Grad’s who need a little Help?

 

I read a couple of pages relating to New Graduates desperate to find something permanent and rewarding. In a tough and very competitive market, this is a growing challenge!

 

I have put a few notes together of some of the techniques that have worked in the past. I’m sure much of these pointers will be well known to those trying, but there may be something new, you never know.

 

First, an apology. Sorry if this page appears preachy or patronising. I don’t mean it to be and hope my writing style wont p!ss you off too much…  Also I took some of the content from a prior post – I have attempted to make this more relevant and cohesive.

 

Goals

 

I would suggest that when setting any goal, it has to be achievable. You may have recently qualified in Business & Finance with Honours form the best University – But still… you can’t expect to be Finance Manager in your first role.

 

However, you can and should be setting goals to work somewhere in Finance in a good business with prospects for promotion – This is a realistic objective and an achievable goal.

 

Desperate Stakes

 

Employers in the UK have been making a noose for their own necks for more than 15 Years. Outsourcing and the global employment market mean the demise of all but a handful of junior positions, while there are more young people at University now than any other time in our history.

 

You only need look at your local paper to realise that the one advert stating ‘experience not necessary’ is for McDonalds.

 

The Office Junior Role is now extinct and Experience has become a ridiculously overpriced commodity. New Workers (Grads, College & School Leavers) can no longer start in a basic role without some prior experience… And just how are they supposed to get that?

 

How do they do that?

 

So, knowing you need experience with an Employment Market offering no junior roles, what positive steps can you take to get to the top of the recruitment pile?

 

Family & Friends…

 

Whether you want to be a Graphics Designer or Qualified Accountant, working on a building site is unlikely to generate much Employer excitement. However, Office Skills will get you a long way and a week of ‘Helping Out’ in the office of a family member will give a range of basic experience to note on your CV.

 

Nobody wants work for nothing, but consider it an investment in the future. After all, no one paid you to stay in Further Ed, but you knew it was a good idea.

 

Family and Friends – Tap them up for a week’s office experience, keep asking and then ask to return. Get a foot in the door - What skills you gain when inside will be up to you, try to get involved with as many processes as they will allow.

 

Be prepared to relocate to Uncle Bob’s Settee for week. If he is willing to get you work in his office, you should be prepared to eat Aunty Jean’s Spinach & Broccoli Pie – with a smile.

 

Ask – And Ask Again!

 

An important point to consider when asking for something, depending how you pose a question will often determine the answer.

 

Human nature dictates that ‘No’ is our default setting. If you ask a question using the words “Can I” - Expect a negative reply. Humans are naturally lazy and the nature of “Can I” requires thought or action from the permission giver. You are taking up their time and utilize their effort. It’s going to be easier to say No.

 

Think about offering a solution, rather than posing an issue. IE; “Would it help if sorted out @@@?”  - “Would you like help with @@@”.

 

Opportunity

 

Once you have the chance of a week’s office experience, consider what you want to get out of it. If your CV is a paper representation of you, you are the real deal and should act and behave as your best ambassador.

 

You have the chance to impress and to idly chat about your ‘dream job’ with people who have the power to offer it. May be not at this moment, but it’s an introduction – Make yourself a known item as apposed to any external applicant who will remain just a paper CV.

 

CV Creation

 

I can’t stress this enough; People only know about you what you choose to tell them. I’m not suggesting that you lie, but you do have the right and duty to make your skills and experience look as good as possible.

 

Once you have a weeks experience under your belt, start reviewing all of the tasks you have undertaken, systems and software used and the skills you now possess. Get this on your CV immediately. The more tasks you perform, the longer the list of experience.

 

Your work history may be very patchy, with a week here and couple of weeks there. This looks messy and any direct application will suffer as your next potential employer may consider this patchwork a sign of unreliability.

 

Recruiters have been getting around this with a nice little technique…

 

2008 To Date :     Contract Positions                             Admin Assistant – @@@ Department

 

Working for a range of businesses including @@@@, @@@@, @@@@.

-          Duties include ….

-          Basic Office….

-          Assisting with….

-          Etc 

 

2008 To Date – Gives the impression your experience has been continuous. You should do nothing to discourage that perception and the word Contract always sounds better than ‘Temp’.

 

@@@ Department - can be any department you need it to be. If Uncle Bob got you into his 50 person company, the chances are they don’t have a dedicated ‘Graphics’ or ‘HR’ department. But as Uncle Bob (or his boss) are going to be your reference, who cares! – You need a leg up and likelihood is that Uncle Bob will be only too happy to oblige.

 

Assisting with – Priceless comment for any good CV. Your not suggesting that you were in complete control or had ultimate responsibility, but you did help, you were useful and have decent understand of what this work entails.

