Uni graduate...new to job seeking.

gazzard

SAVVYSHOPPER wrote: »

Hi!

This is savvy's daughter. I have recently left university and I am also finding it hard work to get myself into a graduate scheme. I'm just working in a call centre through an employment agency at the moment. I thought I would draw your attention to perhaps volunteering as an advisor through the Citizen's Advice Bureau as there is quite a high demand for volunteers and they do offer a really high level of training. You could perhaps work part-time as a Christmas temp and part-time as an advisor.

Hope that helps!

I'm reasonably sure volunteering with the CAB gets you a qualification as well - my friend has been looking into it and is putting in an application too.

Good luck with your job hunt!

Jacka87

Tankrizzo wrote: »

Lexi, seems to me that you don't really know what you want to do at the moment. Your degree, without being rude, isn't a "core" subject and won't open many doors for you on its own, especially nowadays where graduates are ten a penny. You need to figure out what you want to do and then start ringing as many firms as you can, making a total nuisance of yourself.

When I left university with a German degree, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I'd taken German because I wanted to go to uni but didn't know what to do. In hindsight, really, I shouldn't have gone at all, because I was going for the wrong reasons; just simply to experience university rather than dedicate myself to my degree.

After leaving, I sat down with my friends and family and asked them to describe what sort of job they saw me going into, based on my interests and hobbies. Sometimes you need an external point of view to give you some clarity. My parents pointed out that I'd always been "tech savvy" and interested in computers, technology etc; after some reflection I realised that they were right, and started to look for work based on this direction. I got a job a few months later via a graduate scheme with a large blue-chip American corporation in software development and I'm still in the industry nine years later with a successful and profitable career which I really enjoy.

Think long and hard about what you really want to do because everything will become much clearer after that. Don't take this the wrong way but I personally would not take a "careers advisor" seriously who had gone straight into that job from uni, with no real post-degree employment experience to draw on.

This is one of the most sensible posts I have read for ages!!!!:beer:

I have a degree in engineering, and worked for the 2 final summers that I was at uni in an engineering discipline (got job through a friend who worked at the firm).

Then when I graduated I applied for all the engineering jobs I could get and I am now on a graduate scheme and due to leave said scheme and goi into a proper job with the firm 2 yrs later. I was lucky!

The thing is I also had a core degree and knew (well kinda knew) what I wanted to do. My OH studied languages (never finished degree due to personal circumstances). She had no luck getting jobs and quit the job she had through uni as she hated it, at the time I was angry with this as she then had no income! However we discussed what she wanted to do and found jobs that where more suitable to her. She has since had 3 jobs that she has really enjoyed! Left one as it was a bit insecure and moved to an apparently more secure job only to be made redundant...ironic if I do say so myself! After that she got her current job which she is lovbing tho she has only been their a few months! The point is she is using her skills and experiences in areas that she enjoys and where her skills apply.

Take your time to think what you want to do and once you have done that go get those jobs! You will get a job in the field you want to work no problem at all! This is because you will put effort into getting the CV right for that job, you will natuarlly seem enthusiastic and confident in the interviews etc as well. The fact you seem unsure just now will come across in interviews etc no matter how much you try to hide it!

Good luck!

vaporate

Tankrizzo wrote: »

Lexi, seems to me that you don't really know what you want to do at the moment. Your degree, without being rude, isn't a "core" subject and won't open many doors for you on its own, especially nowadays where graduates are ten a penny. You need to figure out what you want to do and then start ringing as many firms as you can, making a total nuisance of yourself.

When I left university with a German degree, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I'd taken German because I wanted to go to uni but didn't know what to do. In hindsight, really, I shouldn't have gone at all, because I was going for the wrong reasons; just simply to experience university rather than dedicate myself to my degree.

After leaving, I sat down with my friends and family and asked them to describe what sort of job they saw me going into, based on my interests and hobbies. Sometimes you need an external point of view to give you some clarity. My parents pointed out that I'd always been "tech savvy" and interested in computers, technology etc; after some reflection I realised that they were right, and started to look for work based on this direction. I got a job a few months later via a graduate scheme with a large blue-chip American corporation in software development and I'm still in the industry nine years later with a successful and profitable career which I really enjoy.

Think long and hard about what you really want to do because everything will become much clearer after that. Don't take this the wrong way but I personally would not take a "careers advisor" seriously who had gone straight into that job from uni, with no real post-degree employment experience to draw on.

Disagree completely with in bold.

It leads to BPS status and with a masters can lead to a career in the psychology field. Although there is stiff competition.

As for jobs, there is too much competition, so I would suggest, for the last time, to try phoning/emailing for voluntary work, along with voluntary work for citizens advice.

No degree on its own opens doors without experience of some kind.

Better yet, if you want to get away from it all to think about everything, type TEFL in google.

Jacka87

vaporate wrote: »

Disagree completely with in bold.

It leads to BPS status and with a masters can lead to a career in the psychology field. Although there is stiff competition.

As for jobs, there is too much competition, so I would suggest, for the last time, to try phoning/emailing for voluntary work, along with voluntary work for citizens advice.

No degree on its own opens doors without experience of some kind.

Better yet, if you want to get away from it all to think about everything, type TEFL in google.

I may be wrong but I think the point made about Psychology not being a core subject is more to do with the feeling that most psychologist graduates will not all become psychologists and the number of psychologists are maybe a lot less than the number of Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, Accountants etc etc.

