Trying to find a job after graduating and getting nowhere...

I've just graduated with a good degree and I have several years work experience (including managerial level), everyone who has reviewed my CV says it's of a high standard. However i'm trying to properly job hunt for the first time in my life and i'm getting nowhere :sad:

Looked through 33 pages of one job site and didn't find 1 job that I was a. interested in and b. met the requirements for. Then looked through 25 pages of another, and 20 of another. Nothing. Everything that looks remotely interesting requires a drivers license, related experience or a degree in a related subject.

I have absolutely no idea what I want to do for a job, but everything seems to be way out of my league. It wouldn't have to be a graduate job, i'll take literally anything if it's full time. The only thing I don't want to do is retail as i've been stuck there for years.

I've already had to cancel the holiday of a lifetime so I feel like **** as it is without this making it worse. Whilst I do have more than enough money to live comfortably for now I am really getting concerned that in 2 months time i'll still be unemployed and won't have anything to pay for basic things like rent or food.

How on earth do I get started here? :/

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Reply 1

username418231

Perhaps take on ANY job for now while looking for a better job?

Reply 2

Tinsley

Take anything if it means you can eat. Continue to hunt for a job you like in the meantime. Grad schemes all open around the Autumn in case they help you with ideas?

Reply 3

threeportdrift

Careers Forum Helper

Original post by sr90

Looked through 33 pages of one job site and didn't find 1 job that I was a. interested in

I have absolutely no idea what I want to do for a job,

How on earth do I get started here?

Get a grip and be more selective in your job hunt. YOU have a degree in a specific subject and you probably have a pattern of activities and experiences on which you can narrow down a skill set. Work out some area of work you think you could do and aim for that. A generic approach will lead to generic applications and generic is not competitive and never will be.

Reply 4

Tom_Ford

Lol, I am a 2013 graduate and I am still unemployed. 2.1 in Law from RG uni, sadly I just have not made it anywhere. You just learn to accept it after a while.

Reply 5

snowman77

Original post by Tom_Ford

Lol, I am a 2013 graduate and I am still unemployed. 2.1 in Law from RG uni, sadly I just have not made it anywhere. You just learn to accept it after a while.

What jobs have you applied to? What has the Job Centre done to help you?

OP you have a lot more experience than most grads. You have managerial experience. If grads with much less experience can get jobs, then you definitely can. Lower your standards maybe.

Reply 6

Key123

Bit late now but the most 'successful' grads I know (eg walked into employment/got on grad schemes etc) organised themselves AT uni and applied themselves in their final year.

As soon as you graduate without a job, you're on the back foot as you're explaining a gap where some other bright young thing can still brag about uni extra curriculars etc in the present tense.

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Reply 7

sr90

Volunteer Team

It wouldn't have to be a grad job, i'm aware I wouldn't be very likely to get one. I'll take literally anything as long as it's not minimum wage retail but like someone has already said, I know if I randomly apply to places without fully knowing what i'm getting myself in for i'll just get rejected.

Reply 8

threeportdrift

Careers Forum Helper

Original post by sr90

.............

Are you -
a) not finding jobs to apply to
b) applying and not getting to interview, or
c) getting to interview and not getting an offer?

Reply 9

Sanctimonious

Original post by Tom_Ford

Lol, I am a 2013 graduate and I am still unemployed. 2.1 in Law from RG uni, sadly I just have not made it anywhere. You just learn to accept it after a while.

Your fault really. You did a law degree and there aren't many jobs and its hard to get into unless you network like hell. You should have done some pre degree research and took time out to make an informed choice.

I've graduated with a 2:1 in computer science and have had multiple job offers. There's loads of work out there for computer science graduates permitting they can prove they have the skills - portfolio work etc.

Honestly, I don't understand why so many people take degrees with no practical application and then moan when an employer or multiple employers won't take a chance on them.

Ever considered setting up a law based blog on WordPress for free and writing about stuff in the legal field you're interested in to show your knowledge and show what you can offer?

Reply 10

El Salvador

I've graduated but didn't look for full-time jobs because I'm starting my master's soon. But not only did I still get full-time job offers, but I also am earning more than what I probably would've earned full-time doing part-time, working fewer hours. And doubling the starting salary of graduate average's here.

Reply 11

Et Tu, Brute?

Original post by sr90

What subject is your degree in?

Reply 12

sr90

Volunteer Team

Original post by threeportdrift

Are you -
a) not finding jobs to apply to
b) applying and not getting to interview, or
c) getting to interview and not getting an offer?

The first one.

I think i've got the opposite problem to most people. With the skills i've gained from my degree plus the transferable skills from work, i'm confident that i've got enough to sell myself and at least get to the interview stage. I think my CV is quite strong for an Arts degree graduate fresh out of university.

However the experience of job hunting is completely alien to me, I had the same job for the entirety of my 3 years at uni and my most recent job was through a contact. I live in an area with one of the highest employment rates in the UK so i'm sure there's something out there, i'm just not sure how to get started!

Original post by Et Tu, Brute?

What subject is your degree in?

History. There's not a lot I can do that's specific to the degree, but I think it's given me a whole host of skills I can sell to employers. For example I came up with quite a few bullet points the other day about what i've gained from it, I won't post it on here because someone is bound to copy/paste it :tongue:

Reply 13

threeportdrift

Careers Forum Helper

Original post by sr90

Well there is a non-sequitur in your answer above. A CV is only strong in comparison to a set of job skills, it is not strong simply in and of itself. It might well be flexible because you have a broad skill set and plenty of evidence, but it is not simply 'strong'.

If you can't inject some direction in where you want to take your professional life, then you need to simply apply for things and let the market give you feedback. Practice making applications to anything and everything and you will soon find there are skill sets and therefore jobs you are not competitive for and those you are.

Reply 14

Et Tu, Brute?

Original post by Sanctimonious

I'm going to be a teacher and no I don't look like a nerd as I am not one. Enjoy signing on.

:lol:

Original post by Tom_Ford

Not that I need to sign on, but I would if I needed to and would not give a damn lol. You seem to think I care. . .

Ok lads...lets calm the heads a little. Every degree has negative aspects, computer science is no different.

Reply 15

fallen_acorns

seems from your first post, that you really need to find a dirrection..

The majority of people that I see struggling with jobs after graduation, are those who do not have a specific skill set/dirrection/ability/passion etc.

The 'general' job market is toxic at the moment.. and any job that does not require a specific skill, or have a limmiting factor, is hugely hugely over applied for.. any job that just needs general traits/computer literacy, seems like gold dust when you view how many applicants they recieve..

Whilst your looking now, and ofcourse applying for anything you can - it may be worthwhile to really focus down on the sector you want to go into, and the specific skills you have/can develip, that can get you a job.. its hard (though not impossible) to get anything but a general job, without a specific specialism and focus, as there will always be soemone aplying who does specialise in that area..