03/12/2010

Recruitment Sites: The Fast Track to Employment

Are you a recent graduate looking for employment but intimidated by the job market? Perhaps you’re worried that your chances of landing that dream job are slim because of the economic situation? While there is no denying the fact that the situation is less than ideal, all is not lost. There are plenty of jobs out there for the taking and you may just need to re-evaluate what you are willing to do. Part-time vacancies could be the best option for the time being, and while they may not be the perfect start to your career they will give you an income, boost your resume and alleviate some stress while you continue to look for a more long-term position. Recruitment sites will give you every opportunity to find the job you want.

While the recession has undoubtedly rendered employment prospects bleaker, we are lucky to live in a technological age. Gone are the days of having to thumb through endless newspapers’ job sections, hoping to catch a glimpse of any job that matches our qualifications or interests. Instead, we can simply turn our computers on, visit a job recruitment website and browse tens of thousands of available positions. If nothing else, this gives us a confidence boost because it shows us very plainly that there are numerous positions available in any given sector all across the country.

Best of all, the sites are easy to navigate, allowing the jobseeker the opportunity to filter their search by job sector, location, desired salary or most recently posted openings. Some recruitment sites also offer a salary calculator to make it as easy as possible to determine if any given position will cover monthly outgoings.

For today’s job seekers, too, some good news has arrived: the Office for National Statistics has announced that 2.45 million people in the UK are currently unemployed, marking a decrease from 7.8 per cent to 7.7 per cent in England, while Northern Ireland’s unemployment rate dropped from 7.1 per cent to a flat seven per cent, and Wales saw a notable decrease from 9.1 per cent to 8.2 per cent. Of course, the decline isn’t as drastic as we would perhaps like, but at least we can rest assured that unemployment rates are going down rather than up, meaning that the chances of securing work are increasing by the day.

Further, despite the dismay around government’s recent spending review and budget cuts, it is important to remember that - while immediate employment prospects in the public sector look bleak - there are hopes that, in time, more positions will become available in both the public and private sectors; particularly now that the economy has started to improve.

Unfortunately, this process will not happen overnight, and in the meantime the unemployed must make a concerted effort to improve their own prospects. Taking part time work is one option worth exploring, but if for whatever reason this is not possible, there is no reason to give up hope and stay at home.

Instead, be aware that many companies offer internships. This method provides benefits for both employee and employer: the company is able to acquire an extra pair of hands without the burden of a contracted employee, while the worker is able to add more experience to their CV and an extra reference to take to future employers. Some internship schemes are paid so you can earn some money over the period but others are unpaid. While this may seem unappealing, it is important to look at the bigger picture. If work is not available to you then taking an unpaid internship will not put you in a worse position, but will give you experience and references that will most definitely be of help when you continue your job search for a more permanent position in the future.

The virtues of internships cannot be overstated. With so many people applying for any given position, it is imperative to stand out from the crowd. One of the key qualities employers look for is a willingness to work, they want to know you will be a permanent asset to their company rather than a temporary employee there for a wage. Nothing shows commitment more than working for nothing, and turning up to an interview and being able to say you voluntarily worked in the industry for no money displays commitment, strength of character and a true love for the work. In short, an internship will be an indispensable asset when you try to get that job of your dreams.

Another possibility for graduates is to enter an industry that has lots of openings. A recent survey by Hays Contact Centres and the Top 50 Call Centres for Customer Service Initiative revealed that 35 per cent of call centre workers have degrees. While the starting salaries range between £12,000 and £18,000, the graduates in this sector either hold aspirations to move up the seniority ladder to forge a career out of call centre work or they view it as a stop-gap; a way of earning money while they wait for the job market to improve enough for them to move onto something they consider more promising.

Whatever route you decide to go down, whether it be a call centre, an internship or part time work, bear in mind that no matter how bad the situation seems there is always an avenue to be explored that will provide a glimmer of hope. One of the best options is to try online recruitment as it allows you to view every sector in every location and to apply for multiple jobs in a very short period of time. So much so that in one morning you can apply for scores of jobs, which will give a massive boost to your chances of success in securing a job.

Don’t despair; there are opportunities out there, you just need to be proactive and find them.