Beating the system

We've all heard it: "You can't get a job if you don't have experience, but how do you get experience if no-one will give you a job?".  Doesn't seem fair, does it?

Some kids are lucky. They've got an uncle or brother or cousin who can pull a few strings for them. Once they're in, they can say they've got that magical stuff called "job experience" that every boss looks for.

Some kids are so smart. You know the type. They skip grades in school and all the colleges are begging for them. They're too busy being smart to be cool. They really make an impression on potential bosses, and they get hired.

Then there are the kids who find underhanded ways to make money. They don't want a real job. They usually look pretty cool driving around in big fancy cars flashing wads of money. They don't look so cool years later sitting in a jail cell.

And finally, there's the rest of us. We walk into one personnel office after another, filling out job applications. By the time you're finished, you've memorized your National Insurance number for life. They all say the same thing: "We'll let you know."

Only they don't. You never hear from them again.

There is a way to beat the system. It's a pretty ingenious solution, too! But you've got to want it. I wanted to be a careers advisor, but this will work for almost any job.

I was unemployed after a redundancy from my previous Logistics Manager's position and was looking for something new, something I could get my teeth in to, I'd always wanted to help and advise other people so I though ok it's time to go for it and get what I really want.

Job experience

But every where I tried to get work as a careers advisor they all wanted someone with experience, someone with reems of paper behind them.

So I came up with a plan, I visited several Training Providers and offered them a deal, one I thought they would jump at:

The Deal

I offered to work for FREE for a three month period just to prove that I could

1. Do the job
2. learn from other staff and
3. that I didn't need the reems of paper to prove what I could do.

I found one man willing to take me up on my deal.

It was BTCV Enterprises who where running a Government Training Programme aimed at long term unemployed people and helping them back in to work.

Just three weeks after joining and working for FREE I was offered a full time payed position because I had spent the previous three weeks proving that I could do the job, by not only working for free but getting results and actually helping people back in to employment.

You get that by being:

• A good worker who's willing and eager to learn and has a lot
  of enthusiasm for the job.

• Be willing to do more than you are being paid to do. Help
  others in higher positions with their job, and you'll learn how
  to do their job. This is a great way to boost your experience.

• A reliable employee who they can count on to be there every
  day and ON TIME.

• An employee who gets along with his co-workers.

• An honest employee who doesn't steal or lie to his employer.

• An employee who knows that the customers of the business are
  where your paycheck really comes from and making sure to treat
  them with respect and enthusiasm.

• And always try to leave a company on good terms, so that you
  can use them as a reference.

Treat the business as if it were your own, as if you hadshares in the company, and you'll get the job experience and job skills you want.  Potential employers can see that enthusiasm in you. They really can. So GO FOR IT, and good luck!

by Shaun Thomas
WoW Careers Services
© 2007

Need more help or advice? WoW Careers Services offers a range of CV and Career Coaching Services, click here for more info.

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