I am sure their are jobs where psychology as a degree is essential but they are not as mainstream, similar to the way that a history degree may only be considered a core subject to historians or archiologists etc.

I know I treat language degrees as skill based rather than a core subject and would probably treat psychology in this way as well tho I am aware that their will be many psychologists working for the nhs etc.

Sorry I am not defending the post that mentioned this topic but think that with the OP being unsure as to what she wants to do then it may be relevent that she has studied more for the benifit of having a degree rather than to be a psychologist.

Tankrizzo_2

Jacka87 wrote: »

I may be wrong but I think the point made about Psychology not being a core subject is more to do with the feeling that most psychologist graduates will not all become psychologists and the number of psychologists are maybe a lot less than the number of Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, Accountants etc etc.

I am sure their are jobs where psychology as a degree is essential but they are not as mainstream, similar to the way that a history degree may only be considered a core subject to historians or archiologists etc.

I know I treat language degrees as skill based rather than a core subject and would probably treat psychology in this way as well tho I am aware that their will be many psychologists working for the nhs etc.

Sorry I am not defending the post that mentioned this topic but think that with the OP being unsure as to what she wants to do then it may be relevent that she has studied more for the benifit of having a degree rather than to be a psychologist.

This is what I was getting at in a rather clumsy way I simply meant that whilst a degree like maths, engineering or chemistry can be accepted by a multitude of companies in many different industries, psychology is much more specialist.

That comes from a mixture of personal viewpoint and having been involved in recruitment and interviewing for my firm.

vaporate

Jacka87 wrote: »

I may be wrong but I think the point made about Psychology not being a core subject is more to do with the feeling that most psychologist graduates will not all become psychologists and the number of psychologists are maybe a lot less than the number of Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, Accountants etc etc.

I am sure their are jobs where psychology as a degree is essential but they are not as mainstream, similar to the way that a history degree may only be considered a core subject to historians or archiologists etc.

I know I treat language degrees as skill based rather than a core subject and would probably treat psychology in this way as well tho I am aware that their will be many psychologists working for the nhs etc.

Sorry I am not defending the post that mentioned this topic but think that with the OP being unsure as to what she wants to do then it may be relevent that she has studied more for the benifit of having a degree rather than to be a psychologist.

True. Don't worry it wan't a pop at you

I think the OP could well do with time-out.

Either try voluntary work, while applying for paid wok, or look into TELF. TEFL may not lead to a stable career but may be worth it in a 'time-out' sense.

If I make sense? lol

alja

Hello! Just came across your thread, don't worry! I graduated in July too and have (just like you!) had one face-to-face interview and one via telephone...first one went well but in the end didn't get through to 2nd interview....whereas my recent telephone interview I didn't even hear back from! (find it quite rude really, I'm only a short email away!)

I've applied for lots of jobs and the majority of them don't even email to say no..

At the moment I'm doing call centre work (however I'm not enjoying it at all and I am handing my notice in very soon, long story! - but at least it's got me some money in the bank!)

my top tip?! network network network....you've probably heard that before, but it really can help! Ask around to see if people know of jobs going in the companies they work at etc, I've done a lot of job apps via friends hope my ramble helps to give you a little piece of mind that you're definately not alone!..xx

lexilex

ALJA wrote: »

Hello! Just came across your thread, don't worry! I graduated in July too and have (just like you!) had one face-to-face interview and one via telephone...first one went well but in the end didn't get through to 2nd interview....whereas my recent telephone interview I didn't even hear back from! (find it quite rude really, I'm only a short email away!)

I've applied for lots of jobs and the majority of them don't even email to say no..

At the moment I'm doing call centre work (however I'm not enjoying it at all and I am handing my notice in very soon, long story! - but at least it's got me some money in the bank!)

my top tip?! network network network....you've probably heard that before, but it really can help! Ask around to see if people know of jobs going in the companies they work at etc, I've done a lot of job apps via friends hope my ramble helps to give you a little piece of mind that you're definately not alone!..xx

Thank you so much for taking time to reply, it's great to hear from somebody who is in the same position as me. I was beginning to feel like I was the only 2010 graduate without a job.

Everybody who knows me knows I am looking for work. Everybody on facebook/twitter knows I am looking, I go on about it every day

I have had such an awful day today, feeling so fed up so it's really nice to hear I'm not alone in this! I'm getting up at 7am everyday and job hunting constantly until at least 7pm at night. I'm applying for all I can but there really isn't even much to apply for. I applied for about 30 jobs last week and I haven't heard a thing back from any of them, makes you wonder why you bother wasting your time.

Back at the job centre tomorrow, was so hoping I would have something by now. Even more annoying is this is my third visit and I still haven't had a penny from them so I am having to borrow money to get there!

Fingers crossed both of us get sorted soon!

Person_one

lexilex wrote: »

The man I spoke to was lovely, was asking me all about my degree and disseration and said it was nice to speak to somebody who was educated which made me feel a tiny bit better, though I did point out that going to uni obviously hasn't helped me as I had still ended up sitting there.

I'm not sure why your advisor said that, there are lots of educated, intelligent, hard working and experienced people signing on every week.

WhiteHorse

lexilex wrote: »

Naively I thought having a degree would make things easier ...

Depends on the degree.

In truth, so many young people have been conned by the educational establishment (read empire), and by self-serving politicians. Even their parents have let them down by not telling them the truth (so proud that 'our kid' is going to university, I suppose).

What is the truth? Most degrees are worthless, as are the so-called universities that issued them. A trade or a proper technical qualification is usually a better choice.