eak into How to br the graduate job market! Words: Jack Shannon
Hello, and welcome to How To Break Into... a brand new series of articles by The SPG helping YOU to get into the graduate career you want. In this article, we’ll be taking a general look at finding your first “proper” job after graduation. Be prepared to have some of your preconceptions about job hunting challenged though. Which reminds me...
1. No-one owes you a job. Throughout school and college you were spoon-fed the idea that once you get a degree, you can walk into any job you want on a great salary, with enough for the occasional night out down the wine bar with all your new, fancy business friends. This sounds harsh, and it is. But don’t worry, because things aren’t as bad as you think they are because The SPG is here to help! First things first:
2. Figure out what you want to do with your life... For the next 18 months. This is by far the hardest thing on this list to do. Yes, you know what you actually want to do is to write an award winning novel while frontlining a JLS/ Death Metal fusion tribute band, but just in case that doesn’t pan out - you might want to get a “normal” job as well.
There is an old saying that you should find out what your passion is, and then find a way to get paid for it. Which sounds great, except most people are passionate about sitting around in their underwear, eating cheesy snacks while watching funny cat videos on Youtube. While you are trying to launch your music career, it is perfectly acceptable to have a job to pay the bills as well. In order to have a CV that doesn’t look like a patchwork quilt, you will need to stay in your first job for AT LEAST 18 months. You don’t have any prior experience to fall back on. If you get a job and quit/get sacked/accidently burn the place down straightening your hair at lunchtime after 8 weeks then you’re back to square one, with a big sign hanging around your neck to future employers saying “QUITTER”. You don’t have to marry your first job, but it does have to last for 18 months. Ironically, more than most celebrity marriages.
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