Getting Stuck in a Rut

Getting stuck in a rut happens to most people. It is comforting, safe, and reliable to be in a cosy little cocoon of loveliness. People generally are adverse to change, and if you have it fairly good why should you do anything to change that?

These are some thoughts that I have had in the last week.

Now that I have a job and it is something I am enjoying and being paid a good sum of money for, I thought toward my future. 

You think you have everything planned out...

I have been certain of my plan to pursue becoming a solicitor and securing a training contract. This has been my plan since I was 16, and I have taken steps from this time to help make this goal a reality. 

But now. Now I have a job, and I don't want to have to go back to student life. As some of you will now you have to complete further education after university to qualify as a solicitor. In my case this is the LPC (Legal Practice Course) which takes one year full-time. 

And then it hit me. 

Student life.... Again. 

It is going to be very hard to go back to counting pennies after becoming fairly comfortable with a reliable income. And whilst the aim to save this year is certainly present, the reality is that the Jo Malone counter in the department store is calling out to me. First world problems, I know.

The more I thought about it the more I thought I could stay in this job for two years, rather than the originally planned one. Just disclaimer, my employers are perfectly aware of my plans and are very supportive.

And this seemed like a great idea. More time to save to put money away for expensive London prices (a season ticket alone coming at a price of over £4000 from where I live in Kent). It would also give me more office experience. 

Snap out of it!

But then I realised that if I did this then it would just be stalling. I would become Chandler from Friends who went into data processing with a dream to be a comic-strip creator (OK I am a Friends geek). It just never happens.

You get too comfortable. You forget to push yourself. You lose sight of what your long term goals are.

So I gave this some thought and came up with a few pointers for any of you who feel like you are getting stuck in a rut. This can happen to anyone in many forms. Maybe you are considering doing a masters degree for no other reason than to stay at university. Maybe you are happy just coasting along at school/college etc with the bare minimum you need. But what could you achieve if you just pushed yourself just that but more? Get out of the comfort zone.

Scary...? Most definitely. But I think completely worth it.

Tips for getting out of a rut

• Snap out of it quickly. If you start thinking that staying in the same place would be the best option (when deep down you know this isn't the case), don't ponder it too long. If you have to think about something this much, chances are you are not convinced by your decision anyway. Stick to your original plan.
• Start looking at things you can do in your future which get you excited. For example, I started looking at LPC courses and started thinking- a new student card for student discounts? Yes please!
• Keep manageable to-do lists which further you toward your end goal. Looking far into the future can be daunting. Break it down into bite size chunks by dealing with obstacles a few at a time. 

I hope these are helpful. This is certainly what got me out of my funk. But I have found a great article on Forbes during my research which I can highly recommend on this topic.http://www.forbes.com/sites/glassheel/2013/04/25/8-ways-to-dig-your-way-out-of-a-rut/

If any of you have any tips on how to get out of a rut, comment below. And as always if you have any ideas on what you would like me to talk about then please give me your thoughts. I need idea feul!

Training Days: Horrifically scarring or a skills gold-mine?

In my new job I have recently undertaken my first training day. It was... quite the experience. 

Look at these fitties. 

I had a pre-conceived idea of how training days go. And to a large extent it is what you may think- incredibly cheesy and a little humiliating. The role-plays are just the worst. But I guess each to  their own on that one. 

I guess a little background would be a good place to start.

My new job involves me answering phones (for incoming calls mainly- with some outgoing). My work involves people's  money. And if I know one thing, then it is when it comes to money people can be... Difficult. 

Difficult

This was actually the theme of the training day- dealing with difficult people. And I have never really had to deal with the public before. 

This was also my first ever training day. A lot of firsts. 

So is there any point to these training days?

The main piece of advice I can give to anyone is to make sure you go into these things with
the right frame of mind. This is especially true if it turns out your course leader is possibly reminiscent of your tax law lecturer who sat down and spoke at you for two hours straight. If you go into it thinking it will be useless, you will get absolutely nothing out of it. 

Deep meaningful quotes. Yeah...

Even if the content or the leader is not the best, try and see the wood for the trees and look for the nuggets which are genuinely useful for everyday work or even everyday life. 

It is definitely true that some of the day is likely to make your skin crawl with either humiliation or cheesiness. This could be role play, or standing in a circle and sharing ideas by throwing a ball around. If you are like me 
(and probably too British for your own good) this is the stuff of nightmares. 

But do your best to get through this. If you can try and throw yourself into it you may surprise yourself. I can't guarantee anything- but give it a go.

What did I learn?

I think to be honest the stuff I learned the most from is the stuff which involved merely sitting down and hearing a string of ideas and concepts with anecdotes to support and some team-interaction. But this is always how I have learned best. 

I think quite a lot of this stuff in courses and how applicable it is will depend on your own personality, both at work and in life. Generally, these leaders know what they are talking about. So take what they say, and adjust it to you. 

