Summer work

Masomnia

Hello everyone, looking for fairly general advice on a few points so bear with me.

I've just finished my first year as a History undergraduate, or will have in 2 weeks time, and with the summer looming I'm going to have to get some work. For money, mainly, since I have to pay rent over the summer and can barely afford that let alone anything else.

Anyway, my problem is this: I haven't had a job before, and really have no idea where to start, and have very little experience elsewhere. I will have some leeway with my overdraft, but I really don't want to use that since I'll be graduating with enough debt anyway... and I want some experience on top of this before I graduate.

Now, I quite fancy working in publishing after I graduate, so it seems a good idea to get a job in a bookshop, no? Would applying to Waterstones for example be punching above my weight? Academically I'm pretty strong, mainly As at A level and GCSE, so should I push this to make up for lack of experience?

What advice would you give generally to someone going for a first job?

So many things rushing round in my head... Any responses welcome! Sorry if that was a bit rambling. Many thanks in advance

melancholly

take a CV to every single agency in town..... spend a day walking around going to shops and asking if they have any vacancies. if you have no work experience at all, then take what you can get and then maybe try for something more relevant as a part time job or at Christmas. supermarkets can be quite good too.

but do this soon, before every other student breaking up for the summer is doing the same thing!!

The_One_Who

I have no idea about how to get into publishing, but you could have a look around for any work experience (probably unpaid) with them, although you might have to wait until next year now.

As for getting a job, try and push the transferable skills you would have learned throughout your degree, especially anything to do with interacting with people. As long as you can show you are determined, interested, willing to work and learn etc then there is no harm in applying.

pandora205

Hi Masomnia

Your first job - how exciting! What are you waiting for?

Write a good concise CV (I'm sure there are ideas for doing this on MSE somewhere), stressing anything relevant and any work experience you did at school, how you are an avid reader (assuming you are), that you are hard working, work well as part of a team, etc etc.

Then walk into Waterstones (and any other bookstores you can find in your area). They may be looking for staff to cover the summer staff holiday period, so don't put it off. If such a job is not forthcoming, get some retail experience elsewhere - a supermarket if need be - and apply later to bookstores.

When you do enquire about jobs call in person and take your cv. Dress smartly (not jeans) too as you may be interviewed on the spot. Do not do (as my 19 year old daughter has been known to do) email a general company address, or even worse, reply to their phone calls with text! So, in a nutshell, don't be shy - get out there and sell yourself!

You can look into publishing in more detail when you have a job for the summer.. and bookshop experience would be good. Alternatively, find the address of any local publishers and phone them..... you never know! I suspect this would be quite tricky to get into but it may not be.



Good luck

roxalana

Plus presumably you degree has given you lots of different experiences that can demonstrate your skills. Also tailor your CV/ appication response to the place you are applying to wherever possible e.g. retail jobs - stress your skills that are appropriate to retail i.e. communication skills, problem solving etc; admin jobs list your use of IT - Word, Excel etc.

General CVs dont normally make a good impression firstly because it doesn't show that you are really interested in working for them and also because listing irrelevant information can make you look like you don't know what is expected. Also PLEASE ensure you spell check it and get someone else to proof read it!

pinkshoes

Publishing can be an absolute b*tch to get into. I have a few friends working in the industry, and they all got in by doing UNPAID work experience in their summer holidays. Working in a book shop wouldn't hurt, but probably wouldn't be much help.

Personally, I think you should get the best paying job doing whatever you can this summer (bar work, shop work, tourist stuff etc...), then in September, start sending you CV off to as many large publishing companies as you possibly can (Mostly located in London, Oxford and Bristol), asking them if you can do unpaid work experience with them. If you get work experience, it will mean you'll have a much better chance of getting in as a graduate! They might even offer additional paid work experience after the unpaid bit if they like you!

Masomnia

Thank you all so much for your responses!

I like the idea of getting what I can this summer for money/experience, getting some money together and looking for proper work experience next summer. Think I'll try that!

Thanks again