yourself’ because it can sound like boasting and also you’re selling the best version of yourself – which might not really exist as it sounds on paper. But it’s just another reality faced by young jobseekers I’m afraid.
Get your C.V. sorted, show family and friends who are part of the workforce for tips and advice and maybe even send it over to your old university tutor for a once over. There is no excuse for the obvious mistakes like spelling errors, so check them thoroughly.
Interview techniques are somewhat more complicated, but again you can get tips and advice from family and friends – you could also drop into your local JobCentre and see a specialist, although you might be charged for this.
A good tip when it comes to interviews is to watch what you do with your hands. You don’t want to seem nervous or fidget so keep your hands together in your lap. Another tip is to ask a lot of questions about the job and the company at which you are applying. Do your homework and get the interviewer to fill in any knowledge gaps – asking questions is a great way to get on top of the interviewer too, as if you’re asking a lot of questions they have the same pressure as you.
When thinking about your C.V. you really have to sell yourself, put all your accomplishments on there that might be relevant. A lot of people don’t like the term ‘selling yourself’ because it can sound like boasting and also you’re selling the best version of yourself – which might not really exist as it sounds on paper. But it’s just another reality faced by young jobseekers I’m afraid.
Get your C.V. sorted, show family and friends who are part of the workforce for tips and advice and maybe even send it over to your old university tutor for a once over. There is no excuse for the obvious mistakes like spelling errors, so check them thoroughly.
Interview techniques are somewhat more complicated, but again you can get tips and advice from family and friends – you could also drop into your local JobCentre and see a specialist, although you might be charged for this.
A good tip when it comes to interviews is to watch what you do with your hands. You don’t want to seem nervous or fidget so keep your hands together in your lap. Another tip is to ask a lot of questions about the job and the company at which you are applying. Do your homework and get the interviewer to fill in any knowledge gaps – asking questions is a great way to get on top of the interviewer too, as if you’re asking a lot of questions they have the same pressure as you.
Keep Calm & Carry On
It’s not easy out there; nobody would say that the job climate is particularly great at the moment. If you’re struggling for a significant period of time, then consider a temporary or part-time job just to make a little bit of money. These kinds of jobs are a lot easier to get, and going part-time means that you will still be able to look for a job you really want.
So, keep calm and carry on. Don’t give up and keep looking for the perfect job – remember, persistence pays off!
What did you think of my Wikinut artilcle? Are you a student looking for a job? I’d love to know what you think so please feel free to share your thoughts!
So, keep calm and carry on. Don’t give up and keep looking for the perfect job – remember, persistence pays off!
What did you think of my Wikinut artilcle? Are you a student looking for a job? I’d love to know what you think so please feel free to share your thoughts!
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