If you have been able to find some kind of voluntary work then congratulations! As Tesco's says "every little helps".
It actually does help! Even the odd bit of ad-hoc work can show the ability to fit in a little extra work around your busy schedule. This ability shows excellent organisation skills and a team player. At this stage of the job-market-game, strong organisation and team player skills are essential as the jobs a graduate would primarily go into after University are within a team and with low responsibility.
In the last post, I discussed how a university student could get voluntary work within university societies. But, why bother with voluntary work? "What if I am in a position where I can get paid work within my chosen field, should I still bother?" Well my friend, you are one of a small percent who attain the chance to do so, so well done you!
As previously explained, short term placements and training in the right field for a graduate is extremely tough and can be just as competitive as a full time job. The competition is getting tougher by the year as more and more graduates pour out of university.
If you get a contract for a placement or training during uni, you are still competing against others for full time jobs at the end of your degree who might have a similar background as you, but with a bite. That bite could be a little bit of voluntary work or a project they have done in their spare time. It's unfortunately not enough these days to have one project under your belt.
Your CV needs to look so full of varied training, that the recruiter or future employer would be mad not to employ you.
Sunday 21 November 2010
Tuesday 16 November 2010
I want experience, but I can't give up my holidays for voluntary work.
For whatever reason you can't give up your holiday time for voluntary work or a summer placement, The answer may be closer to home (well, uni).
Summer placements nowadays are becoming just as competitive as internships and let's not get started on work placements. Some are just about as competitive as graduate schemes! But there will be many out there who can't afford to work for free or travel half way across the country for a few weeks - if you don't have friends or family that are close that will let you stay, a massive fortune will have to be spent on B&B's. Many will want to do summer work closer to home to afford that holiday they rightly deserve, or many have great plans for a summer full of partying (we can never do enough at the ripe old age of 20yrs old and by god do we deserve it!).
So, what's the answer? Well, the good news is it's at uni and it's not so competitive. The answer is to join a society/group that is relevant to your ideal career.
So if you are interested in PR, why not join the union newspaper society? If you are interested in Marketing or Accounting, join a society and become the secretary/ event's secretary or treasurer. These don't sound as prestigious as a summer placements with Ernst and Young or a top PR firm down in London, but it shows interest from an earlier starting point and at least you'll have something down. If there isn't a society that fit's your ideal career, why not create one?
Prospective Lawyers look into debating teams or human/animal rights society
Events Management: join a society (or sporting society) and try for the events secretary - if they don't have one, say they should and try run for it! (I did!)
Radio or TV? A good number of Universities have a TV or radio station within the union. If they don't have one - well, make a start in getting one!
Prospective teachers could look into a society that offers voluntary teaching within the local community.
Future politicians could also look into the debating team and go into the society that represents their chosen party and be as active as possible within the university and local community.
Anymore you can think of? Feel free to comment below.
Hope this post will be hopeful for those looking for a chance to gain experience within their chosen field.
H
Summer placements nowadays are becoming just as competitive as internships and let's not get started on work placements. Some are just about as competitive as graduate schemes! But there will be many out there who can't afford to work for free or travel half way across the country for a few weeks - if you don't have friends or family that are close that will let you stay, a massive fortune will have to be spent on B&B's. Many will want to do summer work closer to home to afford that holiday they rightly deserve, or many have great plans for a summer full of partying (we can never do enough at the ripe old age of 20yrs old and by god do we deserve it!).
So, what's the answer? Well, the good news is it's at uni and it's not so competitive. The answer is to join a society/group that is relevant to your ideal career.
So if you are interested in PR, why not join the union newspaper society? If you are interested in Marketing or Accounting, join a society and become the secretary/ event's secretary or treasurer. These don't sound as prestigious as a summer placements with Ernst and Young or a top PR firm down in London, but it shows interest from an earlier starting point and at least you'll have something down. If there isn't a society that fit's your ideal career, why not create one?
Prospective Lawyers look into debating teams or human/animal rights society
Events Management: join a society (or sporting society) and try for the events secretary - if they don't have one, say they should and try run for it! (I did!)
Radio or TV? A good number of Universities have a TV or radio station within the union. If they don't have one - well, make a start in getting one!
Prospective teachers could look into a society that offers voluntary teaching within the local community.
