Well, a lot of things have been happening in my life in such
a short period of time. Due to my sheer determination and desire to succeed in
life, I wasn't going to let the negative periods I was going through get me
down, if anything it made me stronger and ever so more determined!
When I started University, I was so excited about the
prospects and paths my degree could take me down. I loved art and I was always
very studious and loved doing assignments and writing. So combining everything I
decided to study Advertising.
Little did I know that once I finished University, I would
be hit by the economic downfall. The idea of unemployment scared me as I felt
that I couldn't get my life started until I was at least close to getting on
the career ladder which I felt as if I was a million miles away! I have had two
part time/full time jobs which really helped prepare me for the world of work,
but couldn't offer me the ability to create the life I wanted for myself. I had no problem working in an everyday job,
but it wasn't what I wanted to do so why should I let the Job Centre, the area I
lived and my financial situation stop me...like hell was I!!!!!!!
Newly graduated, unemployed and poor...
As well as being a new graduate, unemployed and poor, I lived
in an area which had no career prospects in Advertising or Communications
unless I travelled to Exeter (which is a buzzing up and coming city full of opportunity) or moved away from home which I would need enough
money for rent and a deposit which I didn't have. I was prepared to go anywhere
if there was a job or a company willing to take me on.
Job Seekers...Feel like i have finally hit rock bottom...
As much as I didn't want to as I have always been used to
earning my own money I had to sign up to Jobseekers. This already made me feel
low, as if I had let myself down. However, little did I know things were going
to get me down even more.
Every two weeks I had to get a 45 minute bus into Plymouth
to meet with my Job Centre adviser. They started with some background
knowledge. Lets just say if you went to University, forget even mentioning it!
They don’t care. It doesn't matter to them! They make you feel as if you’re
worth nothing, as if university was a waste of time. When it came to talking
about my CV, the exact words they said, the type of advise these robots are
told to provide by our lovely, empathetic government was “Don’t tell the
employer you went to University, I might advise you to take it off your CV as
it will scare prospective employers”....
I WAS SHELL SHOCKED...CRAZY, UNBELIEVABLE!!!! No wonder
they are always in the news and not in a good way! And no wonder the country is
in such a mess with people who actually want and need help being treated like
they have just come from prison, I think if you've been done for murder you
would get more respect, help and better advice than a graduate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Two more examples of how graduates were treated by the Job
Centre... Dumb down CV, what an absolute piss take!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2513276/Jobseeker-told-delete-degree-CV-Jobcentre-scare-potential-employers.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2439989/Job-centre-staff-told-unemployed-graduate-told-dumb-CV-remove-degree-work.html
I described the type of qualifications I had (BA Hons in
Advertising) yet the type of jobs they wanted me to sign up to were care nurse
jobs...and their reasoning was that I can get extra qualifications!!!!!! They
don’t take into consideration anything you tell them about what you can do, who
you are, what you want to get out of it!
“Love... did you hear me say that I just GRADUATED WITH A
DEGREE from University”
Unless I carried on with my studies, I think a degree tops
any extra qualifications to become a care nurse, apart from the fact that I didn't
want to care, I knew I wouldn't provide the best care and that it wasn't what I
wanted to do! No wonder the elderly and disabled are being treated the way they
are (Speaking from experience of having a dementia suffering grandma who has
just been put into a home, an animal gets better treatment!). So I decided to
become my own boss, take things into my own hands as I felt that was the only
way I would get what I wanted, took everything on board, I played them at their
own game. I did search for jobs in all honesty, part time jobs but nothing came
up. I got NO help from the Job Centre. No one really understood the area
I was qualified in. They hadn't a clue! So that meant I had to search
everywhere all on my own. All they gave me were care nurse; reception jobs
etc....no thanks.
I've done my time working in an everyday job, i want a career...
I've just spent 8 years working, not one but two everyday
jobs, I've done my time, I've now graduated and I want to use my skills and my
degree! Make use of the £40,000 debt I got myself into over the 3 years of
studying.
I didn't have the money to move away and pay rent which is
why I gave up my full time job as a lifeguard to move back home and look for a
career.
All of this just made me ever so more determined!
