You've got your degree, now where's that dream job?

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by Sarah Barnard

It’s an unfortunate truth that the job market is a tough old world. Getting a foot in the door for your first career step can be as tricky as working out who Kate Moss is currently dating.

Many graduates often come up against the ‘experience’ dilemma, which is a case of the swings and roundabouts scenario- you can’t get a job without experience and you can’t get experience if no-one gives it to you in the first place! So, the initial starting-out period will require an extra effort on your part to get your talents out there- a short term exertion that will reap the benefits in the long-run.

Be a bit flexible

And I don’t mean learn the ‘splits’. You’ve found your perfect role but the downfall is that it’s in a different city- so what are you waiting for? Employers never underestimate the effort it takes to relocate to a new city for the right role. Whilst you may feel panicked about being thrown into a new life in an unknown town, the chances are that in a couple of year’s time you’ll have enough experience to feel confident looking for a similar position in a more suitable location. Don’t be afraid to ask your prospective employers about social activities within the company. These will allow you to make new friends in the area, and shout about the fact that you’re not fazed by the prospect of relocating as you’re such a confident and easy going character!

It’s all about the experience

There’s no better way to learn fast about a job whilst simultaneously getting a taste of the industry in a no-strings-attached situation than work experience. Work placements are respected by potential employers as they prove that not only have you taken the initiative to acquire the experience you need (but didn’t previously have), but that you’ve also been willing to slog your guts out without the ease of financial reward.

You may be sitting at work lusting over your friend’s job in the production department, which appears way more challenging than yours, so why not play detective to find out a bit more? Talk to your boss: see if he can widen your responsibilities a tad to make you feel more fulfilled. Better yet, see if you can shadow your pal for a day to confirm it’s really the right move for you or if infact, she’s just talking up her role after one too many beers down the pub.

The most likely situation you’ll find yourself in is the position of not having enough of the right experience to apply for the jobs you want. The important thing to do is to simply seek it out. Research the exact experience that your potential future employers will be looking for- call up their HR departments and ask them outright what kind of boxes they look to tick when recruiting for your dream job. Once you’ve identified the right industry for you, look into which companies offer work experience. Draft them a polite email (tends to be more successful than a written letter which makes its way into a bin quicker) outlining your relevant experience to date and your goals. Make sure you are realistic in your efforts and target at least five or more companies to increase your chances of being offered a placement. If you’ve not had a response within a week, then follow up with a courtesy email just reminding them you’re still eager and hope your pleas fall upon kind ears.

You’re in so what next?

It can be tempting to hang-tough once you’ve managed to secure a work placement, on the off-chance that you may be offered a job. Be warned- the odds of this happening aren’t usually in your favour. The most likely, and rewarding part of seeking out a work experience opportunity, is the people you meet during your time there. Be pro-active in making good contacts whilst being careful not to probe people too strenuously; to the point of them taking out a restraining order. By making a good impression on those people lucky enough to already be where you’re aiming to be, could result in them taking a mental note of your abilities. They may well put in a good word to the right people if the time then came to make headway for a paid role.

That’s the basics covered, so now’s the time to put your plans into action. Remember that you can do anything if you put your mind to it and the only way for your career now is up, up, up.