My Sad Situation - Help :)

Oldernotwiser

onlyforboards wrote: »

Er people are spending all their days looking for and filling applications, time is an issue!
You clearly do not realise what the situation is for many people in certain parts of the country at the moment and they certainly are racking up towards hundreds of applications to supermarket type employers with exactly the same job spec.

But making sure you have suitable CVs is part of making job applications, not something separate and if you're unemployed you have plenty of time as jobhunting becomes your job.

As I've been working in this field for many years I'm perfectly aware of the situation regarding current work and I'm amazed that you think that anyone would live in an area where there actually were hundreds of supermarket jobs to apply for!

Anyway, if you're filling in "hundreds " of application forms you probably won't be needing "hundreds " of CVs. Let's face it, there aren't that many jobs out there!

Tiggergirl

I agree with those people who say to tailor your CV to each job. Just over 9 years ago I applied for a job. As it turned out I wasn't what they were looking for in that particular role. However, I had a letter back from their HR department to say that they would hold my CV on file. I assumed they would just chuck it in the bin to be honest.

A few months later, a job was advertised with a different part of the same company. This second job was actually more suited to myself and I tailored my CV towards emphasising the skills required for that particular job. As it happened, the person recruiting that role ended up being passed the CV I had prepared for the previous role as well. One of the things that got me the interview for that second job was that the guy was really impressed that I had put the effort into showing how I was suited to that particular role.

I got the job in the end. Nine years later I'm still there after doing various roles within the company, and earning three times as much as I started on.

whitneyp

Hi - I just wanted to add my take on this - Firstly don't be disheartened a degree IS important and a first is an impressive achievement you should be proud of and contrary to what OP say it is an advantage in many, many lines of work. I think you need to be more targeted about exactly it is you want to do and research internships and work placements. The key is to keep busy and if possible get some part time work - in a bar or whatever - to keep you busy during the search. I am sure you will find something if you keep at it - don't loose faith

woody01

Yet the only job I have had since graduating was a 3 month temporary contract as an Office Junior over the Christmas period. I hated it and was overqualified for it

How exactly were you over qualified for it if it was your first job?
You have no experience so therefore you were actually under-qualified!

That is precisely why graduates find it hard to gain a job over someone that is experienced.
You assume, just because you are qualified theoretically, you are the ideal candidate.

A First is still a first and there aren't that many people who have got one

Unfortunately, there are lots of people with them now. Its not such a prestigious achievement as it was 10+ years ago.

Ninja_Seb

woody01 wrote: »

How exactly were you over qualified for it if it was your first job?
You have no experience so therefore you were actually under-qualified!

That is precisely why graduates find it hard to gain a job over someone that is experienced.
You assume, just because you are qualified theoretically, you are the ideal candidate.


Unfortunately, there are lots of people with them now. Its not such a prestigious achievement as it was 10+ years ago.

You can learn to do an admin job within a few days. Once you reach that point you are overqualified and bored out of your brain.

chriswatts

woody01 wrote: »

Unfortunately, there are lots of people with them now. Its not such a prestigious achievement as it was 10+ years ago.

One point on this, it's been about 12 years since I graduated and since then I've only been asked what grade it was a handful of times. Even some professional societies will drop the fact people have honours degrees and just state you have a degree. There is a handful of jobs you can't do unless you have a 2.1 or higher but even these are in the minority. Basically as you get older specific experience becomes more important and the degree just become like a tick box, yes candidate possess a degree.

Bobby1985

Thanks guys. So I’m now wondering whether to search for full-time employment within the retail or admin area or concentrate on what I really want to do and perhaps find a part-time job. I need to pay bills though so that is rather sucky.

I know I must tailor each CV and cover letter per job and I have being doing so, but I do think that there are better candidates out there. I guess it’s about selling my skills and the experience I have more.

I think a new tactical approach is needed, because What I’m doing currently is not working.

EDIT - If I was to perhaps upload my CV some of you guys could analyse it. Ive asked numerous people and they say its very good, its not working though. Hmmmph!

welshmoneylover

Ninja_Seb wrote: »

You can learn to do an admin job within a few days. Once you reach that point you are overqualified and bored out of your brain.

Too bl**dy right

I got a job that numbs my brain so I decided to sign up with the OU to try and enrich myself and get a degree.

Guess what? My job that bored me stupid is now boring me even more doubly stupid

Can't wait tograduate and progress up a level to managerial position within the firm I work for!

Burlesque_Babe

the way to approach an admin job is to see it as the opportunity to soak up as much information about the organisation as possible. Read up on what departments do, chat to colleagues, offer to get involved, go on absolutely any training offered and ask for as much training as you can wangle out of them.

I'm re-building my career at the minute and that's what I'm doing. I'm now (after a year in a start again, bottom of the pile admin job) at the stage where I'm going to be going for middle management posts as they come up because I know how the department works, I've dug around and taken on as much knowledge as I can and I've used the job as a blank piece of paper to make it what I want it to be.

Yes the money is shiite and I used to be on a fantastic salary (made redundant) but I'm starting again and it's about using them as much as they use you. It's how I started my career as a graduate in the early 90s and it's how I'm going to do it again.

Savvy_Sue

Lamby1985 wrote: »

I’ve been applying mainly for office based roles because I have got some experience in that field. I have sent CV’s and Cover letters mainly by Email which seems to be somewhat of a mistake because you never really get a reply, very frustrating.

Unless an employer ASKS for applications by email, it probably is better to post them. You risk a problem with downloading.

If you do send by email, then make sure that you are sending them in a readable format. PDFs have the advantage of printing exactly as you laid them out. Word documents may not appear quite the same on other people's computers, and if you're using an 'odd' version of Word then you may cause someone immense frustration - or just have it deleted.

Lamby1985 wrote: »

I’m now thinking that my Geography degree is completely useless. There are very little specific jobs that require a degree in Geography, and the jobs that are out there require a master degree which i simply cannot afford.

Did you not realise this before you started? I never expected to 'use' my degree, but there were in those days general 'graduate' careers. I haven't pursued them either ...

Lamby1985 wrote: »

I’ve also joined with numerous agencies but they are sending me no employment. They say that the books are full of better candidates for the jobs advertised, which I imagine is true because of the current unemployment situation.

Are you looking for temping or permanent? It is worth going back to them again and again, so that your name is the one they think of next time they DO have a vacancy that doesn't require 10 years plus experience.