[PurplePampelmoose]

I've just come across this video (I know its fairly old.. but I think it still chimes true): http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/f...d-workers.html

I can't help but think that if employers keep insisting on employing people with years and years experience that when this 'experienced' generation retires there will be no one qualified to do any jobs?

Young people aren't given the chance to get this experience so in 10/15 years time when all of these older people are retired.. who will be doing the jobs?

[original_username]

You're assuming people will even bloody retire!

[PurplePampelmoose]

This is very true!

[Meee123]

Its relatively easy to get experience, even if it's voluntarily. My sister has practically no qualifications, but built up a years worth of solid experience volunteering for 3 organisations and work experience at a 'normal' company', and is only part-way through her first 'real' qualification at A level, level (level 3). She's had NO problem going into her first job on the first rung her chosen career, because of this, despite the fact she isn't a graduate.

Students have 3 years to get work experience, and whilst I understand some courses are more demanding than others academic and time-wise, there is ALWAYS something you can do. I did a design degree and as well as working on 'live' briefs throughout uni, I volunteered at local organisations and did all their design/marketing work, nagged the hell out of local design studios (I'm surprised I never got a caution for harassment! ) until they offered me work experience, even if it was for the odd day. I did much more than this but you get the drift. I was offered a full-time job before I finished my degree and got my result.

I'm career changing at the moment and am going to follow a similar path to before and what my sister did. I've sought advice from recruitment companies/ and organisations I'm interested in working for, and already got 2 placements lined up within just a few hours of trying. These have recieved a good reception before I've even started!

Graduates don't really have much excuse to be honest and there's NO reason one such leave uni with an empty CV that has nothing except a degree on it. I know people with 3rds in really '5h1t' subjects, but have amazing careers.

I've run a very small business before (just a local cleaning company), and the person with even a bit of initiative to make their own way would win over the expectant 'qualified' person with zilch experience EVERY TIME. What you need to remember is that employers want to make MONEY, and so you need to think from an employers point of view, and think what can YOU offer THEM, and not vice versus! NO BODY is 'entitled' to a job.

I know I sound like a cold hearted cow, but I'm sick of people complaining about being inexperienced and unable to find work, as it does nothing for us but but bring damnation from every other section of society....graduates this, graduates that...

If you really want to get experience, out of the catch 22 situation, you can, but only you can do it.

Seriously though, I only intend to be encouraging here and If anyone needs any help PM and I'll give some suggestions etc. (I seem to be the local careers adviser anyway!)

[PurplePampelmoose]

(Original post by Meee123)
Its relatively easy to get experience, even if it's voluntarily. My sister has practically no qualifications, but built up a years worth of solid experience volunteering for 3 organisations and work experience at a 'normal' company', and is only part-way through her first 'real' qualification at A level, level (level 3). She's had NO problem going into her first job on the first rung her chosen career, because of this, despite the fact she isn't a graduate.

Students have 3 years to get work experience, and whilst I understand some courses are more demanding than others academic and time-wise, there is ALWAYS something you can do. I did a design degree and as well as working on 'live' briefs throughout uni, I volunteered at local organisations and did all their design/marketing work, nagged the hell out of local design studios (I'm surprised I never got a caution for harassment! ) until they offered me work experience, even if it was for the odd day. I did much more than this but you get the drift. I was offered a full-time job before I finished my degree and got my result.

I'm career changing at the moment and am going to follow a similar path to before and what my sister did. I've sought advice from recruitment companies/ and organisations I'm interested in working for, and already got 2 placements lined up within just a few hours of trying. These have recieved a good reception before I've even started!

Graduates don't really have much excuse to be honest and there's NO reason one such leave uni with an empty CV that has nothing except a degree on it. I know people with 3rds in really '5h1t' subjects, but have amazing careers.

I've run a very small business before (just a local cleaning company), and the person with even a bit of initiative to make their own way would win over the expectant 'qualified' person with zilch experience EVERY TIME. What you need to remember is that employers want to make MONEY, and so you need to think from an employers point of view, and think what can YOU offer THEM, and not vice versus! NO BODY is 'entitled' to a job.

I know I sound like a cold hearted cow, but I'm sick of people complaining about being inexperienced and unable to find work, as it does nothing for us but but bring damnation from every other section of society....graduates this, graduates that...

If you really want to get experience, out of the catch 22 situation, you can, but only you can do it.

Seriously though, I only intend to be encouraging here and If anyone needs any help PM and I'll give some suggestions etc. (I seem to be the local careers adviser anyway!)

Thanks for your comment. I am currently an MA student and I worked part time and volunteered at multiple organisations throughout my undergraduate degree (and still managed to get a 1st), and I am currently doing the same during my MA. At the moment, I volunteer 4 days a week and work for money at the weekends as well as doing my uni work.

