Camp America

mug51

Im currently in my last year of university and don't think i'll be able to get a graduate job this year round, simply because I haven't had a real job.
So i'm goin to apply for a part-time job in the meantime, and hopefully do something in the summer, like Camp America, but I am have two problems:

• I don't know where I can get two references for Camp America and im guessing i'd need two for a part-time job too. I think one reference will come from my tutor (even though I hardly see him), but the second one I have no idea.
• And for the Camp America interview I don't think I can demonstrate certain criterions such as teamwork, responsibility, motivation etc. I’d imagine they would expect me to refer to situations where I have shown such skills and attitude, but like I said I haven’t had a job where most attributes can be shown through this. Not to mention i'll be shaking like there's a washing machine.
  

If that fails I wouldn't mind doing volunteer community projects, from here, but will they require two references and any building experience?

So if anyone has any ideas, I'm all ears.

Thanks
James

ryandj

Sorry, nothing of value to add here - i just viewed the post because I thought it was about lots of very camp Americans.

aah

referees - tutor and your school head teacher if you really haven't anyone else.

time to get your life started :rolleyes:

mug51

yeah, the time is now, pretty scary stuff
had thought of a school head teacher but then i'd had two references from academic institutions, would that matter?

edit: just read up more, and it says 'The person writing the reference must also have had contact with the applicant in the past 12 months and have sound knowledge of the applicant's character.'

djjojojuice

mug51 wrote: »

Im currently in my last year of university and don't think i'll be able to get a graduate job this year round, simply because I haven't had a real job.
So i'm goin to apply for a part-time job in the meantime, and hopefully do something in the summer, like Camp America, but I am have two problems:

• I don't know where I can get two references for Camp America and im guessing i'd need two for a part-time job too. I think one reference will come from my tutor (even though I hardly see him), but the second one I have no idea.
• And for the Camp America interview I don't think I can demonstrate certain criterions such as teamwork, responsibility, motivation etc. I’d imagine they would expect me to refer to situations where I have shown such skills and attitude, but like I said I haven’t had a job where most attributes can be shown through this. Not to mention i'll be shaking like there's a washing machine.
  

If that fails I wouldn't mind doing volunteer community projects, from here, but will they require two references and any building experience?

So if anyone has any ideas, I'm all ears.

Thanks
James

There is a book called 'The Best Jobhunt Book in the World' by Max Eggert, it says what it does on the tin. Have a read of that and it will really help, also remember you have skills that have be obtained. By doing a degree you have learned to work to deadlines, prioritise your workload and negotiate. If you had to to do group work or presentation that's another set of skills such as team work.

Hope this helps and good luck.

Djjojojuice

kacie

i went to vounteer abroad last summer with projects abroad and i didn't have to provide any references, so you might nat have to. Also some employers will accept references from family friends or people like that, that have known you for years

salduck

try the work in america programme rather than camp america try bunac studenttravel,com or ccusa they all run one that is for general jobs NOT camp jobs!!

alisona

mug51 wrote: »

• And for the Camp America interview I don't think I can demonstrate certain criterions such as teamwork, responsibility, motivation etc. I’d imagine they would expect me to refer to situations where I have shown such skills and attitude, but like I said I haven’t had a job where most attributes can be shown through this. Not to mention i'll be shaking like there's a washing machine.

Have you done any group coursework? Lead your team during the coursework? How about motivation during the invariably 'low' times when doing your dissertion? Would you be able to use these examples during your interview?
I would imagine that you can use examples based on your experiences at university too, non? Feel free to ignore me if this is not relevant to Camp America.

ryandj

It is surprising what life experiences you can talk about in an interview. For example, when asked about a challenge I have done, I often talk about when I ran the London Marathon - eg setting the goal, planning out how to do it, implementing training, and actually completing the event...

You could use anything in an interview. It about being able to make it relevant to the job, and then bullsh*tting about it! Well to a certain extent. I don't mean lie, but just sort of talking up what you have done. FOr example, playing in a football team might be an example of team work, or solving a problem like course work together.

mug51

Thanks for the replies, very helpful indeed.

_Djjojojuice wrote:

There is a book called 'The Best Jobhunt Book in the World' by Max Eggert, it says what it does on the tin. Have a read of that and it will really help, also remember you have skills that have be obtained. By doing a degree you have learned to work to deadlines, prioritise your workload and negotiate. If you had to to do group work or presentation that's another set of skills such as team work.

Hope this helps and good luck.

Djjojojuice

Thanks, shall look to buy that, do think I need to sharpened up my CV and skills. You aren't Max Eggert are you? only kiddin

salduck wrote:

try the work in america programme rather than camp america try bunac studenttravel,com or ccusa they all run one that is for general jobs NOT camp jobs!!

thanks for that, general jobs might be the better option now, since most camps are filling up quick.

alisona wrote: »

Have you done any group coursework? Lead your team during the coursework? How about motivation during the invariably 'low' times when doing your dissertion? Would you be able to use these examples during your interview?
I would imagine that you can use examples based on your experiences at university too, non? Feel free to ignore me if this is not relevant to Camp America.

No group coursework or dissertation in my course (maths), so there's a big hole there. Lol, i don't even think my post had much to do with camp America.

ryandj wrote:

It is surprising what life experiences you can talk about in an interview. For example, when asked about a challenge I have done, I often talk about when I ran the London Marathon - eg setting the goal, planning out how to do it, implementing training, and actually completing the event...

You could use anything in an interview. It about being able to make it relevant to the job, and then bullsh*tting about it! Well to a certain extent. I don't mean lie, but just sort of talking up what you have done. FOr example, playing in a football team might be an example of team work, or solving a problem like course work together.

ah yes forgot about football, i do play football every sunday although it is only 5-a-side, but i guess that counts

sohurt

Hi

I'm going to Camp America this summer, I have been through the interviews etc, if you need any help you can pm me if you want

x