Has your job hunt stalled? Are you losing motivation and confidence?
Job hunting isn’t just a practical battle – it’s a psychological fight too. As your quest to find work continues, it’s normal to find your motivation flagging. The trick is to notice when you’re in a slump – and start taking steps to bring yourself back up to a point where you can be productive again. The sooner you take action, the better – but however long you’ve been ‘down’ for, you can always bring yourself back up.
Here are Graduate Fog‘s ten top tips for rediscovering your job-hunting mojo:
1) Get selfish. Remember, you don’t need to find jobs for everybody in your year. Focus – your task is to find one job, just for yourself. One little corner of the job market with your name on it. (Don’t know what you’re looking for? See How to Choose your Career)
2) Believe your task is possible. You can’t succeed at something you don’t think is possible. It might not be easy peasy to find a job but it is possible. (Read How to Fight the Recession)
3) Remind yourself that the job market is moving – not static. When you’re job-hunting, it can feel like there is no movement at all. Everyone has their jobs and they’re not budging. But it’s not so. Remember, life doesn’t stop in a recession. People continue to be promoted, get pregnant, move abroad… When they move, that creates gaps. If the person below them gets promoted into their role, that leaves a gap for you… (See “If there are ‘no graduate vacancies’, why can’t I fill mine?”)
4) Keep reviewing your job-hunt tactics. Different strategies work for different industries. If something isn’t working for you, don’t keep doing it. For example, if you’re trying to get a job in media, don’t keep applying to jobs in the Guardian Media section, if you aren’t seeing any results. Instead, try going to media events and working the room (go on, you can do it!). Ask your parents, cousins and friends if they know anybody who could use your help. Then reassess – what’s working and what isn’t? Do more of what’s working and ditch whatever isn’t – it’s wasting your time. (Check out How to Find Vacancies).
5) Consider contract work. I know you want a permanent job (and never to have to job-hunt ever again!) But remember that many companies (particularly small companies) are reluctant to commit to taking on permanent, full-time staff right now – so asking for a permanent job is a giant turn-off for them. When you contact them, mention that you’d be open to temporary or contract work (eg. a three month stint – on a project, or while someone is away). This is usually far more appealing. If they give you a short contract, you’re in a good position if they decide to make the role permanent. If it doesn’t turn into a permanent thing, you’ve got three months’ good experience you didn’t have before.
6) Start sleuthing. If you’re getting nowhere applying to advertised vacancies, try putting put your applications on ‘pause’ and instead spend that time researching ‘hidden’ jobs. It’s a myth that all jobs are advertised – some people reckon the real figure is closer to 20% (20%!!). So sit down and ask yourself “How can I find out about the jobs that aren’t advertised?” You’re a smart person – do some detective work. What companies are doing well right now? Who has just won a big new client? Who is opening new branches? Contact them directly, tailoring your letter to them, including what’s led you to think they might be looking for extra help. Remember that for small companies, advertising vacancies is expensive. Interviewing is expensive too – as it uses up the time of paid employees. There are all sorts of reasons why companies would prefer fantastic candidates to contact them directly. You’re not begging – you’re offering to make their lives better. I’ve heard of lots of people who run smaller companies who say they’re really struggling to find good quality young graduates. Which makes me wonder… Are you all applying to same jobs, at the same big companies? If so, why?! Broaden your search and you’ll find the competition really thins out.
7) Think like a recruiter. Recruiters aren’t the devil – they’re just being squeezed by their boss, who is being squeezed by their boss. They may have less money than they did a couple of years ago, but there’s still lots of work to be done. How can you make their lives better? Remember, they aren’t going to give you a job because you need experience. They’ll give you a job if you can prove to them that you can help them. What value do you bring? (See How to Understand Recruiters)
8. If you’re not working, for God’s sake do something with your time – even if it’s just part-time voluntary work. Recruiters says a gap on your CV is the biggest no-no of all. Remember, recruiters are human – they know things are tough out there for graduates like you right now, so they’ll forgive you if you haven’t been doing a hot-shot job all this time, or earning a fabulous salary. But sitting on your bum just looks bad. In contrast, doing something constructive is always a good look – it shows you can motivate yourself and that you haven’t just been festering on your mum and dad’s sofa since you graduated. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking it’ll take time away from your job hunt. It’ll make you far more motivated and efficient with the time you do spend job-hunting, plus you’ll be picking up skills and experience as you go – which all sounds good in interviews. (See How to Stay Motivated)
9) Don’t be scared of the competition. Recruiters say they’re being inundated with applications – but that very few are of a very high standard. Grads often ask how they can make their application ‘stand out’? To which I always say, “Er, make it good?” Always take time over each application – never use a ‘scattergun’ approach to fire off less-than-perfect applications to lots of recruiters all at once. If spelling and grammar aren’t your strong suit, always ask a wordsmith friend to check your applications before you send them. This stuff really does count.
