What can she do?

[bogwobbit]

Hi,since I'm up early (too early :() and since this is something that's been playing on my mind, I thought I'd post and see if anyone can give some good advice.
Problem is my eldest daughter, just turned 19. Started at Uni last September, hated the course, was thoroughly miserable and eventually dropped out about 6 weeks ago. She is now looking for a job but the problem is, she is having absolutely no success.
SHe has applied to loads of things, full-time, part-time, permanent, temporary - but no luck at all. She hasn't even had any replies (apart from one letter) telling her that she has been unsuccesful...nothing. Not even a single interview.
Understandably, whe's getting a bit down about this and I just wish I could help her.
So, does anyone have any advice on how she could make herself more employable?
For info - her CV seems okay (to my untrained eye - used template on Careers Service website and adapted it); she has good qualifications; work experience (18 months in fast food restaurnat whilst at school); is personalbe, hard-working and willing to do (almost) any job. Oh, and we don't live in an area of high unemployment.
Any advice, especially from those of you who might work in HR, would be very gratefully received.
Thanks

Hi, sorry have had the same problem in this house! All I can say is keep trying, eventually three offers will roll in in the same week! Bump for you.

Have you considered getting your daughter involved in volunteering? There are plenty of good and helpful websites out there (just google 'volunteer') and it would keep her active and occupied whilst she is waiting for a job, give her something to talk about at interview and definitely add to her CV. I really enjoyed doing this before I had my daughter and aim to continue when she is old enough. I applied for several voluntary positions including a position as an adult literacy tutor. They placed me on a free 12 week course to get qualified (one day a week)which would have led to a recognised qualification (I had to drop out due to pregnancy related health problems) and then a voluntary position as a tutor. There are also more physical outdoors jobs available and more free training. Plus it would raise her self esteem and confidence which I would imagine is pretty low right now.
Also things like working in a charity shop would give her useful customer service skills

Sorry pressed post too soon.

and would get her used to the world of work again.

Fingers crossed she gets something soon.

Oh she is so young. Is she outgoing? Adventurous? what about a season or two as a holiday rep, it is great fun and teaches you to cope with ANYTHING.

I did and loved.

A life time of humdrum work will swiftly follow so she might as well have some fun and if she is missing out on the social life of university then it might be a good alternative.

i'm with flum - the season has probably just started. so if this is what sh'es going to do she needs to get a shufty on.

its statistically easier to go from employment to employment - so might be better for her to get a part time job at the supermarket or as already had been suggested go to the local CVS ( google "yourtown CVS") and they will be able to givelots of advice

also connections should be able to help with cv advice.

might be worth her while whilst she is young looking to volunteer whilst on a career progressin path - so for instance apply to do a social work degree whilst working voluntarily in the field
or apply to do a youth & copmmunity degree whilst volunteering at a youth club.

also other certificates help - so things like - first aid - wheres the local st johns ambulance?

Was it just that course, or university in general that she hated? My brother started one degree course at one uni, hated it, left, re-did his A levels and went on to do a different course at a different place and loved it.

What are her interests, her strengths and her weaknesses? What does she think she might like to do? Where is she applying for jobs, to who?

Meanwhile why don't you help her with roleplaying an interview so she gets used to be asked awkward questions. Make sure she has an outfit ready that she feels good in ready for her 1st interview, maybe treat her to a new top or accessories or something ready for the 1st interview?

Thanks for all the replies.
What is she like - hmmm. I wouldn't say she was particularly outgoing. To be brutally honest, she's quite shy and lacking in confidence, but covers it up with an outward air or indifference and aggression. Which makes her sound awful, but she's not. She is lovely (honest) but if you didn't know her well, you would probably think she was quite, I don't know, 'hard' perhaps. So, although the suggestion of being a holiday rep is a good one (and one I would have loved at her age) I don't think it's really her somehow.
The sad thing is she doesn't really have many interests, apart from drinking, clubbing and clothes. All of which are severely curtailed due to lack of money at the moment.
The suggestion about voluntary work is a good one though - I did actually look on the volunteer scotland website the other day and there was loads there but she 'pooh-pooh'ed the idea saying she needs money.
I think it was just the course she disliked - she certainly liked the social life aspect of being a student and it actually thinking about going back after the summer, but the last thing I want her to do is return without really thinking about whether the course is one she really wants to do and then to hate it as well.
Jobs she's applied for include: banks, hotels, shops, NHS jobs (auxilliary nurse / admin), call cenres - loads of things, but no luck.
Anyway, my post is turning into War and Peace - sorry. I know I sound negative about her and I'm not really - she would be a good worker. She just lacks confidence and motiviation at the moment - and maybe it shows in her CV / applications.
Thanks to you all again for your advice. Any more suggestions would be more than welcome too.