It is easy to get stuck on a tram of sticking to what you know. But sometimes taking advice from other people can improve your work skills. 

I take inspiration from lots of people, my father (who actually works in customer service- which is delightfully convenient for me), my colleagues, the internet! 

I just like this picture.
But I guess embarrassment fits in nicely.

So all in all, it is both emotionally scarring and useful. But as I have previously implied, it is what you make of it. So make sure you go into it in the right way and you are more likely to get something useful out of it. Don't let your course leader do all the work! Put in a bit of effort yourself. Chances are you are still being paid for this day!

So until next Sunday. Enjoy your week. 

Bringing Back the Blog and First Impressions of being a Full-Timer

Oh dear.

I have failed you all. With no posts for about 2 months (perhaps a little less- I'm too scared to look at the last post and its date).

First of all, my apologies! My lifestyle has been somewhat changed due to my new job. I've gone from being a night-owl student staying up watching Game of Thrones and Suits all night to going to bed at 9pm sharp. 

So in light of this I have decided to make a few changes. I know my usual post day would be Wednesday. This will now change to Sundays, which is now national-my-lie-in-bed-and-do-nothing day. Officially.
At least when you work full time and balance a loan horse 3 days a week you don't have an overwhelming sense of guilt when you do absolutely nothing.

But onto careers.

This post has already rambled on, so only a quick one before my official post days swaps to Sunday. 

What are your first impressions of full time work?

• It has definitely been a challenge getting used to being focused for an 8-hour work day. Whilst being a student is by no means easy you have the choice of working into an evening at the cost of having an afternoon free (for example)
• Your bed definitely becomes your best friend. But not much has changed there to be perfectly honest.
• You have to find new ways to keep up a social life (i.e. weekends!), before you crumble into the abyss of being forever alone.
• The tax man already vexes me. And I'm already paranoid that I owe them money after 5 weeks on the job.

However...

What I absolutely love about it is

• The money! Of course, being completely financially independent for the first time in my life is completely liberating. The fact that whilst I live at home, I give my parents housekeeping money only strengthens this. I would hate to have to sponge off them when they have already done so much for me.
• The people. You are around an entirely new group of people. And whilst this presents its challenges you are also presented with so many opportunities. My office especially is full of people my age. And my line manager happens to know my family from way back (which neither of us knew until day 1 on the job by the way!)
• The fact that I am learning new skills and becoming competent in my role makes me excited. I love the fact that one day (not quite yet) I will be able to go into work and be completely in control and know I can do a good job.

So.

Not the most exciting of posts I'm afraid. But because I have left the blog for so long I have lots of ideas- many already researched. These will now stretch into workplace-relevant pieces, as well as university/long term career posts.

I am also pondering my future in law- so LPC, training contract posts will also be imminent for those of you who are interested in the law.

So have a lovely day. Though the days are getting markedly shorter since the clocks went back. Damn winter.

Beating the Backlog

Once again, another late post. But hopefully you can see that I have revamped the blog and this took rather more time than I thought to do. I think if I can conclude anything from the last 24 hours is that graphic design is not my calling. 

So onto the topic du jour...

The Backlog in the Job Market

I can by no means claim to give you the answers on this, as I indeed have become part of the backlog. What I can do is go through some regrets. Things which I didn't do which in retrospect I wish that I had done that could have perhaps increased my chances today in finding that illusive training contract. 

The Economic Downturn

We all know that this is clearly what is to blame for most of our troubles in finding a graduate job. Because companies reduced the amount they were investing into entry level training, there has been a reduction in the number of graduates entering employment.

According to one study just over 60% of graduates went into employment 3 months after graduation in 2007 and this fell to 48% in 2008, and fell again to 30% in 2009.

Now there could be more to this story (more places offered at university level etc), but you cannot deny that this drastic drop of 50% in 2 years has had a lasting impact that can be felt today.

So instead of competing against your "education generation" you are competing against all of the "generations" since 2008.

So what can we do to try and stand out?

Well this is the million dollar question, and if anyone can answer it then please let me know! However, there are a few things which have come up in interviews and just in my general reminiscing sessions which I believe I could have done in order to better my chances.
These mostly start from first year of university- so all the 17/18 year olds out there, this applies to you too...

• First year at university: Do not fall into the trap that first year doesn't count. Whilst it may not go towards your degree mark, you will have to write down all of your first year marks on any graduate application. Whilst they don't expect you to achieve the same marks as later on in your education (due to exit velocity- the idea you improve throughout your degree) they will not want to see that you have only done the bare minimum to scrape through.
  