Future politicians could also look into the debating team and go into the society that represents their chosen party and be as active as possible within the university and local community.
Anymore you can think of? Feel free to comment below.
Hope this post will be hopeful for those looking for a chance to gain experience within their chosen field.
H
Saturday 16 October 2010
A perfect Catch 22
When I grow up I want to be...
A brain surgeon!
No, seriously I did. That changed too a Barrister, being in the Marines, realized you could be under the sea without being in the Marines, so decided I want to be a marine Biologist. The list has been very long including an Accountant, Solicitor and Beautician.
Right now I have a complicated title so I just say I am in Marketing and PR. I don't think I ever expected to go down this route when I was younger- truth be told I just fell into it.
This seems quite common for people to just fall into their current jobs and career lines. People sometimes pick their career paths depending on their current skills, in the mind-set it will just be easier to match the skills to the job, rather than job to the skills. I have a lot of admiration for the latter as they go out of their way for external training, which is generally time consuming and expensive.
Which one are you? Feel free to comment with the way you have chosen your career path.
Due to the current job market, it is increasingly difficult to change career paths and step into a new profession with only ambition and transferable skills. Even applying for Graduate Internships, your skills and degree need to match exactly to the criteria that has been given.
To gain an internship for say Marketing; the competition is tough and chances are if you already have experience in the sector AND have the degree, you will get shortlisted over those who don't have both/either. Unfortunately,those who are ambitious in that career path but require experience from the Internship, will be less likely to get it over those who ALREADY have the experience. A perfect Catch 22.
So where do you gain the skills to gain the ability to get experience and a taste (when I say a taste, I don't mean a week's of experience) for your dream profession?
Possibly through qualifications - qualified in Marketing or PR will get you shortlisted who don't, problem is - you haven't had the experience or a proper taste of the profession to see whether you like it. It's costly and time consuming if the job doesn't work out how you hoped. Here we start the process all over again - no on hand experience or qualified in your next dream profession... Who will take someone like that on?
Any responses are very welcome.
H
A brain surgeon!
No, seriously I did. That changed too a Barrister, being in the Marines, realized you could be under the sea without being in the Marines, so decided I want to be a marine Biologist. The list has been very long including an Accountant, Solicitor and Beautician.
Right now I have a complicated title so I just say I am in Marketing and PR. I don't think I ever expected to go down this route when I was younger- truth be told I just fell into it.
This seems quite common for people to just fall into their current jobs and career lines. People sometimes pick their career paths depending on their current skills, in the mind-set it will just be easier to match the skills to the job, rather than job to the skills. I have a lot of admiration for the latter as they go out of their way for external training, which is generally time consuming and expensive.
Which one are you? Feel free to comment with the way you have chosen your career path.
Due to the current job market, it is increasingly difficult to change career paths and step into a new profession with only ambition and transferable skills. Even applying for Graduate Internships, your skills and degree need to match exactly to the criteria that has been given.
To gain an internship for say Marketing; the competition is tough and chances are if you already have experience in the sector AND have the degree, you will get shortlisted over those who don't have both/either. Unfortunately,those who are ambitious in that career path but require experience from the Internship, will be less likely to get it over those who ALREADY have the experience. A perfect Catch 22.
So where do you gain the skills to gain the ability to get experience and a taste (when I say a taste, I don't mean a week's of experience) for your dream profession?
Possibly through qualifications - qualified in Marketing or PR will get you shortlisted who don't, problem is - you haven't had the experience or a proper taste of the profession to see whether you like it. It's costly and time consuming if the job doesn't work out how you hoped. Here we start the process all over again - no on hand experience or qualified in your next dream profession... Who will take someone like that on?
Any responses are very welcome.
H
Friday 17 September 2010
"You've got the job, so when do you want to start?"
Some good news! I had an interview last week and I got the job. Hip hip hooray!
Three months of unemployment. Three months of continuously writing, improving my CV, writing covering letters, researching jobs, interviews, rejections, feedback, mock interviews.... and I dare say..the list goes on.
So I now have a foot in the door. I'm hoping that things will be easier for future employment and I hope that the job market will be more stable the next time I look for work.
My plan is to share with you my processes in finding work and help current and future graduates get their foot in the door in a graduate job in their chosen field(not call centres, retail or bar work).