Most of the graduates I know DID put in the work during uni, volunteering and working part time etc. So I also have no time for people who did not do this. But I don't think its a good idea to generalise before you know someone's situation.

I recently didn't get shortlisted for an interview at an organisation that i have been volunteering at for 5 months (doing the job they advertised for in theory), because I don't have 15 years experience in admin. (I'm 21, so I would have started my admin career at 6 to be eligible - just ridiculous).

I just think that more employers should give young people a chance. I'm extremely motivated, and I love what I do in my volunteering so much that it would just be nice to get some recognition for the time I have put in (preferably in the form of a salary ). Its just a bummer to think that I'll have to carry on with the waitressing and volunteering probably for a long time before I'll even be eligible to apply for the jobs I'd like to do (and can actually already do!)

[Meee123]

The comment wasn't directed at you personally, but at graduates as a whole. I know a lot of graduates/students do try hard, but I would go as far to say that MOST don't, as the general thought is that as they're graduates, they walk into a job no problem. I did generalise a bit, which is a bit wrong, but at the end of the day, graduates (I'm one too, but my attitudes different as I've actually RAN a business) need to put on their prospective employers thinking cap, and see things through their eyes and, then make themselves attractive to the employer. At the minute, its an employers market, they have the pick of the bunch, and at the moment, people with no experience simply can't compete unless they do something about it. Like I said before, the average employer want's someone who can hit the ground running with little or no training, and who is going to turn them a profit. A newly qualified person without some kind of work skills isn't going to be of value to company for a while and is going to cost the company. I personally believe it is wrong, back in the day, employers used to train new recruits to do a job, now they just want fully trained.

I see I have earned some neg reps. Bring them on. I do understand how frustrating it is for people at the moment, but the reality is reality and no matter how many neg reps you give me, that isn't going to change. If you can't tolerate a simple post (okay, it is fairly looooong post) from some annonymous person on an internet forum, telling it like it is, then how are you going to cope in the cut throat world of work we have today? Do you realise that employers are always complaining that graduates a weak and cannot handle critism. I may sound like I'm criticising, but I intended it in the 'get yourself together' constructive kind of way. Take my post in the spirit it is intended.

@ Purplepampelmoose, I believe I replied to you post on another thread. I'm very sorry about your situation. If they want someone with 15 years experience than that's what they want, HOWEVER, as you've actually volunteered with them in the same role and can clearly do the job, I find it rather distasteful that they overlooked you in this manner, and I would pull them up for a word about it. I'm not sure how specialised your role is, but I think demanding 15 years experience for an admin based role is pathetic to be perfeectly honest, as most people can be fully trained pretty quickly, and I'm sure anything between a few months and 2 years would suffice. Does this job on offer pay very very well?

[_Shmiley]

My uncle is a teacher and he's recently moved to a new area. He keeps looking for jobs and there are so many jobs but whenever he applies he gets nothing and it turns out they want newly qualified teachers because they don't have to pay them as much. So you know works both ways in a sense :P


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[Meee123]

(Original post by _Shmiley)
My uncle is a teacher and he's recently moved to a new area. He keeps looking for jobs and there are so many jobs but whenever he applies he gets nothing and it turns out they want newly qualified teachers because they don't have to pay them as much. So you know works both ways in a sense :P


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

I'm assuming he's going after public sector teaching jobs? If so, I say no more.

[_Shmiley]

(Original post by Meee123)
I'm assuming he's going after public sector teaching jobs? If so, I say no more.

Yeah he is mainly now due to this but even private schools are doing the same which is odd..


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[Meee123]

I take it you're not aware of private sector employers (not ALL, but a hell of a lot) views of public sector staff/prospective employees? How many wouldn't touch them with a bargepole. Go onto a couple of business forums and ask. Although I think they're wrong and pretty stupid in many many cases, who are we to argue when private sector companies are the real drivers of the economy, and the ones doing the employing of real tax-paying staff. I happen to think the public vs private sector thing is stupid and shallow, but regardless of what I think, it still stands.

[PurplePampelmoose]

(Original post by Meee123)
The comment wasn't directed at you personally, but at graduates as a whole. I know a lot of graduates/students do try hard, but I would go as far to say that MOST don't, as the general thought is that as they're graduates, they walk into a job no problem. I did generalise a bit, which is a bit wrong, but at the end of the day, graduates (I'm one too, but my attitudes different as I've actually RAN a business) need to put on their prospective employers thinking cap, and see things through their eyes and, then make themselves attractive to the employer. At the minute, its an employers market, they have the pick of the bunch, and at the moment, people with no experience simply can't compete unless they do something about it. Like I said before, the average employer want's someone who can hit the ground running with little or no training, and who is going to turn them a profit. A newly qualified person without some kind of work skills isn't going to be of value to company for a while and is going to cost the company. I personally believe it is wrong, back in the day, employers used to train new recruits to do a job, now they just want fully trained.

