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

Congratulations on getting a 2:1 I hope you aren't having as much difficulty as me finding a job.

Best Wishes opti

I've had no luck getting a job so far.

Done a great number of applications, no interviews, a few negative responses and a lot of no responses.

My problem is that all jobs i'm after ask for 2 years experience, unfortuantely i cannot get those 2 years experience, because all the jobs where i would get the experience, require experience to get.


What kind of jobs are you after Opti?

Sounds familiar

You have come across what I have ... my thoughts exactly... anyone would think we Graduates have come from the planet Zog and just because we have no experience means we are incompetent of doing the job! When really we are all bright intellects that ought to be given exactly or as close to what we desire right?

I would like to break into the media, but I've found that office jobs are one route in again one that is difficult without 'experience'. However, a job in sales with books would be

Yeah i've been tempted by the 2nd hand bookshop a few times, maybe because i've watched Black Books to many times.

Have you found any good job websites

i've found these are good:

http://www.clickajob.co.uk/

http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk

http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/

not sure if this is in your field:

http://www.designjobs.co.uk

I think the way we are going we ought to set up a space on here dedicated to helping each other and other grads finding a job Perhaps others on the site could put their thoughts in too like what worked for them.

Anyway I have linked myself up to several recruitment agencies like
www.championrecruitment.co.uk
www.office-angels.co.uk
and www.reed.co.uk

But they also desire work experience so my guess is to direct the actual company you are interested in working for and plumb them for tips as to how they got in and maybe shadow someone there

I have also tried looking at local and not so local newspapers e.g.
www.guardian.co.uk

and also tried jobs.fish4.co.uk

I hope I am being some kind of help to you

from opti

Maybe we should set up some kind of job seekers forum or something.

I'll give those links a try

I can't promise they'll be much good

The www.reed.co.uk seems quite good

Yes I've found several things on there

The clickajob.co.uk site is quite good since it searches a number of other job sites to get its results.

I have problems trying to access the click on menus on the job centre plus website. So have no luck trying to find jobs there. But the click a job does look interesting although it looks like some posts are still open when they are actually now closed. Also do you think that the knowledge that you may have to work with an ex if you go for a job vacancy should put you off? cos I think mine is working for a great publishing company which has a vacancy and him being there is putting me off going for it. My i'm depressed not having a job and those closest to me are far away.

http://www.thebookseller.com/index.cfm?pid=10&did=54

i've just found this

Woah cool site

I try

Is there any particular part of media, you are trying to get into Opti?

Or whats your dream job?

All my family say is that i'd make a good news reporter or radio presenter. And I'd enjoy either. My sister keeps finding jobs like these in the country at the mo that I have no way of getting too seeing as I don't drive and i don't think public transport would be ideal for it.

I have heard that to get into the media its a good way to get in by office experience. But getting that you need experience which is hard to get. Or media sales which i'm not so sure about.

My forte and passion is for writing though so any job with writing would be fantastic.

Furthermore, I have a passion for working for others and so to combine writing and caring for others would be fantastic. Also I love holidays abroad.

Sorry I can't be more specific

I've noticed you have done a few guide entries, it may be worth putting that you've got stuff you've written on a BBC run website on your CV. It'd probably look good, i've just started doing some of the H2G2 community artist stuff and i'm going to that on my CV.

Also with i imagine with media that you best bet for work, would be getting a job with some obscure local newspaper or trade magazine or local TV station. It wouldn't be exciting or glamorous but it'd be the first step on the ladder.

thanks for your advice

Yes it is possible to do work experience with the BBC for local radio, tv etc so I may attempt that

Secondly what does being an H2g2 community artist involve? Is it developing pictures to put on the site? I bet thats difficult

Community artists basically do all those pictures that accompany alot of the edited guide entries. I've only just started so i haven't got any of my work up yet

Well good luck with it I am gathering that your computer skills more than ace mine