Graduate struggling to get job without experience

route101

Graduated last year with a surveying degree. Have struggled to find graduate position after position fell through due to Covid. Had a few interviews, made it to final interview in graduate scheme etc. I don't have any experience apart from doing surveys and reports as part of coursework, that's what big up on cover letters.

I've contacted a few companies speculatively, some don't respond, some say they are not hiring, some say they will keep my CV on file. Then I need experience no matter what, so asked for work experience or even shadowing. Sorry cant due to covid etc.

Anyone got any tips?

Billy_B_North

Keep trying.

Tailor your CV to each application, read up on the company, and send a good covering letter, and if it’s an online application form fill it in well.

That includes good spelling, grammar, sentence structure, and answering the question asked, not just writing what you feel like.

Times are tough at GBM moment, but if you persevere, you will very likely get there.

In the interim, get any job you can. Amazon deliveries. Shop work, etc. This shows that you can do the basics; turn up, do as you are told, not get sacked etc. This counts for quite a lot.

route101

Billy_B_North said:

Keep trying.

Tailor your CV to each application, read up on the company, and send a good covering letter, and if it’s an online application form fill it in well.

That includes good spelling, grammar, sentence structure, and answering the question asked, not just writing what you feel like.

Times are tough at GBM moment, but if you persevere, you will very likely get there.

In the interim, get any job you can. Amazon deliveries. Shop work, etc. This shows that you can do the basics; turn up, do as you are told, not get sacked etc. This counts for quite a lot.

Yes, I keep applying, just worried about lack of experience. I tried to get some experience alongside Uni but never happened. Did have a retail job until Xmas, they let go of all their Xmas temps, plus have previous retail experience. Good news, have interview next week for sorter.

AskAsk

the building industry, like everyone else is in lockdown and i have seen posts on this board from surveyors who had been made redundant.  you will have to wait until we are back to normal before you will see new opportunities.  you may have to sit and wait.

DCFC79

Keep on applying, you might find an employer who is willing to take you on.

lincroft1710

If you graduated with a degree in property surveying, see if the VOA are recruiting.

route101

AskAsk said:

the building industry, like everyone else is in lockdown and i have seen posts on this board from surveyors who had been made redundant.  you will have to wait until we are back to normal before you will see new opportunities.  you may have to sit and wait.

Not really, my course mates have managed to find roles. Not many entry level positions advertised , once you have a few years experience much more roles availible.

route101

DCFC79 said:

Keep on applying, you might find an employer who is willing to take you on.

I will keep on trying, I was  asking for work experience would be a better idea to get my foot in the door.

route101

lincroft1710 said:

If you graduated with a degree in property surveying, see if the VOA are recruiting.

I forgot to say it was Building Surveying, I will look at that too even if its different.

AskAsk

route101 said:

AskAsk said:

the building industry, like everyone else is in lockdown and i have seen posts on this board from surveyors who had been made redundant.  you will have to wait until we are back to normal before you will see new opportunities.  you may have to sit and wait.

Not really, my course mates have managed to find roles. Not many entry level positions advertised , once you have a few years experience much more roles availible.

so how were your course mates able to get experience whilst studying and you weren't?

Indigo_and_Violet

If you are getting through to interview you're doing okay on the application stage. Have you asked for feedback on your interviews and did that identify lack of experience as the problem? Anything more specific e.g. lack of client experience, lack of experience with software X? If possible, try to get some interview feedback over the phone - I know I am able to be more candid to candidates on the phone rather than over email. 
Two pronged experience strategy: get a general job (retail, hospitality, whatever you can find) to keep you sane and show general employment skills. If money allows, aim for 4 days per week or equivalent to leave time and energy for quality job searching and application writing. Then try to get some sector specific skills. This could be volunteering (is that a 'save this historic building' campaign near you that might welcome someone with your expertise) or work experience. If your coursemates have been in their posts for a while they might be able to offer you some 'work shadowing' in terms of discussing the projects they're on and the challenges they've encountered - no one needs to know it's a mate, just say on your application 'I recently shadowed a junior surveyor at SurveysforYou and discussed these issues'. Your uni careers service might be able to hook you up with someone in the same sphere who could do similar. You might not get two weeks in an office but sometimes virtual coffees with three people at different firms can be just as useful. Similarly, your careers service might offer mock interviews (either with careers advisors or people in your sector) that would be another source of interview feedback.
It's tough but you've got a good professional qualification, you secured one post that fell through for external reasons and you're getting to the interview stage in a difficult climate, so I'm confident with a bit more of a push you'll get over the final hurdle.