I can't get a job

Gael23

I graduated from college back in May . Since then I have had about 20 interviews and have been unsuccessful in every single one.
At this point my confidence is massively damages and I feel like giving up. I just wanted to know about possible ways to move forward from here because it's coming clear to me I can't compete in the conventional graduate market. All the responses are I either don't have good enough grades or not enough experience.

Pessimist

Considering you are getting the interview, you probably do have good enough grades and experience. Your problem could come down to poor interview preparation or technique. Perhaps look at grooming, what you're wearing, practice common interview questions, expanding on any experiences you do have that could be used as examples of things like team work, using your initiative, problem solving etc. A good rule of thumb is dressing one level above what you'd be expected to wear everyday in your job. Try to sound confident, present and genuine. You will get a job, it's hard to find the right one but you will get there.

Mrs OBumble

Jobridge or some voiunteer work spring to mind.

Gael23

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Jobridge or some voiunteer work spring to mind.

I went for a job bridge internship but someone else had more experience than me

eezipc

I used to have the same problem when I graduated. 10 years later, I have too much experience for a lot of jobs. so some things never change. However as you are getting to the interview stage, you must be doing something right. Keep plugging away. Take the first decent job you get. You need to get your foot in the door, it will get easier from then.

Asmooh

what? that's impossible! I see so many job offers, specially in the IT or sales

dharma200

unfortunately due to jobs bridge the entry level in most professions for graduates is severely screwed and the jobs which you might have got in previous years have been displaced in order for employers to gain free employees at no cost ... hardly rocket science that jobsbridge actually is causing the very problem that is claims to address...good luck to you, please don't loose heart... widen your net, worst case scenario look abroad.. the whole situation right now for graduates (and academic staff) is scandalous, I really hope you have some success soon.. and don't be tempted to work for nothing,. the more people who do that, a nd the more employers who get FREE staff, the more people are denied a living wage and an actual job in the first place.

Gael23

eezipc wrote: »

You need to get your foot in the door, it will get easier from then.

How an I get my foot in the door?

my teapot is orange

Everything with the word "graduate" in the title gets 100's of applications as most graduates look for grad schemes and are all on the same few websites. What about making a list of companies in your field and just going for basic admin jobs or similar, not expecting to be on a formal graduate scheme - even temp jobs. This gets you an industry relevant name on your CV. It also gets you a better understanding of what skills are beneficial and what the normal career paths are in this field. Add a couple of useful skills during this time and get some experience you can talk about for competency questions and six months or a year later apply for positions that are a step up potentially still avoiding graduate schemes. It is possible to climb the ladder the old-fashioned, just use your imagination and spot your opportunities.

Get Real

Is it that you can't get a job, or that you can't get a job that you want thats related to your field?

I'd advise you to take any job, it is better than having a blank employment history. There is nothing wrong with taking any type of job, it shows drive and determination, no matter what that may be.

As said already by others, the graduate market is highly competitive, but if you take a job, even 20 hours a week in retail-sure its not what you wanted-but its not "below you". I got a job related to my field after years in retail, while the experience wasn't directly related, it was considered experience, as opposed to "graduated in 2010 (me), unemployed 2010-present"

If you already have a job thats not related to your field, apologies, just unsure by your thread title if you mean you can't get a job at all or if its just a case you can't get your desired job.

Gael23

Get Real wrote: »

Is it that you can't get a job, or that you can't get a job that you want thats related to your field?

I'd advise you to take any job, it is better than having a blank employment history. There is nothing wrong with taking any type of job, it shows drive and determination, no matter what that may be.

As said already by others, the graduate market is highly competitive, but if you take a job, even 20 hours a week in retail-sure its not what you wanted-but its not "below you". I got a job related to my field after years in retail, while the experience wasn't directly related, it was considered experience, as opposed to "graduated in 2010 (me), unemployed 2010-present"

If you already have a job thats not related to your field, apologies, just unsure by your thread title if you mean you can't get a job at all or if its just a case you can't get your desired job.

Well the Jobs I've been applying for since I left College have been ones that I feel I have suitable qualifications and ability for.
I do have 6 months experience in an unrelated industry to my degree and it seems to me that its either not enough experience or irrelevant because of the area its in. Having that experience is a unique component of my course.