10) Keep going! Remember there will be good days and bad days. (See How to Handle Rejection) Ups and downs are just part of the deal. My book has loads more info on this – but try different ways of working (eg at the library, rather than just from home). Get into a routine (going for coffee and a newspaper before you sit down to job-hunt). Meet other job-hunters and share tactics. Do some exercise to clear your head. With every application you do, you learn something new. Even if it’s just learning not to do it that way again!
*Are you struggling to stay motivated?
Or do you have any other tips to help your fellow Foggers? Please share them below!
Some great tips in there Tanya! To me, the key to rebooting your job hunt is to re-assess your strategy. If your applications are not getting accepted then you are probably doing something wrong. Perhaps your degree and experiences don’t match the jobs you are applying for, or perhaps you haven’t quite mastered the application technique and are getting your style/content wrong. If you are continually getting rejections, don’t be afraid to get some advice – I’m surprised how few people contact us, when there so much free advice on offer – you shouldn’t have to go through this process alone.
I think its a bit hypercritical how you always crucify the internship world yet have admitted yourself that it is better to be doing something than to just be unemployed sitting at home doing nothing! You suggest voluntary work which would be completely unpiad – doesn’t that go against everything you campaign for? I must say I really don’t find you very consistent with your arguments.
@Siobhan
Thanks for your comment but I don’t agree with your point. My problem with internships is – and has always been! – with the companies that run them, not the interns who do them. I would never tell graduates not to do an unpaid internship if they want to (and can afford it) – that’s up to them, and of course they have the right to put their personal circumstances / needs above their principles (though i know a lot of interns really struggle with this).
But I do personally believe that overall when you look at the big picture they are a bad thing that benefits the few at the expense of the many. So you’re right, in terms of advice, I am in a bit of a tight corner – and I’m afraid I don’t have all the answers. On one hand, I know that unpaid internships can be good for a graduate’s CV – but on the other hand I’m uneasy about saying how brilliant they are because i disagree with the principle so strongly. I suppose I also feel that if i did start recommending that all Foggers do unpaid internships if they possibly can, i’d be betraying all those reading who can’t afford to do them. Does that make sense? You’re right that it’s a bit of a tricky one for me though!
When I mentioned volunteer work in this blog post, I meant doing what i’d call genuine volunteer work – ie through organisations like vInspired.
I had a look at vinspired – the problem is that though teaching football and helping at festivals is all very nice – I don’t see that it gives you the relevant work experience to help get a job that an internship in your job sector would. You also say you are against the companies – but in my experience, the companies I have interned with have been very supportive and have given up a lot of their time giving me what I felt was very valuable training which I fully appreciated and felt privileged to have had the opportunity to receive. I now have 3 job interviews coming up since completing my last internship (last week) – whereas before I didn’t get any call-backs – so my new experiences are obviously having an effect, which of course is great (assuming I get one of the jobs!) I would also argue that you do disparage graduates strongly from doing internships – especially through your constant attacks of the company’s that take on interns. Surely, surely surely if you don’t have a job it is better than sitting at home? And if you can’t afford it – then surely you wouldn’t be able to afford to do voluntary work too? I genuinely paid for my internship by waitressing on the side, it wasn’t that hard, and I think some people are more work-shy than genuinely unable to afford an internship
Just looked at more positions on ‘vinspired’ and some look no different to the unpaid internship job posts that you so criticise! Here are a couple of examples I picked off their website:
Web Manager Position, 8 November 2010 – 20 March 2011
Do you spend most of your days on twitting and are you glued to your facebook? Fancy a new challenge?
As well as the day to day co-ordination of information and data you will also have the opportunity to create and enhance content and presence of our Facebook, Blog, Twitter and LinkedIn Pages.
This will grow to further opportunities to create e-marketing emails and fashion news.
