Searching for jobs is bleak. I'm not going to re-quote all the statistics I vomited at you previously. I'm not even going to tell you that supply vastly oustrips demand and there are hundreds (in some cases thousands) of people vying for a handful of positions.
I'm going to tell you about the single hardest thing I've come across in my 4-month-and-counting job search. Bouncing back.
Now I'm reasonably well educated, I have a good string of exam results to my name, I even have some 'relevant work experience'. For me finding a job shouldn't take four months. But I don't want any old job - as I have told you before, I want a job in the media. Of the experience I've had within the media I look around the offices and think 'it's not as if these people are vast intellects, it's not even as if they all have oodles of experience'.
So what is it? Well for a start, they networked, and got themselves a lucky break. They dotted the right 'i's and crossed the right 't's - in other words, they jumped through the right hoops as instructed by their ringmaster. This really frustrates me because it's not like these companies are looking for the best candidate, they're just looking for a specific candidate that knows how to mention all the right keywords in the application and subsequent interview.
In some ways it's like GCSE science exams. You have a question which requires an extended written response: 'how does the heart work?' for example. Now the examiner isn't interested in the way you decide to write the question - whether you use sibilance or the rule of three - all he's looking for is the right processes in the right order. Applying for jobs in the media (or anywhere, for that matter) is much the same.
So I put my heart and soul into an application and I know that it's good and it answers the questions well. I send it off and then I wait. After waiting a considerable amount of time I then get a 'thanks but no thanks'. In all the time I've been waiting I let myself hope that this particular job will be the one I get. You can imagine why bouncing back is the hardest part for me.
Fair enough if I'm not an adequate candidate, but when I know that I could do the job well and my application reflects that, I've just not put in the secret codeword that these employers look for, that's when it hurts.
So forget trawling the internet for jobs, spending ages filling in applications, waiting weeks for replies, and practicing your best interview techniques, the hardest thing about job hunting is bouncing back time after time, after time.
Tuesday, 20 December 2011
Thursday, 15 December 2011
'The Lost Generation'
So yesterday it all kicked off in parliament. Not only was there a big brouhaha over Europe, David Cameron's veto, and the possibility of tensions in the coalitian, but Ed Miliband accused David Cameron of betraying a generation of young people as unemployment figures again sky-rocket.
Unemployment in in the UK in general is at its highest since 1994 hitting a whopping 2.64 million, 128,000 more than three months ago. Youth unemployment has broken the 1 million mark and there are all sorts of other statistics to make news companies salivate at the prospect of some really depressing headlines.
In all, however, if we actually take time to read the whole report then we would probably be surprised that the changes in the three-month period were minimal - fractions of a percent. As per usual there is a lot of media hype and scaremongering over nothing, but if Fiona Bruce didn't have anything to be concerned about, we'd be subject to her cheesy grin.
Anyway... Enough of my scepticism about the industry I'm trying to get a job in...
The figures are bleak; so there may have been little change, but the fact the figures are hitting those dizzy heights in the first place is the major point of concern. Unemployment in the UK stands at 8.3%; in Germany their unemployment rate is much lower at 6.5%. In fact Germany is doing quite well compared to Britain. Their economy is on the up and unemployment is coming down. Part of this is to do with young people going into apprenticeships and getting a step up to a career in skilled labour. The UK got rid of a lot of its manufacturing so we can't offer the same to our young and jobless.
There is some light at the end of the tunnel. Morrisons have announced that they will be creating 7,000 jobs. Brilliant! At last someone is willing to invest in young people (who will no doubt end up in most of those positions). All we need now is for more companies to do that - to be ready to train up the young gadabouts and give them the responsibility of a proper job.
Companies that make billions in profit should be at the forefront of schemes like this. In the interests of expansion, why not take a chance with some conscientious young folk. That will in turn take the pressure off the government as far as the dole is concerned, and suddenly the deficit is reduced, and we're giving Germany a run for its money...
Unemployment in in the UK in general is at its highest since 1994 hitting a whopping 2.64 million, 128,000 more than three months ago. Youth unemployment has broken the 1 million mark and there are all sorts of other statistics to make news companies salivate at the prospect of some really depressing headlines.
In all, however, if we actually take time to read the whole report then we would probably be surprised that the changes in the three-month period were minimal - fractions of a percent. As per usual there is a lot of media hype and scaremongering over nothing, but if Fiona Bruce didn't have anything to be concerned about, we'd be subject to her cheesy grin.
Anyway... Enough of my scepticism about the industry I'm trying to get a job in...
The figures are bleak; so there may have been little change, but the fact the figures are hitting those dizzy heights in the first place is the major point of concern. Unemployment in the UK stands at 8.3%; in Germany their unemployment rate is much lower at 6.5%. In fact Germany is doing quite well compared to Britain. Their economy is on the up and unemployment is coming down. Part of this is to do with young people going into apprenticeships and getting a step up to a career in skilled labour. The UK got rid of a lot of its manufacturing so we can't offer the same to our young and jobless.