So yes, I could take any job but the messages I'm getting form employers is that if its not in a related field its useless.

UCW

Being employed is looked on much more preferably than being unemployed ie long gaps on CV.

It shows a hard work ethos and skills such as working in a team and being able to build and sustain relationships is important in all industries.

You shouldn't dwell on the irrelevant experience in an interview,use the normal initial question of running through your CV by really highlighting the relevant skills that you have honed at college.

It is your interview technique that is letting you down,in the vast majority of cases if called to an interview they're willing to hire you if you can impress them with your technical knowledge and personality.

Exam results are not critical,it's just one box of about five that needs to be ticked.

You need to focus on your interview technique and review it honestly and critically,maybe take a few days off applying and try to wipe any negative interview experiences you have had so far. Ask a friend or relative who is employed in a position that you want to run detailed mock interviews with you.

Best of luck.

Turtwig

OP,

The majority of people who make it to interviews don't get hired. Often times there's not really an exact reason why one person get's picked over the other. The competition is that tight! It's important that you don't lose sight of that fact. That said, get as much feedback as possible, constantly look to improve your interview techniques. There's always something you can refine and improve.

I would strongly caution against getting a job in a non relevant field. It shows you've got desire to work but it also shows you haven't been practising the skills of the job your looking for. If someone is a professional marathon runner and suddenly switches to short distance walks their skills as a marathon runner go bye-bye. These skills won't just come back in a matter of weeks either. The more abstract and technical the level skill required the longer the recovery will take.
Where possible, you need to ensure you're constantly refining the skills that make you most desirable to your chosen career path. Volunteer, internship, courses, jobsbridge, whatever, just try to ensure there's a clear progression path on your CV. This isn't because a job is above your or beneath you it's because it's pragmatic. If there comes a point where it's more desirable to hire past you who's just graduated with the same degree as you currently hold then you know you're doing something very wrong.

That you are being called for interviews is a good sign and certainly not a reason to lose heart.

Best of luck and hope you get the job you want soon.

Gael23

To be honest I feel too demoralised to keep going at the moment.
I get what you say re jobs that aren't relevant but in my position is any job better than none? I have also argued the point at interviews that despite my experience being in pharmaceuticals, I picked up many transferable skills.

Turtwig

Any experience is definitely better than nothing. In my opinion though you should do everything to ensure the experience is as relevant as possible.

Don't lose hope, take a few days be incredibly nice to yourself. Christmas is coming! Then start again afresh.

Andrewf20

One tip is to brainstorm some way in which you may stand out from the crowd. For example if you had an engineering background, if you worked on cars or domestic wiring say, throw that into your cv.

Also, consider going abroad if thats possible. Even if you had to go for a year or 2.

Gael23

Turtwig wrote: »

Any experience is definitely better than nothing. In my opinion though you should do everything to ensure the experience is as relevant as possible.

Don't lose hope, take a few days be incredibly nice to yourself. Christmas is coming! Then start again afresh.

I don't see any reason to be hopeful right now. I have a degree for which I have absolutely nothing to shown for and any interview ice had I've been politely told to get lost.

Stheno

ryanf1 wrote: »

I don't see any reason to be hopeful right now. I have a degree for which I have absolutely nothing to shown for and any interview ice had I've been politely told to get lost.

OP I'm not trying to be intrusive and forgive me if I've mixed you up with someone else, but didn't you post recently that you do have some health issues which require regular time off work in the short term for treatment?

Gael23

Stheno wrote: »

OP I'm not trying to be intrusive and forgive me if I've mixed you up with someone else, but didn't you post recently that you do have some health issues which require regular time off work in the short term for treatment?

yes I did but thats only 2 days every week until the end of February. I didn't tell them about that because it would have wrote me off straight away.

Gael23

Every single job I can find thats relevant to me needs experience, which I don't have and nobody will give me the chance to get.

Rachiee

Most interviews are competency based these days have a look at the job spec and think if reasons or examples of why you can meet it, that's what all the questions in the interview will be based on.its unfortunate that they are looking at grades but if you can score really high on the interview you might just make it in good luck.

Andrewf20

May sound obvious but have you used keywords like "graduate" when searching on jobs.ie etc.

Gael23

Andrewf20 wrote: »

May sound obvious but have you used keywords like "graduate" when searching on jobs.ie etc.

