I mean, really look for a job. I mean speaking to companies, checking their websites, using your network to find contacts and not just checking a job board or two?
As a small boy, I can remember my mother telling me to look again for things I said I couldn’t find (I haven’t quite forgiven her for ‘hiding’ my cap gun in a place where I would never find it i.e. the bin). And I would then often locate the missing toy/sweet/ball. And even now I am sometimes accused of only having had a ‘man look’ for something when I begin to stress about not being able to locate my car keys or mobile.
At the risk of receiving a bunch of abuse back, I’d like to challenge you similarly. When did you last spend time looking at the jobs market; who is offering graduate entry schemes, who is advertising live positions, what do employers expect from you when applying? I have spoken to a fair few people who have told me there’s no point in bothering; there are no jobs out there.
It has surprised me therefore that many employers have complained to me that it is difficult find a decent graduate/entry level employee. Now I don’t subscribe to the Daily Mail type notion that education standards have dropped so far that no-one reaches the mark anymore. Quite the opposite, in fact.
What I sincerely believe is that many employers and graduate applicants have both got accidentally concreted into a negative mindset. Employers miss out on good graduates because graduates don’t believe there are any good opportunities out there.
“But I’ve looked”, I hear you cry. “I really struggled to find a placement.” Sure, but was it a ‘man’ look or the impatient, unplanned search of the small boy that still lurks within me?
For instance, did you know:
· Not all jobs are advertised
· Not all employers realise they need you or what you can do till they encounter you
· Graduate employment schemes do still exist (albeit are fewer in number)
· The Bristol area has always had one of the lowest unemployment rates in the UK
· Some of the UK’s key consumer and B2B marketing budgets reside west of London
My own tiny company has taken on a graduate in each of the last three years. They have turned out to be excellent, productive and very cost effective employees (two of them were the first into the office this morning - after the boss, that is). There are lots of other companies out there doing the same. We only advertised those roles on our own website - only those really interested in our company would have known. Many do the same.
So what’s my point?
The bad news is that the opportunities really are out there but you’ve got to do a fair bit of work to find them. The good news is most people don’t want to put that kind of effort in, so if you are willing to, you’ll automatically be ahead of the competition. And if you’ve read this far, I think there’s a fair chance you could be the sort of person who wants to get ahead of the crowd.
I’ll be running some job finding seminars in the next six months, including one for the UWE Marketing Society (18th November @ 5pm), so email me to be kept notified of the dates. The events will be free to attend and are open to anyone who wishes to come. Bring a friend and bring an open mind, ready to make the most of the hard work you’ve already put in to becoming a professional marketer.
Written by Frank Hutton
http://huttonand.co/
As a small boy, I can remember my mother telling me to look again for things I said I couldn’t find (I haven’t quite forgiven her for ‘hiding’ my cap gun in a place where I would never find it i.e. the bin). And I would then often locate the missing toy/sweet/ball. And even now I am sometimes accused of only having had a ‘man look’ for something when I begin to stress about not being able to locate my car keys or mobile.
At the risk of receiving a bunch of abuse back, I’d like to challenge you similarly. When did you last spend time looking at the jobs market; who is offering graduate entry schemes, who is advertising live positions, what do employers expect from you when applying? I have spoken to a fair few people who have told me there’s no point in bothering; there are no jobs out there.
It has surprised me therefore that many employers have complained to me that it is difficult find a decent graduate/entry level employee. Now I don’t subscribe to the Daily Mail type notion that education standards have dropped so far that no-one reaches the mark anymore. Quite the opposite, in fact.
What I sincerely believe is that many employers and graduate applicants have both got accidentally concreted into a negative mindset. Employers miss out on good graduates because graduates don’t believe there are any good opportunities out there.
“But I’ve looked”, I hear you cry. “I really struggled to find a placement.” Sure, but was it a ‘man’ look or the impatient, unplanned search of the small boy that still lurks within me?
For instance, did you know:
· Not all jobs are advertised
· Not all employers realise they need you or what you can do till they encounter you
· Graduate employment schemes do still exist (albeit are fewer in number)
· The Bristol area has always had one of the lowest unemployment rates in the UK
· Some of the UK’s key consumer and B2B marketing budgets reside west of London
My own tiny company has taken on a graduate in each of the last three years. They have turned out to be excellent, productive and very cost effective employees (two of them were the first into the office this morning - after the boss, that is). There are lots of other companies out there doing the same. We only advertised those roles on our own website - only those really interested in our company would have known. Many do the same.
So what’s my point?
The bad news is that the opportunities really are out there but you’ve got to do a fair bit of work to find them. The good news is most people don’t want to put that kind of effort in, so if you are willing to, you’ll automatically be ahead of the competition. And if you’ve read this far, I think there’s a fair chance you could be the sort of person who wants to get ahead of the crowd.
I’ll be running some job finding seminars in the next six months, including one for the UWE Marketing Society (18th November @ 5pm), so email me to be kept notified of the dates. The events will be free to attend and are open to anyone who wishes to come. Bring a friend and bring an open mind, ready to make the most of the hard work you’ve already put in to becoming a professional marketer.
Written by Frank Hutton
http://huttonand.co/