If you have a passion for fashion and would like to be an addition too our fantastic team please forward your CV with a covering letter to:
Info@thrirtysevenfeet.co.uk
Campaigns Assistant: Needed for ongoing weekdays:
Tom Brake, Member of Parliament for Carshalton and Wallington, is looking for an energetic, hard-working and reliable campaigns assistant to work alongside the Campaigns Manager in the constituency office in Carshalton. This will be a fantastic opportunity for anyone wanting to gain work experience in politics and marketing.
The campaigns assistant will be required to write emails and letters, produce e-campaigning material, draft press releases, complete general office administrative tasks and take part in campaigning across the constituency.
Not much different eh? I am just confused as to why you are so against some companies and not others..?!
I think I agree with Tanya on this one. The issue of internships is a complicated one, where do you draw the line between doing something to add skills to your CV and being taken advantage of by a large company who choses not to pay you simply because you’re desperate and they can?
I personally look very favourably on volunteering as opposed to interning as the student gains something just as worthwhile to put on their CV as interning would, but their time is invested into a far more worthwhile cause.
Take for instance Youth Volunteer of the year 2008 for WRVS, Nafeesa. She gained a lot towards her application to study medicine from her voluntary work at a hospital cafe and was helping a good cause rather than lining the pockets of large companies who are turning over millions of pounds.
Charities like WRVS are always desperate for volunteers to help out so you can fill those empty time periods on your CV, whereas applying for an internship might involve a lengthy application process you might even get turned down for! For me volunteering wins hands down.
@Siobhan
Thanks for your comments – it’s important to have a proper debate about this issue.
I have heard interns say this before and frankly it gives me the creeps – it reminds me of Stockholm Syndrome, where victims develop a bond with their kidnapper and defend them despite all the evidence… Again, I am NOT having a go at you, or other interns – I’m saying that the companies who take on interns and don’t pay them ARE abusing their position, whether you feel abused or not. I stand by that view 100%.
There is no debate to be had about whether internships are valuable – and lead to better prospects – of course they do! That is exactly the point. These opportunities shouldn’t only be open to those who can afford them.
And when I suggested voluntary work, I didn’t mean people should do it full-time, which is what most internships are. It would only be a few hours a week, as a way to maintain contact with the outside world and gain a bit of lost confidence, which is something that many graduates suffer from when unemployed for more than a short period of time.
Well done on waitressing to pay for your internship. Unfortunately, lots of your peers won’t be so lucky as to be able to find work that they can fit around their internship. But are we really saying that graduates should find paid work to fund unpaid work? Is it just me or has the world gone mad??
On a final note, I really am baffled to find that there is a growing number of graduates like you who will freely attack me – and defend your exploitative employer – when I’m trying to help you! Still, I need to be aware that people with these views are out there, so thanks again for contributing.
@Siobhan
You’re right – and I’m surprised to see ads like that on a volunteering website… I’ll investigate for sure! There is a fine line between volunteering and (exploitative) internships but I think it’s important that organisations like vInspired stay the right side of that line!
@Kayley
Thanks for your comments – how do you guys distinguish between volunteering and unpaid internships? Do you agree that it’s vital that volunteering organisations are clear about the difference between the two?
I must say I think it is quite disgusting that you refer to Stockholm Sydrome as a reasonable comparison to someone who has had a good experience with internships.
@Siobhan – again, you’re entitled to your opinion! And sincere apologies to any kidnap victims I may have offended. But i really do find your comments as bizarre…
As I find yours hypocritical.
@Siobhan – Fair enough, let’s agree to differ : )
This is a really interesting discussion for me, because as vinspired’s digital manager, I find myself treading a fine line between volunteering and internships quite a lot.
As a general rule, we define volunteering according to the UN definition which basically amounts to doing something, unpaid, which helps other people (not your family), the environment or society.
Now that’s quite a broad definition so lots of things tend to be a judgement call which basically comes down to a) does it have a real, tangiable benefit and b) is it something young people would want to do.
Primarily we work with charities and voluntary organisations but also, in some cases, with companies, social enterprises, CICs, education establishments, hospitals – people who are doing interesting stuff that makes a difference.
Sometimes there’s a bit of a grey area between volunteering full-time and doing an internship, but I know that the volunteers on the full-time programme v runs (vtalent year) reported amazing benefits for both themselves and others and for me, that’s what it’s all about.
On the opportunities you mention:
The web manager role – this company would have been approved on the basis that it raises money for charity (via shoehire). It’s probably one of the greyer areas so I will look into it more – but charity fashion stuff is always very popular and hugely over-subscribed when we have it on the site.
