Ways into work
Tuesday 5 August 2008
If you're about to head into the world of work, it can be difficult to know where to start, especially if you're not quite sure what kind of career you're after yet.
If you're stuck for ideas on making that first step into employment, here are a few ways you can get started.
The only way is up
It's unlikely that you'll land your dream job as soon as you leave education, but that doesn't mean you have to leave your ambition behind. Take a look at companies who work in the sector you're interested in and see if there's an entry-level job you can do for them.
An entry-level job means that you'll be bottom of the heap for a while, but there's usually plenty of room to grow and in some companies, moving up through the ranks can be a pretty quick process. The firm's HR department will deal with all recruitment so call them or check their web site and see what's available for your age, experience and ambitions.
Make it on your own
Maybe you fancy starting up your own business. There are lots of schemes around to help you get your idea off the ground if you fancy being your own boss. Talk to a Connexions adviser about how you can start up on your own.
Free for all
In some industries, the best way to get on the career ladder is to do a placement or work experience. A placement like this usually means that you'll be working for either nothing or a very small wage. Most companies will give people on placements their travel expenses back, but you should check before you accept any position.
While it may seem like slave labour, it's a fantastic way of gaining experience and meeting contacts who could be really useful to you in the future. They can last anything from a couple of weeks to a few months and it can be one of the best ways of getting the inside line on your chosen industry.
Newspapers and web sites sometimes have details of available placements, but there's no reason why you can't contact any organisations you're interested in and seeing if they fancy taking you on.
Competition can be fierce, so you may get a few knockbacks at first; just keep trying and you're bound to find the placement you're after.
First contract
Freelancing or contract work can be harder to come by unless you've got lots of experience, but if you have a particular talent, it may be worth signing up with agencies which specialise in freelance work.
Freelancing means you could be working at home or in a company's office; it depends on what you're doing and who you're working for. Pay can vary, but you'll usually have to sort things like tax out yourself. HM Revenue and Customs should be able to help you with any questions
Tempted by temping
One way of getting work- and cash- quickly is to do some temping. Temp agencies have all kinds of jobs across many different industries and while you may not be looking to make a career in some of these companies, it means you've got some financial stability while you look for what you really do want.
Temping jobs can be as short as one day or last years; they can sometimes lead to permanent jobs, too. Depending on your experience, pay can also be pretty decent. Go online to find your nearest temp agencies. You can sign up with as many as you like; you've more chance of getting a job that way.
