Before leaving uni, I went to get my cv sorted and talked about various options with the career advisor.

The thing is, there just aren't many job vacancies for what I want to do (journalism, script writing & graphic design) and getting a company to even ask me for an interview is really difficult.

I've got a good cv - both qualification wise and layout and a good covering letter - so what else can I do for a chance of an interview?

Plus I do know it's the worst time of year to get try and get a job with school leavers and graduates.

I'm doing what I like now, but the money is poor I've never got paid on time ever - sometimes it's 14 days late, this means I'm always using my overdraft and of course getting charged for it. There's no chance of promotion either.

Any tips?

joanna, all these other jobs are wasted on you

you should be a driving instructor, after all, you passed your test first time

Originally posted by Joanna
I'm doing what I like now, but the money is poor I've never got paid on time ever - sometimes it's 14 days late, this means I'm always using my overdraft and of course getting charged for it. There's no chance of promotion either.


if a company pays you late and you are being charged, you should be getting re-imbursed if it is there fault

I believe it's illegal not to pay someone on time. I can't be an instructor because you have to have 3 years experience and I've not quite got that yet! I have considered it so beware!

Originally posted by Joanna
I believe it's illegal not to pay someone on time. I can't be an instructor because you have to have 3 years experience and I've not quite got that yet! I have considered it so beware!

how do you expect to be able to be a driving instructor teaching a pupil who is new when you hate driving on the roads as it is? when you probably teach them if they are being tailgated to slam thier brakes on.. i think you should stick to what you know best or roadrage will be up in %:hihi:

i was on the dole about 18 years..with time off when i was on training schemes, college courses etc (prolly about 5 years?)
and i can count the job interviews ive ever had on 2 hands

I DON'T want to be a bleeding driving instructor I said - Journalist, graphic designer or script writer. Something I can use my degree on.

So what do you do now? I'd rather be when I am then have to go on the dole. Is there a key to success - do most jobs go to workers already at the place? Or is it who you know?

Then you have to make sure that you are reaching the key decision makers and that your stuff will grab their attention. Have you asked anyone who 'hires and fires' to go through your stuff and give you feedback? Do you know which agencies are in the demographic areas where you could work? Do you have a **** hot web-site to point them towards?

There are loads of books on the subject or you could get yourself a 'life coach' or mentor to help you brush up on your skills. I have done some mentoring in the past but not in your chosen fields. My background is voluntary sector.

Some of it is down to luck but then who was it who said 'Luck favours the prepared'?

I've always wanted to know what a life coach does - now I know!

I don't have a website at all as I don't really know how to create one.

As far as preparation goes, I do try and do a lot of research. Interviews always worry me - so I've gone through lots of questions and got friends to help me with answers - but it's getting an interview in the first place.

Also, my contract says I can't be a graphic designer within a 10 mile radius of leaving my current employmnet.

I am getting down about this. I've searched loads of job websites and papers but nothing really. There are sub editors jobs but they want someone with lots of experience and I haven't got it and getting experience is difficult because of the competition.

i not sure if it will work for you but my mate got into a job by asking for a day a week work experience in her field. she would work for them for free while getting it on her cv. only downside is she had a minimum paid job to support her . but its worth a try to build you cv

I have provided placements for media students whilst at college. I am sure that some agencies would bite your hand off for a bit of free help in the design department or in getting publicity. Charities are desperate for it. I used to do all my own and it was a real pain. So how about some voluntary work to get the experience to get the job?

Otherwise you need to get experience in a parallel field and then move across.

You do need a web-site. It is the place to direct people to find out about what you can do. Thinking about it, I do have a contact who is now self-employed. I am sure she would be willing to have a chat. PM me if you want some more information.

Yes thank you! Any help is much appreciated.

Have you asked for feedback from anywhere where you've submitted your CV but have not been shortlisted for interview? This can help loads as it gives you an insight into what potential employers are actually looking for, and you can build your CV around this.

Also, don't use the same CV for every job and organisation. Have maybe 4 or 5 different versions that you think are suitable for different kinds of jobs/organisations. Potential employers want to see that you have put some real thought and effort into each and every application, not that you're blasting a generic CV to every company going. And I guess for the kind of job you are looking for, make it a really eye-ctaching design - but keep it simple.

