Graduate Prospects - 11 June, 2008 - (Page 2)

2 PROSPECTS GRADUATE Issue 69 · 11 June 2008 · Fortnightly www.prospects.ac.uk BLOGGERS AT WORK ‘‘I crossed my fingers, legs and two toes’ AYEESHA FLIES TO A JOB ‘I know it’s the umpteenth change of plan’ MATT RISES FROM THE ASHES ‘The whole idea no longer seemed glamorous’ KIRSTIE’S BBC BAPTISM ONE YEAR LATER REMOTIVATION FOR GRADUATES University ended a year ago and still you’re having trouble getting up in the morning. Each day is a struggle, tinged with despair and futility. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. By rights you should have a directorship! Twelve months of job hunting can take their toll, so how, if at all, do you stay motivated enough to carry on? Prospects found out from two recent graduates. When we spoke to Richard Summerfield in October last year, he’d completed a degree in Contemporary History at University of Leicester and was working in the finance department of a property management firm (Graduate 57). Eight months on, he feels he has made little progress and is becoming increasingly disillusioned. ‘I’m not very positive at all to be honest,’ he admitted. ‘I’ve sent out countless applications and been to loads of interviews but nothing has actually come up yet.’ IT CAN BE DONE To make matters worse, Richard finds his friends are beginning to succeed in their chosen careers. While he’s more than pleased for REWARDING WORK Unfortunately, the work experience plans fell though and Danny found himself out of work until January, when he took on a teaching assistant position in a school for children with autism. This is a job that he enjoys, though it’s not a profession he wishes to pursue. He says though that this rewarding work has repaired his self-esteem and been a huge motivator. Danny is trying to build his writing portfolio before applying for jobs as a staff writer and still faces setbacks. A knock back from a local magazine dented his confidence. However, through perseverance and a little networking he’s recently run into success. Magazines are beginning to buy his articles and he’s found employment covering a Birmingham art festival. OF ’07 Danny says that the most important thing to keep in mind is that progress isn’t always them, he admits it can be a little hard at times. instantaneous. ‘Sometimes it doesn’t appear ‘If you keep comparing yourself to everyone that you’re making any headway, but you never else, you’ll go mad. I try to think: If they can know what’s going on behind the scenes. If you do it then so can I.’ He applies this positive thinking to his wider keep plugging away at people you’ll get there eventually.’ career search. His dissatisfaction is a driving force in his attempts to find more rewarding TURNING IT ROUND employment. ‘Being in a job I’m not happy with is a pretty big source of motivation. I’m Though he isn’t yet at the stage in his career he trying to turn my dissatisfaction into something desires, Danny is proof that your fortunes can I can use, if that makes any sense.’ be reversed with hard work and determination. While getting stuck in a job you can’t bear is If you feel like you’re stuck in a rut, there a problem, it’s worse to be without any job at are steps you can take to get out of it. The all. This is a situation that Fine Art graduate majority of university careers services offer Danny Smith found himself in until recently. help to their graduates and a quick visit can After finishing his degree at Birmingham City give you some ideas to put you on the right University, Danny walked down the slippery track. It’s important to remember that success slope of unemployment becoming more and isn’t going to be instant and that your peers more jaded and depressed. may well find it before you do, but you can’t ‘I’d decided on a career in journalism after judge yourself on their success. A degree working on the university magazine. I’d doesn’t guarantee a great job immediately. planned to take on work placements after my Perseverance is the key. degree and didn’t want to get tied to a job And remember, in a month there’ll be a new which would infringe on this. I was sticking around for a good opportunity to come my way, breed of job hungry graduates out there. That which was a bit of an arrogant attitude.’ should spur you on! Matt Atkins JOB-HUNTING INFORMATION www.prospects.ac.uk/links/appsinterviews TEST YOURSELF www.prospects.ac.uk/links/tests WHAT JOB SUITS YOU www.prospects.ac.uk/links/pplanner GRADUATE EMPLOYERS www.prospects.ac.uk/links/coprofiles ALL ABOUT APPLICATIONS PROSPECTS INTERACTIVE SERVICES • GRADUATE FORUM • ADVICE AND COACHING • CAREERS CHAT LIVE http://www.prospects.ac.uk http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Feature_Articles/Feature_articles_2008/Kirstie_s_job_log__24/p!elmkegb# http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Feature_Articles/Feature_articles_2008/Matt_s_job_log__11/p!epkmbFb http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Feature_Articles/Feature_articles_2008/Ayeesha_s_job_log__4/p!ekplXib http://www.nxtbook.com/gp/gp/grad57/ http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Interactive_advice/p!eacXi http://www.prospects.ac.uk/links/appsinterviews http://www.prospects.ac.uk/links/tests http://www.prospects.ac.uk/links/pplanner http://www.prospects.ac.uk/links/coprofiles

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Graduate Prospects - 11 June, 2008

Editorial: Job Blogs Editorial: One Year Later Propeller Training Editorial: The Experience Gap Aldi Stores Ltd Police Mutual Assurance Society Product Plus International Ltd British Engines Limited Manhattan Associates CFB Fidessa Plc Nebulas Security Abnormal Load Engineering Ltd The Derivatives Consulting Group Majestic Wine Warehouse NDS Ltd Simpson Tyrell Associates University of Northampton K2 Partnering Solutions Kerry Foods Innovex (UK) Ltd Steria Ltd Laser 2000 Editorial: Where's Teacher? Training and Development Agency Brunel University University of Warwick Loughborough University University of Surrey The University of Manchester University of London Careers Service

Graduate Prospects - 11 June, 2008

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