Ask an Expert: Applying for Your First Job
We’re starting a new series where we gather questions from students and parents/guardians on key topics and ask experts from the industry to answer them for you.
We wanted to kick things off with a topic that so many of our students have been voicing their concerns about - finding their first job.
With everything going on this year and the detrimental impact that restrictions have had on the hospitality sector in particular, we’ve seen a lot of students worrying about how they will secure their first job or a part-time job while studying.
Over the past week, we’ve gathered questions from some of our 16-18 year olds about CVs, applying for a job without experience and where to look for job vacancies.
Answering your questions today is Jordan McAdam, founder of JMC Career Coach, who has spent the past decade in both global and regional recruitment across the UK and Ireland. We’re very grateful to Jordan for taking the time to answer these questions for us - if you have any further questions that you’d like to follow up with, you can find her contact details at the end of this article.
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
1. How can I get around needing experience for jobs when I’ve never had a job before?
"This is always a difficult one.
However, the reason a business will want to see previous experience is to understand the skills and competencies you have. So, think about the things you have done, whether this is paid for work or not, and the skills that this might display.
For example, you may have taken part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and worked voluntarily as part of this. Duke of Edinburgh shows you are driven, resilient and a good team player. It can be a good idea to highlight the skills and competencies that your experience translates to."
2. Can I just leave out work experience on a CV if I don’t have any or should I still include the section and just leave it blank?
"You can leave this out. However, think about what could potentially be put in its place - for example: ‘achievements’. Have you been part of a sports team that has won a competition? Have you achieved highly in some of your studies? Have you done any extra-curricular activities in school?"
3. If I haven’t got my results yet but I’m currently doing A-levels can I put this down on a job application or can I only put down my GCSE results?
"You can include the A-levels, but state that results are pending."
4. I sell clothes and jewellery on Depop, can I put that down on my CV even though I don’t have an employer and it’s more of a hobby?
"Absolutely! It’s really important to put things like this on a CV, especially if you don’t have a lot of working experience yet. A CV is to tell an employer about you and to showcase your skills.
Think about what you do and the skills this has given you - for example: organisational skills, communicating with customers on a daily basis and ensuring they are happy, after-sales care, etc."
5. Who can I put down as a reference if I haven’t had a job before?
"You can usually include a professional like a teacher, for instance. Just ask the person before you include them as a referee."
6. I’m doing my A-levels and want to study politics at university. Is it better to try to find a part-time job related to politics now to get a head start on experience or should I just try to get any job I can and focus instead on trying to get a summer placement or unpaid experience related to politics instead?
"I would say unpaid/voluntary experience will allow you to be involved in more interesting projects. If you could get a paid job related to politics then of course that would be advantageous, but voluntary experience is always looked on positively on a CV."
7. My older brother got his first job by going into places around the town and asking for part-time work but with all of the current restrictions is it still worth trying that or it is acceptable to ring places up to ask if they need anyone?
"For local businesses, it would be acceptable to phone. When you do speak to someone, ask them for an email address to send them a copy of your CV should any opportunities come up."
8. Where can I find jobs that are local to me? All the jobs in my area when I look online need university degrees and experience and I don't know where people advertise jobs for students.
"There are lots of places where companies advertise. Most jobs will be advertised on one of the job boards, such as NIJobs, NIJobFinder or through the JobCentre Online .
However, businesses are now starting to use other avenues like social media. There are some groups on Facebook, for example, or you might be able to follow the business on Instagram. It also might be worth registering with a local recruitment agency as they might be able to keep you updated on any local jobs."
JMC Career Coach offers coaching in employability skills to help you feel confident and assured in taking the next steps towards your future! The services offered include:
- CV review and enhancement
- Specialist 1:1 interview coaching
- Mock interview and review
- Group sessions – CV writing, interview skills, how to interview virtually and confidence building.
Beginning your career following school or university can be difficult. It can feel like a whirlwind and with the world in a global pandemic, it can be hard to know where to start - but job hunting is a skill that can be learnt! It is a process, and I am here to support you through it. From job searching, CV writing, interview preparation and beyond, I want to help give you the skills and confidence to secure your future!
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