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...

So University is Over. What Next?

That is indeed the million pound question. For those of you who are like me then chances are you will have no idea.

I'll put you in the picture of where I stand. I have a law degree from the University of Warwick (classification dependent on results from exams this year). I tried to apply for training contracts, which would set me on the path to be a solicitor. I think I applied for about 30 positions, in big firms and small and city firms and local. I got a few interviews but not offers. 

Unfortunately it seems that this is possibly the norm in the current economy. And it leaves people like us really rather stranded. 

So what do I do?!

Well, if anyone knows the answer to this question then please get in touch with me! If you are here for answers then I don't think I can help you, but what I intend to put on here is my journey through what is essentially going to be a gap year with a view to finding the first rung on my career ladder. 

Ideally for me this would be as a solicitor, but like many grad jobs these days you require a 2.1 to get onto these training programmes. 

Chances are I will talk about this in another blog post as I have a lot of feelings. So many feelings. And this is perhaps something which I CAN provide some advice on. Having completed a degree. 

If I see any job opportunities I will document any interviews and application processes and if and when I get a job you can follow the life of what it means to be an actual real adult. So no teachers, lecturers or parents to help you. 

Why must university be so short?

The Year of "Blog"

Greetings all...

I have joined the very full world of blog.  I apologise. But having just finished a law degree at the University of Warwick and not being successful in finding a graduate job I have decided to put my extra time to good use. 

What makes this blog different then? 

Well I like to think that this would be a good place for young people, especially women and girls (evidently I am at the age where I do not know how to label myself, whether I am a girl or a woman- a rather Britney Spears related issue) to come and get some advice perhaps. Or just so that people can know that they are not alone in their struggles to get by in life!

So I will cover lots of things on here. The main purpose of it is to track the job hunt for what will hopefully be a year off until I can begin my training to be a solicitor. 

But whether you want to go into the law or not, this will definitely not be a targeted blog. So all welcome, Internet friends! 

But whilst that is thrilling I will also break that up with some beauty reviews and general culture and social comment. Sometimes I just get feelings that I need to vent. Think of this as online therapy for all areas of your life. 

So... Until the next time.