Paid Members Gus Mears Posted June 21, 2016 Paid Members Share Posted June 21, 2016 (edited) There are many CV templates around to help structure it. If it's lack of experience in your field, you should consider carpet-bombing employers and agencies with a cover letter & CV to generate interest and get feedback. I was basically coming in here to post this. I hate the term with a passion, but it's largely a numbers game getting a first post-grad job and you're incredibly unlikely to get anything approaching the job you really want to do just out of Uni. Agencies are annoying, but I would recommend signing up for as many as you can think of. You'll then need to badger them relentlessly in order to get them to do much of anything. However, I did get a couple of temporary contracts out of University through an agency called Brook Street. Also, I would be prepared to do a crap job for a while just in order to have a job. I ended up working in the Christmas department of a garden centre for minimum wage the year after graduating and it was shit. It was still better than being on the dole though. While I'm not sure I agree it's always easier to get another job when you already have one, it certainly takes the pressure off desperately needing every interview to be a successful one. Good luck! Edited June 21, 2016 by Gus Mears Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members Monkee Posted June 21, 2016 Paid Members Share Posted June 21, 2016 If you can't get a permanent job in the industry you want straight out of uni then do a placement or internship. Get a bar job with a few evening/weekend shifts and that'll be more than JSA will pay and you won't have anyone on your back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonny Mustang Posted June 21, 2016 Share Posted June 21, 2016 Agreed finding a job after uni is tough- it took me 2 years! During that time though, I did agency work (worked as a receptionist at a law firm- actually really good money!), did volunteer work which even remotely based on my degree and attended more interviews, assessment centers than I care to remember. I think it's particularly useful to have someone in your field review your cv. I work in Employment law, so see a lot of cvs- but really not sure I would know what someone in your field wants. The online free cv templates work well though for just getting an aesthetically pleasing and logical format. Good luck - keep us posted! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members FLips Posted June 21, 2016 Paid Members Share Posted June 21, 2016 Just don't try and better yourself with voluntary work to gain experience, as despite them trying to help you find employment, they will cancel your benefits if you do voluntary work for anyone not a charitable organisation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Briefcase Posted June 21, 2016 Share Posted June 21, 2016 (edited) Personally I would maybe get a job that isn't related to your CV for a year or two and either try and use your qualifications in that role (e.g. someone I worked with in the catering industry used to do in-store little promo videos to build up his portfolio for media studies) or even progress into a higher position and then use say management experience combined with your degree to help put yourself over above everyone else. Edited June 21, 2016 by Briefcase Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members Monkee Posted June 21, 2016 Paid Members Share Posted June 21, 2016 I worked in a shop while applying for jobs in London then moved here. And now I'm working as many shifts in a pub as I can while looking for a job in my usual profession after being made redundant. The shifts work around any interviews I have. I'm not too proud to do stuff like stacking shelves while working towards my 'usual' job. It's money at the end of the day and it shows you're willing to work. I'd much rather be cleaning or picking up rubbish or serving burgers than claiming benefits and sitting on my arse waiting for my big break to drop into my lap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Briefcase Posted June 22, 2016 Share Posted June 22, 2016 I always think there are life skills to be learned by doing something else, whether thats waiting in a restaurant or working temp in an office, its good to try your hand at something, get some experience and take that with you into the next job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members Surf Digby Posted June 22, 2016 Paid Members Share Posted June 22, 2016 If you're signing on, chances are you'll end up picking up rubbish anyway but without getting paid for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stunner Posted June 22, 2016 Share Posted June 22, 2016 (edited) Cheers for the advice. Went to this CV course today, expecting the worst (I've heard some horror stories about these courses). But I actually found it pretty useful. The guy that ran it was fine with my specialised writing CV, but pretty brutal about my "general" one. So with all that in mind, I've got an alright basic CV I think and I'm planning on taking it into some agencies to find some temporary admin work. I think that's a start. Edited June 22, 2016 by Stunner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Houchen Posted June 22, 2016 Share Posted June 22, 2016 (edited) Had a call about two possible jobs, full time ones. They just called back and said they were a traditional company and if I smoked or had tattoos. That was a new one for me! Edited June 22, 2016 by Keith Houchen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Chest Rockwell Posted June 22, 2016 Moderators Share Posted June 22, 2016 No more hair dye for you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Houchen Posted June 22, 2016 Share Posted June 22, 2016 Haha! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members Monkee Posted June 22, 2016 Paid Members Share Posted June 22, 2016 Getting a bit dispondent already. The job I really wanted from last week (included some international travel and sounded really fun) got back today and won't be proceeding. The interview I went for today wasn't what I thought I was going for (the recruitment company fucked up) and I'm not interested in it and don't think it's for me. I'm still waiting to hear back from another interview last week and I have another one tomorrow morning. I don't know whether it's because I'm tired or what but today's rejection really knocked me and I got really upset. Stupid really but I'm finding it really hard right now because I just want (need!) a fucking job that pays a decent wage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members Surf Digby Posted June 22, 2016 Paid Members Share Posted June 22, 2016 Being unemployed is shit. It really is. Your self esteem takes an absolute hammering because when you're not getting flat out rejected, you're not getting a response at all and you start wondering what it was about your application that wasn't good enough. It's a numbers game. Unless it's something niche, you're competing with literally hundreds of other applicants and half of the CVS won't get a look over once they've shortlisted enough people to interview. You're clearly not unsuitable for being considered for these roles though, so your applications and CV are sound. The recruitment company are actually putting you forward for things so they must have faith in you too. All is good. You've made far more progress than I managed in my first 6 weeks after redundancy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperBacon Posted June 22, 2016 Share Posted June 22, 2016 Had a call about two possible jobs, full time ones. They just called back and said they were a traditional company and if I smoked or had tattoos. That was a new one for me! That's ridiculous, but not uncommon. There is a rather largish FMCG company that only hires white, British people who don't smoke or have tatts etc. The owner mentions this every time she rang with a brief, even though it's fucking illegal!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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