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Having trouble finding a job
Past User
Recovering🥀Posts: 0 Just got here
in Work & Study
Comments
Thanks for reaching out to us. I always appreciate how much courage it must take to reach out.
What is a good sign is your dedication and persistence.
You are using all of the websites I would recommend (especially Indeed).
Unfortunately, summer jobs will be very competitive at the moment.
Are there other types of jobs you would consider? Once you get into university, there will likely be lots of causal and student jobs available if that provides some reassurance.
The only things I can suggest within summer jobs are to target your CV to the individual post and to keep trying!
By targeting your CV I mean to put the job criteria and description in a document. Based on this, you can highlight and annotate it according to the points you have fulfilled based on your experiences and studying.
I hope this helps
Oh no. I am really sorry to hear about this
The only other thing I can recommend is any local job pages you may have! Obviously, I don't know what these could be but if you type in your area and jobs you may find some
There may also be jobs advertised in local shop windows if you are out and about exploring too!
Hey
Honestly, as things are, you're going to straight rejections at least 80% of the time. There's a huge backlog in job applicants because of the trilogy of lockdowns we've had, especially in London. Also, a lot of companies have had a tough financial year, so many have cut their intakes/vacanies for efficiency and cost-cutting. I don't mean to put a downer on things, but I think it's best to be honest about the situation.
Websites/Platforms
It's good that you've used those job sites - lots of listings to be found on there. I would highly recommend looking on LinkedIn - I had a couple interviews with firms on there, and you've also got an Easy Apply option which made the application process a lot simpler.
What industries or types of roles are you looking for? Some very generous people have set up websites that track the application dates and requirements for certain sectors (e.g. finance), so it's worth keeping an eye out for those to see if there's particular roles you look for.
I'd also really recommend having a look at the Civil Service - they have lots of roles across many different departments, across all levels of experience. The Fast Stream is highly competitive, but you also have hundreds of other positions to scan through. You can also get a very decent pension and good progression, and it's a top employer in the UK so well worth having a look.
Applications
I'm not sure if you went to uni, but if you did I think many will still allow you to use their Careers service. You can book in some time with them to go over interview practice, CVs etc. If not, there are still other resources you can use - either getting a friend/family member to look it over for you, using the companies core values in your application, and practicing interview techniques with friends, family, or even practice groups through social media.
Judging by your response, it seems like the main barrier is getting past the initial application stage, so it sounds like that's your CV that needs a looking over. If there is an option for a cover letter, always include that. There's some very good templates online that I used and they helped me a lot!
There are also things you can do in the meantime to boost your application. It's quite likely that an interview would ask what you've been doing at the moment, if you aren't in education, work or other training. Volunteering is a great way to bridge that gap, build some skills and build your CV up, if you don't already do it! I'd also suggest looking at some key skills that your target roles may require, because you can use services like OpenLearn and LinkedIn Learning to upskill. These will prepare you better for your role when you get accepted, but are also things you can add to your CV and mention in an interview.
Misc
Some people (myself included) opted to look outside London. Since London is ultra-competitive at the moment, many people will overlook some great opportunities outside the capital. It's not for everyone, but might be worth considering, and some aren't even too far. (e.g. some Tesco corporate roles are in Welwyn Garden City).
It might also help to broaden the types of roles you look for. Certain sectors are notoriously difficult to enter, but going for a slightly different role might give you a better chance of getting your foot in the door, and then you can transfer afterwards once you have a bit of experience and some money coming in. Again, not for everyone, but worth considering.
There's probably more information, but that's what I can come up with at the moment. Hope some of it helps. It's a very tough market, so don't be disheartened - rejections can feel personal but they're not necessarily an indicator that you're a bad candidate. Keep persevering, and fingers crossed you'll get your chance. Do let me know how it goes, I'd love to hear how you get on!
Is there other transport which takes you there quicker? Could you go with someone to be safer?
Also, @Azziman seems to have more words of wisdom than I ever could have given!
Hopefully, there's something which helps you and you can find something. I am wishing you all the best of luck
If there is anything at all I can do to help, please don't hesitate to ask
Keep trying and hopefully, you will find something which matches all your criteria
If I find any other tips up my sleeve, I will be sure to let you know