why cant i get a job?

Question

I think having a degree may have worsened my chances of full time employment, and i dont know what to do about it, should i take my degree off my CV. Start fresh? i have been unemployed 6 months out of this year. Im not picky either, i love the idea of being a checkout assistant, but i had no reply from any of the supermarkets applied for. My CV has been described as very impressive by interviewers in the past. but i have only been invited to two interviews all year.
Am i missing something? are there no real training opportunities left? i am willing and able to learn new things, but the opportunities are not available to even try. any advice would be much appreciated.

Answer 1

as an employer I can tell you that you need to tailor your CV according to the job you are applying for. You can't have one CV that fits every job. If you want to work in a supermarket then you need to make sure that you are highlighting the specific skills that you have and which are transferable between different work environments: eg experience of working with people, experience of financial transactions, experience of working under pressure, ability to meet deadlines, problem solving skills
You also need to look at the person specification when you are applying for jobs and to make your application really easy for an prospective employer to understand. Believe me by the time we have read 10 CVs and covering letters they all start to merge! So go through the person specification and for each point that is listed make sure that you have given really clear examples of how you meet that requirement.
Good luck

Answer 2

Maybe you should start being picky. If you you aren't bothered what job you get, then why should anyone bother with you? Your vibes are wrong. If interviewers have said your cv is impressive then there's something wrong somewhere. Maybe you're not as impressive as your cv. The cv isn't a passport to employment and having a string of degrees won't automatically get you a supermarket assistant's job. For that, you're up against people who may not have 'impressive' cvs, but do have bags of customer relations experience and personality. Your application and cv should match the job you are after and you should go after the sort of employment that would suit you. An over-impressive cv could work against you by making you look like something you are not. If it's REALLY impressive then the person reading it may think you're a VIP and not bother interviewing you because you are FAR too good for the position on offer. Think about it and re-write your cv. Your question reads like you're a likeable, normal person (if a little negative)....does your cv make you sound like that too?

Answer 3

If you have a degree, why would you want to be a checkout operator? It's true that if employers view you as overqualified for a particular job they will not hire you as they think you will get bored and leave quickly, so your degree could be a hindrance if you are applying to these types of positions, but why would you want to do that in the first place?

Why don't you look for admin, secretarial or PA work? These jobs are often not hard to come by and you shouldn't need much experience, as long as you can use basic Microsoft Office packages and type at at leat 40 words per minute.

In answer to the second part of your question, no, there aren't many jobs which provide training these days! Obviously there are trades like hairdressing which do, but if that's not your thing, then the only alternative is to join a graduate scheme. But places on graduate schemes are in high demand and if you graduated awhile ago, it's unlikely that you'd get on one. Most employers will only look at people who have experience in a particular field. This is why voluntary work is a good idea - it means you can get some experience even if no-one will give you a job.

Basically, the longer you spend out of work, the harder it is to get back into work. Six months is a long time already so it's only going to get harder from now on. You need to show employers that you are doing something constructive with your time - not just spending every second job-hunting - so try volunteering, or teaching/coaching (even if this needs to be voluntary), or freelance work (even if only a very short assignment).

Also, have you tried looking for temporary/contract positions? These are often easier to get because most people would prefer a permanent job, plus employers are not so picky about your being over-qualified as they don't care if you leave soon. You may find that these jobs become permanent, and even if they don't, at least the next time you are looking you'll have more experience.

Answer 4

what is your major and minor? Maybe they are generic.
What jobs have you had already where you have some experience? I haven't seen your resume so I don't know what's on there, nor do I know which kind of resume you are using. A CV supposedly (by definition) is used for teaching and research individuals. People overseas call their resume a CV (who knows why). I suggest you present a resume. Don't tell everything since your purpose is to merely get the interview. At the interview you can give the small details. You didn't say what is impressive on your resume.

Are you applying for jobs that you fit into? I mean like did you read the job description first and determine that you have all that they want in an employee? A lot of people either get their first (is this your first after graduation?) job by working where either their parent or relative is or has worked as it's those people who "pull you in", and then you stay at that job a long while (3-5 years at least) to get experience before you make your next move. Other people get in just by using people they know as a reference (ask them first if you can use their name and if an employer can call them, then tell them what kind of job you're looking for). For instance say you want a officer type job then you say to your references that you want an officer type job (otherwise they will respond that you get along well with people and type good and ruin your chances for the higher position). It's all about who you know not what you know to get a job. Some young people can say they want a certain job because both they "and their parents" attended the same school and that employer donates to that school. Or your parents were in a fraternity or sorority and that employer is in that fraternity or sorority. see?
or sometimes people get jobs because they were neighbors, go to the same church, know someone who knows someone.

Answer 5

I think you're British aren't you? That's why,I had awful trouble getting work and so have alot of the other Brits. It's even harder getting manual work. I had to send out about 50 cv's before 1 interview and I applied to jobs I had plenty of experience in even if it was low pay!Good luck,you need it!

Answer 6

If you want a job as a check out assistant put a very scaled down cv in.....The personel department would automatically assume that someone who is educated would get very bored very quick and leave....!

Answer 7

Maybe you are looking at the wrong level. You earned that degree. Try going higher in your expectations and bite back gently with your potential. training is a tough area to get in and you have to show a little 'bite' potential to open the door.

Answer 8

Take your degree off your CV. That way you'll probably get a job as a check-out asssistant and then work your way up if you want.

If they ask about the gap on your CV (when you spent time at college) tell them you were travelling abroad doing odd jobs here and there.

Answer 9

I dont know what a CV is or a check out assistant. Why dont you go to a city by you, and try to be an secritary, they make pretty good money at least the ones in NYC do.

Answer 10

send me your cv.. as an employer i will give you an honest opinion of whats wrong..
most cv's go in the bin for one reason or another..
i will try !!