• Extra-curriculars: Whilst I tended to do OK on this front (with involvement in sports clubs from Day One at university and two positions on an executive committee of a club) there are other things which may have been more useful to me.
  This is rather subjective I suppose- but one interview I went to specifically asked if I had got involved with any mooting/debating whilst at university. And I had to say no. In reality, I don't think I could have balanced this with my degree, sport and my part time job. But maybe if I had put in just that bit more time I would have something else to add to my CV.
  
• Being savvy in applying to posts: Again, this may be personal opinion. I applied to internships in second year and took a "machine gun" approach. So I would complete as many applications as possible and wouldn't spend as much time on them. I got only one interview (and I was lucky enough to get it).
  But this year I applied to only 6 and got a "call back" whether this be interview/selection day for 3 (which is a 50% success rate). I spent much more time considering where I feel would be the best fit for me, did more research whilst applying and generally took more care in filling out the applications.
  The results don't lie.
  

I feel like that is rather enough of my chit chat for one week. And I am busy watching Andy Murray in the US Open Quarters. Much more important than job hunting. And he isn't doing well at the moment. So I may have to go to my happy place.

The emotion I feel during the never-ending frustration of job hunting

As always, comments and suggestions very welcome. What would you like me to post about? And what do you think of the new design?

Men and Women in the Workplace

First of all, apologies for not posting on my regular Wednesday slot. It turned into a rather busy (though productive) day.

Good news: I now HAVE A JOB! This is for my "gap year", and my sigh of relief could not be bigger.

TOP TIP OF THE DAY: Friends and connections are worth having (I was tipped off by a friend and an existing employee of the company).
People may tell you that the days of "it's not what you know, it's who you know" are behind us. Wrong. 

But bad news of the day: Got feedback from a training contract interview I was unsuccessful on.

And the result of this led to the topic of the post today. 

Lizzy, why is this relevant to men and women?

A good question. Whilst my feedback from my interview was generally helpful, though completely frustrating that I got so close, one point that was brought up was the unsuitability of my shoes.
This in no way affected their decision, but apparently some people brought it up.

The shoes I wore were tan with gold accented pumps. Whilst, I admit, they are not the "smartest" footwear in the world. It got me thinking. And it got me angry.

So if you are a closed-minded guy you may want to click off as this will be a slight feminist approach today, as much as I hate the word "feminist" I cannot think of another way to classify it.

Men have it easy...

And I hate it. Office dress for men is so annoyingly easy, because social tradition has deemed that a suit, shirt, tie and leather smart shoes are the norm.
Women however do not have such a luxury as this. When I attend an interview I am always questioning myself. Do I wear a skirt/dress? If so, is it too short? How low-cut is the neckline? Is it too low cut?
And the issue of heels vs not heels just kills me.

THERE IS SO MUCH ROOM FOR ERROR. Which is pretty much solely on the shoulders of women. It is also so subjective. I turned up to a Linklaters event and was complimented on my black heels, and went to another career event in the same shoes and almost fell over and made a complete fool of myself.

I guess you can tell that I could rant about this for a while, and obviously inequality stretches into more than just fashion... But that argument is not one for here or now. 

So what can we do about it?

Well, as I noted before it can be really subjective. But from now on I am always going to err on the side of caution.
I have always had a "LBD" and by this I mean lucky black dress, which I wear to all professional interviews, and this is a dress purchased specifically for the office from an office section of a well-known shop. It has no drop in the neckline and the hem comes down just below the knee.

The shoes however I am still torn upon. Heels vs not heels specifically. My opinion has always been that heels should be avoided at least for interview stage as they tend to split opinion. On the other hand, they can look really quite smart and lots of professional women do wear them.
However, many women won't want to wear heels at all and why should they? 

So as you can tell I haven't come to much of a conclusion- so PLEASE if anyone has any ideas please share them below, or on Twitter. I have another interview on Tuesday so I need the help! Even in all my research people have different opinions. However this article seems to be particularly relevant and comprehensive:

http://talentegg.ca/incubator/2011/03/10/what-shoes-should-you-wear-to-your-next-job-interview-tips-from-an-image-expert/

At least I get some retail therapy... (I probably just made all the "feminists" mad by saying that).

On a side note I can thoroughly recommend Talent Egg as a portal for all graduates. It specialises in advice for "Generation Y" and content is written by young people who have been through university. It may be Canadian, but definitely relevant worldwide.

Emotive Language in Careers and Recruitment Social Media

"Passionate... Hungry... Hot Shot..."

AKA: Emotive Rubbish.

I have come to hate words such as "passionate". I feel they are completely emotionally loaded, and to me they have been taken away from their true meaning. But even more so, the phrase is so overused that it seems to have lost all meaning. 

It is much akin to the fact that I don't like to use (or at least overuse) the words "Love" and "Hate". They are very powerful words. Think of them like diamonds. Diamonds are rare and because of this they are desirable, and therefore more valuable. Casual Economics 101.

