Proactive Y10s book an appointment BEFORE year 11 starts
Once you are eighteen, you can be done with education, if you choose. Getting a job isn't always easy, and you'll need that transferable skill of resilience to keep on applying. If you do get rejected, ask the employer why they didn't select you. It might be something really simple that you can fix for next time - you had spelling errors in your application, or maybe your eye contact wasn't great in the interview for example. Or it might be something you can do nothing about - such as the successful applicant had more experience than you. All feedback is helpful and you can use it to refine your application next time.
Jobs are advertised all over the place. The Guardian newspaper has a large jobs section, and recruitment companies such as Reed, Indeed, Monster, and others are good places to search too. Some sites you can upload your CV and potential employers can find you.
So, have a great CV and keep it up to date.
Some employers ask you to send in a CV when you apply, others want an application form. If you are sending your CV for a specific role, make sure you tailor it to fit what they are asking for.
If you need to fill in an application form, take a great deal of care to get the facts accurate and make sure your spelling and grammar are correct.
Setting aside your nerves is easier said than done, but learning to conquer job interview jitters is important if you want to give the impression of confidence. Try to relax and show your natural personality - the employer will get a much better feel of how you'll fit into their team if you do. Remember that to get to the interview stage, you have already impressed them above countless other applicants. They are looking for reasons to accept you now.
Enthusiasm and a positive attitude also go a long way and instantly make a more appealing candidate. Throughout the interview, evidence and reiterate your motivation for the role and the company. Employers like forward thinking candidates who can commit. Put yourself above the competition by talking about the future of the company and your role within it.
Another good tip is to observe the basics. It can be easy to underestimate the power of good manners, regular eye contact, a firm handshake or a smile. Be polite to everyone you come into contact with as you never know who might be on the selection panel.
Whatever you do, avoid these 5 common errors:
Don't rock up to an interview only having a sketchy idea of what the company does. Read up on the company's recent history, its competitors, the main members of staff. What challenges or successes has it been through? Where is it heading in the next few years?
Part of preparing for an interview includes making sure you know where to be and at what time. Check the parking or the public transport there, and leave more time than you think you need for the journey. You don't want to appear uncaring because you are late due to a traffic jam or being unable to find a parking space.
Read more about how to prepare for an interview.
Not all interviews require a suit and tie; creative industries are certainly more informal than the professions, for example. However, informal never means trainers and a hoody. It is better to dress too formally than too casually. Clothes should be clean, ironed, and sober. If you select the same outfit that you'd wear clubbing, then you need to think again.
Don't make the interview panel have to drag information our of you. Answer their questions fully, with examples backing up your skills, and a touch of humour if you can. When you are nervous, it's common to talk too much and too fast. So, when the interviewer asks you a question, before answering take a breath, collect your thoughts, and then speak slowly.
Even if you've been working for Satan himself, it's unprofessional to run other people down. If you are asked why you are leaving your current position, and the real reason is because you loathe your boss - don't tell them that. Talk about looking for new challenges, and turn the subject onto why you are excited to have a chance to work for this new company. If you can't avoid mentioning negative aspects of your old job, focus on how you dealt with the issues more than how horrible everyone was.
If you have prepared properly, you should have some questions about the company that you can ask. Sometimes though, the panel have told you everything. You should still ask a few questions however. Have a look at these seven great questions to ask at an interview.