any one else?

sloppycowpat

just graduated and finding it hard to get a job, getting sick of applying to jobs and hearing nothing back would it kill them to send an email saying sorry you were unsuccessful or to give a reason why, grrr.... :evil:

time seems to be sucked straight down black hole when applying online

only thing keeping me sane is my bikes at the moment

any one need a geologist?

The Northern Monkey

Took my mrs over a year to get a job after graduating

She did a load of volunteer work and placements while waiting though... eventually she's sorted a tidy job for herself.

Unfortunately, a degree doesn't land you a job....

I've got a degree in Nutrition and Sports Science, but was working as a Utility Analyst as a summer job while studying..
I'm now working for a large Energy Consultancy as a lead Energy Analyst and studying for a qualification in management in November (paid for by the company).

So technically I could have skipped the Uni bit. Waste of frigging money if you ask me.

Same goes for lots of my mates. Experience in the workplace is much more valuable than a degree IMO.

sloppycowpat

yeah seems that way but with geology you need the degree to get the placements so its a bit viscous

oh well at least uni was a blast

Raymondavalon

MTFU! There are too many students right now, who after years of partying and protesting whilst funded mainly by taxpayers believe it's their God given right to find a job.
You should have done an apprenticeship

cooldad

There is also a knack to getting a job, writing a cv etc. Do a bit of research and plan it carefully. Loads of people looking for hjobs so you need to stand out.
And remember one thing about recruitment companies - their client is the employer who pays the bills, you are just a commodity.
Consider taking anything, even a menial job. Most employers look more favourably if someone is willing to work.
Tough times.

The Northern Monkey

cooldad wrote:

Consider taking anything, even a menial job. Most employers look more favourably if someone is willing to work.

Exactly why my Mrs did placements and volunteer work!

Builds up the CV and makes it stand out.

whyamihere

Raymondavalon wrote:

MTFU! There are too many students right now, who after years of partying and protesting whilst funded mainly by taxpayers believe it's their God given right to find a job.
You should have done an apprenticeship

Wish I had time for partying and protesting...

nicklouse

whyamihere wrote:

Raymondavalon wrote:

MTFU! There are too many students right now, who after years of partying and protesting whilst funded mainly by taxpayers believe it's their God given right to find a job.
You should have done an apprenticeship

Wish I had time for partying and protesting...

you are doing the wrong degree.

sloppycowpat

thats what im doing at the moment trying to get a full time , graduate career whilst having a part-time / retail job to fund, ' training and experience gaining'

its just trying to get something relevant that would be useful in a 'professional cv'

cooldad

Just a small point, but something that makes a large initial impact on the person who reads your CV is spelling, grammar, punctuation etc.
The average time spent on a CV is about half a minute - miss that opportunity and you CV is in the bin.
Worth getting into the habit of writing properly and checking spelling.
I realise this is just an internet forum, but no harm doing it properly.

bicyclepirate

What type of geology do you want to go in to? Engineering geology, environmental geology? It's quite a wide field......

The Northern Monkey

bicyclepirate wrote:

What type of geology do you want to go in to? Engineering geology, environmental geology? It's quite a wide field......

there is a pun in there somewhere..

cooldad

It's a rocky road to the top in geology.
Good night.

MountainMonster

I was studying at a University up until a few weeks ago, dropped out because the place was in Shambles (really long story). I'm quite lucky as I have 4 years professional experience under my belt, and when needed, I can get very very very good references. Having a degree is good, but in some situations it is just money thrown out of the door if you have no experience or references that can back up your quality.

Thank god for papa helping me find a decent job years ago!

tlw1

cooldad wrote:

Just a small point, but something that makes a large initial impact on the person who reads your CV is spelling, grammar, punctuation etc.
The average time spent on a CV is about half a minute - miss that opportunity and you CV is in the bin.
Worth getting into the habit of writing properly and checking spelling.
I realise this is just an internet forum, but no harm doing it properly.

+ potato

And if you get an interview, turn up on time and dressed correctly. Simple things to go, yet people still muck it up

VWsurfbum

As an employer and interviewer a few things that wont get you past the doors.
CV, If its poop and all over the place it gets the B treatment.
If its long winded, B
if it tries to blow wind up my arse, B
Include a Hobby/passions, it gives an ice breaker to the interviewer
If i phone you for an interview, talk clearly and precisly, if not B
Dont lie, B
Be available (within reason)
Dont be late
Dont wear odd socks
Have stains on your tie
wear a tie
wear a suit
do your hair
do have a shave
dont be over familiure
dont sit down until asked
always say Mr/Mrs....... or Sir
dont fill yourself with coffee beforehand
do some research into the company the interviews for
never assume anything

Oh and i like to employ the unemployed, but having previous experiance is a bonus.

Kaise

VWsurfbum wrote:

Oh and i like to employ the unemployed, but having previous experiance is a bonus.

And always check your spelling!

As a contractor i have been through the interview process more than most and so far haven't failed to get a job i wanted.

Clear and Concise CV with a 4 or 5 line description of yourself,
Be confident and make sure you know what your talking about,
If you're asked a question you don't know the answer to, don't bullsh*t your way through, say "sorry i haven't had any experience of that but i feel i have the capacity to learn about ........because i have experience of .......[insert similar field]"

I'm 28 and i have been interviewed 10 or 11 times and in everyone im asked a question i dont know the answer to, not once have i lied or tried to answer, if i dont know i dont know.

honesty really is the best policy!


oh and do not put your picture on the top of your CV, unless you are going for a modelling job they dont care what you look like, it makes you look like a tool!

sparked

Thank for the tips on this subject lads, my eldest daughter is in this boat at the moment. Trying to help her but trying to find a temp. job while she's a college is becoming a bit of a nightmare for her.

allen.coulson

Good luck with the job hunt! Last time I was out I sent out 200 letters, applications and all of that 1 interview.

