How do I get a job if I have just graduated and want an office job but everyone asks for experience?

Question

How do I gain experience, its catch 22. Does a degree count for nothing these days, I spent 4 hours in agencies yesterday and the only thing I was offered was call centre work and tele sales, starting to wonder why I am 10k in debt!

Answer 1

Its unfortunate that you are caught in one of the two worst traps in jobs; If you are not working they dont want you, and if youve never worked, they don't want you. You'll be glad to know most people go there, and get through it.

Qualifications are good as it lays a foundation of knowledge, now you want to get out there. Try this:

1) Review your CV; I laugh at people who did their CV 2 years ago and claim its fine. Are the dates right, Are your referees up to date, have you gained any new skills etc. Recruitment websites will have a ton of stuff about this.

BTW: What are you doing now; "Unemployed" is a big turn off, but careful position planning for the right company" seems more positive. Think about showing things in good light.

2) Register with Temping agencies. Temp jobs provide you with a brief period of work at various places to fill in for staff who call in sick or who leave. This is a good experience builder, builds good contacts, and looks better on your CV than a blank slab.

3) Pay regular visits to the local Jobcentre. When I was on Jobseeker benifit, I went to sign on every second Monday, so whilst there I did lots of job searching. It was a good way to do something productive.

4) Read as many joblisting sources as you can, papers, websites, trade publications etc. Look for anything asking for Office Junior, Admin Assistant, Receptionist. These Junior positions are the best start. On the other hand, don't even think about Office Managers, PA, Exec. Secs etc. Aim your sights realistically.

5) Dont Beg and Plea. No employer will give you a job for the sake that you want a job. Make them think its the company you want to work for that draws you in. You may then be able to be a little hard to get. Make them want you rather than you want them.

6) Stay positive. Everyone gets into that trap, and people get out. I left school and was jobhunting for 2 years before I got a job as a telephonist in a hotel. Today I am a Hotel consultant, dealing with business running and recruitment matters. Before that, I was a Hotel Front Office Manager. All from a job answering a telephone everyday. Start small and work up.

Answer 2

As someone else said, this is the time to get the word out there that you are looking for a particular job. A contact is the best way into any company.
Failing that, you need to be very pushy with people. polite, but pushy. Phone up the HR departments once a month and ask if they have any work available; do the same with agencies too.
Also keep sending the CV's out.

Answer 3

i had the same problem right out of college because i never did an internship. i went to many interviews and tried a temp agency too. (they never found me anything) meanwhile I was just working retail and hating it. Well I interviewed for a job that I was not quailified for and ended up getting another job with the same company in a completely different area. This was in November after a May graduation.

Look in the yellow pages- call companies HR deptartments directly and ask about positions

Expect to relocate ( i moved about 1 hour from home)

Look for job fairs, look at classifieds, look at job websites, etc.

Take a job you may not want in order to get some experience, even if its a call center job for 6 months

good luck and try to keep a positive attitude!

Answer 4

Been there, done that. Best to apply direct if possible. If still using the agency get them to give you temp roles in the office environment and use that you jump boost you into something better afterwards. It possibly pays you peanuts and too many temp jobs not good for your CV but it will gain you some experience which you can exagerate towards your dream career.

Don't give up hope, keep trying. Good luck.

Answer 5

Your challenge is not uncommon. However if you take the path less traditionally travelled by your college colleagues your chances are better! Most think "I have graduated, now I will put my job on Monster" and wait for the offers to come in..

Here are some insider tracks you can do to get work, build experience and create your own competitive advantage. It starts with believing there IS a job for you and that action every day WILL result in the work.. THEN:

1. Create experience if you don't have it to show. Apply for internships, a good many companies have recent graduate and internship programs with money set aside to attract internships-- that gives you experience you can put on a resume, and might lead to a permanent career.
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyName=careers&articleId=9002249&taxonomyId=10

2. Don't just build your resume, create a network. Create a compelling profile on LinkedIn.com and learn how to use it's job search engine.
http://www.askdavetaylor.com/how_do_i_use_linkedin_to_find_a_job.html

3. Join any of the free networking groups and ask for advise. Helping Friends Career Network favorites are at: http://helpingfriendscareernetwork.com/network_hfcnfavs.html

4. Speaking of Helping Friends Career Network, check out the "Career iCoach" Yahoo Group for tips, and support. They can give you ideas and advise specific to your challenges.
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/HFCN-CareerTransformationTalk/

Answer 6

Use your degree to get some work experience and life experience. In many countries your degree alone will get you a teaching job with no teacher training required. Then you get to see the world, pay your way and get some work experience all at the same time.

Answer 7

Don't rely on an agency. Their job is to find a skilled people to place in positions. They need to find skilled people because they guarantee their placement. You're better off answering individual ads.

Answer 8

Do not give up looking. Communicate to friends/family that you are looking for a job and find out if they have heard of any opportunities. Network with everyone.
Best Wishes!!!

Answer 9

a lot of human beings think of that being deaf prevents somebody from doing all factors of a activity. it extremely is authentic approximately some jobs, yet no longer others. I lost my listening to steadily. numerous years in the past, I reached the factor the place i could desire to no longer bypass into the plant simply by fact i could no longer hear warnings on the PA. (I artwork interior the nuclear marketplace. We use the PA equipment to warn approximately transfers of radioactive waste, human beings X-raying welds to be sure they are sturdy, and different disadvantages. you are able to desire to hearken to the PA to be attentive to what factors to evade.) i replaced into fortunate simply by fact I already had a activity. whilst a place got here open with a similar business enterprise, i replaced into waiting to cajole them that i could desire to do the pastime simply by fact I knew what the pastime entailed and how i could desire to make amends for my listening to loss. it's going to be harder on your pal. it extremely is continuously much less stressful to decline to somebody who could no longer slot in than to take a raffle. Your pal will could desire to do extra artwork whilst she prepares for a activity interview. I recommend she locate out as much as achieveable approximately any pastime she applies for. i could think of roughly achieveable objections human beings could have and have solutions waiting. I actual have short "reflects" waiting. If i'm getting a clumsy question or if i think of somebody is aggravating approximately between the factors I coated in my coaching, I pull out the suitable presentation ("overheads" revealed on paper extremely than acetate) and cope with the guy's concerns rapidly extremely than attempting to faux that listening to loss won't impact my artwork. If no longer something, the extra arrangements will teach employers that your pal works perplexing, thinks for sure, and needs the pastime. there'll nevertheless be concerns simply by fact she is diverse, however the extra artwork earlier the interview may be adequate to overcome the worries.

Answer 10

try looking at graduate schemes .. or www.milkround.com is a good site (catering for grads), i found my job there after leaving uni and i'm still here four years later !