I realise this may well be a subjective issue, but I would personally avoid using words that are highly emotive too much in applications and interviews. If you use them less so, and only drop in one or two then to me you would come across much more genuine. Secondly, you can add emphasis to the things that really "sell" you, what is your USP?

Don't be this person

Or this one:

My Inspiration

This week's post is more of a comment (or rant if you will) rather than advice. I was inspired to write this after seeing this advert come up on my Facebook newsfeed:

It was the use of the phrase "hot shot" which particularly caught my eye, though the overall tone of the advert was, in my opinion, a little demoralising.

Don't get me wrong, I know that there is a lot of competition out there for training contracts (or most professions) but in such hard times it is not helpful to use this sort of language in order to entice people to your site.
It is hard to put my finger on what exactly I don't like about this, but the overall tone of it seems to be

"If you aren't one of the elite then you can't be successful"

I will give them the benefit of the doubt, and say that perhaps this was not their intention. Most emotive language is simply put into advertisements or job adverts in order to persuade the viewer to click on a link/apply etc. 

However, when I researched "The Bright Network" further- this was their demographic:

As you can see from the bullet points, it looks to me as if this particular organisation has quite a small top-end demographic.

However, from these facts alone all we can deduce is that these people are, on average, very well qualified.

And that is exactly my point. 

Education isn't everything. Yes, it is very important. This is by no means an excuse to slack off. But it does mean that you have to take your education with a slight (and I mean slight) pinch of salt. The more work you get, and the older and more experienced you become, the less relevant education becomes. 

What this means is that education is merely a foot in the door. What matters more (in my opinion) is your work experience. Now I know as far as the law is concerned, if you haven't had a vacation scheme placement or similar then you pretty much won't be considered for any training contracts. This says an awful lot.

And I tell you what else says an awful lot- referees. My professional referee knows me a heck of a lot more than my academic one and therefore he can provide me with a much more valuable reference. 

So if you aren't "the best" academically, I know I certainly wasn't, make sure that you give yourself plenty of other opportunities that make your education slightly less crucial to your success. I know this is easier said than done, but it's all about persistence, and making sure you know an opportunity when you are faced with one, and you are open to all new experiences.

So if you take anything from today, know that you don't have to go to a "Times Top 20" or Russell Group University, or have straight As at A Level to be successful. Most of my friends and family are living proof of this.

I would go as far as to say that these "Hot Shots" are in the minority. Let them go off to firms which requires first class degrees and in return for a £90,ooo paycheck for which you give them your soul. You, on the other hand can be successful and happy in whatever you choose to do, as long as you take the necessary steps to achieve this and make sure you are realistic about your options. 

Hopefully this all made sense. Apologies for the early post, I have some family stuff to do this week. But hey, at least I am early this time and not late!

Networking: Is it really that important?

I personally hate networking. I feel it is the epitome of repetitive small-talk. However, I also realise that it is vitally important not only for finding a job directly, but lessons for the future in terms of applications/conduct/interviews etc. 

By networking I mean the opportunity to meet with companies or even just a few people. This can be in a formal setting set up through a careers service, or it can be an "informal" dinner with junior company representatives. 

As much as I hate networking I have never passed up an opportunity.

That is a slight lie.

In my first year of university I was unaware of the significance of it, and didn't really have anything to do with it. This was apart from when I went to the law fair and made the cardinal sin of telling Shearman & Sterling that I had never heard of them.
INSTANT FAIL. 

However, when I started to become more career focused and also spoke to some of my residence friends I realised that putting yourself out there is something that can be really valuable.

I really started to get involved in my second and third year. I won't bore you with all of the stories but I will leave you with some hints that I have found really useful, and things that I have learned in my time.
That makes me sound old...

If you are at university, make sure you make the most of the following opportunities:

• Careers Fairs
• Employer Workshops and Presentations
• Tours of offices (we had opportunities via the law society for example)
• If you have applied for a job with an established graduate employer at a good university chances are they will invite you to a dinner or similar (I know for a fact PwC do this)

My Top Tips for Networking Success

• Preparation is key. I know I say this for everything, but it is really so important. By preparing before you meet someone you will have a good idea of what they do, perhaps how they do it and you can equip yourself with some questions that
  a) Will be useful for you
  b) Insightful questions will make you more memorable to employers
• Go in a pair. I find that if there is someone there that you know then it means that approaching a stranger will be much easier with some moral support. However, if you go in a bigger group than this can be a bit overwhelming and probably not of use to you, as you will find yourself stuck in a large group and you will be heard less and you will have less time to ask questions.
  
  If you do go in a large group, it is probably a better idea to split up into smaller ones.
• Think about how you are coming across. This may seem a fairly obvious one but it has several topics within it.  
  
  
  1) They quite often serve alcohol at events such as this. Many of the company reps will have a glass, so by all means have ONE. But I would nurse this and stick to the soft afterwards. You don't want to be the person that makes a fool of themselves or starts slurring their words.
  
