Graduate and jobless.
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Original post by M1011
This may sound obvious, but have you applied to all the big accounting firms? Big 4 etcetera? They don't require work experience (although it helps) and your degree is clearly relevant. It's not easy, but if you get in then they will train you and they pay well.
No, i have not applied there because i thought that it's so competitive in small firms then it isn't gonna be easy in big firms. they don't ask for experience? i am going to look into it
I have just set up a small company selling online advertising and thought the sales positions would be perfect for students or recently graduated students that need to bridge the gap to a 'real' job so was amazed at the response I got when I advertised the positions. There were very few people that applied with any conviction and at times it felt like I was doing them a favour.
I know sales positions are tough and the money wasn't what you would like after graduating but it is still a paid position that will provide people the opportunity to work, earn money and build confidence.
All I look for in an application is someone that is clear about what they have achieved and how they did it. When I speak to a person I want them to be clear and show they have thought about what it would be like to have worked in the position. If they can describe how their experience relates to the position even better!
If you think that you can do that and don't mind working hard then I'm more than happy to give you a chance.
Just-Discounts.com
I know sales positions are tough and the money wasn't what you would like after graduating but it is still a paid position that will provide people the opportunity to work, earn money and build confidence.
All I look for in an application is someone that is clear about what they have achieved and how they did it. When I speak to a person I want them to be clear and show they have thought about what it would be like to have worked in the position. If they can describe how their experience relates to the position even better!
If you think that you can do that and don't mind working hard then I'm more than happy to give you a chance.
Just-Discounts.com
Original post by Yatess
I have just set up a small company selling online advertising and thought the sales positions would be perfect for students or recently graduated students that need to bridge the gap to a 'real' job so was amazed at the response I got when I advertised the positions. There were very few people that applied with any conviction and at times it felt like I was doing them a favour.
I know sales positions are tough and the money wasn't what you would like after graduating but it is still a paid position that will provide people the opportunity to work, earn money and build confidence.
All I look for in an application is someone that is clear about what they have achieved and how they did it. When I speak to a person I want them to be clear and show they have thought about what it would be like to have worked in the position. If they can describe how their experience relates to the position even better!
If you think that you can do that and don't mind working hard then I'm more than happy to give you a chance.
Just-Discounts.com
I know sales positions are tough and the money wasn't what you would like after graduating but it is still a paid position that will provide people the opportunity to work, earn money and build confidence.
All I look for in an application is someone that is clear about what they have achieved and how they did it. When I speak to a person I want them to be clear and show they have thought about what it would be like to have worked in the position. If they can describe how their experience relates to the position even better!
If you think that you can do that and don't mind working hard then I'm more than happy to give you a chance.
Just-Discounts.com
Do you know that the picture on your website representing students and teachers is the sheltered college freshman meme?
Original post by yashradia
This is just for people who have graduated and are looking for job. How do you deal with the changing process? My life is so rubbish, I sit at home and feel so depressed. I have no friends as i studied in a different city, I always sit on my laptop getting bored and my head hurts and i have got mental illness like anxiety, lack of confidence. Anyone going through similar stage? I hate every second of this time and its so upsetting because i am such a positive person. I do go swimming once a week but even that is turning out to be expensive and yes because i have no job i have no money. I feel so useless and pointless in life
Join a group or try a new hobby? It may help you socialise and you really need to get out. I graduated a couple of years ago and although I had job before I am now unemployed. I have a little more income than you cos my bf works and therefore supports me and I live near my grandma so help out with her shopping a bit. I really would go doolally of I was stuck indoors all day everyday. Even just a walk around the block when the weather is nice can help, the sunshine cheers me up and the fresh air clears my head. Are you signing on yet? keep looking for jobs, I know its hard as there is not a lot around but you will find something eventually as I hope I will, stay positive.
