Seriously worried about next year ...

GrammarGirl

I've also worked in careers advice and would echo that it's really not a waste of time- just because they're not telling you what you want to hear, doesn't mean their advice is wrong, useless or not worth listening to. Did you take on board the 'common sense' points about your CV/covering letter? Because that's where so many people fall down - at the first, and 'easiest' hurdle!

My friend did a Psychology degree and found it impossible to get work in the field without an MA. She started an MA but dropped out at Christmas because it just wasn't right for her. She now works somewhere completely different and not at all related to her degree. I think you'd do well to 'think outside the box' (hate that phrase!) and look at jobs you wouldn't necessarily apply for. In this climate, every job opportunity should be treated as the job for you, so give your applications your all and be open to change.

Fire_Fox

top_drawer wrote: »

yes and I've just sat through a 3 hour presentation by the careers service telling me how I should present my cv/covering letters - lots more common sense advice, the good thing was that they put food on so its been a cheap day today (eeekking out my student loan at the moment).

I'm really grateful for the advice on here, I've not really considered the health service nor the civil service. I wish people would stop hyping up the careers service/prospects - they are a waste of space!

Jen

A heck of a lot of graduates have little common sense, and little experience applying for job vacancies. They then get thrown in at the deep end by applying for a job that really matters to them - a graduate position. Way too many students can't spell, can't punctuate, and can't use paragraphs (this board being a prime example). :rolleyes:

I advised you to look into the health service. To me that suggestion was straight from the Ministry of the Bleedin' Obvious ... yet you didn't see it for yourself. That's not a criticism, but it is something to make you think about your harsh words for the careers service.

top_drawer_2

Fire_Fox wrote: »

I advised you to look into the health service. To me that suggestion was straight from the Ministry of the Bleedin' Obvious ... yet you didn't see it for yourself. That's not a criticism, but it is something to make you think about your harsh words for the careers service.

How someone spells on here has nothing to do with how they're cv may look ....

I was being polite - I wont bother in future. I should also that I was possibly the mos polite about last nights offering, other people were much more vocal and didnt bother to wait and hope it improved as I did (it didn't - three hours of my life I will never get back).

Jen

Fire_Fox

top_drawer wrote: »

How someone spells on here has nothing to do with how they're cv may look ....

I was being polite - I wont bother in future. I should also that I was possibly the mos polite about last nights offering, other people were much more vocal and didnt bother to wait and hope it improved as I did (it didn't - three hours of my life I will never get back).

Jen

It does unless the student persuades someone else who can actually spell, punctuate and use paragraphs appropriately to design their CV for them. I have seen the most appallingly written CVs and covering letters in my time, from supposedly educated individuals. I have seen those same CVs go straight in the bin.

I assume you mean some students walked out of the session - how very rude and immature. I am glad you didn't do the same - you will find just one week in the world of work consists of ten times three hours of your life that you will never get back!

GrammarGirl

top_drawer wrote: »

How someone spells on here has nothing to do with how they're cv may look ....

I was being polite - I wont bother in future. I should also that I was possibly the mos polite about last nights offering, other people were much more vocal and didnt bother to wait and hope it improved as I did (it didn't - three hours of my life I will never get back).

Jen

Of course it does. You've used the wrong word there (it should be their)... are you saying you've only done that because you're on here? Why would you?

I'm not lambasting you for not knowing the correct use of they're/there/their, I'm just saying that writing on forums is quite a good representation of how you write all the time. Bad habits are hard to kick, so if you're used to using text speak, or you keep using the wrong form or tense, that can easily transfer to your CV/covering letter. And that won't help you job chances at all.

GrammarGirl

FYI - they're = they are. Their = possession. There = directional.

bestpud

What were you expecting from the careeres service Jen?

It sounds as though you were just given general advice for all jobseekers so I'm wondering if you went there with a specific job/career in mind, or you went and said you didn't have a clue what you wanted to do?

I've found the service at my uni great with either of the above scenarios tbh.

When you say they spoke of CV writing, was that in relation to a particular job, or a particular way of selling yourself (as in you personally), as that would be far more helpful than a general advice iyswim?

I'm surprised they had no knowledge of particular job areas and how to get into them.

Maybe it is worth a second shot? You can't go on how they were with a group of students as it will, of course, be 'generic' advice!

Basically, I am wondering if you gave them enough information about you, and your skills/experience etc to work with? It's difficult for them to give specific advice if they don't have any information to work with iyswim?

melancholly

the careers service is also best used on an individual basis - with a room full of people how can much of the advice be tailored to any specific situation? with the best careers service in the world, a talk to a group won't really help with many details.

write a cv and covering letter and take it to them for feedback. then you can get something out of it. often careers service advisors will have known people who have applied to companies in the past. they'll know what they are looking for in a CV and what the interview will be like. that kind of information can be priceless. they are often more useful once you have a career path in mind (although can be fantastic in offering suggestions too!).

i don't want to be negative, but your posts in general come across with a bit of an awkward attitude - as in you don't fit in with psychology because they can't accept your ideas and the careers service has nothing to offer you as you can find it all yourself on the internet.... i think/hope this impression is largely unintentional, but it's something you should be aware of for writing CVs and covering letters and for interviews. in selling yourself you should avoid implying that you are superior.... it can come across badly.... i'm really meaning this in a feedback on how the written word can be interpreted rather than having a go in any way so i hope it's interpreted in that light.