There is some light at the end of the tunnel. Morrisons have announced that they will be creating 7,000 jobs. Brilliant! At last someone is willing to invest in young people (who will no doubt end up in most of those positions). All we need now is for more companies to do that - to be ready to train up the young gadabouts and give them the responsibility of a proper job.
Companies that make billions in profit should be at the forefront of schemes like this. In the interests of expansion, why not take a chance with some conscientious young folk. That will in turn take the pressure off the government as far as the dole is concerned, and suddenly the deficit is reduced, and we're giving Germany a run for its money...
Tuesday, 13 December 2011
Networking
The most frustrating phrase known to people just starting out in the media business (or indeed any business for that matter) is 'it's not what you know, but who you know'. Earlier this year Nick Clegg was outlining the coalition's plans for internships because this very principle is outdated and frankly wrong, and the government realised something needed to be done. It was at this point that the national media took great delight in telling people that this was the way Mr Clegg got his start in life.
It is understandable that people would want to hire others they know for which they can be assured of reliability - it saves lengthy interviews and a lot of boring admin. And do you know what...? With everyone overworked and underpaid I don't blame them.
This breed of nepotism is heavily criticised across society until you experience it yourself and suddenly it's not so bad after all. I freely admit it's not the fairest way of gaining employment, and when you're overlooked (even though you're better qualified) because someone doing the hiring is mates with one of the candidates then yes, that's gonna hurt. But in the media, networking is a recognised way of getting a job.
It's all about people-skills. If you can't stand up there and meet and greet, or approach someone in person to ask for a little help here and there, the media business probably isn't going to be your friend. I've had two mini-breaks in the media (as in I've taken a step towards the ladder - I'm not at the dizzy heights yet where I'm going to put a foot on it). Both of my mini-breaks came from networking - a contact - someone who knew someone, who knew someone, who knew someone...
The chances are that most people will fit into that category - 'I know someone who knows someone else...' If the six degrees of separation really exists and we're meant to be no further from six connections away from every person on the planet, then finding someone that works in a particular industry isn't going to be that hard.
And on a day where hiring rates are at a three-year low, we young folk might have to accept the fact that our only way into employment is to be invited in by someone else... Like Spotify used to be...
It is understandable that people would want to hire others they know for which they can be assured of reliability - it saves lengthy interviews and a lot of boring admin. And do you know what...? With everyone overworked and underpaid I don't blame them.
This breed of nepotism is heavily criticised across society until you experience it yourself and suddenly it's not so bad after all. I freely admit it's not the fairest way of gaining employment, and when you're overlooked (even though you're better qualified) because someone doing the hiring is mates with one of the candidates then yes, that's gonna hurt. But in the media, networking is a recognised way of getting a job.
It's all about people-skills. If you can't stand up there and meet and greet, or approach someone in person to ask for a little help here and there, the media business probably isn't going to be your friend. I've had two mini-breaks in the media (as in I've taken a step towards the ladder - I'm not at the dizzy heights yet where I'm going to put a foot on it). Both of my mini-breaks came from networking - a contact - someone who knew someone, who knew someone, who knew someone...
The chances are that most people will fit into that category - 'I know someone who knows someone else...' If the six degrees of separation really exists and we're meant to be no further from six connections away from every person on the planet, then finding someone that works in a particular industry isn't going to be that hard.
And on a day where hiring rates are at a three-year low, we young folk might have to accept the fact that our only way into employment is to be invited in by someone else... Like Spotify used to be...
Monday, 12 December 2011
Experience
I make no bones about the fact I wish to work in the media. I'm not cut out for a job in IT; I really couldn't do any manual labour (being a girl, and being lacking in the ol' muscle department); anything that involves maths and science I try to avoid; I even struggle with my alphabet so that puts admin on a back-burner.
So the media it is! I congratulate myself. I have just chosen one of the hardest industries to slot myself into. There are plenty of opportunities about, but unfortunately walking round with 'entry-level' stamped on my forehead isn't going to get me any job interviews fast.
That brings me to... experience. I don't have an awful lot, it must be said. I like to think I took student radio by storm - I presented and produced a light-hearted foreign affairs show called... wait for it... 'Lost in Translation' - witty and original. Not. Anyway the show in itself wasn't that bad and at one time more than 1,000 people wanted to listen to my dulcet tones and so downloaded me as a podcast. Hooray!
Radio experience... Half a tick, well for entry-level anyway.
Journalism experience. Hmm... That's a big one. I am completely 100% not even a little bit qualified, but I love writing. Again I have the student experience - writing, editing, fundraising (aka bakesale-ing) - it's all there on my CV. So I think we can give a half tick for that one too.
TV production? Nada. Absolutely Rafael Nada. I'm enthusiastic, but useless in the eyes of the big companies. That said I am a keen script writer and am waiting for the day when one of the TV companies I've sent scripts to look upon me favourably and tell me they want to put one of my shows on in the 'Downton Abbey' slot on Sundays.