My next few posts:
- Searching for work: How versatile do you have to be to find your future job?
- Get yourself noticed by recruiters and have things to put on your CV to look better
- Adapt your skills to match your dream career path
I hope to have these out in the next few weeks.
I am also still working on my piece about work experience, which I hope to have up for you all by early October.
H
Three months of unemployment. Three months of continuously writing, improving my CV, writing covering letters, researching jobs, interviews, rejections, feedback, mock interviews.... and I dare say..the list goes on.
So I now have a foot in the door. I'm hoping that things will be easier for future employment and I hope that the job market will be more stable the next time I look for work.
My plan is to share with you my processes in finding work and help current and future graduates get their foot in the door in a graduate job in their chosen field(not call centres, retail or bar work).
My next few posts:
- Searching for work: How versatile do you have to be to find your future job?
- Get yourself noticed by recruiters and have things to put on your CV to look better
- Adapt your skills to match your dream career path
I hope to have these out in the next few weeks.
I am also still working on my piece about work experience, which I hope to have up for you all by early October.
H
Monday 13 September 2010
Doctor doctor... I'm not employable!
That probably isn't true.
With three months of unemployment under my belt, I have a wealth of experience of CV writing, cover letters, interviews and rejections. I know from relevant experience that thinking you aren't employable is not the case.
You are competing against a number of other competitors that can all demonstrate the same skills you have, the issue is to try and separate yourself and make your CV and covering letter scream out to the recruiter. HIRE ME OR YOUR LOSS!!! You want to tell your prospective employer that you are the answer to their prayers and what you have is real ambition to drive their company to make more profit. End of the day, they are bringing you in to make the company more money. Priority for any company is 1.) profit 2.)profit 3.) profit.
If you want to apply, that means they have sold the job well and the more people they have applying, the better they are selling. So, your response...? SELL SELL SELL!!! Sell yourself like this is the last chance you do! Don't lie, lying is not selling, but boost your skills and sell them as if they are the newest thing on the block.
What every CV needs is power words; words that blast out of the page and make the recruiter wanting more. Prospects has a great list of power words that I have turned to recently to help boost my CV writing skills:
http://prospects.ac.uk/job_applications_power_words.htm
CV writing is an art; a chance for you to really create and represent you at your best on paper.
Now.. Get creating!
With three months of unemployment under my belt, I have a wealth of experience of CV writing, cover letters, interviews and rejections. I know from relevant experience that thinking you aren't employable is not the case.
You are competing against a number of other competitors that can all demonstrate the same skills you have, the issue is to try and separate yourself and make your CV and covering letter scream out to the recruiter. HIRE ME OR YOUR LOSS!!! You want to tell your prospective employer that you are the answer to their prayers and what you have is real ambition to drive their company to make more profit. End of the day, they are bringing you in to make the company more money. Priority for any company is 1.) profit 2.)profit 3.) profit.
If you want to apply, that means they have sold the job well and the more people they have applying, the better they are selling. So, your response...? SELL SELL SELL!!! Sell yourself like this is the last chance you do! Don't lie, lying is not selling, but boost your skills and sell them as if they are the newest thing on the block.
What every CV needs is power words; words that blast out of the page and make the recruiter wanting more. Prospects has a great list of power words that I have turned to recently to help boost my CV writing skills:
http://prospects.ac.uk/job_applications_power_words.htm
CV writing is an art; a chance for you to really create and represent you at your best on paper.
Now.. Get creating!
Sunday 12 September 2010
Thinking about work experience?
So...
Had two weeks doing work experience for two top leading companies in very different roles; Client Executive at a world wide Insurance Brokers, HR consultants, Marketers, PR Executive and Business Developers at Dickinson Dees. Interestingly, the style of work experience differed by a large degree.
What are the different styles of work experience?
I shall discuss two types as these are the two I experienced: experiencing the work that A does for B, the theoretical understanding of the role and "a week in the life of...", to watch the role in action.
The former I would imagine most would think work experience would involve; sit down with each of the departments and each would set a small, relevant task to do within a time frame, to gain a taste of the work they are involved in. Most of the tasks I was given as seen in my previous posts was research, e.g. "how the scrapping of the default retirement age would affect Dickinson Dees". I would then sit with each department and have their role discussed and ask any questions. This form of work experience is more theoretical and gives an insight into the style of work they do.
