No experience what to do?

Remmy

I need some help here.
I'm a law graduate that graduated in 2012. I worked hard and got a 2:1 final grade. Pretty much everyone I know has gone on to do a masters but I (a) cannot afford to do one now and (b) I would prefer to instead try for a MBA later when I have some experience to boost my job prospects. I would not like to work in the legal profession and found my degree very boring but did not want to quit. I should have switched to more of a business related course which I have much more of an interest in.

I have been applying and and going to interviews since I graduated last year but I still haven't gotten a job.I have been applying to everything. I have moved back in with my parents and am living off savings. My outgoings are low so I have decided not to sign onto the dole.

The thing is that I have no experience. I really made a big mistake of not doing an internship while as an undergraduate. Now trying to find an internship the majority are covered by job-bridge and hence I am not eligible.

My questions are;

Has anyone been in a similar position before?
What can I do to gain experience?
Is there any alternate ways to get an internship without having to sign on?
Would approaching companies and offering to work for free for a set period work?
Would signing up to a recruitment company aid me in getting a job over applying to the positions that I see posted on jobs websites myself?

I feel like I am competing against people that have been captains of a sports team, 1:1 degrees, bags of experience and connections and I am just not at the races.
Please advise.

Diziet

No advice on job hunting, but not signing on to the dole is daft. You get your PRSI credits too.

CdeC

Try here for internships, even if they are not advertised just email the company and ask can you do one.

http://www.prospects.ac.uk/

Taltos

OP - this forum might be more appropriate than PI.
For anyone who has followed this thread across please note the charter of this forum now applies.

Thanks.

Corruptedmorals

Here's the thing, if you do an internship how are you going to pay for transport, work clothes cost etc.? It will just eat into your savings and if they run out and you still have 3-4 months of internship to get through, you'll be kicking yourself. Just sign on, as you already acknowledged, jobbridge would be helpful in getting experience under your belt. You should be elegible for jobbridge straight away as they will backdate your payment.

StillWaters

Sign on, yes, its is not a pleasant experience, but it opens options to you that you currently do not have, such as access to internships.
Also register with your local Volunteer Centre to get something on your CV

starlit

An MBA be a good move but maybe try an internship or do a course with work experience that blend in with law. Maybe in an area of law you like to specialise. There are jobbridges or springboard courses you could do if on dole. Going to uk or abroad. Try get work experience before masters if you can.

Its true 2:1 grads compete against 1:1 grads but the majority are 2:1 grads making it competition more fierce. It a matter of standing out and selling yourself what make you different or better candiate and what have you to offer. Look at it like this looking for work is like dating!

murphym7

First thing is get yourself on the dole, that’s what it’s there for. Its admirable that you have chosen not to have done so before now and decided to live from your savings. The dole is important for you for a couple of reasons, yes the cash will help but along with that is your PRSI credits and the opportunity to apply for JobBridge internships. You don’t tell us what you are interested in doing. That might help in looking for some guidance.

Don’t think that a Masters is your only route. A good Graduate diploma might be just the thing to get you facing in another direction you are more happy with. Examples of where you could go:

Higher Diploma in:
Computer Science
BIS & Financial Services
Economic Science (Business Economics)
Management & Marketing
Psychology
H. Dip in Business Studies (UCD)
Professional Diploma in Accounting (DCU)
Graduate Diploma in International Marketing

From the UCC careers site:
http://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=3&sqi=2&ved=0CEsQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ucc.ie%2Fcareers%2Fweb%2FTalks%2Flaw.pdf&ei=_-HTUeXtO4XAhAfdroCYBw&usg=AFQjCNHec5A3luff-CkIKH9f4zQHk96s_Q&sig2=D2RQaRF58x7q3v99YD7e0w

starlit

A part time or night course might be worth looking into particularly a hDip or postgrad diploma