Job Hunting isn't always
plain sailing
(Image: Authors Own)
My experience job hunting was pretty average. I started applying for jobs after Easter of my final year which, as a tip, if you are thinking of doing a graduate scheme you need to be looking around about September of your final year. I got caught in the whole cycle of 'got the degree but no experience' which was pretty awful to be honest.
When I started applying for roles I signed up to a lot of job search engines (Monster, Reed and my uni's own bespoke job search engine). I wrote my CV and got my Fiancé to look it over and uploaded them onto the sites. I would upload a cover letter and CV bespoke for each job because let's face it, you don't want to give an easy reason for a rejection. My first jobs I applied for were just shop jobs to keep me going and allow me to stay in my old uni town. Additionally I already had my summer job as a cleaner lined up ( I had been cleaning in halls every summer since first year). It was a 16 week contract so knew I had 16 weeks to get myself a job.
After a few failed interviews I really started to ramp up the job hunt in June. I was applying for jobs every night and by then the interviews were coming in and on average I was going to one interview a week. My work was really supportive and let me have the time I needed for those interviews. On my seventh week cleaning I went for an interview to become a market researcher. I was really ill that week ( I had flu), had been sick and was so close to not attending the interview but went anyway. Luckily I performed well and got the job.
With my lessons in job hunting perseverance is a important skill to have. I didn't have the option to give up because if I wanted to live with my partner I had to earn money. However I do know some students were living at home not doing a lot and waiting for the 'perfect' job. For those interviews I did do my homework and sat and learned as much as possible about the organisations. I kitted myself out in interview clothes brought before I started applying so wasn't rushing out last minute for clothes. Additionally I felt that I had undersold the skills gained from my degree which showed in my interviews. I would have felt more confident if those skills had been applied in a internship or work experience before university was finished.
I interview now and the amount of people who I have interviewed in the past that have very little knowledge about the workplace in is really bad. Passion in these people is also lacking. Passion is so important for any role and can make up if you are slightly lacking in skills.
Has anybody had any good or bad interview experiences?
Has anybody had any good or bad interview experiences?
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