The job of finding employment is an arduous one and certainly far from easy while we continue to be suffering in a recession. Over the course of the last 6 or so months I have got some things right, made many mistakes, but ultimately followed a path which has gained me work in my chosen sector. I like to think then that these hints and tips may be able to do the same for others in my situation. Without further ado:
3 Important Tips
1. Set a maximum of 2 Criteria- At the start of searching you will be probably have fairly narrow criteria. You will have a job you wish to do, an industry you wish to work in, location, pay, benefits, prospects. Soon it becomes clear this is unrealistic. Rank the criteria in order of importance and work out what is the most important thing to you. Some things may be forced up on you. I.E - location, if your tied to a rental contract, but by picking a wide, but targeted approach you have a better chance of finding the right job.
2. Experience is Key - A sad truth but in all but the graduate programs(and even some of them) experience is the key to success, not academic qualification. If you have experience then you stand a much better chance. If you don't do whatever it takes to get it. Temping is the best option, but also will not hire non experienced workers, work trials, working for free is always an option but the best I believe is to volunteer.
3. Volunteer - Probably the most important factor that has helped me find work has been my volunteering with the Solent Credit Union. I had not even thought of volunteering till a friend suggested it, don't assume that the right role is not there for you. Again, repeat step 1 and search for the best place for you. I looked for marketing and ended up with the S.C.U. I knew nothing about them at the time, but now am passionate about their success. It does not necessarily matter if you know the charity, there are hundreds of worthy courses out there in need of skilled workers, and unlike paid work, they are often not as picky. If this is something which interests you check out the do-it website.
And some hints
1. Identify your key sites - Most of job searching is conducted online now and there are literally thousands of sites to choose from. Do not expect to find the ideal sites for you straight away but rule out ones that do not hit the right buttons and keep searching. If you are not finding the jobs you need, try new sites and eventually build up a portfolio. For any budding marketers out there I advise the following:
Graduate Jobs South
Only Marketing Jobs
Daily Echo (Fish4jobs)
Jobsite
totaljobs
CV-Library - A brilliant discovery in the last few months
Gumtree
Marketing Job Boards
Reed.co.uk
2. Identify who will receive your application - Covering letters can make a real difference but they are time consuming and it is a good idea to keep templates for various jobs which can be adjusted. With many jobs though, the recipient is an agent representing the company. In my experience they do not read covering letters and I had a higher success rate when I stopped sending them with the C.V. Instead applying was a simple three click process in many cases and made applying for all sorts of jobs much easier.
3. Proof read any communications - Whether true or not it has been suggested that C.V's and applications are often thrown in the bin for grammar or spelling mistakes. This would seem a bit extreme but careless errors will not make you a stand out candidate for the job.
4. Be Confident and relaxed - An interview tip here. My best interviews were relaxed affairs, including the one where I got the job. Try and be relaxed and confident and honest. If you cannot answer a question state so, don't get hung up on the fact. The few rigid interviews I had were much harder and ultimately left me disliking the company anyway. Adhere to the criteria set for you but don't panic or worry. There are plenty more jobs in the...job sea? For more on interview techniques see this older post
5. Consider which benefits you are eligible for - The benefits process can be downright depressing and frustrating but don't rule it out because of pride. In particular look at Council tax and Housing benefit. Put up with the Job Centre for as long as you can. In the 6 months I was there they only did one thing to help me, and that was because I had reached the 6 month mark.
7. Consider anything which will enhance your employability - Keep an open mind and take any opportunity you can get your hands on. Think outside the box as well, if you have the money to do so learning to drive is one of the things which makes you more employable and gives you a greater reach for jobs.
8. Post your C.V on every job site you come across - Okay you do not have to religiously use the job site but if your C.V is there employers/agents can find you. I had a little success down this avenue but as always anything which makes the job easier has to be worthwhile.
9. Be cordial with agents but don't expect a lasting relationship - If your C.V begins to look impressive you will begin to receive calls from job agencies. Be polite and willing to discuss any role although also be ready to turn down opportunities. Agents will often come with jobs they are desperate to fill even if they are clearly not what you are interested in.
