There's no shortage of doom and gloom about the job market. But journalism graduate Kim Walker explores how she has benefitted from taking time out to think about what she wants.
In 2010 I graduated with a first class honours degree in journalism. Since then I have had just a handful of temporary jobs lasting no longer than a couple months each. I have been on and off jobseekers support and have now been referred to the infamous work programme.
I was under no illusion when I graduated that I would step straight off the conveyer belt of education and into my dream job. But a mountain of rejected or ignored job applications later, it feels like a mighty struggle to keep any sort of motivation or self-confidence.
Sitting in the sun on a park bench watching the world rush by in a hectic haze can be a perk of joblessness for only so long. My frustration levels are at an all-time high given the lack of opportunities, including being priced out of any further education after hikes in fees.
Despite all of the above it would be grossly misleading of me to say no silver lining has been found in my present situation. Here is what I have taken from my experience.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
You know the question and you probably remember the schoolmates whose hands would shoot up in a split second to answer. Fast forward to 2010 and my hand was still firmly at my side. But the current job market has given me enough time to reflect. Time spent exploring my interests and volunteering on various projects has given me a better idea of where I want to be than if I had rushed into a job.
Volunteering: the pros and cons
From film-making to co-curating a museum exhibitions, I have done various unpaid projects over the past couple of years. These experiences have been invaluable in building up skills through experience; something employers value highly.
The importance of networking has never been more apparent. It may be a cliché but in this highly competitive job market, rightly or wrongly, sometimes it really does come down to who you know rather than what. For example, through my contacts at the museum I have been offered a paid temporary role managing the social media for a local arts festival.
More support from the government
I do feel the government needs to be doing more to help graduate jobseekers.
Volunteering, although invaluable, cannot be sustained indefinitely; contacts and skills do not put food on the table. As the third rejection from the local supermarket job comes through the door, I can't help but think a generation in danger of becoming eternal 'kidult's needs more backing and support to get things rolling again.
Everyone I know is moving on and I'm not
I am all too familiar with the pang of envy I feel when school friends update their Facebook status with their latest career achievement, job offer or travel plans. It can feel like you're the only one not getting anywhere. In the period May to July 2012, 1.02 million young people aged between 16 and 24 years old were unemployed. That's more than 12.5 times the capacity of the Olympic stadium.
I try to remember this when I feel as though I'm failing or the only one not making steps into employment. Things will change but for now I am using time to my advantage because who knows when I'll be the one rushing by someone sat on a park bench on a sunny day, wishing I had the chance to work out what I really want to do with my life.
Source: 27th September 2012, The Guardian, by Kim Walker
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