You might want to look for part-time jobs. They present less risk to the employer, are typically easier to get and you can obtain related experience in what you actually want to do in the hours you're not working. From experience it can be hard to find the time to apply to jobs when you're working 40 hours a week.
It is very tough at the moment, I do get annoyed when people say that I'm not trying hard enough. I went for an interview yesterday which involved three half of hours worth of assessment on top of the phone interview which I'd already had. One of the other people going for the job was a Cambridge graduate.
At this point you would probably guess that this for a top-end job in finance, consultancy e.t.c. Nope, this was for a temporary, £8/PH job in market research, essentially just phoning people up and reading a script. The job market is so saturated that employers are able to hand pick people for relatively menial jobs like this.
I just found out that I was unsuccessful, what a surprise.
At this point you would probably guess that this for a top-end job in finance, consultancy e.t.c. Nope, this was for a temporary, £8/PH job in market research, essentially just phoning people up and reading a script. The job market is so saturated that employers are able to hand pick people for relatively menial jobs like this.
I just found out that I was unsuccessful, what a surprise.
(edited 12 years ago)
Not wanting to put any body down, but after 6 months of applying anywhere and everywhere a couple of interviews and the first job I've been offered is at McDonald's. Well, I'd better take it, a job is a job.
It's no good just applying in your chosen sector or what your degree is relevant too. If you get no luck there just apply everywhere even if its part time, temporary... it's a job, you may hate it, you may have no friends, but you will have money coming in and that's what matters.
It's no good just applying in your chosen sector or what your degree is relevant too. If you get no luck there just apply everywhere even if its part time, temporary... it's a job, you may hate it, you may have no friends, but you will have money coming in and that's what matters.
Original post by hippieglitter
it's a job, you may hate it, you may have no friends, but you will have money coming in and that's what matters.
Sad but true unfortunately. Job satisfaction comes second to actually having scrilla in your wallet.
Well done on finding employment.
Original post by Disenchanted
Don't you mean at least ten jobs a day? I was applying none stop and eventually it pays off.. three a week will get you nowhere unless you are holding out for a very specific job. It's best IMO to apply for minimum wage jobs and then look for a more suitable job whilst employed.
10 a day?
I thought i was quick applying for 2 a week - it takes time to research the company and job and tailor the answers on a decent sized application form.
If i imagine what a 10 a day application might look like, i'm not surprised people have to spent months sending off hundreds of applications before they get a bite. I'd like to think the time you put into an application (if you had a fighting chance in the first place) is correlated to the amount of time an employer might devote to it too... If you're just clicking 'yes' to monster job ads, your up against anothert 50,000 grads who all also invested the whole of 5 seconds into 'applying' for that job.
(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by Reagan Smash
I know how you feel. try setting yourself goals in terms of job searching, try and apply for 3 jobs a week giving you a better chance of getting hired. Consider all jobs which you could do, not just jobs which you would want to do. Why not volunteer somewhere? You won't get paid but it will look good on your CV and give you something to do! An employer will look at your CV and will think to themselves 'what have they been doing since June' or whenever you finished Uni. If you can put down something, e.g. volunteering then it will look like you have been doing something and see you as more employable.
3 a week? Gees. After I graduated I was applying for 5 to 10 a day. If you're unemployed the most important thing you've got to do is to try and find a job.
Anything is better than nothing at all.
Sitting about feeling sorry for yourself achieves nothing.
Personally, after 6 months of getting nowhere I decided my self respect had taken enough of a beating so I wrote a business plan, put a suit on and got a loan from the bank and set my own business up.
3 years ago I was living off the goodwill of my mother and driving around in 200 quids worth of rusty Jag. These days I've got my own house and 4 classic cars on the drive.
(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by brabzzz
10 a day?
I thought i was quick applying for 2 a week - it takes time to research the company and job and tailor the answers on a decent sized application form.
