Forum - Graduate Jobs

The jobs market has always been tough, Gadair, but it's especially savage at the moment. Even people with many professional achievements and years of experience can struggle to find a job. It really is a buyer's market.

Employers need to be confident people they take on can deliver, especially at the moment, which is why there's no substitute for experience. Someone's ability to learn new ideas and pass exams at university doesn't mean they'll succeed in a given job or profession.

I've worked in publishing for more than 15 years, yet it took me more than a year to get my first paid job, which, incidentally, was very poorly paid. While at university, much of my free time was spent writing for local magazines, probably four or five pieces a month. The most I ever got out of it was free entry to gigs. However, on graduating I had a fairly impressive cuttings portfolio.

It still wasn't enough to get a job (can't even remember getting any job interviews), so I did a post-graduate training course with my local university, which included a three-month industry placement. This at least gave me more experience and the chance to evidence my ability at job interviews. Pretty soon, I got my break.

While, in principle, I'm against people having to work for free (it's wide open to abuse by unscrupulous employers, affects quality and can leave talented professionals struggling to earn a living), sometimes it's the only way graduates can get a break, especially in the media.

I'd also recommend seeking professional careers advice, Gadair, and taking another job (if possible) in the meantime (it's easier to find work when you're in work, I firmly believe that). Like any truly worthwhile thing in life, getting a break in your chosen profession takes hard work, self-belief, optimism, commitment, desire and more than a fair measure of luck...