Job Seeking: Tips from The Prince's Trust
The Prince’s Trust Job Squad holds web chats about careers, job hunting and entrepreneurship. The panel includes the entrepeneur Michelle Mone; Carolyn Currie, head of women in business at Royal Bank of Scotland Group; The Trust’s policy director, Ginny Lunn and Richard Price, a Prince's Trust Young Ambassador. Here are some of the questions the panel answered:
Robert asks:
Do you think that the job market has reached saturation with graduates? What would you suggest doing to make yourself stand out to potential employers?
Carolyn says:
If you want to stand out, look at all of the options available to you. Consider voluntary work and use everyone in your network. You can develop contacts through online networks – this can be really valuable.
Michelle adds:
Look at your experience and your appearance. Ask friends and family what stands out – emphasise the strengths and improve your weaknesses. You never get anywhere without working really hard – you can never cut corners.
Richard adds:
Just go for it – you get knock backs, but you can’t take it too personally. Keep pushing forward and focus where you need to get to.
Kristina asks:
I’ve moved to England recently and I've been looking for a job for about a month and I have nothing yet. I’m very disappointed. I have visited a lot of job agencies, Job Centre Plus every day (I send a lot of CVs and so on) but I have found nothing. I live in Bristol.
Richard says:
You have to treat finding a job as a job in itself. When I was searching for work I set myself the goal of sending out ten applications a day. Try not to get too emotional about rejection – you’re not going to get every job, but it really will work out.
Ginny adds:
It’s really tough out there at the moment – we hear stories like this every day. We have programmes running in Bristol, which could help you get back on your feet. Have a look in the south west section of our website.
Carolyn adds:
Follow up your applications with a phone call – don’t miss any opportunity.
Michelle adds:
Find out where you want to work and follow them on Twitter – get yourself in the right place at the right time.
Robert asks:
If you were just starting out now and trying to build yourself a career, what advice would you give yourself?
Carolyn says:
Follow your passions and be confident about what you want to do. If you’re really passionate you will always find a way to succeed.
Ginny adds:
Keep an open mind and gain as many experiences as you can.
Michelle adds:
It’s all down to how hard you work – the commitment you show to your business or employer. The harder you work, the luckier you become.
The Prince’s Trust run programmes to teach job seeking skills to young people. For further information see www.princes-trust.org.uk
