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

justanothermuppet_2

I know exactly how you feel, as I was in the same situation when I finshed Uni (albeit with a third :rolleyes2 rather than a first) I'd been in education all my life and had never had a job (not even a paper round) and I'm afraid the only thing you can do is compromise.

You may not want to take an agency job, but I can guarantee it's one of the easiest ways to get a job. Most agencies don't offer you £x per hour and then take their cut, they'll tell you how much you're going to be getting paid, so at least you'll know that up front. There's usually no 'proper' interview either, just a few aptitude tests and an informal chat with one of the recruitment advisors, asking you what kind of work you're looking for, where you can work etc. And don't get thinking that agencies only have all the rubbish work...some companies use agencies to recruit because they just can't be bothered to do it themselves. (in fact the only way into the company I work at now is through an agency, unless you're a senior manager anyway)

Also, if you're temping, it gives you some great experience because you get to work at lots of different places.

Don't get too down about it, because if you go into interviews feeling pessimistic, then it will show in your interview...I know it's easier said than done, but you just have to try. If you feel you're lacking in interpersonal skills, try and think of examples when you have been an effective communicator. For example, during your uni course did you have to do any presentations or seminars?

Another possibility you might want to try is Monster. Put your CV on there and employers can look for you, or you can look through the list of jobs advertised on the site

Can I ask what money you're living on now? Are you claiming Jobseekers Allowance? (because you should be entitled to it) I've found that the JobCentre is quite helpful and after 6 months of being unemployed they're likely to put you on the New Deal, which is usually working in a charity shop, but it means you still getyou JSA and you're learning those valuable verbal communiczation skills that will help you in your interviews in the future.


I'm a little confused, because of your earlier post...



Any job (even if it a volunteering one) would boost your confidence, especially if it's one where you have to deal with customers.


Hope all this blurb has been of some help (and that I haven't rambled on too much) and if you ever need someone to chat to, just PM me!

Take Care!


P.S. pm'd you

lynzpower

thanks to other poster who found the do-it website- Ive just seen a cracking voluteer opportunity that OH will love

kiwigirl

Hi - just my 2p worth.

I was recently bullied out of my job and have been off work since November. When I got my P45 I went to a temping agency and said I'll do anything, they did a few tests and I got best out of all their staff for their tests. I got the awful jobs as I would do them and not complain, I had 1 interview and was told I was second best for the posistion but not got it - I had 2 dodgy assignments and I complained.

Tomorrow I start a week's work in one location on more money than before I complained. The following week I start a week's probation in another location on a better salary for the agency work, the agency think I'll get that no problem and will then have 3 months work. I have also been offered the post that I was 2nd best on on Friday...

No it's not what I want to do, but my CV is plastered on a few agency websites, and they've contacted me before now to ask me to attend interview etc - sadly I'm not experienced enough for a few of them so have emailed the MD direct (I know one of the people there and she gave me his email address) with my CV, so I hope that I'm succesful with that soon.

Otherwise I have 3 months work coming in, no it's not the same as I did in my studies / work but better than nothing.

I have also volunteered for the last 14 years, and in one interview I had (I'd already temped there for 8 months) all the interviewer said was "I never knew you did this volunteering tell me more about that please?" my boss and I sat there flabergasted at the question but hey I got the 18 month contract - which I then left for my old post which I've just left.

Good luck and if you want the agency's websites please PM me.

KG

anewman

justanothermuppet wrote:

You may not want to take an agency job, but I can guarantee it's one of the easiest ways to get a job. Most agencies don't offer you £x per hour and then take their cut,

I was referring to ones like North and South recruitment in Leeds. They tend to have manual work like packing etc at minimum wage, and I believe they take their cut and the jobs are usually nights. It does not seem worthwhile to work for less than minimum wage at insane hours.

justanothermuppet wrote:

Don't get too down about it, because if you go into interviews feeling pessimistic, then it will show in your interview...

After I left school due to bullying 10 years ago I ended up possibly clinically depressed at that time in my life - with lots of other things going on. But I was misdiagnosed with schizophrenia - primarily because I presented with the following negative symptom - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_of_speech Like I say I was rather depressed at the time and I have improved alot since then. But I would not say I am like a "normal" person when it comes to verbal communication - it's just the way I am - and although yes there are some things I can do towards changing that - I really believe this is what holds me back at interviews. (Not that there is such a thing as "normality" but there is a certain level people expect you to perform at). Hopefully this gives a better idea of what I am like when it comes to verbal communication.

When I do get an interview I do do my best - I do not sit there and think "why should I bother?". I really go head first into the preparation and make sure I arrive ontime and wide awake. I read up on the organisation and the job description. I try to consider possible answers to questions I might be asked. I look over the application I made making sure I remember the key points I made as those are what got me the interview. I write down some questions to ask at the interview. I polish my shoes, iron my shirt etc etc. I spend lots of time doing all these but when it comes to the interview, which generally lasts not much more than 15 minutes, the preparation goes out the window because I cannot remember the detailed answers I had previously considered - and employers like lots of detail - not yes and no basic answers. I did better in the last interview than the 2 previous ones but still nowhere near good enough. I felt happy when I left that interview knowing I did somewhatr better than I had done previously, but the key problem is I am still unemployed.