  2) NEVER EVER EVER EVER be a suck up. It is not attractive to anyone. Whilst it is perhaps a good idea to casually drop in that you have work experience somewhere or you have a large amount of knowledge on the latest pension case, only do so where it comes naturally into conversation, and DO NOT spend the next half an hour talking about it. Less is more in this respect. If the representative wants to hear any more about it I'm sure they will ask you.
  
  3) Several of my interview tips come into this. For example, only make jokes where sensible and appropriate.
• If you get a business card it means that you have made an impression- and this does not happen too often to everyone. If you do get one, make sure you email that contact within 3 days.
  My friend at university (special shout out to Oz) told me that it is a good idea to say thank you for talking to me and also try and come up with a new question that will make you more memorable. It also invites a reply and future contact.

This article is useful- moreso for outside of university but definitely worth a read:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/festival-of-business/10165682/SME-Masterclass-How-to-network-more-effectively.html

I'm sure that is probably all you can cope with today. I've had enough! I hope these are helpful, and believe me networking is important. So if you are still at university make the most of the opportunities presented to you, as they are much easier to come by in that environment. 

Interview Preparation

Just a quick one today...

And yes, I am aware that I missed out Sunday. I fail at life already. My apologies. I went to a horse-show all day and was exhausted when I got back. Evidently future planning is something I need to work on!

But anyway...

I have a training contract interview tomorrow, and I am very nervous. And I have only had a few days to prepare- with a phone call on Monday and my interview on Thursday. 

So I thought I would take you through what I have done to prepare and hopefully give you all some ideas you may not otherwise have had. I will avoid things like what not to wear etc. I am sure you all have enough common sense not to stroll into ANY interview whether it is for KFC or KPMG in a miniskirt. 

So on with the real stuff.

My Interview Preparation

1. Know the structure of the interview, and if possible who you will be seeing
   Some important things to note include how long the interview will last; how many interviews there are (I have two, one with HR and one with legal staff); what the interview will entail. Last year I had an interview which required me to give a 10 minute presentation.
   
   If you know who you are seeing, it may be of benefit to see if the company website has a profile on them, just so you can see what their role is, what department etc. This isn't crucial to interview success, but certainly worth knowing if possible
2. Make a list of all of the things you would like to get across about yourself in the interview. This may be work experience you have had, or something you took part in at university... The list goes on.
   
   If you write these down, make sure it is ONLY in note format. Do not learn answers word for word, as this can make you sound robotic and TOO prepared. Interviewers want you to be prepared but they also want to see your personality. Plus, being able to think on your feet is a valuable skill.
   
   If the company you are interviewing for is an established graduate employer, such as PwC et al, chances are they will have core competencies. Make sure you look for these and think of a couple of examples for each one.
3. Do your research. Make sure you research the company. Know what they are doing at the moment (i.e. any mergers, important work etc). Simply doing a Google search will tell you this.
   And if you haven't already make sure you have a good grasp on the services the firm offer and the approach they take in their work.
   
   Many firms have "core values", make sure you know these if you can find them, make sure you put effort into knowing how they run their business.
4. Commercial awareness. This is really the age old term, but so important. Really this should be an ongoing thing. However, make sure you know what is going on at the time generally and also in your chosen field and chose a couple of things which interest you. Research these more thoroughly, so if you are asked what story has interested you lately you will be able to provide an in-depth opinion and perhaps start a discussion you can keep up with.
5. Be yourself. Last but not least to use the old cliche. The employer already knows that you are qualified, otherwise they would not have asked you to interview. The purpose of the interview is more often than not a chance for you and the firm to see if you will work well together.
   
   I personally think rapport between you and interviewer is crucial. If it is appropriate, you can use humour. However, DISCLAIMER, if you are uncertain whether something will go down well DO NOT USE IT. Whilst it is nice to slip in a well-timed, tasteful joke, if you are unsure as to the reception it is better to err on the side of caution.

Think that is about it for today. If you have any other tips, comment below or get in touch and I can add a few! I end this with this penguin picture. Because it is cool. And penguins are cool. Maybe because they live in the Antarctic. Meh... I am no scientist. 

Wish me luck guys! See you on the other side. 

The Dark Side of the Internet

Welcome Internet Friends...

And that is what this post is all about today. The internet. I was unsure what to write about today. I had an idea before I came home from errand running, but this was immediately changed when I came home and checked my YouTube account. 

I came home to this:

Which I actually found extremely upsetting. Which lead to the topic of using the internet. Maybe it is an overdone topic? But hey, nothing wrong with a bit of cliche. 

Essentially the back-story is that I left a slightly controversial comment that I wished Jessie J hadn't talked through the performance. If you know me you will know I have some thoughts on Jessie J, but I certainly don't think my comment justified such a gender loaded, disgusting and personal insult. 

