Graduate Unemployed for one year - How do I get a half decent job?

anewman

I graduated with a first in Psychology BSc (Hons) in 2005. Since then I have been looking for work applying for various jobs. A number of these have been in line with my qualification; as a research assistant in psychology. Some have also been in less skilled professions, retail, and supermarkets such as ASDA and so on. I remain unemployed to date. I admit however I have not applied to all that many jobs on the unskilled end of the scale, primarily because most expect some sort of experience, but also because I have been put off by lack of success in the past.

I have great difficulty with interviews. I am not the best person when communicating verbally. I experience high levels of social anxiety in interviews; therefore I am particularly poor at expressing my skills, abilities and knowledge. I have only managed to get 3 interviews as a research assistant in psychology. For the reasons I mention, all 3 did not go well. What I believe would really help with my communication skills, and social anxiety; is to have a job – where I work with other people, gain confidence in myself and experience of communicating with a wide variety of people. Quite ironic then, the one thing that I believe could help is unattainable because of the difficulties.

I also feel somewhat stuck in the middle of not being considered suitable for unskilled work (maybe they think I will walk as soon as I am offered a better waged job?) and not being good enough for the skilled jobs I am applying for.

I studied for 3 years taking out student loans as appropriate. The amount of debt is currently around £11,000. Interest payments currently cost around £30 each month. I need to earn above £15,000 a year before a percentage of the amount above £15,000 is taken from my wages to pay for the loan.

I went to University with the hope of improved career prospects at the end of it. No such luck it seems. I currently intend to study for a Masters Part time from September and have applied for a career development loan (so hopefully I will be able to get that to pay the fees – only problem is more debt). I hope that studying for a Masters will help my employment prospects. But again, no interview for the Masters from The University of Leeds - just a case of show us the money and your qualifications - if only a job was so easy to get!!!

What I *REALLY* need is to work for a living, get some sort of a job and have some money and pay off some debts for a change. I am not expecting £20k a year and currently would be happy with a minimum wage job in a supermarket, or inputting data, general admin work and so on. I have good computer skills and a good level of education. I just do *NOT* want a job where the wage is £5.05 an hour with £x an hour taken by an employment agency, and being expected to work nights and in various locations at the employer’s whim. Studying for a Masters would mean not being able to work on Fridays during term time.

Does anyone have any advice or tips on how to get a half decent job in Leeds? Is there a magic approach that works all the time? Do all employers interview potential employees?

Emmzi

Have you tried jobcentre plus? They can often be good at getting people who have never worked a start. You can explain your interview anxiety,andoften they have sympathetic employers.

The jobs often aren't great, but there is no agency cut, and it looks like you need a year of solid employment on your cv while you study.

wolfehouse

you are up against a lot of people who have experience through volunteering (e.g. with childline,citizens advice, headway etc).

if you get to network with people in the field you want to be in and get to know the system (charitable sector, different resources around) you might find you have more to offer during an interview if you have volunteered for a bit.

since interviews can be so stressful for you you might try applying for lots and lots of jobs you don't want and use any interviews you get for practise.

there is some luck involved in landing work. always nice to be at the right place at the right time. keep on trying and good luck.

Prudent

I would second the advice about voluntering. Not only will it look good at interview, it will give you that all important confidence boost.

Ken68

Hi Anew..... work for yourself.
After 30 years admin, I took up gardening, self employed, the whole lot took only £2000 to set up.
Did general gardening for several years, then did just grass cutting, couldn't believe the demand from business old people and even the council. Set prices, so much per lawn, £25,000 a year including some tree work in the winter.
Downside, you would never want to work for anyone anymore and prospective employers know this.

peter999

The work situation has changed so much over last 10 years with so many more people getting degrees & contraction of various industries.

Students are also now saddled with student loans to pay off.

I used to see decent jobs advertised in local/national papers for graduates & people with few years experience.

They have largely disappeared & moved to the internet, dealt with by agencies, where it's very impersonal, cut throat & all about money (agency getting their commission).

Applying for jobs on internet you can't get past agencies & speak to employer to sell yourself/skills/experience.

There are big changes happening in the economy with massive migration providing a pool of cheap labour for employers.
Everywhere I go I hear Polish voices.

Employers don't need to provide secure jobs when they have a pool of cheap labour.

The government says it doesn't matter & is ignoring the consequences,
but it is having far reaching hidden consequences for everyone in the UK in this Euro labour market.

Strike_Team

Treat every job interview as a learning experience. After each interview, ask yourself, "what did I do well?l", and "what aspects of my interview technique can I improve, based on this experience?". The other thing is that attending interviews repeatedly will help you gain confidence, as the best way to get over a fear of something is to repeatedly expose yourself to that fear so it will get less and less unsettling in time.

Voluntary work is a good idea, it looks good on your CV and will help you gain confidence.

Thriftylady

You have my sympathy, I remember when I first graduated being unable to get anything at all (including, as you have mentioned, the supermarket type jobs, because even at this end of the spectrum they still expect experience and its the one thing you can't get) and it was totally demoralising, and a real blow to your confidence when you want to get out into the 'real world' and stand on your own two feet. And its not helped at all by the number of people who like to launch into the "theres work out there for anyone who wants it" speech. Not if you can't even get to the interview stage theres not!!

Anyway, my one tip would be to look out for jobs which mention aptitude testing in the job advert - if you do well in the aptitude test then you have already overcome one hurdle and may find it just a wee bit easier at the interview stage, as you will already have proved on paper that you have many of the skills that they need. Its just a wee tiny suggestion, but its worth considering.

Good luck.

seven-day-weekend

Also, I believe that Jobcente m,ay be able to help you with interview skills. I believe there are various courses you can go on.

I agree with volunteerring, it will give you confidence, experience to go on your CV and hopefully a reference!

anewman

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. I did some volunteering but this only lasted 3 weeks when the organisation unexpectedly shut down (due to "unforseen circumstances") and I have been unable to get incontact with them since, so they would not be able to provide a reference.

Only difficulty with volunteering is you have little money, and the time you spend volunteering is time you could spend looking for and applying for jobs.

It is beginning to feel like job hunting is a waste of my time and efforts (after 1 year) and I wonder if I will ever get into work. It seems that no matter what there is always going to be someone much better for a job than me. Someone with some experience and who doesn't have the obvious difficulties that I have in interviews. It's a market out there for jobs and it feels like I'll never be able to compete against other people in the real world.

Ken68

Surely with all the twisted people about, there is a need for your service.
An advert in the newspaper to ordinary citizens.
GET YOUR MENTAL MOT NOW.