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Our resident career doctor is here to study your problems and research the best
advice for you by consulting a vast army of experts.
Here the career doctor enlists the help of an employment expert to compile an
action plan for a long-term unemployed graduate.
Dear career doctor,
I'm writing on behalf of my brother. He graduated in electronics in 1999 but
since then he has not been able to build up the confidence to get a job. I feel
most of this lack of confidence is because of his degree result, which was a 2.2.
He thinks nobody will take him on because of this, as most graduate jobs require
a minimum 2.1.
He is very intelligent and has the knowledge and problem-solving skills that
some graduates lack. He is always willing to sort out other people's technical
and IT problems, but just lacks the confidence to do this professionally.
The problem is that he is getting to the stage where he feels totally useless.
He finds it hard to account for the last three years to employers and lacks
confidence to answer interview questions. I desperately need to get him out
of this rut he seems to be in.
Yours sincerely,
PC.
Dear PC,
I appreciate this is a difficult situation and I hope that by helping your brother,
we can help those in a similar situation.
Firstly, there is plenty of professional help available at job centres, and anyone
who has been unemployed for three years and is drawing Jobseekers' Allowance is
entitled, under the New Deal programme, to a personal adviser and retraining. So,
make sure your brother gets the help to which he is entitled.
In a situation like this, when someone feels trapped in a downward spiral, it is
helpful to get outside advice.
We need a fresh perspective, so I shared the problem with jobseeking expert Chris
Melvin, managing director of Reed in Partnership - a division of Reed Executive,
the high street employment agency - who works with the Government to find employment
for people who have found it hard to get into work.
Melvin's first comment was that your brother should be positive about his situation.
He is a graduate, which still gives him a head-start on many other jobseekers.
The three-year gap without work could present a problem, and cannot be hidden from
recruiters. The key for anyone dealing with long periods of unemployment, says Melvin,
s to stress the positive achievements over that period. The other issue is confidence,
and Melvin suggests five top tips for anyone who is in this situation.
- Set yourself a goal.
Think about what you like and dislike
about being unemployed. You'll probably have a long list of dislikes - use these
as motivation. For example, if you had a job you could save up for a car. Think
where you want to be in five years' time and keep this picture
in your mind.
- Get a buddy.
This is jargon for a guide or mentor. The ideal
buddy is someone who is in work and can help you compile a CV. Ask this person to talk
to you regularly about their working day to help you understand what is happening
in the world of work.
- Get a routine.
Jobseeking is a full-time job. Melvin suggests
that you set aside six hours a day to look for a job, and that you keep a diary to
track your progress. Also, set time aside to reflect on what you have
achieved.
- Build up a network.
Keep meeting and talking to people in
your field and your friends about your hopes and ambitions. The more people who know
what you want, the more likely an opportunity will arise.
- Try some temporary work.
'Then the issue of gaps in the CV will
become a non-issue,' says Melvin 'because in interviews you can talk positively about
what you've been doing in the short term'. Using temporary jobs like this can give you
the opportunity to rebuild your confidence as well as keeping you in a routine and the
right frame of mind.
I wish your brother well and hope these tips inspire him and other jobseekers.
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Register your CV.
Good luck!
Career doctor | 