The internet is a wonderful thing...

We all know this and requires no further explanation. However, it can also be a very ugly and very hurtful place. 

Because the arena of social media can be so faceless, people are much more willing to say things that perhaps otherwise they would not. I don't think I am personally guilty of that but I can understand it is so easy to do. 

You can see it everyday with Facebook statuses which outline an event in their life which is clearly loaded to be targeted at one particular person. Whilst this person may not be named, it is clear who this person is. 

If I have learned anything...

It is that I myself need to use the internet more carefully. I have my Facebook profile blocked and only have "Friends" who I actually count as friends, I monitor what I put on Twitter and Instagram- so there is nothing on there I would be unhappy for my family or any employers to see.

However, in a world where communication via the internet is so easy, and so faceless, you really need to question what you are putting out there. Do not say ANYTHING that you would not say to somebody's face. 

However, the most worrying thing is that perhaps men like the one who got in touch with me probably WOULD say that to someone's face. And that is the sad fact of life. 

Instead of leaving this post on such a low, remember social media is such a brilliant tool. I have friends all over the country and all over the world thanks to university, and social media provides me with free and easy tools with which to maintain my valued friendships. And I expect cheap trips to visit them soon (hint hint).

As always comments and feedback are always appreciated. And any suggestions for future posts are very welcomed! Especially let me know how you like my Friday posts, as they are my personal post of the week, and it slightly diverts from my regular careers-based content. 

Until Sunday, where I will deal with some sort of commercial awareness issue...

Better get watching the news then. 

Dealing with Rejection

It happens to us all...

In life, in love, in work.

But enough of the melodramatic starts. In all seriousness, dealing with rejection in terms of the job hunt is something that I have really come up against recently. 

This is my second round of training contract applications, and obviously the first round was unsuccessful otherwise I would not be putting myself through this again!

I'll put it out there.

Rejection is hard.

But I assume you already knew that. Hopefully I can give you some advice as to how to deal with it. I don't personally think that it ever gets easier, if anything it gets harder when you keep trying but still fail. But what you can do is try to put into practice ways of dealing with it which positively help you. 

My Five Point Plan

1. They don't know you. The rejection is not of you personally. This is a mantra of mine, and it is a little hard to explain. But essentially what the HR reps are judging is you on paper. I have a 2.1 law degree from Warwick, though it is certainly not a strong 2.1. Maybe I am wrong but I think that is my main barrier to an interview shortlist. Especially when competition is so tight that there are possibly 10 like you, but they have a "better" degree.
   
   What I focus on instead is my feedback from professional experiences I have had. My work-experience employer (a corporate lawyer) was very positive about the work I have done for him. And even my team who I lead as President of the University's Riding Club were thankful for the work I had done (correct me if I'm wrong guys!).
   
   Try and focus on the positives, and when you next try to fill out an application make sure you emphasise these.
   
   
2. Dealing with friends and family can be hard. If you are like me I would rather talk about my struggles as little as possible. I have certain people that I will talk to- my parents and my best friend but aside from this I get fed up of people asking.
   I know that they ask only out of concern, but for my own personal sanity I want to avoid thinking about it too much.
   
   I have a really good relationship with my friends and family, and so I have made a rule with them that if I approach the topic first then we can talk about it. Whether this will be helpful to you is really up to you. Personal preferences and all.
   
   
3. Can anything be fixed? Maybe the reason you are being rejected is because there are silly mistakes in  you applications? Or maybe there is something missing to tip you over the edge?
   Ask other people to read your application, and many careers departments will read your applications and give you feedback. See if this is something your university can offer you. I know Warwick even offer this to alumni for several years after. So this is worth checking out.
   
   
4. Try again. Simple as. Pick yourself back up. Next application.
   
   
5. Remember, it is OK to feel bad. Feeling upset or angry is perfectly normal. It shows you care. If you didn't feel some sort of upset then maybe you aren't pursuing the right career.
   
   However, don't let it consume you. Feel bad for a bit, and then channel yourself into something else. 

To conclude...

I hope that all made sense. And I hope it is of some help to you. I have to say even just writing this all out has made ME feel better. Ahhhh free internet therapy. 

I will next speak to you on Friday. Haven't decided what to write about yet. It's all very mysterious and exciting. Good luck everyone. 

Much Needed Update... THE FUTURE!

The future is a scary place...

I'm sure you know that as much as I do. But this particular blog post isn't going to be one of those scary ones that make you question your life choices thus far, so much so that you go to the freezer to get out a pint of Ben & Jerry's. 

It is instead a quick update on the future of this blog, and where I see it going. 

First off, an apology. I haven't really posted recently, and this is because I have been swamped with training contract apps really. But what this DOES mean is that I have stored up lots of ideas for topics in this time. Keep checking back for these!

So where is it going? Get on with it woman. 