Yes I have but the requirements are either top grades or a few years experience, pf which I have neither.

Saipanne

What is your degree?

Puibo

You could talk to the career guidance dept. from where you graduated. I know they were helpful to me when i graduated. You can see them up to a year after you have graduated in some places.

Saipanne

Puibo wrote: »

You could talk to the career guidance dept. from where you graduated. I know they were helpful to me when i graduated. You can see them up to a year after you have graduated in some places.

I'd second this. They helped me redesign my CV. I got more offers after I did.

boobar

Ryanf1, here are some suggestions.

Talk to your friends and family, can anyone "get" you an interview? I was in the same boat as you when I graduated, couldn't get interviews even. My best friend handed my cv to his boss, a vacancy came up, I got it and worked there very happily for 4 years.

The other thing I'd suggest is interview training. There is something going wrong during your interviews that you're nor aware of. Training where they record you on video and play back your mistakes will open your eyes. You're obviously good enough to get called to interview...so you're nearly there, don't lose heart.

The final thing, is there any extra certification that you can complete now to make you stand out from the crowd.

Don't give up, you're nearly there.

Good luck to you.

Gael23

Saipanne wrote: »

What is your degree?

Business Studies and French spcialising in Accounting & Finance

boobar wrote: »

Ryanf1, here are some suggestions.

Talk to your friends and family, can anyone "get" you an interview? I was in the same boat as you when I graduated, couldn't get interviews even. My best friend handed my cv to his boss, a vacancy came up, I got it and worked there very happily for 4 years.

Don't give up, you're nearly there.

Good luck to you.

Problem with that is I've gotten myself close to 20 interviews and every single one has been a waste of time so at what point do I give up?

Saipanne

ryanf1 wrote: »

Business Studies and French spcialising in Accounting & Finance


Problem with that is I've gotten myself close to 20 interviews and every single one has been a waste of time so at what point do I give up?

What do you think you did wrong in those interviews?

Gael23

Saipanne wrote: »

What do you think you did wrong in those interviews?

Don't mean to sound smart but if I knew that I would have addressed it a long time ago.

boobar

ryanf1 wrote: »

Business Studies and French spcialising in Accounting & Finance


Problem with that is I've gotten myself close to 20 interviews and every single one has been a waste of time so at what point do I give up?

Are you saying that all the interviews were referrals from friends or family?

Saipanne

ryanf1 wrote: »

Don't mean to sound smart but if I knew that I would have addressed it a long time ago.

Well, the reason I asked was to find out what you thought. You should take the above advice and contact your universitys career service. They tend to be staffed by at least one former recruitment agent or HR professional.

What you are doing now is clearly not working. So try to adapt your approach.

Gael23

boobar wrote: »

Are you saying that all the interviews were referrals from friends or family?

No they were all jobs I sent in applications for and got invited for interview

lazybones32

There's always a way, you just don't see it yet.

You may as well park the pony for Xmas and do a bit of de-stressing, relaxation and recreation. Fresh ideas may come easier to a relaxed mind than to a worried and despairing mind. Go listen to some Carols that are being sung in a Church; they can be soothing and remind you there's more to life than a wage and position.

Talk to someone about your struggles - posting on boards isn't the same as verbally expressing your concerns and fears to another human being, and this will take some weight off your shoulders.

In Jan, if no other idea or advice has been given to you, go offer your services to a good Company for 1, 2 or 3 days a week, saying you only seek experience and aren't looking for payment.

I understand how depressing and arseholey it is when efforts don't give the desired result but that's Life.

Soft Falling Rain

Maybe doing an interview skills course might be worth doing OP? Given the amount of interviews you're getting you obviously look the part on paper, so your problem might just be down to how you're selling yourself.

At the end of the day, when an employer is hiring someone, they're basically taking an educated punt on the person. They don't know the person from Adam bar a brief 40 minute chat, so they're going to go with the person who they think is the best fit so to speak.

That's why a lot of the time it's not the most accomplished person who gets hired but the person who made the best impression. Of course, this means plenty of chancers get hired because they spoke a great game, but at the end of the day if you want in on that game you have to go along with the charade.

boobar

ryanf1 wrote: »

No they were all jobs I sent in applications for and got invited for interview

Ryanf1, I've been that soldier unable to get past the I interview.