I am a bit of an optimist.
So I think we've established that my experience is a little patchy, but it is the catch-22 cum vicious circle that plagues most young people looking for work: I have no experience so I can't get a job; I can't get experience until I get a job; but I can't get a job as I have no experience; but I won't get experience until I get a job... Look I could do that for hours, and have done that [metaphorically] for hours as I trawled the internet looking for something that would look kindly upon someone like me with enthusiasm, but no industry experience.
One might call it the pit of despair.
So the media it is! I congratulate myself. I have just chosen one of the hardest industries to slot myself into. There are plenty of opportunities about, but unfortunately walking round with 'entry-level' stamped on my forehead isn't going to get me any job interviews fast.
That brings me to... experience. I don't have an awful lot, it must be said. I like to think I took student radio by storm - I presented and produced a light-hearted foreign affairs show called... wait for it... 'Lost in Translation' - witty and original. Not. Anyway the show in itself wasn't that bad and at one time more than 1,000 people wanted to listen to my dulcet tones and so downloaded me as a podcast. Hooray!
Radio experience... Half a tick, well for entry-level anyway.
Journalism experience. Hmm... That's a big one. I am completely 100% not even a little bit qualified, but I love writing. Again I have the student experience - writing, editing, fundraising (aka bakesale-ing) - it's all there on my CV. So I think we can give a half tick for that one too.
TV production? Nada. Absolutely Rafael Nada. I'm enthusiastic, but useless in the eyes of the big companies. That said I am a keen script writer and am waiting for the day when one of the TV companies I've sent scripts to look upon me favourably and tell me they want to put one of my shows on in the 'Downton Abbey' slot on Sundays.
I am a bit of an optimist.
So I think we've established that my experience is a little patchy, but it is the catch-22 cum vicious circle that plagues most young people looking for work: I have no experience so I can't get a job; I can't get experience until I get a job; but I can't get a job as I have no experience; but I won't get experience until I get a job... Look I could do that for hours, and have done that [metaphorically] for hours as I trawled the internet looking for something that would look kindly upon someone like me with enthusiasm, but no industry experience.
One might call it the pit of despair.
Saturday, 10 December 2011
Stereotpyes
'Stereotpyes - there must be more to life...'
A life philosophy according to Blur. What a load of rubbish. Stereotpyes don't really exist nowadays - apart from in old-fashioned, pre-political correctness language textbooks: no-one really believes that stereotypes are any use these days, let alone the backbone to our society.
Blur, and I suggest you have a listen to the song because it's really rather good, are suggesting that lives revolve around stereotypes and conforming to expectations: if someone expects me to under-perform, then I'm not going to disappoint anyone if I do.
Oh dear. That sounds quite familiar.
So we may not be looking at the French expecting them realistically to be wearing berets and stripey tshirts with a string of onions round their necks, but if I say I'm 22 and looking for work I can guarantee there are pockets of society that will make certain judgements about what I'll be like.
Let's think through a few of them... I'll be lazy, I'll be on the dole, I'll be applying for one job a month with no real desire to take it, I'll be stupid, I'll be the very last person that the average office Joe wants working with them.
I am none of these things. In fact most unemployed youths tick very few of those criteria. I don't know where the bad press is coming from, but it certainly isn't the majority. Most young jobseekers, whether out of university, or college, or high school, are conscientious and eager to get going in the world of work. After all work means money and money mean being able to buy lots more of those shiny things that seem to attract young people.
So at Christmas they (whoever 'they' are) say 'give peace a chance', some of them even say 'give peas a chance' - but I will say just one thing - 'give youths a chance'.
A life philosophy according to Blur. What a load of rubbish. Stereotpyes don't really exist nowadays - apart from in old-fashioned, pre-political correctness language textbooks: no-one really believes that stereotypes are any use these days, let alone the backbone to our society.
Blur, and I suggest you have a listen to the song because it's really rather good, are suggesting that lives revolve around stereotypes and conforming to expectations: if someone expects me to under-perform, then I'm not going to disappoint anyone if I do.
Oh dear. That sounds quite familiar.
So we may not be looking at the French expecting them realistically to be wearing berets and stripey tshirts with a string of onions round their necks, but if I say I'm 22 and looking for work I can guarantee there are pockets of society that will make certain judgements about what I'll be like.
Let's think through a few of them... I'll be lazy, I'll be on the dole, I'll be applying for one job a month with no real desire to take it, I'll be stupid, I'll be the very last person that the average office Joe wants working with them.
I am none of these things. In fact most unemployed youths tick very few of those criteria. I don't know where the bad press is coming from, but it certainly isn't the majority. Most young jobseekers, whether out of university, or college, or high school, are conscientious and eager to get going in the world of work. After all work means money and money mean being able to buy lots more of those shiny things that seem to attract young people.
So at Christmas they (whoever 'they' are) say 'give peace a chance', some of them even say 'give peas a chance' - but I will say just one thing - 'give youths a chance'.
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