I need a job - help

[docevi1]

I graduated from my Computing Science degree at Uni about a month or so ago and after a fortnight of holidaying (i.e. doing all the things I had to put off due to uni work) I started looking at gaining full time employment in earnest. I have two problems, firstly I don't want to program and secondly, I'm not actually sure what I want to do.

I've got a number of applications in at the moment with closing dates coming in a week or so's time, but I know fine well the result will be rejection - seems the done thing at the moment (even Asda turned me down for shelf-stacking).

I've looked into agencies and am on QGroup's books but they seem quite pants in truth as since the training session I attended (6/7th June) I haven't heard anything (I've heard the same from others as well). I'm also on Entrust's books with the induction interview this Friday. Anyone else reasonable who I have missed?

I get the local papers with their jobs section and apply to anything of remote interest.

I check out the various websites I know of, www.reed.co.uk , www.totaljobs.com , www.monster.co.uk , www.fish4jobs.co.uk . Any others?

I haven't written to any companies on spec yet, as well I'm not sure who to write to in truth (see problem 2 above). With regards to career, I'd love to be be in a managerial role in 5-10 years (depending on my rose tinted my glasses are) so I don't want to take a job which is a dead-end.

Pedantic mode on - I know my applications/CV are reasonable, not perfect mind but reasonable (several people have looked over my CV and said it was "good" and my applications are always looked over by my dad who is an interviewer/application reader).


The other problem is that these jobs will take about 3 or 4 months to get through and for me to start - I really need something now to get me out of the house (thats a must), get off the hateful dole money (I hate been on the dole with a passion) and get some cash coming in. Any ideas?

edit:: this is actually the first time I've been without a job or "employment" at all, I've always worked either on paper/pools round, ICT Technician, porters and a cashier - it's not as if I don't know how to work...

>> Edited by docevi1 on Wednesday 17th August 14:01

[r988]

Maybe try a bit of temping or something crap like that, you never know where you might end up and can be quite good for making contacts I've found.

[holbayhead]

err.. I guess you have a drivers licence....what about some sort of driving job...if you're near an airport there are companies who move "customers" cars to and from off site parking..also rental companies need cars delivering and collecting..

oh yeah and try www.jobserve.co.uk for IT related jobs

good luck

[MILF]

With the greatest of respect & with due defference to the fact you have obviously worked hard to get your degree, why did you take the subject in the first instance, if you didnt know what you were going to do at the end of it ?

Please note, not a critiscm, merely an observation, as I have numerous colleagues in the Insurance Industry who have all manner of degrees which in no way relate to the job they are going to spend the rest of their lives actually doing.

[r988]

MILF said:

With the greatest of respect & with due defference to the fact you have obviously worked hard to get your degree, why did you take the subject in the first instance, if you didnt know what you were going to do at the end of it ? Please note, not a critiscm, merely an observation, as I have numerous colleagues in the Insurance Industry who have all manner of degrees which in no way relate to the job they are going to spend the rest of their lives actually doing.

Any excuse to go to uni and avoid work and hard decisions for as long as humanly possible

[docevi1]

Milf, in truth computing is the only thing I knew when I chose my degree. After A'Levels I took a technician's job within a school and then took a subsquent gap year. By the end of the 1st year at Uni I'd had enough of computers and the like but stuck with it and worked bloody hard in the final year to come out with my degree.

I always assumed I'd walk out of Uni and know what I wanted to do in life, but reality that hasn't happened (I don't think it happens for many to be honest). I'm stuck now in the situation where I need cash to do the things I want (I've never been out of a job therefore never stuggled for money so finding this a new experience) but don't know what I want to do to get that cash.

As for driving jobs, I've been thinking about going along to the local garages and seeing if they need a driver or the like, but every time I think about it my father puts me off.

[FunkyNige]

r988 said:

Any excuse to go to uni and avoid work and hard decisions for as long as humanly possible

That's why I went to uni, and I'm in a similar position to docevil, except I graduated 2 years ago and I'm in a job I don't really want any more that has very little to do with my degree.

A couple of agencies have said they have jobs they're putting me forward for but I haven't heard anything back yet.

[Nevin]

r988 said:

Maybe try a bit of temping or something crap like that, you never know where you might end up and can be quite good for making contacts I've found.

My mate starting temping at the Royal Bank after finishing his art degree, got taken on full time, is now mid/senior level management and I reckon could end up running the place one day. temp jobs can definitely be a good option if you have the skills and drive and end up in an organisation you like.

[jimothy]

Sounds like the graduate rounds for a consultancy like LogicaCMG or similar might be up your street, starting as sort of management/programming then moving into management/

[docevi1]

stupid question but where can you find out about temp jobs?

