So you need a job. You need a job during the recession. You need to stand out from all the other candidates going for the same job as you to even get an interview. You then need to stand out from all the other candidates in your interview to get the job, and generally speaking you’re not allowed to take your clothes off or use fireworks to aid the process. It sounds like a quite a big feat, right?
Yes, in a way, it is. For any given job, there may be hundreds of applicants of varying abilities, ages and experience; and for someone with little experience, or someone who has been out of the job for some time; this can be an intimidating fact. But it doesn’t necessarily have to be.
I’ll tell you a bit about me. Since leaving school two years ago, I’ve been working in various retail stores, and have managed to snare employment even in the toughest of economic circumstances. This isn’t because I’m especially smart; I don’t hold a degree or a MENSA membership; and it’s not because I’m particularly talented at retail or because I have a lot of experience, because compared to many other people working in retail today, I’m very green. What I have realised over the years (erm, the past two years) and after many many rejections, is how to get noticed, and how to get an interview going in my favour. Just to give you some idea, since leaving my last job, I’ve been offered 6, and since leaving school I have had fairly varied work experiences at John Lewis, Waterstones and Next. So, to some extent, you can trust me.
I should come clean about my motives. I know how hard it is, for young people in particular coming out of 6th form (or High School), to get a job with little or no work experience. Many of my friends went off to University simply to avoid having to deal with the job market, such as it is these days, and I don’t blame them at all; but after a very recent announcement that the fees for University students are likely to be in excess of £9,000, many young people may opt for employment. It’s really tough out there, but if you know the right things to say and do, it ought not to be the nightmare that many people envision on entering the job market.
So, welcome to my job blog. If you’ve got this far, you’ve probably decided that you don’t think I’m a complete tool. Yet. Great! I’ll be posting soon.
