Please could you help? A bit sad and desperate.

[WellAlwaysHaveParis]

I've posted about my situation before, but am getting a bit desperate now. Please could I ask for your help? I've tried to be really honest. Please could you be kind and objective? I really don't want to get flamed

My situation:
I graduated with a French and Spanish degree from a very academic university in 2015. I speak fluent French and advanced Spanish.

At university, I did several placements with national newspapers and magazines, and held several editorship positions for student newspapers, as I wanted to get into journalism. However, entry-level journalism roles have extremely low salaries, especially in London, where many are based. At university, I had planned to do a journalism master's qualification after graduating, but they're so so expensive and don't guarantee a job at the end unfortunately, so I decided against it. I do hospital radio volunteering on the weekends though, as it seems like a good way of perhaps going into media-based roles.

Since graduating, I've been trying to find a full-time job and haven't found anything. While I was looking for a full-time role, straight after uni, I worked as a self-employed private tutor and freelance copywriter in my hometown and lived at home.

In summer 2016, I moved to London to do teacher training, which I resigned from in winter 2016 due to health reasons.

To try and give myself relevant and important skills, I've started training as a Citizens Advice adviser in London in autumn last year. It's been so so useful in so many ways, and I'm so glad I've started doing it. It is voluntary though, which means it's unpaid, and ideally I need to look for paid work.

I'm also doing tuition through a couple of agencies alongside the Citizens Advice volunteering. Although the tuition is well-paid per hour, it's ad-hoc and not very regular (it stops during the school holidays etc.)

I have an assessment coming up for a Civil Service job next week, but it's for one post and I'm sure lots of people are going for it.

The problem:
I've been looking for jobs and haven't had any luck with finding a full-time job.

Everything that I'm looking at seems extremely competitive and there doesn't seem to be a clear, straightforward path to these jobs, if that makes sense.

I've had quite a few interviews over the last few months, but they haven't come to anything.

I've tried looking for jobs through: recruitment agencies (Reed, Tate, VMA Group, Love Success), job websites (W4MP Jobs, Guardian Jobs) and companies' own website.

I think I must be doing something wrong. Any ideas and guidance on how I can get a full-time job please?

I'm 26, and getting on a bit, with elderly parents, so getting quite worried.

The industries that I'm interested in are:

• Communications, PR and marketing
  
• Politics
  
• Journalism
  
• Government and Civil Service
  
• Charity sector (Communications, PR, marketing and policy roles).
  

Thanks so much

[DerelictWreck]

Try these guys www.harrishill.co.uk/

I'm in policy in London and this who we recruit from as well as using indeed.

[LoveProsecco]

Will reply later today

[NotACompleterFinis]

This website has alot of free and very useful advice on this. Has some great stuff that you can pay for too - if this guy can't help you no-one can!

www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/find-your-dream-job/

[notangelinajolie]

Lower your expectations a little.
Perhaps look at working in a lesser paid/lower qualified role that will offer you opportunities to progress within a good company. One of my DC's friends took a year out after graduating from a RG uni and worked as a hotel receptionist. Minimum pay but after a couple of months she was asked if she would consider applying for Events Manager position. She also worked at John Lewis over Christmas and was asked to stay as a Management Trainee. She did neither as she wanted to be a teacher. But both were great opportunities and had she not been accepted for Teach First she says she would have loved the Events job.

[Nothomealone]

I remember your earlier posts, I recall that it was suggested that temping and not expecting to move into an entry level job straight off was suggested then and I think that is still true. Maybe look to get any job in a company or organisation you would like work in and then look to build from there? As you have good language skills maybe looking to work in other countries would also be an idea? I doubt you are doing anything terribly wrong but it is competitive in the fields you want to move into and you may not be able to have a clear straight path into these jobs. I am thinking that in my finance planning for the future we will need to set aside at least six months funding for DC to do unpaid internships to help get them into the world of work.

[LittleTinyPig]

OP, have you looked at this course? www.becomeajournalist.co.uk/courses/magazine
It is nine weeks long so not as expensive as other postgrad training courses, but I know lots of journalists (I am one myself) who took this route, as well as some who started out in journalism then went into PR. Finding a job is a big part of the course.
It doesn't say how much it is so it might be out of your budget, but I think it is one way into what I agree is a difficult sector to start in.

[waterrat]

Hi Op, I work in the media, I'm experienced and have a 'sought after' job so I have a lot of advice I could give - if you want to PM me I can give you more specific career advice.

The first thing that jumps out at me is that you are not focused enough on what you want. I know how hard that can be but if you want to get into journalism you would have to relentlessly focus on that.

It is almost impossible to get a job in journalism through applying to adverts - if you were really committed to it you would be very pushy, sending story ideas to news editors and asking for shifts. You say the work was badly paid - did that put you off or do you mean you couldn't afford to take the work?

When I started out in journalism I worked in a pub in the evening as well as doing my journalism job - I'm not saying that is for everyone but realistically you do have to accept journalism is badly paid at first.

Your situation sounds very normal to me, it's a very tough job market. I am very experienced and find it hard as well - the truth is that journalism jobs tend to go internally and many large news organisations are losing staff not taking them on.

If you were really focused on what you want to do people could give you better advice. You definitely won't get into journalism ..which is a cut throat competitive industry - unless you 10000 per cent want to do it.

[Betaday]

I wouldn't rule out any industry at this stage, even though you have specific interest in selected industries. Get the experience under your belt first and after that you can look to move to an industry you have an interest in.

[Flowerpot1234]

I do find it rather strange that a Cambridge languages graduate can only find voluntary work with CAB.