I see I have earned some neg reps. Bring them on. I do understand how frustrating it is for people at the moment, but the reality is reality and no matter how many neg reps you give me, that isn't going to change. If you can't tolerate a simple post (okay, it is fairly looooong post) from some annonymous person on an internet forum, telling it like it is, then how are you going to cope in the cut throat world of work we have today? Do you realise that employers are always complaining that graduates a weak and cannot handle critism. I may sound like I'm criticising, but I intended it in the 'get yourself together' constructive kind of way. Take my post in the spirit it is intended.

@ Purplepampelmoose, I believe I replied to you post on another thread. I'm very sorry about your situation. If they want someone with 15 years experience than that's what they want, HOWEVER, as you've actually volunteered with them in the same role and can clearly do the job, I find it rather distasteful that they overlooked you in this manner, and I would pull them up for a word about it. I'm not sure how specialised your role is, but I think demanding 15 years experience for an admin based role is pathetic to be perfeectly honest, as most people can be fully trained pretty quickly, and I'm sure anything between a few months and 2 years would suffice. Does this job on offer pay very very well?

I understand where you're coming from about graduates, and I do think its really important that current and prospective graduates understand that experience really is the key currently! The job didn't pay particularly well, which is why it surprised me so much. Although it was particularly flexible, so I think it probably appealed to people who had other responsibilities e.g. children etc. I know what you men, I think this generation is one that has been brought up around computers and technology, and therefore typing/administration etc, so i think it is a bit ridiculous to ask for that much experience for that role. I am going to have a chat with them about it on Monday!

[M1011]

(Original post by Meee123)
.

Out of interest, if you don't mind me asking what was your job and what industry are you now moving into?

[Peel]

(Original post by Meee123)
I see I have earned some neg reps. Bring them on. I do understand how frustrating it is for people at the moment, but the reality is reality and no matter how many neg reps you give me, that isn't going to change. If you can't tolerate a simple post (okay, it is fairly looooong post) from some annonymous person on an internet forum, telling it like it is, then how are you going to cope in the cut throat world of work we have today? Do you realise that employers are always complaining that graduates a weak and cannot handle critism. I may sound like I'm criticising, but I intended it in the 'get yourself together' constructive kind of way. Take my post in the spirit it is intended.

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that people negged you not because you're "telling it like it is", but probably because instead of giving advice /saying "it's possible to find employment if you do X, Y, or Z", or as you put it "get yourself together", you wrote a short essay glorifying your achievements.

For what it's worth, I don't really care personally what you've wrote, and much less about what you've done, but a little empathy as well as humility would have gone down a little bit better.

[Meee123]

If you actually READ my posts properly, you'll see that I'm offering advice, suggestions and and am very empathetic, however, what jobseekers need right now is not lots of hugs and kisses, but TRUTHFUL advice as its very tough out there. It's not been as easy for me as it may sound, but it's been a lot EASIER when compared with people I know/friends/colleagues, as I have a difference mindset of not EXPECTING or feeling ENTITLED to a job. NOT boasting but telling people what THEY can do. Why do people take offence at EVERYTHING?

[Meee123]

Why has Purplepampelmoose been neg repped for her post? :/

[PurplePampelmoose]

(Original post by Meee123)
Why has Purplepampelmoose been neg repped for her post? :/

The harsh cold world of TSR!

[MissBerry]

I'm entering my 3rd year of uni so don't have to do this stuff for a while now. But I'm actually doing work experience for a newspaper and they want a story on people with decent qualifications finding it hard to get a job after uni. Does anyone want to go on record with their experiences? Feel free to PM me or whatever

[M1011]

(Original post by Meee123)
If you actually READ my posts properly, you'll see that I'm offering advice, suggestions and and am very empathetic, however, what jobseekers need right now is not lots of hugs and kisses, but TRUTHFUL advice as its very tough out there. It's not been as easy for me as it may sound, but it's been a lot EASIER when compared with people I know/friends/colleagues, as I have a difference mindset of not EXPECTING or feeling ENTITLED to a job. NOT boasting but telling people what THEY can do. Why do people take offence at EVERYTHING?

I don't think people like capitalised words. It seems... rude?

[INTit]

Its funny with these threads somebody always comes in recommending us lazy grads to go get experience in a charity shop to stand out.

It's nothing but time wasting for most positions. Do you think a software development house is going to give a damn whether you worked on the tills in tesco ? No - they've literally told me.

Employers want relevant commercial experience yet there's no way to get it besides difficult to find placements.

Things do need to change.