I'm saying this not to be nasty but you need to go back to the start of this thread and read again every response. There are some very good suggestions in here that you can move forward with.

Some of your replies suggest to me that you haven't fully considered the suggestions put to you.

Can you reread my original post please especially the part about referrals from friends or family.

GarIT

ryanf1 wrote: »

Yes I have but the requirements are either top grades or a few years experience, pf which I have neither.

What sort of grades do you think is the top? Most people don't realise it but many industries consider blow 70% in a college or 60% in a uni to be a fail.

beauf

You're getting interviews so its good and a positive that its getting you that far.

Maybe you should consider getting some interview training.

Gael23

lazybones32 wrote: »

There's always a way, you just don't see it yet.

You may as well park the pony for Xmas and do a bit of de-stressing, relaxation and recreation. Fresh ideas may come easier to a relaxed mind than to a worried and despairing mind. Go listen to some Carols that are being sung in a Church; they can be soothing and remind you there's more to life than a wage and position.

Talk to someone about your struggles - posting on boards isn't the same as verbally expressing your concerns and fears to another human being, and this will take some weight off your shoulders.

In Jan, if no other idea or advice has been given to you, go offer your services to a good Company for 1, 2 or 3 days a week, saying you only seek experience and aren't looking for payment.

I understand how depressing and arseholey it is when efforts don't give the desired result but that's Life.

I know your right but I just feel so demoralised right now its hard to see a way forward short of giving up on it. I agree that talking about any problem does help buts thats not really going to do anything to solve the underlying problem. I have gone for some job bridge internships but they went to people with more experience than me.
Part of my frustration is that I invested a hell of a lot into getting my degree and now its done Ihave absolutely nothing to show for it.

GarIT wrote: »

What sort of grades do you think is the top? Most people don't realise it but many industries consider blow 70% in a college or 60% in a uni to be a fail.

What you describe. You don't get a look in without a 2.1 degree and some places also look for certain LC points

GarIT

ryanf1 wrote: »

What you describe. You don't get a look in without a 2.1 degree and some places also look for certain LC points

I don't think that's particularly wrong. If you can't get 70% on a topic do you really know it. I've seen some places looking for LC results, it's normally to distinguish between similar candidates.

Saipanne

Are you an admirer of any public intellectuals? Do they ever take part in debates, make speeches, give interviews? Go on YouTube, and pay attention to how they sell their message, how they use body language, how they pace sentences, etc.

I partly based my interview technique on Christopher Hitchens. It worked.

beauf

ryanf1 wrote: »

W....So yes, I could take any job but the messages I'm getting form employers is that if its not in a related field its useless.

Everyone I know has worked in a unrelated field.

I think that its useless is very much overstated. It shows a willingness to get your hands dirty and experience in dealing with all sorts of people. The problem arises when it goes on too long.

Gael23

beauf wrote: »

Everyone I know has worked in a unrelated field.

I think that its useless is very much overstated. It shows a willingness to get your hands dirty and experience in dealing with all sorts of people. The problem arises when it goes on too long.

I know that one of the jobs I got tired down for was a Trainee Accountant role. The girl that got it had office admin experience whereas my experience is working in a factory.
That was a placement I did as part of my degree and is the entirety of my work experience . You just get placed somewhere by the careers depot and at the time I was afraid to turn it down in case I got left with nothing.

I was working in retail when I finished college, and I didn't want to stay so I started looking out for other jobs. I sent in hundreds of CVs, and only ever got one interview. But once I got an interview I got a job (not actually related to my degree, but it was the job I really wanted).

It sounds to me like you have the opposite problem. 20 interviews is actually an amazing result - so your grades and C.V. are obviously good enough for the job. You must look great on paper. The problem can only be one of two things - your interview performance or just astronomical bad luck in terms of how impressive the other candidates you were up against were.

I know how soul crushing it can be when you can't find work, and if you want you can blame it on the bad luck and not make any changes to what you're doing and never get anywhere. Or you could evaluate your interview performance. Someone else already mentioned this to you and you closed down that line of questioning pretty strongly - why?

I'm sure many people here would be happy to fire some interview questions at you and help you with answers, or give you tips on body language, presentation and demeanour. But if you don't want to talk about it there's nothing we can do to help.

beauf

GarIT wrote: »

I don't think that's particularly wrong. If you can't get 70% on a topic do you really know it. I've seen some places looking for LC results, it's normally to distinguish between similar candidates.