If i imagine what a 10 a day application might look like, i'm not surprised people have to spent months sending off hundreds of applications before they get a bite. I'd like to think the time you put into an application (if you had a fighting chance in the first place) is correlated to the amount of time an employer might devote to it too... If you're just clicking 'yes' to monster job ads, your up against anothert 50,000 grads who all also invested the whole of 5 seconds into 'applying' for that job.
I thought i was quick applying for 2 a week - it takes time to research the company and job and tailor the answers on a decent sized application form.
If i imagine what a 10 a day application might look like, i'm not surprised people have to spent months sending off hundreds of applications before they get a bite. I'd like to think the time you put into an application (if you had a fighting chance in the first place) is correlated to the amount of time an employer might devote to it too... If you're just clicking 'yes' to monster job ads, your up against anothert 50,000 grads who all also invested the whole of 5 seconds into 'applying' for that job.
If you're unemployed your full time job is looking for a job - you can do a lot with 30 - 40 hours in a week!
Original post by brabzzz
10 a day?
I thought i was quick applying for 2 a week - it takes time to research the company and job and tailor the answers on a decent sized application form.
If i imagine what a 10 a day application might look like, i'm not surprised people have to spent months sending off hundreds of applications before they get a bite. I'd like to think the time you put into an application (if you had a fighting chance in the first place) is correlated to the amount of time an employer might devote to it too... If you're just clicking 'yes' to monster job ads, your up against anothert 50,000 grads who all also invested the whole of 5 seconds into 'applying' for that job.
I thought i was quick applying for 2 a week - it takes time to research the company and job and tailor the answers on a decent sized application form.
If i imagine what a 10 a day application might look like, i'm not surprised people have to spent months sending off hundreds of applications before they get a bite. I'd like to think the time you put into an application (if you had a fighting chance in the first place) is correlated to the amount of time an employer might devote to it too... If you're just clicking 'yes' to monster job ads, your up against anothert 50,000 grads who all also invested the whole of 5 seconds into 'applying' for that job.
This is also true, I've spent hours in the past thinking up intelligent and knowledgeable sounding answers to application form questions. 10 a day is excessive. The job centre only want proof of three a week, there have been times where I have done more and I put them all down in my little looking for work booklet, but they only need to see six to show that I am applying when I go in every other Wednesday.
Original post by hippieglitter
Not wanting to put any body down, but after 6 months of applying anywhere and everywhere a couple of interviews and the first job I've been offered is at McDonald's. Well, I'd better take it, a job is a job.
It's no good just applying in your chosen sector or what your degree is relevant too. If you get no luck there just apply everywhere even if its part time, temporary... it's a job, you may hate it, you may have no friends, but you will have money coming in and that's what matters.
It's no good just applying in your chosen sector or what your degree is relevant too. If you get no luck there just apply everywhere even if its part time, temporary... it's a job, you may hate it, you may have no friends, but you will have money coming in and that's what matters.
I got to that point. In fact I'd applied to McD's 4 times before I got the job. But once I'd worked there for 3 months I'd had enough. I'd rather spend longer applying for jobs that I'm suited for and doing voluntary work/improving my CV - even going to college (after a degree aswell!!) than settling for a job that is totally soul destroying. Life is way too short to put up with the kind of abuse that I got from customers in McDonalds. I'd urge anyone who is about to settle for a job in the fast food industry or a supermarket job to consider all the work they've put into their education (especially if you've done a degree) and how much you deserve better for yourself. It seems like were all brainwashed to work maximum effort in return for the least amount of money and just shrug our shoulders and say 'it's better than nothing'. After so many rejections we just reach that point, but it's too defeatist. If you've done GCSEs, A-levels and a Degree, you invested at least 5 more years into your education than the people who left education at 16 and got low paid jobs.
In McDonalds I was working with such people - all around me. Why should I be doing that job, on the same pay, when I've spent an extra 5 years breaking my back to get the best grades possible and to educate myself while they've given up?
