Graduate desperately searching for a job

minerva_windsong

Shops will be starting to recruit for Christmas temps in a couple of weeks. It's not a massive amount granted but it's money, and you'd be able to keep up with your people and communication skills.

Have you spoken to your uni's careers service? I know mine (York) offers advice to graduates for two or three years after they finish uni.

Also, sorry if this sounds like stating the obvious but how often are you speaking to recruitment agencies? The big ones will have hundreds, if not thousands, of people on their books and it's quite easy for them to forget about you. You've got to ring them every single day and ask if any jobs have come in that you might be suitable for. In this case, Mohammed has to go to the mountain. Also it may be worth telling them you're willing to do admin or whatever, if you haven't already, as a means of getting your foot through the door.

I also agree with whoever said they'd work for free. I'm currently interning indefinitely in the communications office of an NHS trust because that's what I want to do with myself, and have been since June. Granted I could have spent said three months in a part time job (which is still the plan if I can get something to do at weekends or evenings) and I know I'm very lucky to have this opportunity, particularly as I don't live in London, but the fact that I've got so many skills - website content management, writing press releases, crisis management, working with partner organisations etc - that I probably wouldn't have if I hadn't done this, is hopefully going to pay off in spades when I do get a full time job. Therefore if I was you I'd advertise your services by writing speculatively to companies - small and medium ones as well - and seeing what you get. After all, the worst thing they can say is "Thanks but no thanks", right?

I hear what you're saying though, I've been job hunting since May, must have applied for close on 100 jobs by now and only been offered two interviews, one of which I couldn't afford to take as it was an unpaid internship in London. It does suck but something will come along eventually.

bristol_pilot

My advice would be to apply for jobs and be prepared to relocate anywhere in the country, anywhere in Europe or indeed anywhere in the world within reason to get that first job. If you can afford to, go travelling for a year or do voluntary work relevant to your chosen career - the recession will not last forever.

I don't agree with those that say you should take a job as a cleaner or at McD's. When applying for jobs I have always found that what the potential employer is most interested in above all else is 'what's your current salary?'. This seems to carry far more weight than qualifications, experience or ability. If your first job is min. wage you will never work your way up to a grad. level job and you will be in a succession of low wage jobs for the rest of your career. That's not to say that you shouldn't start in a more junior role than you would perhaps have liked then work your way up, but there does have to be a ladder in existence before you can climb it.

venus_in_furs

Greg- Love your work btw. Very good. I graduated in illustration (specialise fashion illustrations) and have not managed to find work related...can't afford to move to London where all the breaks are. I am taking any work at the moment to live on (mostly admin stuff) and hope to pursue my dream job in the future when i have saved a bit, gotta keep on top with the portfolio and keep updating my skills.
Your work is really very good, so i reckon you just need to keep on pursuing it and trying your best and you will soon find a great job...maybe one that starts off small and you have to work your way up in, but a start at all is a good thing in the creative arts world! Good luck

Xeorix

venus_in_furs wrote: »

Greg- Love your work btw. Very good. I graduated in illustration (specialise fashion illustrations) and have not managed to find work related...can't afford to move to London where all the breaks are. I am taking any work at the moment to live on (mostly admin stuff) and hope to pursue my dream job in the future when i have saved a bit, gotta keep on top with the portfolio and keep updating my skills.
Your work is really very good, so i reckon you just need to keep on pursuing it and trying your best and you will soon find a great job...maybe one that starts off small and you have to work your way up in, but a start at all is a good thing in the creative arts world! Good luck

Thanks for the positive comments. At least there are people in the same situations as me and that actually understand it.
I am looking for any type of IT related work including helpdesk support in any company so I have some experience of working in a commerical environment.
Just keep getting the same line
"Chose someone with more experience"

PARIS_5000

GregHesp wrote: »

Thanks for the positive comments. At least there are people in the same situations as me and that actually understand it.
I am looking for any type of IT related work including helpdesk support in any company so I have some experience of working in a commerical environment.
Just keep getting the same line
"Chose someone with more experience"

I going into final year of degree due to gradaute in summer 2010 but I am going to start applying for jobs from January so that I can have a job when I complete my degree in July.

venus_in_furs

GregHesp wrote: »

Thanks for the positive comments. At least there are people in the same situations as me and that actually understand it.
I am looking for any type of IT related work including helpdesk support in any company so I have some experience of working in a commerical environment.
Just keep getting the same line
"Chose someone with more experience"

Me too!! Experience tend to be a big thing these days, but there are ways or getting more experience to add to your CV. If you keep applying and sending work out there and getting your name around then that will help. Eventually someone will sit up and take notice if you don't give up. Put your work up on as many related websites as you can, do free work if you have to. The small amount of free lance work i have done is through this method. Also try and speak to people who are in the career that you aspire to, maybe ask for their advice. I have spoken to quite a few people who have helped me a lot (emailed them, cheeky but effective!), even got offered some work experience (not paid mind). Unfortunately i cant take up any offers yet as they are down south and i am stuck up North with no cash!!

Your work is good and you just need to not get too down about things. Good things come to those who wait (and work hard) haha

thegrape

Hi Greg

I run an IT business providing IT support for SME's. Feel free to send me your CV. Where are you based?

J

TheBex

Hi Greg,

I've been unemployed since November and am an Engineering graduate with limited experience.

I was looking at everything and have made around 600 applications in that time.

I found a job really similar to the one I did before uni, but on a higher level. I didn't have the experience for it, but called the agency in case the employer would be interested in someone with little experience but cheap, or in case of internal promotions. I start on Monday.

Mr Bex sent 3000 offers to work for free and finally found a job that he's now doing well in, but being paid crap. His is a very tough industry, but offering to work for free often sets you up for rubbish pay until you find the next job.

Good luck and remember, it's not you!

TheBex

Oh and by the by, I massively regret going to uni and so does Mr Bex, who has a first class degree. It's career suicide. If I'd stayed in my old job I'd be about £100k better off.

minerva_windsong

PARIS_5000 wrote: »

I going into final year of degree due to gradaute in summer 2010 but I am going to start applying for jobs from January so that I can have a job when I complete my degree in July.

No offence, but if I were you I'd start looking now. It is my big regret that I didn't spend more of my final year job hunting, and I've seen a lot of people with that attitude who are now struggling - my boyfiriend graduated in July 2008 and is still in the temp job he went back to after uni, so you may be waiting longer than you think. If nothing else at least apply to the graduate schemes opening up in the autumn, depending what your predicted final degree classification is - a lot will ask for a 2:1 or higher but the Civil Service grad scheme opens on the 21st of September and only wants a 2:2.