If you are applying for a specific job and not just on spec, then ask for a job description and a person specification. Use the person specification as a guide for your CV/application. Go through every point in the person spec and outline how you meet it, giving examples of past experience. You can do this as a separate document to your CV and call it your 'Statement of Application'. Don't be afraid to use the same headings as they use on their person spec - it shows you've really thought about whether you are suitable for the job.

Then when you get an interview, use the job description to try and work out what questions they might ask you. Think of as many examples of your behaviour from the past that will show you will be good for the job. And don't just talk about your current job, talk about experience you have gained from previous jobs, and other aspects of your life.

joanna the key is dont get down about it ...........just go about your day to day business and itll be fine, start getting down and you may as well kill yourself.
just dont worry about it and youll be fine......if id worried about getting a job in the last 18 years id be dead.

i have one now tho .........once somebody gave me a chance......then i got another lol, neither is what im trained / good at, but its a start.

all my qualifications / training / knowledge is in computers but i havent got a computer job ......im a painter / odd job man / caretaker / cleaner / handyman / pcb production worker in 2 factories (2 companies) for the same group of companies.

at the moment im working on the cnc drilling machines for pcb manufacture so i suppose its now partly computer work

Originally posted by Joanna
Before leaving uni, I went to get my cv sorted and talked about various options with the career advisor.

The thing is, there just aren't many job vacancies for what I want to do (journalism, script writing & graphic design) and getting a company to even ask me for an interview is really difficult.

I've got a good cv - both qualification wise and layout and a good covering letter - so what else can I do for a chance of an interview?

Plus I do know it's the worst time of year to get try and get a job with school leavers and graduates.

I'm doing what I like now, but the money is poor I've never got paid on time ever - sometimes it's 14 days late, this means I'm always using my overdraft and of course getting charged for it. There's no chance of promotion either.

Any tips?

move out of Sheffield if you are after those kind of jobs.

only thing I could suggest would be to try and get in with Sheffield newspapers or Exposed selling advertising and try and get contacts there. You could always write articles off of your own back and send them in and see what they say. I'm sure if you are prepared to work for free for experience they will look at you.

also commerial radio take on every so often in the jingle writing department and judging by Hallam's output they could use some new staff. Again if you were prepared to work for free you could stand a chance.

Sometimes one has to start at the bottom and work up, even with a degree these days it is still very difficult to walk into the perfect job.

It may mean you taking a job working for a particular company you want to progress with, or taking a job that is 'beneath' your skill level and working to prove yourself so that you are considered for promotion.

Either way, good luck.

Thank you for all these replied. To anser some main points. My cv does have a design to it - my careers advicsor suggested that - although looking at job websites, they do suggest to keep it simple on white paper.

I do adapt my cv to suit the post.

That's a good point of "Statement of Application" which I haven't done before, so will.

I have considered leaving Chesterfield but don't really have enough money. It's also getting the work experience. I could never get in at The Star, I did manage at our local paper.

I have started at the bottom where I am now, but really want to move on. I really like the work it's really my boss that gets me down - everything is my fault all the time even though we've had quite a few dissatisfied customers - which I have nothing to do with.

If anyone knows how to stand up to an awkward boss, please help. My colleague also said "I don't want to come into work" because of my boss having moods all the time. It's a bad atmosphere sometimes - and a smoky one as he insists on smoking - not in our room, but the smell spreads.

Originally posted by Joanna

Also, my contract says I can't be a graphic designer within a 10 mile radius of leaving my current employmnet.

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Check your contract of employment to see if there is a time limit on the time between you changing jobs within that ten mile radius, because very often you can get around it by simply leaving your current employment and having a week or two weeks "unemployment" ;)

Good luck and keep at it. :thumbsup:

Hello Guys,

For all job seekers, i understand the Reed jobsite is really good mainly because it is free for employers to advertise on.
If you want to post your CV where people / agy's / employers will see it and contact you then try either www.jobsite.co.uk or monster or hotonline.com

Hope that helps.

Also I recommend registering with an agency, even if they have no suitable vacancies for you at the moment they will put you on their data base for any future position. Also these guys are experts at employment issues and know and understand what to look for on a CV so ask one of them for tips on what employers look for and where you CV could be improved. For specialist HR, Pensions and Payrole, exce search and selection, IT and Sales, Manufacturing and Engineer position try TEK in Sheffield. 0114 252 5730.