Well I would like to keep the blog mainly concerning the university/job aspect, as I feel this is what I set it up to do. And I think the feedback from most of you is that there aren't many blogs out there like it, and it is also nice to know that someone real (not a company or a careers adviser etc) is going through the same things. 

However, I would also like to start including some "comment" type things that you see in newspapers- concerning things that I see on the news, or something I have an opinion on. But some of these things may be commercial awareness relevant- so those on the job-hunt may find these useful too. 

So I have decided to try and commit myself to a timetable. 

Sundays: Comment

Wednesdays: Careers and University

Fridays: Mystery post of the week

So pretty straight forward really. This timetable starts from Wednesday. So I will look forward to seeing what you think, and any feedback is always very welcome!

So I shall leave you for now. Enjoy the nice weather. My legs are still not bloomin' tanning. Typical.

Until the next time, here is a seal photobombing, found after I spent too much time on Buzzfeed. 

The Overqualified & Under-qualified Puzzle

First things first...

Apologies for my lack of posts recently, I have been in the process of moving out of university and coming back to my home in Kent. I have now officially moved out and the end of university has never seemed more real. Very sad times!

I also was pre-occupied with getting my results. I managed to get the "magic" 2.1 classification (though admittedly this was a scrape with a mark of 61- just between you and I). Obviously it is nice to have that to back up all my job applications, but if you didn't get quite what you wanted it is definitely not the end of the world. It just might mean you have to graft a bit harder to get where you want to go, or perhaps go a different way. 

So what is the topic today?

Today is all about my hunt to find a somewhat relevant job in my year off, and what my plans are now I have a 2.1. I will not say much on this but I have had one thought which I will ponder some more:

Now I have a 2.1, if I can get a relevant job this year that can demonstrate transferable skills to being a trainee solicitor then I am much more persuaded to invest in the LPC if I have to. The LPC (or the Legal Practice Course is the next stage in becoming a solicitor and is a kind of postgraduate course) is expensive but hopefully with the degree and a job a training contract is a much more realistic prospect, with a greater chance of it being a good investment. 

But I digress...

I have recently been applying for jobs, scouring the internet by "Googling" law firms in Kent and going through each one individually to see if they have any vacancies. Which brings me to:

Advice No 1: If you want to work as a paralegal then apply to firms directly- agencies tend to have experience requirements which firms in reality may not have if you possess a law degree. 

I found a position for an junior administrative job at a small local firm. Yes admittedly it is not my dream, but I genuinely believe I can get a lot out of it- I can see how a law firm operates at a basic level, and I can meet qualified solicitors who have been there and done it. It is also MUCH more relevant than other jobs I have looked at which range from shop assistant to receptionist. 

I duly sent my CV and got a reply the next day saying that she would consider me, but she thought I was overqualified. 

BUT THAT IS JUST THE ISSUE!

I have been on the path to try and be a solicitor for 4 years now, I have relevant work experience and a relevant degree- but I did not get an offer for a training contract. Most paralegal and legal secretary positions want previous experience, or if not that the LPC to already be completed. 
So I am left with little else! 

But aside from this, I applied for this job for a reason; I believe I can benefit from it and I also think they could benefit from a candidate like me (hopefully that didn't come across as boasting!) with some experience of how a law firm might function. 

So people like us seem to be stuck in a place where we may be qualified for something- but you apply and get no success! And if you apply for jobs that are perhaps more junior, people will write you off as being too qualified. 

Quite the predicament. 

So what do I do?

Well all the advice I can give you is what I did. As I see it you have to be a little scrappy. Leading to Advice No 2:

• Be honest from the beginning- yes I would like to move on to other things, but I think this job is the right thing for me at the moment in the current economy especially.
• Contact the company again- I sent off an email that reassured the contact that I believe I would be happy in the role and that I would like them  to still consider me. I guess by thinking someone is overqualified they are concerned that the candidate will have low job satisfaction and therefore an attitude might emerge?
  I don't know- but try and convince them this will not be the case.

To round things up...

I think that was about it. More of a rant today than anything. And sorry if it was a little law-specific. Hopefully some of the issues will transfer into other spheres! If they do let me know... And if anyone else has any nuggets of advice please feel free to comment below or tweet me!

I will leave you with this text I received from my dad just before I moved out. Hopefully it will help you as much as it did for me!

Stuck in Limbo: Beating Boredom

Just a quick one today. As you can tell from the title 

I AM BORED. 

That's right. I am so bored I think I may be going insane (but for those who know me this arguably was always the case). 

My mood is comparable to that of grumpy cat. 

Why are you bored? Quit complaining.

Believe me, I thought that I would welcome the time when I had finished my degree. I have worked hard for three years, both academically and also in part-time work and extra-curriculars. 

But that is probably part of my problem. I am used to being quite a busy person. Don't get me wrong I love to lounge around occasionally, but only when it is a treat; and I feel like I deserve it. 