10. Beware the scams - Beware Scams and jobs which mislead as to what they actually involve. If possible try to avoid even applying for them. Asking for you to be self employed should flash a warning light as should salary being based entirely on OTE. (On Target Earnings) For more on marketing specific ones see here or here
Well there we go. A gigantic post which has shown some of the main things I have learned and wish to pass on. Happy hunting!
Showing posts with label unemployment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label unemployment. Show all posts
Thursday, 20 May 2010
Friday, 27 November 2009
Wasting your life?
Despite what many people may think, being unemployed simply is not fun. If you have gone through what is effectively 17 years of education without so much as a breather you really want to be able to go out and start earning money, having a life and leaving exams, essays and procrastination far behind you in the dust.
Unemployment would be more fun if there were actually any goals you could have other than get a job. Goals that help you fulfil your potential and ultimately satisfy you.
The thing I think that a lot of people seem to miss is that job hunting may be a continuous process, but it doesnt take up a whole day. Far from it in fact. I have a catalogue of sites I check regularly for updates, but that only takes half an hour, and maybe another half hour on top of that if I need to apply somewhere. Ultimately its not worth a spending a whole day job hunting, even if a job is posted when you refresh the page for the ninth time it will still be there tomorrow and you could have discovered it then.
The point is unemployment leaves you with a lot of time sitting around on your own doing very little. This is where the depression side of being unemployed can really hone in and do its damage.
I for instance have spent a lot of this week playing Fifa 2010. Many hours in fact, day hours whilst other people are out earning a living. Occasionally (jokes about football games aside) you sit back and think am I wasting my life? When I went to university and got a degree and a masters was it so I could sit and play Fifa all day a year later?
The answer clearly is no. But its really difficult to motivate yourself to do other things, I love to read for instance, but I struggle to spend most of a day reading unless I really engage with a book. Games are escapist in nature, and hours pass easily and ultimately thats what I spend most of my time doing, passing hours, days, weeks until the next job based opportunity.
It can be depressing if you dwell on it too much, but if you try to accept the circumstances and look forward and on to the next chance its bearable. After all if all goes well once youve got a job, you will look back on those many free hours with longing because ultimately you have to persevere. There is no other option.
Unemployment would be more fun if there were actually any goals you could have other than get a job. Goals that help you fulfil your potential and ultimately satisfy you.
The thing I think that a lot of people seem to miss is that job hunting may be a continuous process, but it doesnt take up a whole day. Far from it in fact. I have a catalogue of sites I check regularly for updates, but that only takes half an hour, and maybe another half hour on top of that if I need to apply somewhere. Ultimately its not worth a spending a whole day job hunting, even if a job is posted when you refresh the page for the ninth time it will still be there tomorrow and you could have discovered it then.
The point is unemployment leaves you with a lot of time sitting around on your own doing very little. This is where the depression side of being unemployed can really hone in and do its damage.
I for instance have spent a lot of this week playing Fifa 2010. Many hours in fact, day hours whilst other people are out earning a living. Occasionally (jokes about football games aside) you sit back and think am I wasting my life? When I went to university and got a degree and a masters was it so I could sit and play Fifa all day a year later?
The answer clearly is no. But its really difficult to motivate yourself to do other things, I love to read for instance, but I struggle to spend most of a day reading unless I really engage with a book. Games are escapist in nature, and hours pass easily and ultimately thats what I spend most of my time doing, passing hours, days, weeks until the next job based opportunity.
It can be depressing if you dwell on it too much, but if you try to accept the circumstances and look forward and on to the next chance its bearable. After all if all goes well once youve got a job, you will look back on those many free hours with longing because ultimately you have to persevere. There is no other option.
Thursday, 19 November 2009
The Big "C" Approaches.
Those of you who have been reading this blog since the beginning will know that Thursday is effectively Job Search day. Where I check all the sites for relevant positions I can apply for.
Today I find 0 suitable positions, not one single job which I was a candidate for. I put this down to the approaching of Christmas, which although still a month away begins to steal peoples consciousness about now, not helped of course by the media and the retail industry. It is a common joke that the appearance of Christmas stuff gets earlier each year. Soon we will be able to purchase over priced chocolates, novelty fish and decorations in August.
With the looming vastness of Christmas I think many firms are not looking for change. Its not a good time to break some one into the company only to have them disappear for a week or more over the Christmas holidays. This is especially true of Graduates who at times require hand holding and training.