 

Immoral?

 

Is this bending of the truth immoral and should you feel guilty about it? Well, I don’t think so. British Business has made it almost impossible for talented young people to get foot in the door – Just look at the Music Industry!

 

Without a little creativity and knowing the techniques used by Recruiters, you’re doomed to wait in a very long queue

 

I would like to stress that you cannot lie - EVER! But you should get comfortable about being creative.

 

Practice Makes Perfect

 

Interviews can be tricky and there is no substitute for experience, but practice makes perfect and you should be fluent in discussing your CV details. Imagine the questions and practice your answers – The wider range of questions you imagine and practice, the easier this information will flow at interview.

 

Back to Friends and Family, Ask Aunty Jean to interview you. Tell her to give you a hard time and ask tricky questions. This experience will pay back dividends as confidence at interview stage can turn a chance into a permanent role.  

 

Direct Applications

 

Most businesses will refuse to use a Recruitment Consultancy for lower level positions as it makes the process of hiring too expensive. This is a perfect opportunity for you to consider making a direct application.   

 

Firstly, make a list of all the businesses you would love to work for, then like to work for and finally would accept an offer from. This may appear like ‘EVERYONE’ when you start looking and are without work, but there may be one or two companies that truly excite.

 

IE – For me, it would be a specific couple of Home Electronics Businesses. I’m interested in home cinema and would focus on the likes of Onkio, Pioneer, Denon, Etc. For you it may be Porsche, Chanel, The British Museum, Whatever blows your skirt up…

 

Make a list, see if any are in your area, start an A List, then a B List and so on.  List your details in a spreadsheet; Business Name, Address, Post Code, Telephone Number.

 

Do not swamp out a mass of letters to everyone in your List at the first opportunity! It’s tempting, especially if you have ever used Mail Merge… But Don’t! You only get one chance to send an initial introduction letter.

 

Call First

 

Think before you Call, Call before you Apply. Make a direct call to a couple of businesses that come towards the bottom of your list. Speak to HR but don’t be put off if they dismiss you immediately. Always keep in mind that your call may be at an inconvenient time, they may just be in a bad mood or having a crappy day. It’s not all about you and should not stop you from sending in details.

 

These calls from the bottom of your list will give you some experience before you move up to your ‘A Section’ and practice makes perfect!

 

Calling – The purpose is to introduce yourself (Yes, Its embarrassing and a bit awkward at first, but get over it, you need something to set you apart from all the paperwork and make you stand out – This Is It!), discuss your skills and availability, your flexibility and the possibility of any permanent, consultancy or temporary opportunities that they may have. 9 times out of 10 times you will be dismissed and told to send in details. That’s not an issue, but you must Take A Name!

 

With a name, your application can be addressed to ‘Someone’ @ The Business. Dear Sir/Madam letters have a tendency to go directly to File 13 (the Bin!). Also, see if you can get an email address - these are very useful.

 

Direct contact via Email means you only need to know the correct spelling of a senior manager’s name and you can email them directly – the format for internal emails almost always remains the same! 

 

Take good notes and always have pen and paper when you call. Also having a note of what you want to express is a useful tool, especially if you’re new to these types of calls. Remember your availability, relevant experience and reason for your interest in their product or service.

 

Interest in a Fencing company = “Because I really like Fences” is just too cheesy – are they a market leader, did you know of the business before hand, is there something special about this business? (See their Web site for details). There is no substitute for enthusiasm!

 

Note all relevant details of the call in your Excel List, Name of person you spoke to, Extension Number or Direct Line, Email Address, Details of what was said.

 

This list should expand and during your phone calls and keep in mind that you want the name of any Hiring Managers, HR Managers name, Etc… List all details!!

 

Hope for the best but prepare for the worst. By listing the people and the details of the conversation, you can call back a month later to ‘catch up’. All the time your building and developing a relationship in your next potential employer.

 

If you find your getting nowhere fast and have exhausted the list go back to the start, ask for the name of the manager of your chosen department (Finance, Design Shop, Marketing, Etc.) and see about contacting them directly, ask for what advice they can give. There is a danger that doing this too quickly after your initial contact with HR will seriously annoy them, but if you don’t try, you don’t get.

 

Be Cheeky, offer your services on a weeks free trial, say it’s to gain experience and don’t be put off by a rejection. Calling a business manager directly every month will prove that you have staying power, the ability to communicate and to commit.

 

Never Forget

 

It is easier for camel to pass through eye of a needle than a poorly dressed grumpy unsociable person to get a cracking job!

 

As a hiring manager, you want a like minded, well dressed sociable person with a happy disposition to join your team. Be that person!  

 

I hope that information assists. If you have any comments you want to make, observations, please let me know.