On The Spot - December 2008
Welcome to this month’s edition of “On the Spot”
SPOTlight on: December
Christmas cheer and all manner of winter carousing are just around the corner: we hope this is a happy period for all our Domino clients, but let’s face it, the festive season is not always one of unalloyed joy.
Cooped up with your family for days on end, you may find that the merriment wears thin – particularly if well meaning relatives start questioning why you don’t have a “proper” job yet or whether you have applied for any high flying courses or graduate schemes. Even worse, they may compare you to siblings, cousins and even the offspring of distant acquaintances who have all, by this stage, landed prestigious academic or professional niches.
The upside to all this enforced fraternisation is that it gives you the chance to practise the noble art of networking with very little effort.
Networking, for those unfamiliar with the term, is acquiring and wooing connections who may be able to aid and abet your career ambitions. The social whirl that is December affords unrivalled opportunities for developing this skill. When, in a spirit of bonhomie, an aunt, neighbour or family friend enquires after your welfare and your long term aims, don’t be backward in coming forward. Give them the lowdown on what you are looking for: they may know just the person who can give you advice, a placement or even (and this is the crock of gold that every networker seeks) a job. Scoff not! If the chap across the road isn’t able to offer you direct assistance, it’s likely that he knows someone who can. Ditto your ex flatmate’s brother’s former girlfriend whom you’ve just met at some seasonal revels. Unless you ask, you’ll never know if they can help.
Networking is not necessarily about the first lead that you follow up – it may be three or four contacts down the line before you hit pay dirt. The fact is that seasonal shindigs can double your chances of success: people are so much more amenable – when they are… er…. relaxed.
Don’t forget too, that now is the time of year for getting in touch with old pals, whether by the wonders of electronic communication or through Her Majesty’s mails. Use this to your advantage: follow your grovelling apology for dropping out of sight with news of your career plans and ask, artlessly, if they know of anyone who can help. The law of averages alone means that you are bound to get a few positive responses.
Have a great time – and party purposefully.
Networking: The Sequel?
Yes, at the risk of becoming boring, Networking, Part 2. This is fast emerging as December’s hot topic, but it is a known and proven way of getting a foot in the door. Neglect it at your peril. Apart from the activities mentioned above, actual professional (as opposed to social) networking sites are beginning to spring up in the US and Europe, so it can’t be long before they arrive in these islands.
The two most well established international sites are aimed at business, finance and legal graduates:
They allow professionals/trainees/job seekers world-wide to network with each other about work-related issues. Obviously, use with care and a proper amount of caution, but both sites seem well run and both offer various levels of interaction, the most basic of which is free.
Far be it from Domino to suggest that you interact only with your computer when you could be getting out there and meeting people, but this is a useful supplement to more sociable activities.
This Month’s Nugget Of Information
Knowing that some of you may have inadvertently missed the Radio 4 Today programme broadcast at the end of October which looked at graduate careers, I’ll summarise the content forthwith. The consensus was that many university leavers may be forsaking the private sector for jobs which they see as “safe”. In this case, the term seems to cover public sector agencies which may offer lower pay, but greater security and less likelihood of redundancy. Does this mean there will be less competition for corporate opportunities? Unlikely, as those were often collared by people who were not risk averse anyway. Impact on the public sector is less easy to assess: certain programmes such as the NHS Graduate Scheme and the Civil Service Fast Stream have traditionally been over subscribed. Applications may now be swelled, although possibly by those who are hedging their bets, rather than hell bent on fleeing the City. Which way they will jump if offered both options is anybody’s guess.
It’s more probable that SMEs (small to medium sized enterprises) and junior level public sector jobs may feel the benefit of this trend. Watch this space.
Ho ho ho: Your essential seasonal wish list
Of course any self-respecting and serious job hunter has certain needs and you might like to reflect these when writing your letter to Santa:
ú Interview outfit: Something dark and sober may not be entirely to your taste, but at interview you need to dress smartly and conservatively, so that you look like you fit into the organisation – that will give you rather more latitude if you are going for something like advertising, media or fashion. Remember the value of polished shoes and other details to show that you appreciate the importance of the occasion. It will come in handy when you land the job too (as you surely will) and you can keep the red ra ra skirt for clubbing.
ú Briefcase or bag: this is to hold any papers, copies of your CV, diary etc – a carrier bag, even an eco friendly version - would never be an acceptable substitute.
ú Computer: if you don’t have one, it’s now virtually essential for producing a targeted CV and covering letter for each application and also for searching vacancies and finding out about employers and employment sectors on the web. As many electronics retailers are falling over themselves to give discounts, your (more affluent) loved ones will surely find a model that suits both their pocket and your Christmas stocking
ú Domino Careers gift voucher: if your nearest and dearest really want to help you, but they are non-technical or you don’t trust their taste, just ask for a gift voucher and use it on interview preparation or help with your CV – or any of the myriad other ways that we can go on supporting you in 2009
Domino Careers wishes you a very happy Christmas and success in the New Year!
Dear Aggie: our agony aunt has the answers.
Zodiac Sign of the month - Sagittarius
Gregarious, outgoing and always up for a challenge, we Sagittarians (for your correspondent, too, was born under the sign of the Archer) are traditionally supposed to be the luckiest folk in the Zodiac. But like all bowmen, it’s important to ensure that your aim is true.
I’ve mailed out nearly 50 CVs and letters, some for advertised vacancies, others on spec. So far, I’ve heard nothing and I’m beginning to think I’m wasting my time. How many CVs do people send on average before getting an interview?
It’s a sad fact of life that recruiters no longer have the time or the money to respond to every applicant. Many ask you to assume that, if you haven’t heard after three weeks, the reply is “Thanks, but no thanks.” As for speculative letters, some employers do keep them in well organised and easily accessible systems, others leave them at the bottom of their in-tray and yet more place them in the circular file a.k.a. the waste paper bin. Nonetheless, it is still worth using both methods of application, providing you bear in mind that we are talking Quality rather than Quantity here.
One nicely judged, well targeted CV, customised to the needs of the individual employer and accompanied by a personalised letter showing research and insight, is worth 50 mass mailings. Recruiters can spot a standard CV and letter / email at a thousand paces and are unlikely to be impressed, particularly if the documents are clichéd, tired or downright uninspiring.
The number of CVs that should be launched on an unsuspecting world will fluctuate according to the sector and your own background, but remember that one size never does fit all and nowhere is this more true than when job hunting.
Let Domino know if you need further help in making more focused applications and go for the bulls-eye!