Work Experience

LegacyUser

This has been weighing on my mind a lot recently and I'd like to get an outside opinion. I'm 23 and I have basically 0 work experience. I know it's disgraceful that I've reached this age without having a proper job. I've done work placement here and there and the odd cash in hand job but I've never been employed in the traditional sense. I know that times are extremely tough and a lot of people are struggling to get a job, but I feel I'm at a sever disadvantage. I send out countless CVs and fill in applications and I know all too well that my work history looks dodgy, but I can't get any experience to fill those gaps. I'm in my final year of college at the moment and I have a pass degree so I guess that's something, but I need to find some kind of work even if its just a means of padding out my CV a bit. Should I be worried?

Thanks

the_syco

noexperience wrote: »

I send out countless CVs

Consider that your CV may be crap. Did you make it yourself, did you follow an online template, or did someone help you?

Personally, I sent out dozens of CV's once, no luck. Got my CV looked at by a friend of the family who worked in HR, changed the format of my CV slightly, and I got a job a week later. How your CV looks makes a big difference, I find.

Sh1tbag OToole

I'm 25 and a few short months ago I had 0 days work experience as well. There was always loads for me to do at home and I done a bit of volunteering when I was bored a couple of years ago, feck all "on the books" paid jobs where I lived as well and I'm sure many are in the same situation.

Tbh I dont think a lot of employers care if you picked strawberries or gutted fish when you were 15 or whatever, after you leave college and go looking for a graduate position. Sure it helps a small bit but it isn't necessary

seanie_c

Depends on what you're interested in OP. You don't mention what you're currently studying at college so it's hard to recommend ways to improve your chances of gaining work experience inside a company.

For example, if the course is IT related, would you consider some kind of development? Open a source code repository and write programs or if you're a web developer, build websites. Do it for free just to prove you are capable.

Building a portfolio of work you do in your spare time will look good to most employers. Whatever it is you're interested in, put together something that demonstrates your skillset in that area.

loalae

It is not disgraceful that you've reached the age of 23 and have very little work experience! You've been in college by the sounds of it! Give yourself a break!

1st - get someone to help you fix up your CV, make sure it looks professional

2nd - try to do some volunteer work while you're in college, even if it's in an area vaguely related to your field it'll give you a wider range of experiences to discuss in interviews and it'll give you confidence about your skills in that area.

December2012

It is unusual though that you've got to your final year in college without doing some work experience during summer holidays etc.

Also, if you've no work commitments you would want more than a pass in your degree - you should be getting a 2:1 at the least.

To make yourself a more attractive candidate you have to show a willingness to work hard - that won't be coming across based on what you've posted. Intern, volunteer, charity work, industry free labour.

Make sure you are giving your degree everything!

Do something!

Also, make sure you're applying for jobs that actually exist and tailor your cv to that job,

If you send out 50 cvs for example, but only 3 places are hiring then you've mismanaged your energy. You then feel as if you're trying but failing, when in reality you tried incorrectly.

Register with agencies.

Look outside the box; can you blog about what you do? Can you be more creative? What LinkedIn groups are you in?