The second, the "week in the life of..." was with Marsh. I would imagine this is how they would treat their trainees, therefore not the work experience style as above, but a flavour of the work one would be given. I got an insight intohow the Client Executive organises their week and handles their clients. I enjoyed this as I was able to watch their projects being worked on and what their plans were with the projects in the near future. In conclusion, I got to see their job in action, so a more practical method of work experience.
Two very different and interesting styles. If you are interested in looking into work experience, I would certainly recommend it and I have hopefully shed some light into some of the possible varying types available. Depending on the work style and the company, you may want to query into the style they have planned for you, or would plan for you. Best of luck and I hope you enjoy your work experience!
H
Had two weeks doing work experience for two top leading companies in very different roles; Client Executive at a world wide Insurance Brokers, HR consultants, Marketers, PR Executive and Business Developers at Dickinson Dees. Interestingly, the style of work experience differed by a large degree.
What are the different styles of work experience?
I shall discuss two types as these are the two I experienced: experiencing the work that A does for B, the theoretical understanding of the role and "a week in the life of...", to watch the role in action.
The former I would imagine most would think work experience would involve; sit down with each of the departments and each would set a small, relevant task to do within a time frame, to gain a taste of the work they are involved in. Most of the tasks I was given as seen in my previous posts was research, e.g. "how the scrapping of the default retirement age would affect Dickinson Dees". I would then sit with each department and have their role discussed and ask any questions. This form of work experience is more theoretical and gives an insight into the style of work they do.
The second, the "week in the life of..." was with Marsh. I would imagine this is how they would treat their trainees, therefore not the work experience style as above, but a flavour of the work one would be given. I got an insight intohow the Client Executive organises their week and handles their clients. I enjoyed this as I was able to watch their projects being worked on and what their plans were with the projects in the near future. In conclusion, I got to see their job in action, so a more practical method of work experience.
Two very different and interesting styles. If you are interested in looking into work experience, I would certainly recommend it and I have hopefully shed some light into some of the possible varying types available. Depending on the work style and the company, you may want to query into the style they have planned for you, or would plan for you. Best of luck and I hope you enjoy your work experience!
H
Saturday 11 September 2010
So, where are we...
Firstly, apologies for the serious delay in updates. I have been super busy.
To complete, in brief, my week of work experience with Dickinson Dees: Marketing and PR. This I believe has changed my CV forever. Considering I had quite an interest in both marketing and PR (they sound like pretty sexy jobs), yet I knew nothing of what it involved, so having a taste of what's in store for a prospective marketeer was exceedingly useful:
Marketing processes within Dickinson Dees
Researched and gained some technical knowledge about email marketing.
I was lucky enough to meet them during their website revamp and have a chance to give feedback and give an outsider's prospective.
Gained understanding of Google Analytics and to what extent business' can use and exploit web analytics.
PR within Dickinson Dees, therefore: a look at PR in-house
Understanding of the relationship between journalists and solicitors
Style of writing for press releases
The typical magazines and newspapers which mention Dickinson Dees
And then of course...good ol' administration. Don't diss, it's the coal that keeps the business a lite.
I shall give my personal feedback on work experience and whether it is of use for a graduate looking for work this coming Autumn.
Stay tuned
H
To complete, in brief, my week of work experience with Dickinson Dees: Marketing and PR. This I believe has changed my CV forever. Considering I had quite an interest in both marketing and PR (they sound like pretty sexy jobs), yet I knew nothing of what it involved, so having a taste of what's in store for a prospective marketeer was exceedingly useful:
Marketing processes within Dickinson Dees
Researched and gained some technical knowledge about email marketing.
I was lucky enough to meet them during their website revamp and have a chance to give feedback and give an outsider's prospective.
Gained understanding of Google Analytics and to what extent business' can use and exploit web analytics.
PR within Dickinson Dees, therefore: a look at PR in-house
Understanding of the relationship between journalists and solicitors
Style of writing for press releases
The typical magazines and newspapers which mention Dickinson Dees
And then of course...good ol' administration. Don't diss, it's the coal that keeps the business a lite.
I shall give my personal feedback on work experience and whether it is of use for a graduate looking for work this coming Autumn.
Stay tuned
H
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