After some perfectly adequate and relevant information delivery - the advisor said "and as you can see from the most recent unemployment statistics, there are over 1 million people out of work. It is hard to get a job."
What's the problem with that statement you ask? Valid question I suppose. After all, November ONS figures highlight that UK unemployment rose by 129,000 in the three months to September to 2.62 million, as youth unemployment rose above a million. As the BBC reported, the jobless total for 16 to 24-year-olds hit a record of 1.02 million in the quarter and female unemployment was at its highest for 23 years. The the jobless rate hit 8.3%.
While the facts speak for themselves, what made my heart sink was the fact that this information was presented as a foregone conclusion to the students in the room. The context of that statement was that it was presented in isolation. No following words of encouragement about why its therefore exceptionally important to focus on developing yourself etc. None. This approach unsettled me.
Yes these statistics are a verified reflection of the current climate - but they are not an indication of anyone's fate and should certainly not be seen by students as a reason or excuse for not achieving their own career potential.
I don't mean to suggest that getting a job is easy. It isn't. I appreciate that the job market is the toughest it has been for a generation. I know graduates who are having a hard time finding work and very qualified professionals who have been made redundant BUT this should not be the focus for any job seekers. There are jobs available in this market. You can take significant steps towards achieving your career goals. You can even start your own businesses if you have a passion you want to explore in a niche you think you can improve. Why should the overarching message from a careers expert be about how difficult things are... instead of a clear call to action for students to have faith in their abilities, work hard and realise that what is important these days is to embrace and highlight your assets. What can YOU bring to an organisation. Why should you be hired?
Far from being an empty rant (can you tell how disheartened I was about the approach described above?!) - I thought it useful to fill in the gaps a bit with some more subtance, in the form of some of the thoughts I would leave with a room of 16 year olds:
Top 5 Career Development Tips for Students
- Remember that you are not a statistic - Since your pre-teen years, you have been aware of global economic challenges. It's a tough climate out there but this is NOT an excuse for you not to really work hard and endeavour to create opportunities for yourself.
- Make the most of your time in school / college / university- Educational institutions are a fantastic opportunity for discovering your areas of interest and gaining some experience before you enter the 'real' world. Start a student blog, get involved in team sports, write for the student paper, take up a mentoring role for younger students,learn a marshall art, join the students council / get involved with youth politics, participate in a play - and more. If at university, get involved with organising a society. These experiences will all add to your transferable skills and increase your confidence
- Gain some work experience - Yes, your primary aim at school / college / university is to get a good education, so don't lose that focus. However, in this competitive climate, it is especially important to build your experience. Find yourself a part time job or a volunteering opportunity. Businesses are increasingly realising the benefits of youth input - so either look into organisations involved in your areas of interest (e.g childrens charities or environmental organisations) or seek a source that can link you to available volunteering. In Hackney for example, students can go to Young Hackney Volunteers to find out more about what opportunities they have available for proactive students
- Start with the end in mind - While all interviews are different depending on what role you are going for, there are standard interview questions including "What is your greatest strength", "Are you a team player", "What is your experience in this field", "Explain how you would be an asset to this organisation", "Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a challenge and overcame it... and how", "Tell me about your ability to work under pressure" etc. Search for interview questions and review them... even a year before you may be considering applying for a job / a role. By familiarising yourself with what employers tend to ask, you can start building your experience and appreciating your current experiences - with these questions / your answers in mind. If you find there are areas you have no answer for... you know where you need to focus your energies!
- Network - Even in this climate, job websites are loaded with opportunities that you can compete for. You'll be placing yourself in an even better position however if you get into the habit of networking. Often, employers may have people in mind for opportunities - and if you have gone out of your way to meet people and have made a good impression, sometimes, you will find that opportunities come to you. In my case, after I was offered an opportunity to compete for a contract position after my Masters degree - and this was due to the fact that I had impressed, and made some good contacts the summer before when I did an internship. Likewise, I know a current student who networked effectively at a careers event, and was offered an incredible international opportunity which will greatly increase her experience and look incredible on her CV.
