With the current economic crisis, unprecedented levels of unemployment, and the media feeding our fears, it is easy to become demoralized and disillusioned with the postgraduate job-hunting process. We see graduates losing their jobs as firms are going down and graduate schemes offer no guarantee of employment. I in fact never considered taking this route, and I would like to adumbrate the far more rewarding and interesting courses available.

When I graduated from Bristol University in the UK last summer I stayed in the city with a vague notion of social responsibility and a desire to instigate some form of positive change there. I wanted to get more involved in the city’s community and break out of the student bubble, rather than viewing it from afar. I started applying to jobs frantically — mostly public sector, mostly menial — for which I was either under or overqualified. My optimism quickly faded and I realized I had to do much more to strengthen my resume and credentials; I also wanted to be doing something meaningful with the time I had far too much of.  So I started looking into voluntary opportunities, still with little direction, and I ended up working for a youth organisation called Bread. Initially this move was much more for my own occupation but then they described the various qualifications and training they offered. I was quickly put on an NVQ course in community volunteering (CCV), which I carried out in a youth centre in Lawrence Weston. My experience there quickly became very rewarding and I realized that I had at last gained direction and qualifications that gave me an actual chance of getting a job.

I subsequently refined my job search criteria to youth work, or working with young people in some capacity. To supplement my experience I was also tutoring, volunteering at the Cube (Bristol’s best cinema) and generally being far more pro-active once relieved of the grip of student apathy. It didn’t take long to start getting responses — actual responses! — from my applications; there were rejections, though that was still a step up from hearing nothing. Soon enough I secured a few interviews and although I didn’t succeed in getting a job, I knew I was getting somewhere and I always had a glimmer of hope on the horizon to keep me going.

I don’t want to put you under any illusion that I didn’t have my fair share of utter despondency with the whole process but I constantly reassured myself that I was making the right moves towards employment.  Going to the job centre every two weeks for four months does little to distract you from depressing reflection, but I was doing what the government was encouraging us to do and by the point I had garnered all this experience I was far more qualified to do youth work than anything else (I had a very flimsy resume after graduating with a degree in Classics — not the most vocational course).

And then in January I got an interview with Rathbone. I thought it went well but having not heard from them by the expected date, hope took another hit. Then on a Saturday, whilst at a training day, I got the call and got the job, to my enourmous relief.  My job title is ‘detached youth engagement worker’, and I work  good hours with good pay, as well as being eligible for a wealth of training opportunities. I won’t go into detail of my job description — I basically work with the most excluded and marginalized youth in Easton and St Pauls, with the ultimate aim of reengaging them into training courses, apprenticeships etc. So after six months of plugging away my efforts paid off and on reflection I am very proud that I stuck to my guns and got a great job.

Obviously it is a case of each to their own and what appeals to me may well horrify another individual, but I just want to highlight the merits and benefits of volunteering. Whatever you want to go into there is a voluntary opportunity that will provide you with relevant skills and experience. I know this route is not for everyone but for the people who may miss out for ignorance’s sake, I implore you to consider an alternative post-graduation course. Getting involved in community is an immensely rewarding experience and organizations will recognize your motivation, commitment and input by rewarding you with skills, experience and brilliant credentials. The careers service at my old university says that 1.3 percent of graduates go on to voluntary/unpaid work.  This number should be far higher for the benefit of the university, the community and the individual.

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