For me that's very much a modern phenomenon. So much education and paper based learning that the baseline has just risen higher every year. I don't think it always. Considering the famous "skills shortage" I don't think its reflected in increased ability in the workplace. But that doesn't help in the job hunting. You're dealing with HR dept and agencies. You also can't change your qualifications overnight. So you have to work with what you've got.

beauf

ryanf1 wrote: »

I know that one of the jobs I got tired down for was a Trainee Accountant role. The girl that got it had office admin experience whereas my experience is working in a factory.
That was a placement I did as part of my degree and is the entirety of my work experience . You just get placed somewhere by the careers depot and at the time I was afraid to turn it down in case I got left with nothing.

Apply for finance roles in factories, or in that industry. Turn it to your advantage.

kitchenkid

Make sure you are sending your CV widely enough, both by type of industry or geographically (? you would work in London/Dublin?)........think about what you can offer a business e.g. can you help a local business to break into the French market? Can you help a business trading with France to collect from its debtors? Can you translate english websites into business French?- what are the core achievements you can guarantee and can you make sure you include these in your CV. Wish you well. The people who don't get jobs are the people who give up trying. Persevere.

boredatwork82

Are you looking in Dublin? Lots of jobs up here.
I started my accountancy career doing accounts payable. Not what I wanted but it was a start.
Take any job, if you are in Dublin there should be something available in banking somewhere which is at least an office environment.

Now having thought about your case I am wondering if there is something wrong with you and your cv. You have got 20 interviews so your Cv, qualifications etc are good enough, but I am wondering if maybe you aren't backing up something you say if your cv. Your should get someone who works in finance to do a mock interview for you.
I think there must be something catching you out or else your interview skills and personality or hygiene are the problem. But you need to bring in someone else to help at this point.

boredatwork82

Are you looking in Dublin? Lots of jobs up here.
I started my accountancy career doing accounts payable. Not what I wanted but it was a start.
Take any job, if you are in Dublin there should be something available in banking somewhere which is at least an office environment.

Now having thought about your case I am wondering if there is something wrong with you and your cv. You have got 20 interviews so your Cv, qualifications etc are good enough, but I am wondering if maybe you aren't backing up something you say if your cv. Your should get someone who works in finance to do a mock interview for you.
I think there must be something catching you out or else your interview skills and personality or hygiene are the problem. But you need to bring in someone else to help at this point.

Gael23

true-or-false wrote: »

I know how soul crushing it can be when you can't find work, and if you want you can blame it on the bad luck and not make any changes to what you're doing and never get anywhere. Or you could evaluate your interview performance. Someone else already mentioned this to you and you closed down that line of questioning pretty strongly - why?

I'm sure many people here would be happy to fire some interview questions at you and help you with answers, or give you tips on body language, presentation and demeanour. But if you don't want to talk about it there's nothing we can do to help.

I didn't mean to cut it off like that - although part of me does feel like I've been trying my best and its clearly not good enough.

Of course any tips I could get would come in useful, body language could be an issue but thats a difficult one for me. Im slightly visually impaired and even though thats not apparent, my eyes can at times look a little odd but because its not all the time I'm not able to be aware of it. Ive also got quite a large scar behind my head due to that. I don't disclose my condition because I'm afraid it would question my ability to do a job which is not the case.

Ive sort of changed the tone of the thread with this but i'm totally open to advice/suggestions. I've just been pushed to the point of despair

Saipanne

ryanf1 wrote: »

I didn't mean to cut it off like that - although part of me does feel like I've been trying my best and its clearly not good enough.

Of course any tips I could get would come in useful, body language could be an issue but thats a difficult one for me. Im slightly visually impaired and even though thats not apparent, my eyes can at times look a little odd but because its not all the time I'm not able to be aware of it. Ive also got quite a large scar behind my head due to that. I don't disclose my condition because I'm afraid it would question my ability to do a job which is not the case.

Ive sort of changed the tone of the thread with this but i'm totally open to advice/suggestions. I've just been pushed to the point of despair

Could you perhaps indicate whether you intend to follow any of our advice?

I might be wrong, but my impression is that you won't.