[squishysquirmy]

re your civil service assessment, does this include an interview?

You may already know this, but you can prepare for this by looking at the competencies laid out in the job advert, and pre-preparing an example of how you have demonstrated these skills in the past (using the STAR format). You are likely to be asked to do this.
It is so much easier to answer if you have already thought of an example (and how to word it make you sound super) than if you have to think something up on the spot! I bet your voluntary experience will be very handy here.


More detail on what the competencies mean for the level you are going for here: www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/436073/cscf_fulla4potrait_2013-2017_v2d.pdf

Good luck with your assessment. Personally (as someone who is rubbish at interviews) I prefer longer assessments where you have an opportunity to really show them who you are over all-or-nothing interviews. I'm job hunting at the moment too, its tough out there.

Good luck!

[waterrat]

I don't agree by the way with posters suggesting you do more training or courses, particularly in journalism. Really it's on the job work you need.

If I was you I would use the language skills and go and work abroad to build up confidence and get a break from job searching.

I would also recommend pub/ cafe/ bar work as it's sociable and will give you a break from thinking about job hunting.

[boilingstormyseas]

I'd like to reiterate something a previous poster said ... what skills are you bringing to the job? I'd suggest finding an admin/secretarial role in the type of business you'd like to be in and go from there. Think how you can enhance their business rather than what they can do for you. The job market is really tough so I'd try and start in one job and then move on from there when you have some experience. It may also clarify what you'd really like to do,

[Hefzi]

I've seen your threads over the last couple of years, but not contributed previously; however, you continue to be given excellent advice. I would add that I would encourage you to forget about policy in terms of charities, at this stage - most will only employ people with solid, proven, relevant research skills, and post-grad qualifications in the relevant area.

Narrow down what you want to do, focus and commit: it sounds as though you might have a spotty work history also, and at 26, that can start to be off-putting to an employer.

[Battyboo82]

I am a journalist and have been for 12 years. You need a bit more work experience than you have. Yes, the starting salary is low but you have to accept that if you want to do the job. You need industry standard qualifications (like the masters you mentioned), or at the very least the NCTJ preliminary examinations. It's a very competitive field and you need to stand out. HTH

[PricillaQueenOfTheDesert]

The thing is nobody in a decent job left school/college/uni and walked straight into that job.

The vast majority of us work our way up. Much like being a homeowner, you start with something that’s not great and you work to improve.

Just take a job and dazzle your employer with your abilities. The longer you are unemployed the harder it becomes to convince employers that you are the right candidate for them.

[VladmirsPoutine]

OP, is your interview next week for the DwP?

[GlitterUnicornsAndAllThatJazz]

OP another thing is you talk at great length about industries you're interested in, potential employers, etc., but maybe it's worth considering and discussing what actually makes you tick deep down. Why are you looking at these sectors? What do you think you really shine at?

That's the kind of thing that will help you narrow stuff down.

[ButFirstTea]

I work in policy and generally it's really not very easy to get into without having a background either in policy work or in the policy area you're working on.

What area of policy are you interested in? I used to work in education policy but before that I worked in a sixth form (and studied politics at undergrad) so I had lots of 'on the ground' experience. I now work in digital/EU policy which is closely related to my MA.

Have you been to the job centre to ask about interview practice? That could help if you think the interviews are your sticking point. However overall I would say just try and get any job, admin temp or something, because it really is 100% easier to get a job once you already have one. It's paradoxical and frustrating but it's really true.

[WellAlwaysHaveParis]

Hi everyone.

Just getting back into contact. Thanks so so much for all of your advice. I've written it all down, which has really helped. I feel a lot more in control than this morning.

Since writing the thread, I've set up a profile on Escape the City and contacted several recruitment agencies about admin and communications jobs, and have a meeting next week with one of them. I feel like I'm starting to take small concrete steps towards getting out of this rut. Just need to focus and carry on, I think.

I think what might help me is if I take specific steps each day to reach my career goals and keep a written record of what I've done each day. That'll be really positive and helpful, I think.

Thanks again :)

[WellAlwaysHaveParis]

Hi everyone.

Just getting back into contact. Thanks so so much for all of your advice. I've written it all down, which has really helped. I feel a lot more in control than this morning.

Since writing the thread, I've set up a profile on Escape the City and contacted several recruitment agencies about admin and communications jobs, and have a meeting next week with one of them. I feel like I'm starting to take small concrete steps towards getting out of this rut. Just need to focus and carry on, I think.

I think what might help me is if I take specific steps each day to reach my career goals and keep a written record of what I've done each day. That'll be really positive and helpful, I think.

Thanks again :)

[Civilservant123]

Regarding the civil service assessment can you tell us what the assessment is?

What grade is it for and did you have to write competencies or a personal statement for the position?

[AnnaleeP]

Good luck.

I agree with what a lot of pp have said, get any job but temp admin work is a great way to get a foot in the door and build work experience.

You won't get your ideal job straightaway, no one does. Just get any job, even if it's rubbish, you'll learn things you can take to the next position.

[Alicetherabbit]

In order to get some work expirience behind you how about working as police interpretation, I think it maybe freelance, but could get expirience in civil service?

[YesMam]

Widen your net a bit and lower your expectations a bit. It's easier going from one job to another the it is from being unemployed. You're doing all the right things by gaining transferable skills through volunteering.

Have someone look at your C.V. critically and always request feedback after every interview that you attend.

Have a look at jobs within the higher education sector. There are a wide range of roles, not just teaching ones, where you could utilise your language skills. Don't just look at journalism but other related and none media roles too.
Higher ed jobs

Mumsnet jobs

guardian careers