Graduate Job Thread "That went a bit wild"(Shaun,

[JonB]

Good Afternoon,

Only 3 weeks to go now until I take my final 4 exams for my degree, now barring any major major fvck up, I should get at least a 2:2, i'd be gutted with a 2:2 but not much I can do about it now, I know i'm borderline 2:1 so I hope I can achieve that.

Anyway, I have now 50% turned my attention to job hunting, went on the Job Centre Plus website and seen a couple of jobs back in Somerset. I have applied for two so far.

One is a Deputy Store Manager in Lidls, starting wage at £18,000 per annum, but a 50 hour week. Not particularly fussed on the hourage. The other is a Sales Floor Manager at a Focus DIY, which at 37.5 hours a week earns £20,000+ per annum, now obviously if I was successful in both i'd probably go for the Focus job. However I am starting to question as to whether I am not setting my targets high enough, or if I am just being a realist in that we are in a recession and it is better to have a job than none at all.

My idea is that i've probably got a better chance than 75% of applicants for either of the jobs based on the fact that I have management experience and I have a degree and that hopefully both of these firms will enable me to progress further should I so wish. I have naturally found myself slipping into the Retail sector, primarily because it is what I am good at, I have gained a promotion in every retail job I have done, even during my temporary summer placement at a wildlife park last summer where I was promoted to a Retail Team Leader within 1 month, so obviously something is there in me that means I can manage people. I have obviously tried to supplement my lack of experience in management with these examples. I'm hoping the Effective Communication courses I have taken whilst at university will gain me some kudos points as well.

Anyway, was just wondering about my situation. They say the recession is bad for graduates and obviously it is unfavourable, however I am kind of feeling for the people who didn't go to university and are now competing for jobs that graduates wouldn't otherwise look at.


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[McGee]

With the current problems people are having finding work take what you can get home slice.
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[pa_broon74]

Not sure what your degree is in, but if you do aim to low, the potential employer is just going to think you'll be off as soon as something better comes along. Even saying you won't in an interview isn't enough as its what they'd expect you to say.

Apply for anything and everything you think might be suitable, inevitably, you'll get to the point where you'll be offered something and you'll need to decide whether you could do better or just take what might end up being a lesser paid job.

I remember taking what turned out to be a shit job (120 hours a week then the sack ater 9 months) over what might have been a pretty good first step on a ladder. (It was with the company that created dolly the sheep.)

I think the thing is, its a decision you'll not know is good or bad until well after you've made it. A microcosm of so many other things in life...


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Didn't catch anything.

[JonB]

I am doing history, so a bit of a mickey mouse degree, however I chose to do the degree for self enlightenment not a job. I have made a point in my cover letters of pointing out that I see myself as someone who wants progress through the company and how impressed I am with the scope for personal development.

To be honest i'd be happy with a stable job for 5 years with the way this country is going.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[ms51ves3]

If I was you I'd apply absolutely everywhere. Aim for jobs higher than you think you will get, you've got nothing to lose.

[pa_broon74]

[JonB]

Teaching history is overly subscribed too. No chance. No bonus payments or golden hellos for this subject.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[jack_zxr400]

they would want previous experience in management roles

which is abit of a catch 22
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[JonB]

Yes and I do have limited management experience, hence why it is worth a try IMO.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[bazza]

Graduates are good for fuck all until they've done at least 3 years in a proper job and had all their "Oh, but I've got a degree" airs and graces kicked out of them.

OVMV.
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[Harold_Shand]

I wouldn't give up on being a teacher if that is what you feel you want to do.

Don't give up yet, it aint even started
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Harold_Shand's theory might be the best explanation.

[s44678]

Graduate schemes? Most decent firms do them.

+ good progression
+ good training / support
+ usually stable companies

- heavily oversubscribed
- competitive
- pay might not be brilliant at first.

[MarJay]

Jon.

Whatever you do, do NOT work in retail. Work in sales, in a call centre, something technical ANYTHING but retail. Its the worst industry to work in ever. And I can't imagine Aldi or B and Q being better than Sainsburys (which is where I have experience).

my
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[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

A job's a job at the moment, I've been applying for lots of stuff. Not got onto any grad schemes, but I'm going through an internal management thing at Waitrose at the moment, so hopefully I'll get that. In my experience retail with JLP tends to be better than other companies.
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[Fawbish]

How on earth you think having a History degree will aid you in getting a management role at focus or Lidl is beyond me.

I daresay you'd have a better chance if you told them you didnt have a degree.

Whats your management experience? Not so I can have a pop, Im just curious is all.

I dont think you're aiming too low at all, if anything I'd think you're being a bit blase about getting a job that pays between 18-20K.

I know you aint naive about what the Job situations are like, you dont seem thick enough to ignore that by a long shot, but I wonder how many students genuinely dont recognise the state that shit is really in at the moment? Despite what they say.
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[Annabella]

[Shaun]

I'm sorry Jon but I agree with the above, how the hell is your history degree relevant to being a manager? At best you'll get a trainee managers position which I believe McDonalds do for graduates.

The job market is fucked, royally and from what I can gather students really don't understand just how bad it is, it's impossible to understand fully unless you're in it.

My local job centre has had to send me back to going fortnightly instead of weekly because so many people are signing on they didn't have time to see them all! Go down to a job centre and look around, not everyone there is a chav who doesn't care, you'll see a lot of smartly dressed depressed people sitting around.

Good luck with the job hunt, just remember that the competition is strong and there's people out there who have 3 years work experience whilst you've sat about learning about history.

A applied for an admin role last week, heard nothing back, phoned the agency, they got 80 applicants within 2 days.

[Shaun]

[Fawbish]

Dear lord


Shaun, you should just go to Uni again. Goverment protection for a few years
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"Oh....it looks like Average Joe's is forfeiting the match!" - "Yeah, its a risky strategy but lets see if it pays off for 'em Cotton."

[M1ke]

Jon, ignore what people are saying about an irrelevant degree. Most companies are only interested in what grade you obtain (2.1 being a lot more desired than a 2.2 btw)

I think bazza hit the nail on the head with his comments above, you should take note of them!

In any interviews you get 90% of the questions will be on your work experience and 10% if you are lucky about your degree.

Aim for 15k and if you get more be grateful, a lot of graduates will be working in shoe shops fitting shoes to old womens feet for the next year at least.

[JonB]

I think I appeared somewhat arrogant in my first post and that was completely unintentional.

People are picking me up on my History degree and I must add that at no time have I suggested that it is going to give me an advantage when going for a job, other than that bar work experience a degree is going to be a plus point surely?

I have some management experience within the retail sector, I actually don't mind retail to be honest, but if it is what pays the bills for the next 5 years than so be it.

I've got a telephone interview on Tuesday for a trainee management position at enterprise-rent-a-car but I am holding out much hope!
____________________
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[JonB]

Also quick question, I have sent off my CV to Lidl South West for consideration of a Deputy Store Manager post, would it the be rude to then send off an application to Lidl in consideration of the Graduate Store Manager opportunity?
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[Clanger]

[instigator]

It's situations like this that I always stress to students that they should seek summer placements in their first year, literally a few months after they begin.

But no-one ever listens...*sigh*

Best of luck finding summat Jon

[Andy C]