Youth Unemployment and Tips For Graduates

Here in the UK, we are still in recession and still experiencing rising unemployment (albeit at a much slower rate than earlier in the year). Like many major economies, the group facing the biggest challenge on finding work in the UK is the "Under 25's" with youth unemployment sitting at a worrying 20% (..more than double the figure for the total economy). 

So in recent months we've seen lots of political debate on what the best way forward is along with various marches and petitions from young people in an attempt to gain greater government support on turning around youth unemployment.

Helping young people build successful careers is a subject close to my heart and so I've kept a close eye on this area. But instead of signing petitions and joining marches,   I regularly offer myself as a guest speaker and workshop leader on a pro bono basis to help young people. 

I ran one such event last week and led a workshop for a group of undergraduates titled 'How To Find A Job In A Recession' where I shared the following 10 job search lessons for graduates and young people looking for work right now.

Lessons, which apply equally to graduates and other job searchers alike: 

1. Be flexible and open minded. The career you start in may well be different to your degree course. It may be inconvenient, but it's never the end of the world. You may just end up moving onto bigger and better things because of the recession

2. Don't try and plan too far ahead. You're part of a generation who will have multiple careers and multiple jobs in their lifetime. So don't blame the recession for knocking your 'career plan' off track - there is no plan. Roll with the punches and adapt as you go

3. Be average and have lots of goes. The more calls you make, the more applications you make, the more resumes you send, the more interviews you attend - the better you'll get at them and the faster you'll find a job. So focus on being prolific, not perfect  

4. Stop wasting time. If you spent less time on Facebook, less time watching reality TV and soaps, less time on instant messenger and less time on mindless internet searching......I bet you'd create a huge amount of time to reinvest into your job search. 

5. Focus on your contribution. Not what you can gain (fancy titles, salary, status) but what you can add 

6. Become a great team player. Stop competing and instead create a support group so that you and your peers can help each other find jobs. 

7. Be BOLD. Don't tell your parents I told you, but as a 22 year old you've very little to lose (and so much to gain) by taking the occasional risk. 

8. Remember that you're so very lucky. 80% of 20-24 year olds around the world would love to have the education, tools and opportunities available to you. So quit feeling sorry for yourself

9. Don't be a victim. You don't get jobs by complaining, whining, going on marches or signing petitions. You get jobs by working your ass off and following the other 9 points in this article. And in the process you build character which makes you much more employable

10. Remember: the toughest moments in your career will often sow the seeds of your future success. I graduated in the recession of the early 90s and struggled like hell to find work. After 9/11 I was a recruiter within London's financial district and had an awful time as the market collapsed. But it was these experiences along with my corporate experience that enables me to do what I do now. The tough times were just a training ground for the future - just didn't know at the time.

In my humble opinion, teenagers and twenty-somethings don't need hand outs from the government or some make-shift youth training programme to massage youth unemployement figures. Instead, what they need is some inspiration, some role models and some practical help and advice on how to navigate their job search in the current market - and indeed the new world of work. 

It's by becoming more proactive and making themselves much more employable that they will start gaining valuable experience and contributing to the economy and society. 

By Sital Ruparelia

Comments

[Laura Paris]

The article is amazing, The way you presented the article is very interesting. The site is excellent.

[Sital]

thanks laura

[Headhunters Philippines]

Thanks for you advices and tips. These will help me alot since im gonna graduate soon. New graduates assume of having a fancy title, good status and recieving a high salary. They ignore the fact that companies seeks people who can contribute to them alot. But i'm not saying that all of new grads are like what i've mention. Cause some are prolific. They don't take things as high as possible.