As part of Mental Health Awareness week, we wanted to look at how you can stay positive during the recruitment process. This blog pulls together some resources and tools to help equip you to manage the pressures and anxieties surrounding the employment process and being successful at work as a new graduate or intern.
A recent Bright Network survey on graduate employment, with over 15,000 responses, found 61% of students were not confident in securing a role . This was for a variety of factors but for many students it was:
- Lack of Experience 22%
- Competition 21%
- Economic Factors 23% (brought on by COVID-19)
In addition, 42% of Black Heritage respondents thought that their background hindered them in applications.
So, if you are feeling you lack a bit of confidence at the moment, read on for some ideas on building your confidence back up.
Building Your Resilience
We know that it is so important that we can deal with challenges that can arise when applying for roles. Dealing with job rejections is one of these challenges and a normal part of life. Ask most people and they will all have had job rejections at some point in their lives – including Careers Advisers! Check out our recent blog on resilience and some great advice for dealing with uncertainty.
Workshop - Staying Resilient in a Challenging Job Market - 10th June
We are delivering an online workshop in collaboration with Student Services on how to stay resilient. . Find out how to stay motivated and confident whilst looking for a job, and to reframe how you see rejections. For further information and to book click here.
A really useful blog to help build your resilience is our Psychological tips for job hunting
Building your Confidence to make those Job Applications
If you have concerns that you lack experience, or don’t think you could compete in a challenging job market or think your background might hinder you, then help is available!
- Check out some short summer internships. See myfuture.bath.ac.uk. Check out how to find work experience on our page Finding Work Experience.
- Sign up for Bright Networks Internship Experience UK – Bright Network are offering some excellent short internship experience with some top employers in 8 different sectors. Applications now open. See Graduate Career Events | Bright Network
- Help with Applications – if you are unsure of where you could apply or if you should apply to certain organisations, then book to see a Careers Adviser. If you need help with an Application and how to do justice and sell your experience and your skills and abilities – Book to see an Applications Adviser. Its never too late to make use of our services and we are here to help you. To book go to myfuture.bath.ac.uk
Finding Diversity and Inclusive Friendly Employers
In the Bright Network Survey students were asked what they wanted to see from an employer before considering applying to them.
92% students said that it was important or somewhat important that an employer was committed to diversity and inclusion.
34% students said they would check the employer’s commitment to Wellbeing.
For many graduates, Its really important that their new employer shares the same values as their own. If the culture is right for you, then it can be an important factor in ensuring your placement or your first graduate job goes well. Check out our recent blogs on finding diversity and inclusive employers.
How to Find a workplace culture that’s right for you
Gender Equality: How to Find the Right Organisation
How to find Disability Friendly Employers
If you have a disability or long term health condition, sign up for our Disclosure Webinar to find some charities and organisations supporting students into diversity friendly employers. You can listen to the recording here.
Avoiding Imposter Syndrome
Impostor Syndrome is the constant, nagging feeling that we don’t deserve what we have achieved. It leads us to believe our accomplishments are a fluke and that, one day, the world will see through our ‘fake’ success! Most people can suffer from this from time to time. For some students it may be feeling “well I got through the first stage of applications but I don’t really have the experience that others will have”, or “I got the job but then they will find out about the real me.” If you have been shortlisted or got a job offer, then it’s important to remember that it is perhaps because the employer did see the good experience you have had, how you tackled difficult questions or saw your potential and the personal attributes/skills that you demonstrated.
If you have concerns about your new job, then also know that it can often take at least 6 months + in a new role, sometimes much longer, to be up to full contribution and employers will recognise this. So if you need some techniques for tackling imposter syndrome when it creeps in, then do check out our resources page on this.
Liz Bingham OBE who spoke at one of our previous Sprint programmes also offers some great advice on imposter syndrome, climbing walls, networking and understanding business meetings. check out the blog here.
A Final Note
Hopefully, the above has given you some ideas, information and some fresh inspiration to feel more confident about taking some positive steps in your career journey.
If you would like to discuss any of the above with a Careers Adviser then do book online at myfuture.bath.ac.uk.
If you would like further support on dealing with challenges in recruitment and taking up new roles, then you can also contact the Wellbeing team and book to see a Wellbeing Adviser Tel. 01225 383838 or email them at wellbeingservice@bath.ac.uk
Respond