What I can do is get more experience of interviews (difficult when they're like gold dust) - and as people have suggested do voluntary work or go for a really crappy job. Now I am 26 and never had a job, I really need (not want) to get somewhere in my life and earn money for a change - and actually start to pay off debts rather than keep them mounting up. I wish it was all so much easier.

But thanks for all the replies. I will continue looking for jobs and applying etc. And also look into agencies about general admin type work and see what comes of that. If nothing does I will look at voluntary work as some form escape from my crap life lol.

Fleago

Hi anewman,

I hope you don't take this suggestion in the wrong way as I am putting it to you in good faith, but given that you've said that you have had mental health problems in the past, seem terribly down and discouraged in your posts and admit to having difficulties communicating face to face and at interview, it might be an appropriate route for you to make an appointment with the Disability Employment Advisor at your local jobcentre as there is a very good chance they will be able to help someone in your situation.

The disability in the name title may make you think that it's not appropriate for you, but they can help people who have had health problems in the past that have led to them facing barriers to employment now. Depending on what is available in your area they may help you access, for example, things like confidence building courses, or interview technique training and practice, work experience placements etc.

All you would need to do is phone your local Jobcentre and ask to make an appointment for the DEA.

Hope this helps, and good luck

Fleago

Voyager2002

Hi, Anewman,

An immediate response: you are applying for the wrong kind of job. I mean, you obviously have a lot going for you: Huddersfield is a respectable university, and they don't give out firsts to just anyone. However, a fist class honours degree means that you are brighter and more hard-working than many employers, and that can make them feel uncomfortable. And then you talk about lacking 'people' skills -- not a disaster, but many jobs do require people-skills. So, you need to identify jobs that (a) require the abilities that you have, and (b) do not require the abilities that you don't have. So you need to book a full-length appointment with a university careers adviser, do some preparation by writing down honest details of what you are good at, as well as what you are not, and explore what careers there are that match your ability.

One basic rule is that no employer wants to employ someone who is looking for just ANY job: the interview is where you explain why you want that particular job, and why you believe you would be good at it.

Anyway, why are you doing a part-time masters degree? At your ability level you ought to be funded to do it full-time. However, I do wonder why you think that it would help you.

Best wishes, and don't be afraid to aim high: just aim correctly.

kittykate_2

Voyager2002 wrote:

Anyway, why are you doing a part-time masters degree? At your ability level you ought to be funded to do it full-time. However, I do wonder why you think that it would help you.

It depends on what career he wishes to eventually go into . If he wants to become a psychologist then he has to get postgrad qualifications. You cant be a psychologist with just a BSc.

[Deleted User]

ok, my little bro is trying to become a clinical psychologist so i'll tell you his current career path, it might give you an idea of what's involved:

* BSc Psychology (York uni) 2:1, graduated 2004
* He then worked in the NHS as a psycholgy assistant for a year
* MRes Cognitive neuroscience (Birmingham uni) (he's still doing it now)

He applied for clinical psychology courses at several universities before being offered a place at Oxford, where he starts in the autumn.

Now, my brother knew what he was doing, he planned well in advance knowing what the final stage would be (the clinical course) and he was actually surprised to have got on - most people don't get in until they've worked in a clinical setting longer.

Do you actually have goals and dreams? What are they and what can you do to reach towards them?

Ken68

Something wrong here. You have been trained at vast expense, there are people needing your help, yet all the advice I read is, a career path structure.
Surely there is some person or agency that can put you in touch with the people who need help.
There has got to be more than the one employer.
Is it a fair bet, OP, that in a board room environment (for example), your training would let you know what everyone was thinking.Their mannerisms, body language and such.
If so why are YOU not in control of the interview.

kittykate_2

Ken68 wrote:

Something wrong here. You have been trained at vast expense, there are people needing your help, yet all the advice I read is, a career path structure.
Surely there is some person or agency that can put you in touch with the people who need help.
There has got to be more than the one employer.
Is it a fair bet, OP, that in a board room environment (for example), your training would let you know what everyone was thinking.Their mannerisms, body language and such.
If so why are YOU not in control of the interview.

He only has a BSc Psychology. You can't do much psychology work with just that. You need further training before you can.

Also, I can't speak for the OP but I do have a BSc psychology myself and know that what I learnt on body language and mannerisms during my degree is no where near sufficient enough to 'know what everyone is thinking'. It is virtually impossible to know exactly what people are thinking, also, during interviews etc you find that the interviewer doesn't have many visible signs of their thoughts.... and if they are also 'trained' in psychology you can pretty much guarantee that they won't give anything away. I think you may have misguided views as to what psychology actually entails.

KKx