It is so depressing!

My tip is to apply immendiately - not same day but same minute the job appears and then phone them!

Nothing wrong with being at University at all!

projectsome

The Northern Monkey wrote:

cooldad wrote:

Consider taking anything, even a menial job. Most employers look more favourably if someone is willing to work.

Exactly why my Mrs did placements and volunteer work!

Builds up the CV and makes it stand out.

this.

Not ideal jobs, but I've done cleaning (sweeping a car park for a living is not fun), you'd think working in a chocolate factory would be good though but no...

Anonymous

Thanks to the last Labour gov there are way too many graduates after too few jobs, so that doesn't help, and then the current economic situation makes it worse, and with encouraging the older guys to stay on for longer there's less desire to get new intakes, and to top it off, foreign guys with nice degrees get a free ticket to the UK and are cheaper (and agents favour them because they get a better margin).

So basically it's a nightmare for graduates at the moment. However geology should mean less competition than one of the popular thin-air degrees, but there was always far less jobs in that market so tough one again.

As said though, it's how you market yourself. It's unbelievable the shockingly bad quality of a lot of CVs from graduates, and the way they present themselves at interviews. Sorting that out helps, but also I'd do all the applying direct with a good quality covering letter, do research on the company, be interested in the interviews and ask questions.

Personally I steer clear of just sending a CV to an agent or one of the online job sites as it just goes into a database of skills (of which you basically have none without experience) and it all depends if your CV pops up in the computer based on the relevant matches. It's like dating sites! Agents also will push you towards the jobs that you're not suited to but gets them the biggest reward. I'd look at agency listings though, find the jobs you like and if you can find out who they are, apply direct as you'll be cheaper to the company than through an agent.

Could also look at any Uni related jobs. My first job after uni was on a scheme linking uni and industry, so paid by the uni and got paid to study a masters also, but worked in a local company. Dead cheap for the company as part funded by grants. That was a long time ago now but there may be similar things. Or even working direct for a Uni.

Other option is see if you know friends or relatives who have contacts in the right places. Often the best way is through contacts. The old saying of "it's not what you know, but who you know", is not far off the truth (though "what" does count at times).

supersonic

Degrees just are not worth what they used to. The glut of new unis seem to have dowgraded what the big 10 or so are worth, as have some of the courses they offer which seem ridiculous. Entry level requirements have tumbled, with some places allowing you in with D grade A levels (or worse!), and some courses just a handful of hours per week.

Not saying this is the case with a Geology degree, but I guess it is just not relevant to 99.999% of jobs out there.

Thewaylander

Kenny, I agree with you at first, Simply if you think of the amount of graduates in a field there are, and then how many jobs that come up a year? it just doesn't tie up, we were never meant to have half the population with degree's. the higher up the pay grades you go(and terms of responsabilty) there less positions there are which makes it tough.

But don't ignore the agencies! for Finance the only way to get a job is through the agencies!

Stevo_666

Thewaylander wrote:

we were never meant to have half the population with degree's.

Sound of nail getting hit on the head. Supply and demand - in the end there aren't enough jobs for the number of graduates so you end up with the 'Starbucks Syndrome' i.e. grads in jobs they don't want or are overqualified for. Thank **** I graduated yonks ago.

Thewaylander wrote:

But don't ignore the agencies! for Finance the only way to get a job is through the agencies!

Yup, when I go job hunting again next year I'll be calling on some of my carefully cultivated contacts in the tax & specialist finance recruitment agancies. They might be at the same evolutionary level as estate agents but they can be very handy, especially where they have good contacts in good companies.

ddraver

sloppycowpat wrote:

yeah seems that way but with geology you need the degree to get the placements so its a bit viscous

oh well at least uni was a blast

What type of Geology? To be honest if you want to start work and be interpreting data, you ll need an MSc in you r chosen field, if not you tend to just be a general bitch doinf really simple descriptions or data gathering. I'm a Petroleum Geoscientist so if you have an questions give me a shout...

sheepsteeth

ddraver wrote:

if you have an questions give me a shout...

if pinnochio says his nose will grow, will it?

tom_howard

sheepsteeth wrote:

ddraver wrote:

if you have an questions give me a shout...

if pinnochio says his nose will grow, will it?

If a tree falls in the forest and noone is around to hear it, do all the other trees laugh at it?

The Northern Monkey

sheepsteeth wrote:

ddraver wrote:

if you have an questions give me a shout...

if pinnochio says his nose will grow, will it?

Brilliant programme.

jay12

so generally people think apprenticeships are a better idea than uni?

Stevo_666

jay12 wrote:

so generally people think apprenticeships are a better idea than uni?

Depends what you want to do. Some jobs need a degeree to get in, others need you to be an apprentice. Degree route worked nicely for me.

Anonymous

Thewaylander wrote:

But don't ignore the agencies! for Finance the only way to get a job is through the agencies!

Oh, they have their uses and the best thing is to use them for your own purposes. Just they're much like estate agents and they'll screw you over the first chance they get if you don't keep tight control.

I call them my pimps