I say that as a working class person whose parents have worked low paid jobs all their lives. I don't look down my nose at people who do those kind of jobs - they're earning an honest living unlike the underclass dole scroungers. But, if you've put the effort into getting an education you can't settle for doing the same job as someone who hasn't put that effort in. That's not being a snob, that's recognising your own abilities and your own hard work.
I haven't spent the last 5 years working my arse of to end up serving burgers to abusive people. I'll do everything I can so that I do not do a job like that. I've started looking at jobs on the continent because the UK really doesn't look so great for graduates.
Original post by somethingbeautiful
I got to that point. In fact I'd applied to McD's 4 times before I got the job. But once I'd worked there for 3 months I'd had enough. I'd rather spend longer applying for jobs that I'm suited for and doing voluntary work/improving my CV - even going to college (after a degree aswell!!) than settling for a job that is totally soul destroying. Life is way too short to put up with the kind of abuse that I got from customers in McDonalds. I'd urge anyone who is about to settle for a job in the fast food industry or a supermarket job to consider all the work they've put into their education (especially if you've done a degree) and how much you deserve better for yourself. It seems like were all brainwashed to work maximum effort in return for the least amount of money and just shrug our shoulders and say 'it's better than nothing'. After so many rejections we just reach that point, but it's too defeatist. If you've done GCSEs, A-levels and a Degree, you invested at least 5 more years into your education than the people who left education at 16 and got low paid jobs.
In McDonalds I was working with such people - all around me. Why should I be doing that job, on the same pay, when I've spent an extra 5 years breaking my back to get the best grades possible and to educate myself while they've given up?
I say that as a working class person whose parents have worked low paid jobs all their lives. I don't look down my nose at people who do those kind of jobs - they're earning an honest living unlike the underclass dole scroungers. But, if you've put the effort into getting an education you can't settle for doing the same job as someone who hasn't put that effort in. That's not being a snob, that's recognising your own abilities and your own hard work.
I haven't spent the last 5 years working my arse of to end up serving burgers to abusive people. I'll do everything I can so that I do not do a job like that. I've started looking at jobs on the continent because the UK really doesn't look so great for graduates.
In McDonalds I was working with such people - all around me. Why should I be doing that job, on the same pay, when I've spent an extra 5 years breaking my back to get the best grades possible and to educate myself while they've given up?
I say that as a working class person whose parents have worked low paid jobs all their lives. I don't look down my nose at people who do those kind of jobs - they're earning an honest living unlike the underclass dole scroungers. But, if you've put the effort into getting an education you can't settle for doing the same job as someone who hasn't put that effort in. That's not being a snob, that's recognising your own abilities and your own hard work.
I haven't spent the last 5 years working my arse of to end up serving burgers to abusive people. I'll do everything I can so that I do not do a job like that. I've started looking at jobs on the continent because the UK really doesn't look so great for graduates.
When I went in for my interview one of the most important things that the interviewer did was make clear to me that I was not in the minority, with the economy in the state it is at the moment, every single person he pointed out working on the tills has a degree, he actually asked outright if I thought the job was beneath me. I spent 15 months in a job I hated, a job where I felt victimized. I can do it again, I have nothing left to lose that they can take from me. I don't believe it will be forever, 12 months then I can either keep going and attempt to climb the ladder or find something else.
(edited 11 years ago)
I have lost count of how many rejections I received but eventually did get a graduate job. (Partly to blame was my lack of relevant work experience)
Sometimes my morale was really low the worst day of my job search was when I got the email that I did not get a job I so wanted and spent months preparing for the application process.
What I did was constantly improve my interview skills I sit down after interviews to analyse what I could have done better and always asked for feedback.
The most important thing about looking for jobs as a Graduate is to be able to get up after rejections and to keep applying and making applications even better and targeted to the specific role you are applying for.
At the moment it is tough and competitive.
Sometimes my morale was really low the worst day of my job search was when I got the email that I did not get a job I so wanted and spent months preparing for the application process.