[Nevin]

docevi1 said:

stupid question but where can you find out about temp jobs?

Er, temp agencies. Generic ones are places like Office Angels and Margaret Hodge, but there are specific ones for certain industry sectors as well.

[marshun]

MILF said:

With the greatest of respect & with due defference to the fact you have obviously worked hard to get your degree, why did you take the subject in the first instance, if you didnt know what you were going to do at the end of it ? Please note, not a critiscm, merely an observation, as I have numerous colleagues in the Insurance Industry who have all manner of degrees which in no way relate to the job they are going to spend the rest of their lives actually doing.

I did a history degree purely because that was what interested me -- but I never intended to become a historian!

Amusingly I now work in insurance...

[MILF]

Marshun.

Wash your mouth out with soap, there is nothing, I say NOTHING, humerous about Insurance.

[lanciachris]

Temping agencies have offices in most towns. Id suggest you visit these and do stuff for a bit. I was disillusioned about continuing with computing after I finished uni. After working for 2 months as a data tape librarian among various other jobs of people doing the same mindless thing every day with no variation I was ready to go back to computing.

I learnt a couple of things - dont register on jobs websites - the jobs dont exist and are purely there to get names down on their books. Speak to people in person.

[puggit]

I have a degree in chemistry, but now work in IT - the degree was a means to and end, not a job!

I left uni on Sunday, went to a local job agency on Monday, started at Xerox on Tuesday for 2 weeks and stayed 5 months...

Stefan, I'm sending you an email - see if you like the idea for this permanent job...?

[bjwoods]

docevi1 said:

stupid question but where can you find out about temp jobs?

I think you will find that from now on you really should attempt to work these things out for yourselves, no employer want someone who appears to need spoonfeeding/handholding... Stupid questions, just make you look.......... stupid

Take a second before asking lamely..

Did you not consider, yellow pages, newspaper job section, google - temporay jobs, agencies - see that took me 4 seconds...

Sorry for sounding patronising (intentionally) but welcome to the REAL VERY compettive world. with tens of thousands of grads all looking for the perfect job/career but no clue and not enough jobs that NEED a degree to go around.


(edited to add me - Bsc Chemistry, MSC cybernetics, and no I'm doing zero with them now)

If I'm sounding harsh, only because was once in exact same position, and just drifted for a year. (somepeople wake up 3-4-5 years post degree and wonder why they are still in mac jobs) If you wait a year, you suddenly find yourself competing with the next years recent grad, and the obviouds question, is why have you done sod all for a year, I'll try someone else with more get up and go.

Good Luck

B



>> Edited by bjwoods on Wednesday 17th August 14:45

[docevi1]

it's not really a stupid question if someone on here knows a good agency. I know fine well to look on the back of the Chronicle/yellow pages, even know the locations for the agency buildings in the town as I have wandered past them often enough, but someone might have said "ring xxx, they are looking - tell them I sent you".

As for the cut-throat world, it's something I haven't experienced before - always been handed jobs in truth. Today is my awakening of "I need to get out of here".

[Munter]

I know your looking to get a job with a company....but why not employ yourself? Ok it's a risk, but you have experiance in several areas. If you have a good business plan banks will lend you a few £1000 to get started.

You might even be able to start something alongside temping...

[fido]

docevi1 said:

it's not really a stupid question if someone on here knows a good agency. I know fine well to look on the back of the Chronicle/yellow pages, even know the locations for the agency buildings in the town as I have wandered past them often enough, but someone might have said "ring xxx, they are looking - tell them I sent you". As for the cut-throat world, it's something I haven't experienced before - always been handed jobs in truth. Today is my awakening of "I need to get out of here".

www.pathwayresourcing.com

these b*grs won't leave me alone, so maybe they can help you. as said before, you can leverage on your computing skills to get into other types of work, but i wouldnt discard them... it's a valuable (and well-paid) qualification.

>> Edited by fido on Wednesday 17th August 14:56

[bjwoods]

Need to come across better, say tried this, anything I might have missed, in this area, always look like you are making the effort, not just picking someone brains, whoever you talk to, AS careers, jobs, etc, can come from any direction. So you always need to impress, to filter you out of packs of studenets who have only ever been led by the nose through a course.

SO many want instant recognition promotion praise, just for doing a report on time, completing a bit of work, when in fact, that's just what they are paid to do , and thanks, now get on with the next task.....


WHY are you looking at Pistonheads it's daytime get a job....


Seriously though, what do you want, JOB, or start of a career???

My advice would be to do both, GET any job, just to keep yourselve out of the house, AND that will motivate you to get out of that job and find something better


B

>> Edited by bjwoods on Wednesday 17th August 14:57