I spent copious amounts of hours searching job sites and
company vacancies. I looked for paid, unpaid jobs near me. I applied for
hundreds of jobs in Marketing, Advertising. I was getting loads of rejection
letters but the worst part was the silence! You spend hours sometimes filling
in applications and tailoring covers letters, yet the amount of no replies I
got was disheartening. Even a rejection is better than nothing. I applied to
several Graduate schemes and placements at Advertising agencies and brands.
Nothing! Got nowhere. I decided to review where I was going wrong. I felt that I
had great qualifications, much needed skills such as IT (Photoshop,
Illustrator, Flash especially) plus all the skills learnt from work. The way I
decided to change my CV whilst I was working as a lifeguard, my housemate who
was a graphic designer taught me how to use Adobe Illustrator so I used it to
design my CV. I decided to make it stand out, show people I was different....but
still no results!
No relevant experience equals no chance!
I narrowed it down to the plain and pure fact that I had no relevant
experience. With this in mind, I felt like I should try getting this
experience. I applied to several paid internships. There was nothing. I was even considering going abroad and
getting work somehow. There was this really great website called inspiringinterns. I really wanted to apply but I decided to keep looking for now and
have that as a great back up. I was coming across amazing opportunities in and
around London. However, they were expenses only internships. I didn't have the
money to pay rent and move away to any part of the country, let alone London.
It really bothered me as I just kept wishing there was more down in the South
West, or that I knew someone who I could stay with for a few months near
London.
So I kept looking and I came across this AMAZING website called
internwise.com. You type in a location, an area of expertise and specify paid,
unpaid etc. So I typed in Plymouth =nothing. I typed in Exeter and to my
shock and surprise there was a Digital Marketing and Social Media internship
with a company called the blur Group. To be honest, I hadn't a clue who they
were but reading through the job post, it was so suited to me, it felt like it
was made for me. So I did my research on the company and thought it was
perfect.
So i applied to the blur Group...
So I applied. It was an expenses only Internship. It meant I had
to travel 90 miles a day but it was worth it. I even completely changed my
cover letter so it focused more on the website I designed, my skills, my
degree, my blog etc rather than my past jobs.
About a week later, I received a reply saying that I would receive
a call for a telephone interview about the Internship and a time that would suit
me. So I replied with a time for a telephone interview.
During the telephone interview, it was very relaxed. They asked me
questions about why blur? And what do I feel I can contribute? About me? Where I
see myself in 5 years time? I then got asked to do a task. I had to complete a
600 word blog about whether blogs will be the only worthwhile social media
source in the future. About a week later, I got an email....
I GOT THE INTERNSHIP!!!!!
I was ecstatically happy. Absolutely terrified but I was so happy!
Even though I wasn't getting paid, it was a step onto the career ladder which
would mean the only way is up. I was jumping for joy! Not only that but I got
told that there is a paid job at the end. So I knew I had to work my best and
do the best I can so fingers crossed I impress and get offered the job.
So it just goes to show that all the down times and low points in
my life, were only temporary. Having determination, thinking outside of the box
and just not giving up is the way to go.
Oh an surprise, surprise on how much the government actually care
about graduates and helping get graduates matched to suitable jobs, not just
any job...I was told I had to come off job seekers straight away even though I
was getting an income of £0, had no savings due to past circumstances and I had
bills to pay yet you hear stories of people who get £60,000 P.A worth of
benefits, and still aren't satisfied and don’t want to work! Mum of 11 on £60,000 benefits per year
I actually want to
work and I don’t get any financial help. Thank god for my caring family who
realise that this is the only way I am going to get a career, have taken over my
bills for me. I could not thank them enough. I am going to make it and I am
going to really make something for myself to pay back everything my family have
done to me and the support they have provided me.
Just keep going!!! Do not give up else they win and you don't!
The Global Services Exchange makes buying and selling of services easier, quicker and more cost-effective. It currently trades across 141 countries, allowing businesses to work with the best service providers across the globe.
blur Group’s online s-commerce platform uses a simple four-step process – brief, selection, management and payment - to deliver projects. This streamlined, online approach is what sets blur Group apart. They have around 37,400 experts who provide different services within Art, Design, Technology, Accounting, Legal, Media, Innovation or Marketing.
