h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: How to get a job after university - A2862975
Author: Big Al - U222665

Hi folks, this is a piece that was submitted a good while ago and has now been amended as per suggested. Any comments or suggestions are always welcomed.

Hi again Big Al

I think a combimation of humour and facts works well in most Entries, but I think yours could do with being a bit more factual, and a few more practical suggestions.

Here's couple of links you might consider using in it

http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/cms.asp?Page=/Home

http://www.soon.org.uk/cvpage.htm

Another suggestion would be mentioning doing voluntary work, that would show future employers willingness to work, rather than just sitting around. (Though if your 'signing on', it's a pain to have to fill in forms for job centre for every hour of voluntary work. )

Emmily

Hey this is good, the humour is essential and not excessive.

Put in some headers and subheaders. Even in a short piece they add colour and a certain 3D sense.

Might be worth mentioning that taking time out after university and doing voluntary work in....far off places like Tansania, always looks good, as does Millenium Volunteers (not sure if that's suitable for after uni).

Perhaps it would be good to list a few useful answers to some of those questions you ALWAYS get asked on application forms? Such as "What Do You Think You Can Bring To...(insert company name)?" and "What Qualities Can You Bring To A Team?"...that's just a thought though and not essential. Many people I know have fallen down just because they get discouraged by application forms with questions where they aren't sure of the WAY to answer them, they have the qualifications etc etc but fall over just having to talk about teamwork.

Oh and doing a first aid course is always a good start too.

Kats

I totally agree about the suggested guidelines for answering application questions. They can be very tricky and switching into the language of buzz words and team building takes a bit of getting used to (as well as being soul destroying! )

It might also be worth adding a link to the very thorough entry on Interview techniques A438536

rik

That serious entry (Interview Techinques A438536) covers plenty that this entry can therefore ignore; if this one interests people and links them to that other entry it will do good service.

Don't try and cover everything, it will get too heavy.

Thanks folks, now all i need is some spare time to amend this, (and to learn GuideML!)

Any more suggestions, just keep em coming!

Ok, you said it Al

Great idea of Kat's, the first aid course, I tried to find a suitable web page, not very successful most I looked at were about first aid in the work place, and 'in work' first aid training, rather than info. on first aid course, like this one

http://www.safety.ed.ac.uk/resources/occ_health/first_aid_at_work.html

Not really what I was looking for, which was one that you could maybe add the link in a brief paragraph about the advantages and benefits of a first aid course on CV or application form.

Something else, I've recently had two application forms that asked for skills and abilities in specified areas. I used PC, Word to copy the questions and answer them, more detailed than just ticking a box.

Emmily

Oh and temping is a good idea when you first get out of university so that you aren't sitting panicking about the fact you aren't getting a 'proper' job straight away.

Er there's a thingy about it on the Guardian website somewhere hang on

http://education.guardian.co.uk/students/work/story/0,12734,991706,00.html

And something Emmily just reminded me of, brush up on using Miscrosoft Office Applications. It's an essential thing for many jobs now, and university leavers are often expected to be able to use Office to a good degree. If anything's a bit shaky (like my excel skills for example) then there are a lot of cheap books around.

This is making me ponder about writing an entry just on doing CVs now

And sorry I extended the frame slightly

No problem, thanks guys. Is there so way I can mention you both in the piece as contributors?

Oooh

What you do is...

you take our Unumbers, and go to the edit page screen. At the bottom is a box called "Researchers" or something. You put our numbers in there and we'll come up as having helped you write it.

Bear in mind though that the names come up in the order of how long we have been around on H2G2, so if you want max credit then don't put us in

No worries Al I'm offering advice because I think your Entry, with some work done on it, will be a good addition to the Edited Guide and I want to help you get it there.

But, if you want to offer me some I won't say no to that.

Emmily

simu-post

You're not going to fight me for the then Kat

Emmily

Oh WELL!!! If there's chocolate in the stakes!!!



Oh wait I've got a bust leg...I'll never catch you *sigh*

Are thoughts being marshalled and paragraphs being constructed for this at all?

Kats

I'm staying linked to this to read it later. Being in the same position.

Not sure if this is the right place to ask about this, but I'd like to have a stab at writing up this article, having found it in the Flea Market. I had not a little experience of finding jobs myself after university, and the article as a good core to build on.

Go for it! (Says he, not knowing the procedure)

Yes you should post here Domitella and on the researchers page under the thread 'This entry has been submitted to the fleamarket'. Then start a new entry by clicking on contribute and add this researchers name to your entry. If you need more guidance just shout.