The MP – again, these kinds of opportunities are really popular with our audience, and constituency work obviously helps in the community.
So I’m not trying to claim to be the person who knows what’s best when it comes to definitions of volunteering. I’m just trying to tread a line between promoting stuff that makes a difference to volunteers and others, and letting people make their own decisions about what that means for them.
Sorry, this is massively long, but I hope it makes some kind of sense!
Hannah
@Tanya – Fair enough
@Hannah – Please don’t think I was attacking your site in any way – I actually think it looked fantastic and fully support what you do. I was merely highlighting those jobs to show that Tanya is not consistent with the companies she attacks (not that I hope she now attacks you, far from it – I’ll help defend if she does
and that basically, it is far better to be doing any of these roles – volunteering or internships – whilst you continue to appy for permanent positions – then to just sit at home and wait for something to miraculously come along.
@Hannah
Sorry to nit-pick, but i disagree with you on this point:
That is in fact NOT what it is all about! Of COURSE internship are beneficial to those who do them – that is not the point! The point is that extended unpaid placements at desirable places to work are a good thing for the few who can afford to do them – but not for those who can’t!
We are also seeing a situation where unpaid internships are no longer leading to entry level roles, they are actually replacing unpaid roles! And this benefits nobody, except the companies who continue to get something for nothing…
I would advise vInspired – and any other volunteer charities reading this – to be very careful to stay on the right side of this ‘fine line’ between true volunteering and unpaid internships. One is open to all, the other is open to very few. They are not the same thing and must not be confused.
Everyone, Tanya is NOT saying that all internships are bad experiences and unfruitful etc etc. As she says, OF COURSE getting more experience in a real working environment is good – who’s arguing with that?
Her point is that at the end of the day the employers get far more out of unpaid internships than the intern. You say ‘oh but the intern gets experience, which will lead to a job, duh!’ and of course that’s the case, but at what expense? The end picture is this: employer gets free labour. Intern gets experience – but has to work hard for no pay, and sometimes the experience isn’t even worth it in the end.
And Tanya makes another point; the ‘no pay’ bit is obviously a null problem for those who can afford to take an internship. However, for people like me from low income families, it was, and is hard. I spent a WHOLE YEAR working for free, albeit part time, during my degree placement year. I thought it would be ok, living in the family home, working 6 day weeks (saturdays I worked at a bar to get some extra income). And I gained some great experience no doubt, despite the struggle financially. But when I really think back, I developed fast in the company I worked for, and by the end of it pretty much became a fully qualified worker, taking on management tasks. All great experience! Look how much I’m learning! And the company got all this for free. I think I had a bit of Stockholm Syndrome.
I graduated last year. I am trying to change course of career now, and am once again applying for internships. This time round though, I have a flat to pay for, council tax, bills and living costs. But how can I give up my job to take on an internship when they only cover the transport costs? But then without an internship, how can I get a job in the industry I want to break into? I don’t have mummy and daddy to look after me now, not that they really could afford it in the first place.
Interns, wake up! Experience or no experience, at the end of the day you work for nothing. It’s like the third world factory workers who work for 12p an hour and say it’s alright because otherwise they’d be out on the street, so they’re happy with what they’ve got. It’s not what you get, it’s what’s just and right.
The issue over internships is not simply about a candidate volunteering to do a job which has commercial value, nor the employer exploiting a Fear Factor within the candidate (who may justify to themselves that they volunteer in fear of not getting a future job), but rather the cost to the State.
Remember that if there is a single unemployed candidate who could do the job that the volunteer is occupying, the unemployed candidate will be in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance (about £3K per annum) and the cost to the system of enabling this is about £12K (working to the Pareto Principle). Total Cost is about £15K. If the volunteer is also in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance, the total State Subsidy per job occupied by the volunteer is about £30K per annum. Plus, if the employer bypasses Mimimum Wage Legislation, and fails to fulfil their obligations and responsibilities under the Protestant Work Ethic (“a fair days work for a fair days pay”), and the value to the employer of that job if of the order of £20-£30K per annum (money which would otherwise benefit the system through the purchasing power of the candidate, payment of tax and national insurance), then the Total Cost to the State is of the order of £50-£60K per job per annum.
Of course, where an “intern” admits to a positive experience, it is perfectly reasonable to cite “Stockholm Syndrome” as a means of explaining their beliefs – and interns who take offense at such an accusation being levied need not be defensive, and should simply accept the accusation as being legitimate.