I am left with a choice then really, a question that has been haunting me and I imagine other graduates since their unemployment:
Do I look for a part time job or do I spend the time spamming organisations with speculative applications when no other jobs present themselves or seem likely to in the foreseeable future.
Part time job
Pros: Money- obviously the biggest pro as a little extra cash around the holiday period is always welcome
Experience - Unless you get it in a relevant discipline then this is pretty minor
Something to do - Sitting around on your arse most days isnt fun, at least a part time job will give you tasks and allow you to meet people
Reference- That all important employer reference, gives you some variety on your C.V at least.
Cons: Money- Working more than 19 hours a week will mean you are unable to claim JSA and subsequently housing benefits. This may mean you earn less then youd get from the government, which seems counter productive if your not getting anything that makes you more employable and could be using the time for better purposes
Time consuming- Part time jobs especially around Christmas can be very time consuming, you usually end up working in the retail sector and working several days a week.
Working until Xmas - Chances are, you work for a retail firm and they will want you until Xmas Eve. Travelling home then isnt going to be fun.
Speculative Applications
Pros: May get you a job - The whole part of a speculative application is to show an employer that you would be an asset to their company so that when a position opens up they think of you, that or if you really impress them they open a position just for you.
Contacts - Even if a person reading the application doesnt want to hire you they might write back and you may be able to contact them in the future
Cons: Wasting your time? - Last year when I was searching for a position I sent out a number of speculative applications. One responded. Just one of the eight I completed and that required significant chasing only to get an almost automated thanks but no thanks letter.
Christmas - Here it is again, are people really going to be interested in your application with the piles of work they have to complete before they can make merry with their family, probably not. I sent a spec application to Twinings last year and took nearly 2 months to deal with as it got lost over the Xmas period
So there we go, a difficult decision. There is always do nothing, or maybe something I have not thought of. Thoughts?
Today I find 0 suitable positions, not one single job which I was a candidate for. I put this down to the approaching of Christmas, which although still a month away begins to steal peoples consciousness about now, not helped of course by the media and the retail industry. It is a common joke that the appearance of Christmas stuff gets earlier each year. Soon we will be able to purchase over priced chocolates, novelty fish and decorations in August.
With the looming vastness of Christmas I think many firms are not looking for change. Its not a good time to break some one into the company only to have them disappear for a week or more over the Christmas holidays. This is especially true of Graduates who at times require hand holding and training.
I am left with a choice then really, a question that has been haunting me and I imagine other graduates since their unemployment:
Do I look for a part time job or do I spend the time spamming organisations with speculative applications when no other jobs present themselves or seem likely to in the foreseeable future.
Part time job
Pros: Money- obviously the biggest pro as a little extra cash around the holiday period is always welcome
Experience - Unless you get it in a relevant discipline then this is pretty minor
Something to do - Sitting around on your arse most days isnt fun, at least a part time job will give you tasks and allow you to meet people
Reference- That all important employer reference, gives you some variety on your C.V at least.
Cons: Money- Working more than 19 hours a week will mean you are unable to claim JSA and subsequently housing benefits. This may mean you earn less then youd get from the government, which seems counter productive if your not getting anything that makes you more employable and could be using the time for better purposes
Time consuming- Part time jobs especially around Christmas can be very time consuming, you usually end up working in the retail sector and working several days a week.
Working until Xmas - Chances are, you work for a retail firm and they will want you until Xmas Eve. Travelling home then isnt going to be fun.
Speculative Applications
Pros: May get you a job - The whole part of a speculative application is to show an employer that you would be an asset to their company so that when a position opens up they think of you, that or if you really impress them they open a position just for you.
Contacts - Even if a person reading the application doesnt want to hire you they might write back and you may be able to contact them in the future
Cons: Wasting your time? - Last year when I was searching for a position I sent out a number of speculative applications. One responded. Just one of the eight I completed and that required significant chasing only to get an almost automated thanks but no thanks letter.
Christmas - Here it is again, are people really going to be interested in your application with the piles of work they have to complete before they can make merry with their family, probably not. I sent a spec application to Twinings last year and took nearly 2 months to deal with as it got lost over the Xmas period
So there we go, a difficult decision. There is always do nothing, or maybe something I have not thought of. Thoughts?
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