help finding work ..No experience

jammy_dodger

Can anyone offer advice on how to find work with no experience My son now finished university and looking for a job just wondered if there was any avenues we may not of thought of
he has degree (computer game developement) but willing to give anything a go
he has had interviews but no joy
the feedback is lack of experience
hes qute a shy introvert but is trying his best using the time at present to learn to drive and applying for dozens of jobs each day and looking in store windows etc
he has gone along to job centre
they are suggesting he could try for work experience placements . he just needs a chance so is going along with that to see if someone somewhere will take him on also looking at volunteering
.it seems such a shame he is keen to work and live independantly again but cant get on the ladder
any advice welcome
thanks for reading

linni

I'm in a similar position (I won't hi-jack your thread). Son 23, very quiet, didn't finish Uni and hasn't had any luck at all. He thinks no-one will employ him anyway. Desperately wants a job though.

Good luck in his search for work and I really hope that someone can come along with help and advice.

WibblyGirly

Has he approached his careers office at his uni to ask for advice on the next steps? I assume he did the computer game degree as he actually wants a career in it? If he does, then work experience will be the first thing he needs. He should look up developers and email asking if they ever do placements or others inthe industry to get his foot in the door.
I'm going into 3rd year this month and I'm currently doing 2 placements that will give the experience I need to apply for my masters and then a specific job afterwards.
Did he have any kind of long term plan for after his degree?

Doshwaster

I don't know much about the computer games industry but it's very hard to get a software development job without any experience as employers always have a lot of people to choose from. So, if that's what he wants to do then he needs to find another way of getting his foot in the door.

One good way of getting into software development is to start as a tester where you will get to learn the product and development process in detail. Many testers then move into development or other roles such as support, project management or product design.

Have a look at https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/jobprofiles/Pages/ComputerGamesTester.aspx

jammy_dodger

WibblyGirly wrote: »

Has he approached his careers office at his uni to ask for advice on the next steps? I assume he did the computer game degree as he actually wants a career in it? If he does, then work experience will be the first thing he needs. He should look up developers and email asking if they ever do placements or others inthe industry to get his foot in the door.
I'm going into 3rd year this month and I'm currently doing 2 placements that will give the experience I need to apply for my masters and then a specific job afterwards.
Did he have any kind of long term plan for after his degree?

Hi WibblyGirly thanks for your time replying he has finished his degree course and now moved back home there wasnt opportunity during the course for work placements
on the gaming side he is spending evenings working on creating a portfolio and developing further the games he has been working on himself and long term then yes he would love to work within the realms of a software company or work for himself

in the meantime he just wants to get a job .in order to get his own place
i know ther are many in his situation its not easy

jammy_dodger

linni wrote: »

I'm in a similar position (I won't hi-jack your thread). Son 23, very quiet, didn't finish Uni and hasn't had any luck at all. He thinks no-one will employ him anyway. Desperately wants a job though.

Good luck in his search for work and I really hope that someone can come along with help and advice.

hijack away its not easy is ..all they need is a chance to prove themselves...very frustrating

jammy_dodger

Doshwaster wrote: »

I don't know much about the computer games industry but it's very hard to get a software development job without any experience as employers always have a lot of people to choose from. So, if that's what he wants to do then he needs to find another way of getting his foot in the door.

One good way of getting into software development is to start as a tester where you will get to learn the product and development process in detail. Many testers then move into development or other roles such as support, project management or product design.

Have a look at https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/jobprofiles/Pages/ComputerGamesTester.aspx

yes this would be an ideal foot in the door for game industry he is looking for ANY job at the moment and someone to give him a chance but yes long term of course he wants to be where his passion lies thank you for taking time to reply JD

WibblyGirly

He could have found work placements over the summer though? My course at my uni is quite rare in that they offer a module with a work placement in it.

I work in retail part time and I know most jobs want experience (which I know is a catch 22 for those without it). I'd suggest he fakes it til he makes it and acts confident and like retail is something he really wants to do long term and progress in (employers won't want someone they think will leave within a year). I'm not sure where you live but maybe he should try apply to shops that are slightly relevant to his degree like Currys or Game? Places where he may feel more comfortable with the product and more confident in himself as he is a user of those products too rather than a clothes store where he may be more outof his depth.

I know it's really hard for graduates. I know a few who have done media studies, got good grades and now work in retail which is why I'm going overboard with work experience as I've done retail full time (now part time) for nearly 9 years and trying to get out! Retail is a rut he doesn't want to get trapped in if he doesn't want it as a genuine career.

atolaas

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/games-developer
There are some agencies on this page that your son could contact...if he hasn't already! Good luck :-)

Alice_Walker

Voluntary work? Agency work, something manual/ factory/ warehouse based?

He also needs help with his interview technique, if Sports Direct wouldn't take him on it must be really bad. Sorry, but they'll usually take on anyone.

The biggest problem he has is explaining what he has been doing for the past three years, there is plenty of time at uni to gain employment skills.

Finally, he needs you to give him a kick up the backside. By all means offer moral support but he should be on top of this. He'll know about the university careers service, and he's got access to the internet where there are a wealth of resources to help him in his job search. He needs to start using his initiative to get things moving.

ACG

Are his programming skills transferable?
Could he make software for people? He may be able to work for himself. If nothing else it gives him some experience. Sites life people per hour for example?
If not, could he not make some games for facebook/android etc? It might give him some passive income. It also gives him some examples for his CV for future interivews.

I was pretty quiet at his age and even now I would be shocking in interviews. Its part of the reason I went self employed. I know I would get nothing more than one of the lower rungs of the ladder as I do myself no justice in interviews.