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Jobs as a Graduate
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
in Work & Study
How did those of you who went to university manage to get your job afterwards?
I'm just wondering because I'm currently having a look around at possible jobs at the moment, whilst I decide whether to embark on a PhD or go straight into work.
I've looked at a few jobs I'd be interested in, but to be honest, the idea of an assessment day scares the crap out of me! There's a couple I'd like to do in market/social research, but when it says you have to formulate presentations on the day and present to the room etc, it just really puts me off! I know how bad I am at that kind of thing, and I know that I wouldn't get through so there's really no point. I'm just not one of those people who can think on the spot and I get ridiculously nervous, it's just not for me.
However, interviews don't bother me so much and I'd have a much better chance of getting a job this way. I've been looking at jobs in the not-for-profit sector, the salary would be less but that doesn't bother me as much. I do quite a bit of volunteering for a few charities and really enjoy it so that's where I've got the interest from.
So how did you people get your jobs? Was it an interview basis or did you have to go through assessment processes? Also, where did you find the jobs advertised?
I'm just wondering because I'm currently having a look around at possible jobs at the moment, whilst I decide whether to embark on a PhD or go straight into work.
I've looked at a few jobs I'd be interested in, but to be honest, the idea of an assessment day scares the crap out of me! There's a couple I'd like to do in market/social research, but when it says you have to formulate presentations on the day and present to the room etc, it just really puts me off! I know how bad I am at that kind of thing, and I know that I wouldn't get through so there's really no point. I'm just not one of those people who can think on the spot and I get ridiculously nervous, it's just not for me.
However, interviews don't bother me so much and I'd have a much better chance of getting a job this way. I've been looking at jobs in the not-for-profit sector, the salary would be less but that doesn't bother me as much. I do quite a bit of volunteering for a few charities and really enjoy it so that's where I've got the interest from.
So how did you people get your jobs? Was it an interview basis or did you have to go through assessment processes? Also, where did you find the jobs advertised?
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I saw from another thread that you study psychology. Are you a member of the British Psychological Society (BPS)? I would advise you to have a look at their website for ideas about possible Psychology related careers and post grad courses. http://www.bps.org.uk/
If you are a member already you should receive a copy of the monthly Appointments Memorandum which has lots of job listings as well as information about possible post grad opportunities. It might also be an idea to talk to someone in your department about career paths or maybe even through one of the volunteer posts that you are already involved with?
I had to do a couple of assessment days, which was ok - on one i had to do an interview, a group working test, some ability assessments (numerical and comprehension) and a ten minute presentation which we had about half an hour to prepare.
The other, i had to do the ability assessments, an interview, a group working test and a personality questionnaire.
I got the second job, didn't get the first - it was for BUPA and apparently i wasn't enough of a 'people person' in the group test. Hey ho!
See, that is the kind of thing that scares me! I'm awful at presentations. Did you have to prepare and do it by yourself or do it in groups?
Thanks, yeah I do have a look on their website occasionally, but I only really see psychological assistant jobs which are mainly for people who want to embark on clinical psychology. I have thought about doing a masters but if I get offered this PhD, then that would be better than a masters. Although I'm not sure if I want to do postgraduate study at all, the PhD offer kind of came about by accident!
Yeah I think I will talk to the company who I volunteer for and ask them how I might be able to get involved, they might give me some useful advice if anything.
Yeah same here! I think it just shows how few of these schemes there actually are in the grand scheme of things. Mind you, I wouldn't want to be involved in a graduate scheme job for the reasons already mentioned. I would hate to do workgroups and presentations and to know that there are dozens of other people all in the same boat. I mean, I can see why large companies would take this route to get the "best" people out of a large number of people but its like being at school. I much prefer the traditional application and interview process and this is how I have got my jobs.
Um, we were given a load of information about this thing, and then given half an hour to present on it - the topic was 'the ideal graduate scheme', which was quite open. We prepared for it seperately but all in the same room, then we had to present it to two people in a tiny room - none of the other people got to see your presentation, and it wasn't like you were talking to a large number of people, it wasn't too bad. My degree involved a lot of presentations though, so i didn't find it too awful as i'd had quite a lot of practice.
I remember the 1st assessment centre I ever did though and I was really nervous, never really put my ideas across very well and let myself down through the nerves, needless to say I didn't get the job. They do take practice though and if you're going to have to do them in the future for jobs I'd apply for a few now and get the 1st one out the way.
I've had another couple assessment days as well. The one for Intel made me have to do a 5 minute presentation that I'd have 30 minutes to prepare for. We all had a different topic. These were chosen by us all picking a number from the centre of the table and then that was the order we had to do the presentation in and the order we got to pick a card in. There were 3 different coloured cards that had the presentation titles on and each colour had a slightly different theme. I ended up doing one on how to arrange a holiday for friends. A couple of others were what would you change if you could be prime minister for the day and what are the steps in a night club owners daily routine. To be fair everyone was really nervous, made mistakes and didn't always have the best of ideas. But they're looking at whether or not you can put together some ideas and give it a go more than a perfect presentation.
Group activities are usually quite fun for assessment days, I've had things like building a platform to drop an egg on without it smashing, predicting how high you can build a tower out of lego in a certain time and doing it and choosing 10 items to put in a time capsule and why given 10 topic areas. They really are just looking for the input you put into a team and how well you work together, you don't have to be right and what you do doens't have to work.
'tis true, I have really struggled in the job market. I think it depends on where you live but where I am youth and enthusiasm aren't particularly well valued. I have taken on a non-graduate job and while it is quite a challenging role in many respects I am getting increasingly unhappy. i have been at the place for over a year and face being interviewed to keep my job in the next couple of months which is not something I am looking forward to so I am desperately interviewing for everything I can.
The main issue I believe that employers are too demanding for the money they are earning, which is probably true in many other places in the job market. I saw an NHS admin job recently where they wanted you to not only have a degree, but 3 years junior management experience and they were offering only £18,000.
I have a good degree and a vast amount of vocational (mainly IT-based qualifications) and its still not enough - you have to also have a background in finance or website design or whatever. I have looked into it and actually getting extra qualifications from places like Pitmans costs hundreds of pounds. I'm not the type of person to sit on my ass moaning about things but you get to the point where you wish somebody would cut you some slack and give you a shot.
However, I am waiting to hear back from one application where for the first time the organisation would offer training in some areas rather than just expecting you to already have it for a poor amount of money.
At the moment I am just trying to make myself more employable by teaching myself new skills such as shorthand and possibly web design.
sorry for the rant but at times i just get so frustrated.
graduated in computer sciences and cant even get a job in an office due to lack of experience! i'm quite capable of using a phone and computer, but noooo!
it gets ya down