Struggled to find a job since graduation.

Snow_Angel

former_student wrote:

Thanks for the feedback.

To be honest I don't think I'm being too ambitious, I have applied for positions at the coca cola accademy which only paid around 11,000 p/a they were looking for graduates without experience but I was rejected.

Are there any graduate schemes that may be available?

Did you ask them for feedback about why they rejected you? This could be hugely beneficial for future interviews and ways to improve your profile.

Also, contact your uni careers service for advice re: interview techniques, cv/application writing, general job search advice/potential companies. I believe most unis allow access to their careers services for alumni. At my uni it is free for 3 years to have this facility.

best of luck.

anewman

I had quite the same experience just under 2 years ago, but managed to get 3 interviews. Only problem is I am crap at interviews and not a very good communicator, but I think my first class degree shows I have the ability to do the work. It's just unfortunate that when it comes to employment employers expect great communicators so I get relegated to unemployment.

I have also had difficulty getting crap minimum wage supermarket syle jobs, probably they think I am over qualified or likely to go walking in a matter of months. So I feel stuck really. I feel like I am in the same position I was in when I left school without GCSE's, it feels somewhat like going to college for GCSE's, A levels then university was a bit of a waste of time as I didn't manage to get a job at the end of it. Yes I have got interviews for jobs with wages of £20k+ that I would never have hoped to before, but I just didn't get anywhere with it. Quite ironic I guess then that I have ended up going part time to do a Masters as I thought that might improve my employability.

I've become quite disenfranchised with looking for jobs - mainly because no matter how many I apply for I don't get any, and it just makes me feel very depressed and worthless. Also the minimum wage in this country is crap and barely makes working worth it compared with benefits - as once you take away the housing benefit, council tax benefit etc etc. Yeah, I'm a bit of a lazy sponger, but I wouldn't be if someone had given me a job - of which many many employers have had the opportunity. When I do put together a job application I spend lots of time and effort putting together personal statements and customsing CV's. It's certainly not through lack of trying that I never got a job.

Only words of advice I can offer to OP are to do your best when applying for the jobs. Put yourself forward in a positive light and emphasise experience, and remember that university work can be relevant experience too.

kazbo82

With a degree in computing there are loads and loads of graduate schemes around. It does depends very much on what you want to do particularly. I'm graduating with a degree in Computer systems this summer and have a job lined up with IBM for Sept.

The only problem I've found with jobs is that the majority in computing are still down south, I'm having to move from manchester to Southampton because of this issue. Most of the larger companies though will probably have filled their places now for this years grad schemes. They normally open their applications in Oct and close around the end of January, but some of the smaller more local firms to yourself may well still be recruiting.

I can't help with jobs in NI really, but perhaps try some of the firms like BT, siemens etc who do have branches all over the place and usually with IT departments at each. Most will be advertising their vacancies on their websites.

lellie

studentphil wrote:

Computing and Business are the sectors where everyone wants to be. Maybe if you could look at the less standard sorts of jobs at a lower level and make a plan on what you can do from there to build up your chances..

Phil that's not true - most companies can't fill their software development schemes this year - deadlines are getting extended dramatically everywhere.. People don't want to be in computing!

I'm surprised you're struggling to be honest - There seems to be plenty out there for techy roles.. I know you don't strictly want an IT job, but what about IT consultancy - plenty of that around.

I know you're in NI - the job market is notoriously difficult over there - but have you considered moving?

lellie

anewman wrote:

I had quite the same experience just under 2 years ago, but managed to get 3 interviews. Only problem is I am crap at interviews and not a very good communicator, but I think my first class degree shows I have the ability to do the work. It's just unfortunate that when it comes to employment employers expect great communicators so I get relegated to unemployment.

Quite ironic I guess then that I have ended up going part time to do a Masters as I thought that might improve my employability.

Surely instead of a masters you would have been better at improving your communication skills and practicing interviews.. There's no point having someone that is academically brilliant if they can't work in a team and communicate with clients/colleagues - volunteer work and extra-curricular activities would be much more useful. Get involved in some team work and improve those communication skills and you'll have a much better chance at getting a job. Do that along side your masters and you'll be sorted!

Oldernotwiser

That's exactly what I was going to say to Anewman, he's not addressing the problem.

ANM
You've realised that there's no difficulty with the academic side, so why spend time and money fixing something that's not broken. You've analysed the problem (interview skills and communication) so now do something to improve your skills in these areas. You'll still have to go for interviews and talk to people even when you get your Master's!
Intelligent people can be so lacking in common sense sometimes!

millwalll

I think best way to get experience is to do free work. When I start my degree in computer science. I am going to email a lot companies and ask can I come in on one day each week and work with them for Free. So that I don't only get some experience but also make few contact that may help me.

millwalll

lellie wrote:

Phil that's not true - most companies can't fill their software development schemes this year - deadlines are getting extended dramatically everywhere.. People don't want to be in computing!

I'm surprised you're struggling to be honest - There seems to be plenty out there for techy roles.. I know you don't strictly want an IT job, but what about IT consultancy - plenty of that around.

I know you're in NI - the job market is notoriously difficult over there - but have you considered moving?

that so true if you go to google they got jobs for 15 software Developers that they had up for about 2 months now

former_student

Hi Everyone. Thanks for all the good advice which I received from this thread. Many on this forum have told me to get my foot on the employment ladder so I got offered a position within a large insurance company. My job will involve giving out quotes over the phone etc and providing general customer service to customers. The pay is okm at £13000 p/a although I could have done this job without my degree. I am happy to be employed but do people on this board feel that the experience I will gain within a position like this will benefit me down the line?

Lusignan

It will show you're customer-focussed, able to communicate, be accurate within time constraints, work as part of a team ... it's all good experience.