Recruitment Ready
The rising number of young people aged between sixteen and twenty-four who are not in education, employment or training and the challenges of finding meaningful employment after fifty are often with me. I read the articles describing the agony and impersonal behaviour that is recruitment. I comment on the comments, and I try to offer practical advice, but I can’t guarantee jobs. And no one expects me to! But I have written two books to help you get ‘recruitment ready’ irrespective of your experience level. Both books are available from Amazon, or your favourite bookshop (to order).
· How to Be the Best Candidate Every Single Time (2025)
· Interviews Sorted You’ve Got This (2026)
A recent article published by the BBC was based on five tips from careers experts to help young people get their first job. Of course I read it with eager concentration, full of expectation that I’d learn something new. What disappointed me was the lack of focus on personal strengths and aspirations. The help most people need is to understand themselves better; to know how they can contribute and make a difference. And to have the confidence to speak about themselves and what they bring to a situation.
I agree that there should be a focus on transferable skills but for many, it matters what their first job or their next job might be. Using AI to prepare gets my vote every time, although adding job adverts or job descriptions for a bot response can be quite one-dimensional. You need to know how it works although there are other more reliable ways to describe your unique personality. Chatbots are an excellent source of ideas, but you (as the job seeker) need to select the best ideas to work with. The ones that sound like you.
The next tip to get out and introduce yourself to demonstrate confidence aligns with my thought that some job interviews should be more practical e.g., helping clear tables in a busy coffee shop during a staffing crisis (after a safety warning of course). How can a CV explain the practical skills of an eager teenager wanting to earn pocket money? My only caution is that most employers (other than public spaces) aren’t open to unexpected visitors and don’t appreciate the display of affection or interest!
The same goes for encouraging lots of explanation and passion in a cover letter. It’s worth remembering that cover letters aren’t always assessed as part of the recruitment process. That’s why I recommend a CV that brings out your personality as well as your skills and what you’re able to contribute. It’s worth seeking out organisations or people who can support you with your job search. That applies whatever your age or work aspirations.
And finally a word about resilience or as my mum frequently suggested. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, and try again! But, let’s face it, to keep trying means finding inner or emotional strength by developing coping skills. It’s time to help our young people develop the skills to keep going and keep trying.
If you need some help to navigate the current jobs market Let's Chat — Heather Watt
