Graduates and Job searching in Scotland

In today’s world having a degree does not guarantee a job and therefore it is very important to have a strategy for finding the right graduate job. Where a degree is a vocational degree it is likely, of course, that a graduate will have a clear direction in terms of their degree, however where a degree is business related or the Arts or Social Sciences or even Mathematics and Sciences then graduates may be looking for specific graduate roles or programmes.
Many graduates wait until after their exams before even thinking about applying for roles, however in today’s world that can mean ‘if you’re not fast you’re last!’ and those that get off the starting block early get the traditional established graduate programmes. The university Milk Round is a good starting point for these roles and some of these employers are looking for graduates that they believe are focused and organised enough to be studying for exams as well as filling in application forms and attending interviews, as it is this level of organisation and flexibility they are looking for in potential managers within their company..
Where you are using other methods to locate a job, it’s important that you have a plan to follow as finding a job is a full time job!
1. Make a list of companies you would like to work for and go on each individual website and find out if they have a graduate programme and apply from there
2. For public sector jobs, individual council or civil service websites and websites such as Scottish Jobs on the Web are some of the best ways of locating public sector programmes
3. If there are particular companies you want to work for and they don’t have a graduate programme, it is worth sending a speculative CV and covering letter and then following up with a phone call to try to get at least a meeting.
4. Where you have had a work placement whilst at university / college, assuming you have done a good job generally means that you will have some sort of advantage in that they know you and trust you, even if you have to go through the official recruitment programme.
For Graduate programmes its worth remembering that for many there is the implication that graduates will be ambitious and therefore will be willing to move for promotion and this is likely to include London as most companies will have their head office in London and graduates should decide if this is in their short to medium term plans before going down this road.
For most employers, experience is a key attribute which makes it more difficult for graduates to go straight into a mainstream job. However Scottish Enterprise run a scheme whereby graduates may be able to get paid experience in established companies on short term projects. Whilst obviously a permanent opportunity is the ideal, this is a way of gaining experience, ‘trying’ different roles and also determining whether you may want to work for a particular company if the opportunity arises and endearing yourself if it does!
It may seem obvious, but experience of any sort is better than no experience to most employers. Some graduates concentrate totally on their studies whilst at University and don’t take the opportunity to get a weekend or summer job, this is a big mistake as traditionally graduate programmes have a high dropout rate in the first year; and whilst the current economy may make that less of a problem, the fact is that employers are more comfortable when a graduate has a track record of having maintained a job whilst at university than not. Having had a job throughout university indicates that the graduate understands the work place and the difference between studying and working.
So no longer is it enough to have a degree to get a job, graduates now need a focused strategy in terms of job hunting just like everyone else, if not even more so as they are not going with experience and when jobs are scarce employers are generally go for someone they know do the job immediately.

Lesley Malcolm, Director, Clearwater Brookes Ltd, 0141 582 1474
Clearwater Brookes are a Human Resources and Training and Development organisation that specialises in management development, leadership, employee development and executive coaching

Office Party Time ..Again!

Well it is nearly upon us the time to eat, drink and be merry with your work colleagues and superiors at the office bash. The aim is to have a jolly good time but not rock the applecart and potentially destroy your standing within the company. So here at Scottishjobsonthe.net we have came up with several key things to keep in mind which won’t stop you from having fun but will stop the demon drink causing you deep regret:
Don’t Do’s
Dress up like you are off to a rave!
As it is a ‘social ‘occasion it seems an obvious choice to dress up as if you are on a night out with your friends. To be honest avoid dressing up as if it was a Saturday night at a club or local pub ,as this bash is still a work event so treat it with that respect. The work night out has people of all levels of seniority present so remember that dress code should be checked beforehand. Smart casual a safe bet.
Drink like a Fish
Despite it being the season to be merry, don’t take this too literally on the night .Free drink leads to an attitude of a free spirit and this can lead to a loose tongue!
You may be a seasoned entertainer and be comfortable with your work mates but on this night of all a different type of pressure and atmosphere can occur .Have a dance have a laugh but at all costs avoid being offensive or behaving inappropriately as this could ,at best make you the main topic of gossip in the office. At worst it could lead to discipline
Become romantic with a colleagueWe all have feelings towards people but xmas and drink can make these feelings grow and if you are single and have thoughts of getting it on .Stop and beware. Any advances towards your
This is a tricky one. For singles, the office party may seem like the perfect opportunity to express your heart felt attraction to another...brakes on here! Perhaps best to wait till out of work time to express your feelings of love or similar!
Do's
Attend the PartyFor many the office party is their type of purgatory and is the last thing they want to attend. Non participation will be noted by your colleagues but also more importantly management will have noticed your no show. Our advice is bite the bullet and go. This is an opportunity to meet your managers on a more informal note and can be an excellent chance to make a good impression on them and lets them get to know you as well as you getting to know them. It is a good time to tell them how much you love the job and the company .Gold star on report card should be in the post thereafter.Chance to network you may feel you know your work colleagues and managers but here is a perfect opportunity to extend the real hand of friendship by chatting and sharing a joke.
This bonding and networking can allow acquaintances to become firm friends and additionally cement your place at work as one of the good guys.
In summary whatever you decide to do enjoy yourself and remember make it a night to remember for the right reasons!