What I did was constantly improve my interview skills I sit down after interviews to analyse what I could have done better and always asked for feedback.
The most important thing about looking for jobs as a Graduate is to be able to get up after rejections and to keep applying and making applications even better and targeted to the specific role you are applying for.
At the moment it is tough and competitive.
Original post by brabzzz
10 a day?
I thought i was quick applying for 2 a week - it takes time to research the company and job and tailor the answers on a decent sized application form.
If i imagine what a 10 a day application might look like, i'm not surprised people have to spent months sending off hundreds of applications before they get a bite. I'd like to think the time you put into an application (if you had a fighting chance in the first place) is correlated to the amount of time an employer might devote to it too... If you're just clicking 'yes' to monster job ads, your up against anothert 50,000 grads who all also invested the whole of 5 seconds into 'applying' for that job.
I thought i was quick applying for 2 a week - it takes time to research the company and job and tailor the answers on a decent sized application form.
If i imagine what a 10 a day application might look like, i'm not surprised people have to spent months sending off hundreds of applications before they get a bite. I'd like to think the time you put into an application (if you had a fighting chance in the first place) is correlated to the amount of time an employer might devote to it too... If you're just clicking 'yes' to monster job ads, your up against anothert 50,000 grads who all also invested the whole of 5 seconds into 'applying' for that job.
After applying for the exact same job though a thousand times over you eventually have cover letters for all different job types you are interested in, so eventually it becomes a copy and paste job with just a few words changed. 2 a week though seriously, that's poor..
Unless they are extremely high calibre jobs not just a 12k admin position.. I sent off one of my generic admin letters to a company, and beat the other 149 applicants for the job despite me not spending 7 days on a tailor made letter (to prove my point) and then managed to get a decent graduate job very soon after, again I hadn't spent longer than 1 hour on the cover letter..! So that's two job offers in one week AFTER spending 6 months applying non stop for jobs (and yes I did make an effort with my cover letters). If your method works for you then that's great, but you really need to up your game. There are a LOT of job seekers out there.
(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by Disenchanted
changed. 2 a week though seriously, that's poor.. Unless they are extremely high calibre jobs not just a 12k admin position..
Unless they are extremely high calibre jobs not just a 12k admin position.. It only took two, and it got me out of doing half the interview/assessment process for a good city job.
My point being you can't really criticise a rate/day (mine/anyones) without knowing the background.
I know times are not good, but 10+ a day for extended periods of time and getting nowhere means you're either applying for jobs that are not there...or there is something fundamentally wrong with the applications themselves...
Original post by Disenchanted
After applying for the exact same job though a thousand times over you eventually have cover letters for all different job types you are interested in, so eventually it becomes a copy and paste job with just a few words changed. 2 a week though seriously, that's poor.. Unless they are extremely high calibre jobs not just a 12k admin position..
I sent off one of my generic admin letters to a company, and beat the other 149 applicants for the job despite me not spending 7 days on a tailor made letter (to prove my point) and then managed to get a decent graduate job very soon after, again I hadn't spent longer than 1 hour on the cover letter..!
Unless they are extremely high calibre jobs not just a 12k admin position.. I sent off one of my generic admin letters to a company, and beat the other 149 applicants for the job despite me not spending 7 days on a tailor made letter (to prove my point) and then managed to get a decent graduate job very soon after, again I hadn't spent longer than 1 hour on the cover letter..!
How many generic ones did you send off to secure that place? I sent off 1 or 2 a week, but I ensured they were top quality (admittedly still doing my degree, so didn't have perhaps the same level of pressure as some of you guys). Overall I believe I sent off nine, all to very highly rated graduate schemes. I got invited to interview with every single one, despite my academics being pretty standard (2:1 and not from a top 10). I genuinely believe that slowing down and putting the effort into each application is well worth the cost of less applications. Perhaps I'm wrong, but always worth a go?
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