I graduated with an English degree in 2006 and then went on to earn an MA in Journalism in 2008. Over 3 years later and I am STILL trying to begin the wonderful career I'd had planned for myself.
Having impressed on a work experience placement during my MA, I was offered freelance work at a local radio station. I really enjoyed that and learnt so much, my editor was my mentor and I really felt like I could be going somewhere. So much so I split with my boyfriend who lived in Yorkshire because I felt our lives were going in different directions.
Sadly, at exactly the same time as I was celebrating passing my course, the recession hit and the company I worked for were selling stations and making cutbacks: freelance reporters were one of the first things to go. I was devastated but tried to view it as an opportunity to experience pastures new.
I moved to Yorkshire to live with my boyfriend and scope out what prospective career options there might be there. Temp job after temp job followed, amidst a flurry of job applications (I got to the stage where if I wasn't writing at least one a day I was angry with myself) and the odd interview.
First, there was a marketing post which I was told I didn't get because I was too ambitious, they didn't feel the job would provide me with the challenges I was hoping for. Employers: if I'm applying for your vacancy it is because I want that job and I will do my very best in that job, please don't patronise me by telling me I'm overqualified.
Secondly, there was a wonderful PR job at a local college. I thoroughly enjoyed that interview and could honestly picture myself working there for a long time. The interviewee rang me that night from her home phone because she didn't want me to have to wait for an answer: she told me she was really sorry, they had thought my interview was the best... but the job had been given to someone who knew the college. I totally understand the position they were in, but where are we supposed to get experience if no-one is willing to give it to us?
Thirdly, there was the interview for a press officer: my dream job. I was so proud to have got this interview, but I was very lucky to have been recommended for it through the place I was doing work experience for. I failed this interview too... and later found out the job was given to a friend of the current Press Office manager. It realy is who you know and not necessarily what you know.
On that note I have been doing my best to build up my contacts. I recently quit my permanent job as a restaurant supervisor (the epitome of graduates falling back on their part time jobs as a career and being paid vastly less than was predicted for them when they first applied for uni) to 'get myself out there'.
I am currently doing what work I can for the aforementioned press office, whilst wiritng articles for a local magazine, contributing to my own blog in the hope that that will be a tangible example of what I can do for future employers. And applying for everything and anything that is available.
Everywhere I turn people are saying, 'Amy, you're a really ambitious, hard working young lady - something will turn up'. I'd like to know when!
I genuinely feel that our generation has been let down by the government: Tony Blair said 'Education, Education, Education', so we all went of to Uni with dreams of that being the first step to long and successful careers. I never expected to walk straight into a job, I am aware of how much hard work is needed to stand out from the crowd and be a success nowadays. But I never expected to be left stranded by the govrnement like this.
The recession was bad timing for me, my peers and my younger sister too, but how are we expected to ever recover from it without help? Are we just set to be the lost generation? Does David Cameron think to himself, 'well there's not much I can do about them now, let's move on and help those that are in school now'? I don't want my life to be a waste.
What I'd really like to see is more schemes like the Graduate Teacher Training Programme: where people our age and older are given the chance to change careers and move into something constructive. Not only are you given the opportunity to prove yourself in an actual job - but you are even paid for it (Tesco's take note). Is there no chance the government could back this in a wider range of careers? Companies want to employ us, the press office I work for have said they would certainly take me on full time if they could afford it? Why can't the government do something about this? Pay something towards our salary, rather than paying out job seekers allowance to millions of people who don't even want to be signing up to take it.
I've started up a blog to try and pull together everything I've learnt and pass it on to others: http://theadventuresofajobseeker.blogspot.com