Now it just feels like it is ALL I do. Therefore it seems that I am the kind of person who needs a function in life to get along- much like a sheep dog (only I'm less glossy and intrinsically less adorable). 

I guess it also worries me that I have no secure job in the future to aim towards, so from my perspective it is like I am forever going to be in a state of limbo. Just on a tangent, I got rejected from my first job today (standard) but this was as a receptionist for a luxury brand so I don't think someone with no experience was someone worth pursuing. 

But I will follow my own advice- pick yourself up and keep going. 

But anyways. I have tried to come up with some boredom busters that hopefully will give you some ideas if you find yourself stuck in a rut like me. 

My Boredom Buster Tips

• Choose a TV series you have wanted to watch for ages but haven't had the time to devote to it. I chose Game of Thrones. THOROUGHLY recommend it- but I did finish 3 series in 3 days, so a fairly limited boredom reliever! 
• Read a book. FOR PLEASURE... Ahh bliss.
• Exercise is a great one. It takes up time, keeps you healthy and releases endorphins which makes you happy. 
• Go out of the house AT LEAST once a day- otherwise you just feel cooped up. This can be for anything. Doesn't matter. Just don't be a prisoner in your own house.
• Start a blog! Or similar. For now, at least, it seems that this is my function at the moment.

This is all of course on the side of job applications and training contract apps. 

Until the next time...

I think that post turned out longer than I intended it to be. Oh well. I'm bored. And this took up a good amount of my day.

If you guys have any other boredom buster ideas, comment below. Or tweet me! Ever since exams ended I have become a little obsessed. 

Next time I will be writing a post based on the meeting I had with my careers officer. So this will be real advice from a real qualified person, unlike me! This will include advice on:

• Training contracts
• Gap year ideas
• Interview tips
• What to do in the event of a 2:2 (this may be a separate post)

See you next time!

Making Choices: What job is for me? How do I get there?

What Job is Right for Me?

Do I choose something outside of the box, but I know I would really enjoy? Or do I choose something which will help me in the long term?

This is a question I have personally struggled with. One of my real passions is horses, and I was conflicted whether to go and work with them for a year, or whether I should follow my dad's advice and my common sense and pursue a job like being a paralegal. 

I recently had the opportunity to work at a stables with a top competitive rider- a really great chance to work with some great horses. I was offered a trial, and duly went along. However, what I thought would be my perfect job ended up being of low pay, long hours and caravan accommodation with strangers. I just knew I couldn't be happy in that sort of lifestyle. I know many people would love to have the opportunity, but it was certainly not for me. 

Whilst the trial was not necessarily enjoyable it made me realise that I want something different from life, and in reality what I thought was a perfect opportunity was not only not the job for me but would also not put me in a good position to further my career.

Advice No 1: Make sure you are making the right decisions for the right reasons. If you are unsure, give something a go to make sure. This could be a trial, like me, or volunteering or work experience/work shadowing. 

So it looks like it was decided! I need a job which would look better on my CV, and one which would keep me in the lifestyle to which I have become accustomed (though that doesn't say too much seeming as I have been a student for 3 years!).

So what is the plan of action when I know roughly where I'm going?

Well I guess this is somewhat of a personal preference. But this is a rough step by step of how I'm planning my strategy!

• Have some sort of income coming in all the time

It is MUCH MUCH better to go from one employment to another, rather than from doing nothing. It is good to break the student stereotype that we lounge around and do nothing; and employers should appreciate this. Or hopefully they will!

This job can be anything really- shop, catering, receptionist! Whatever you fancy!

It is also nice to have some money that you can still have some nights out/do some shopping etc without having to rely on parents. 

• Find where jobs are being advertised

This is a hard one for me. Whilst graduate jobs are fairly well advertised and easy to apply to (in terms of where to find application forms- not the apps themselves, god knows they are bloomin' hard!). A google search is always a good place to start. 

I also have a LinkedIn profile, though as yet I have no benefit from it, but at least it forces you to keep your CV up to date and ready to send out.

You can also use the resources of your job centre, or a recruitment agency such as Brook Street, who even if you can't find employment with may be happy to help you on your search. 

And of course, Milkround is always worth a look. I also suggest taking a look at Reed, for mostly "real-world" jobs; i.e. not targeted at graduates specifically. 

Advice No 2: Remember to keep motivated. You will not find a job if you do not look. If you get rejections, keep on going. You are bound to apply for many jobs in your lifetime and as lovely as I'm sure you are- not everyone will want you. This isn't personal. JUST KEEP GOING! 


For Further Advice...

If in any doubt check out this useful article: Guardian: 50 ways to find a new job
Not all of it will be relevant for us first-job lot, but there is certainly some good advice. 

So that's it I think for now. Quite a long one but hopefully of use!

Until the next time...