Does she have any idea of what she really wants to do? Could she spend some time looking at that, and then maybe go for a more vocational course. That's what my brother did. He went from a single subject degree to a BEd, and it really gave him the motivation to keep going. I just worry that your dd may regret missing out on University altogether. How about nursing, or was that just a way of earning money?

Becky,

I don't think that she really does know what she wants to do. That's part of the problem and one of the reasons I want her to work, at least for a year or two, until she has more of an idea rather than pick a university course for a 'half-baked' reason and then end up hating it too. I don't want her to miss out on university either, but I don't want her to start another course and then drop out of it.
The auxilliary nursing was just for the money. I can't really see her being a nurse, but I would love to be proven wrong. Personally, I think it would be great if she could get a job like this (or whatever) and discovered her 'niche' in life. Oh well, one can but dream :)

Maybe she needs to understand how she comes over to prospective employers, ie. if she seems to be indifferent or aggressive, it wouldn't go down well. Perhaps you could have a chat with her about 'interview technique' - which beyond skills, qualifications etc., is largely about selling yourself.

Fairyjay, you're right. She definitely does need help with interview technique. Don't know if I'm quite the right person to do it unfortunately. Does anyone know if hte Careers Service / Job Centre (who up till now have been absolutely and stupendously hopeless) would be able to help with this. Or even any reputable organisation that doesn't charge too much. She does have massive issues with confidence and is terrified of interviews. When she had the one for her pert-time job, she was practically kacking herself with nerves for days beforehand.
Other problem at the moment is that she still hasn't been offered any interviews :(

How about going to college in September to get some work related skills? What does she want to do in particular? If she went to college it would show that she is a trier and wants to get on even though she dropped out of uni. She could do accounting, or personnel. It might help boost her confidence too. I teach Business Studies, so I am a bit biased towards the Business area, but she could learn to do a more practical skill that would get her employment. Alternatively she could apply to FE college/connexions to do a modern apprenticeship if she is only 19. Here an employer would give her a (not very well paid) job and send her to college to train. Connexions would know all about this.

There are lots of options if she has good qualifications. Often students need a little training to help them.

Thanks Jenny,
yep college might be an idea - certainly worth her thinking about - as might a modern apprenticeship, which is something we hadnt even considered.
WE live in Scotland so I don't think Connexions applies here but I've suggested to her that she should visit Careers Scotland for an interview to see if they can offer her any advice.

Our babysitter dropped out of Uni and is now doing a beauticians course at the local college - she is very shy usually and it has been lovely to see her blossom - I thinks shes completed two modules so far and is lovely it. because the course is only 3 days a week she has a part time job in the pier which is also helping with her confidence and is currently doing discounted manicures for me and the girls....

I am not sure about the system in Scotland, but in England if you have A levels (or equiv) you really will have a lot of options open to you at college. Your daughter must have good qualifications to have got her into uni in the first place, so she may not be able to do a modern apprenticeship because they only go up to level 3 (A level equiv). (Sorry I didn't quite finish what I was writing yesterday and I have been thinking about it today at work!).

She could do with having a chat with someone about what she would really like to do. If she wants to do personnel or accounting or hair or beauty or whatever, then go into a college and get a prospectus. She could probably do a course within a year and get enough skills to land a job.

Just a quick update, folks....and good news too :o
My daughter now has a job. Got phoned on Tuesday by an employment Agency, had an interview on Wednesday and starts work today . The job's at a local call centre, who apparently are recruiting 'big style' at the moment. The pay is okay and she'll get lots of training. Also, one of her old friends from school works there. She is v nervous but happy to have something.
Whether she says there long-term is a different matter. I am still trying to persaude her to get an interview with the careers service to discuss this.
Anyway, many, many thanks to all of you for your suggestions. What a difference a week makes....from despair to happiness in just seven days

Well done to her - I am sure it isn't what you want for her in the long term, but short term it will give her a real boost which is what she probably needs right now.

She's very young and will be able to decide what path to take later - at least she will be settled. I am sure you are very relieved.