Introduction:

Welcome. You're reading a transcript on Links at Bain and Gray, a catalogue of podcasts centred on all things business support in the workplace. Our aim is to bring you interesting and relevant content that will keep you up to date and thriving in your role.

Tray: Welcome to Links Bitesize. I'm your host Tray Durrant and your co-host here today.

Emily: Oh, hi, Emily Bain. Tray, we're going to be talking about starting your job search today. I mean, this is a huge subject - how can we get this into a bite size? I'm not sure, but we're gonna give it a go, so.

Tray: Well, we’ve bucketed that out into separate bits to help so hopefully people will find it useful.

Before we get into it, please have a listen to our Links Bitesize on personal branding, there's going to be something coming up on Links Bitesize about interview prep and getting yourself out. But we're going to talk about the very beginning of the process, aren't we?

How Do You Get Your First Job?

Emily: Yeah, the how and the where? What do you do? Where do you go? Imagine I'm a graduate, a non-graduate and I'm looking for that first job. Where do I start?

Tray: So it's hard not to sort of talk about this and start without referencing personal branding, but somebody might be thinking what on earth does she mean by personal branding?

But let's assume some of that personal branding element is there. And by that I mean lots of online presence, your CV is all good, and you’re at a good level. We'll talk in a bit more detail about getting that ready, but let's assume you're kind of ready to go, you're prepped, and you're looking for your opening in the market.

Where Should You Look First?

Tray: So I mean, there's all the obvious places in terms of starting your job search and and you know that real employability piece around “where am I going to find what's right for me?” Obviously in our market, we would say our website, for our jobs.

But there's lots of other networks and LinkedIn is great too. There's lots of other networks to sort of begin sort of looking at where you might want to work, but I think the precursor is making sure you know what either sector you're going into, or you know what your job involves in terms of it's it's wider reach so that you can actually go and do your leg work properly and um, I know -

Emily: I’d like to go back a step from that. I think a lot of people when they're first looking for their, well, their first job, they don't know about sectors. I certainly didn't! I mean, I was genuinely clueless when I left secretarial college and went for my first job. So I would say go back a step, do your research and actually go and talk to a recruiter..

Tray: Yes, agreed.

Emily: ..or a friend and there's nothing better than just getting out there. Whether it's work experience and internship, temping if you obviously want to skip all of that and you want to start that job search, go and see a really good recruiter and they will, from interviewing you and talking to you, building a picture for you, really help you out. If they're good at their job, they will know where you're going to fit.

You may not know the sector, but you're going to trust somebody (we’re back to trust), to put you in the right environment.

Tray: I would definitely agree. So what do you think in terms of doing your own homework first, you just think it's better off to go and see a recruiter and just let them sort of do some of the leg work for you?

Do It Yourself or Get a Recruiter on Board?

Emily: Yeah. I mean, I'm thinking of the candidates that we've worked with over the years. You’ve obviously got, you know, people that you look up to from a young age. Your parents or your god parents and family, friends etc. So they will be advising you and helping you and hopefully helping you get an idea. But I think if you genuinely don't know, go see a recruiter.

To do this, you’ll have to make sure that your CV is pitch perfect and you've made sure your personal branding is perfect. I think then I’d pick their brains for the where and how. I mean there's numerous job boards out there now. LinkedIn is huge. I still think the agency is the best place because I feel like the more junior candidates are handheld and they've got a lot more information than perhaps a simple job board would give. But yes, I think get out there, explore, go for interviews. Don't be frightened!

Tray: I think that last bit’s crucial, isn't it? I mean, using a recruiter, picking their brains, getting them to do the leg work for you just helps you start to build a picture of where you might see yourself.

I think there's so much that you will have discovered by the time you've left school or university, or started to uncover in terms of understanding your own skills and interests and where they might best serve, in which type of industry. And so, the recruiter will be able to sort of help you navigate those in terms of looking exactly what's right for you for you, not just because you've just left secretarial college or just graduated and are looking for your first job, but actually what suits you in terms of personality and fit alongside your skills and interests.

I think getting those bits right is where you truly, you know, hear that adage of “a day in the right job is never a day at work”, and it starts to resonate. It's enjoyment and it's fulfilment and I think you get that right early on then.

The Value of Temping & Going to Those Interviews (even if you’re unsure)

Emily: Yeah, I mean, over the years I've met some amazing girls and boys who have come to me. And it's such a pleasure to meet them and sort of understand them and see where I think they’d do well in life. But they all come with an idea that may have been fed to them by a well-meaning father who perhaps works in that sector and you meet them and you think, “Oh my goodness, you would hate that. That is so not you!” And it's really difficult to unpick that, you know, but that's why I think temping is a really good idea.

Because then people get to actually dip their toes in and explore those types of environments, or even just go for an interview. You get an idea of what the culture’s like.

But genuinely, I always say to people looking for their first job: “Don't worry too much about it. Go for the interviews. If it feels right, go for it. You know it's not for life. You can change direction. You can leave.”

Tray: And every interview provides you with a learning experience, doesn't it? You know, you’ll get to know the person, their network or the company or the function within the company that you're interviewing with. So there's so much to learn.

I mean, it's interesting in terms of one would hope that coming up, you know 18 or 21 at whatever stage, in that very first sort of job that actually, you are quite self-aware and that helps you in terms of when you hear someone saying what they think you might be suited for, you do recognise in yourself what they're describing back at you. ]

And so it makes you go for it. And, as you quite rightly say, I think going for all of these things, it only helps build up your own learning and and knowledge bank to make you realise you know, temping in one organisation, you've learned XY and Z and therefore you can take that into a different environment if you've found some skills or interests in the job. Or, actually, you could learn that the sector isn't perhaps quite right for you, and that's learning something. Ruling out is as good as ruling in!

Emily: Oh my goodness, totally. I remember temping after my first role. I temped in about eight different companies, a real mixture. And all I learned was I definitely don't want to work in that kind of place again! It was brilliant.

Another question that we get all the time, and it seems so obvious to this, but I'm gonna ask you, Tray, for your opinion. Um, what do you wear for an interview in this day and age?

What You Should Wear For a Job Interview

Tray: Hmm, well, we did some webinars during COVID, didn't we? In terms of how to present oneself both on screen and in a face to face interview. It’s tricky, you've got to fit in to the environment but be that little bit smarter than perhaps the rest of the office if it's a quite relaxed creative environment.
I mean, I'm no fashionista, but I'd always go a bit more corporate than not. Even if it's dressed down and it's trainers, I'd make sure my trainers were box fresh and my dress down was crisp as much as possible.

And obviously, with the more corporate environments, it’s a little bit easier in some ways and there's less of that. However, the lines are definitely blended a little bit in terms of what corporate looks like and that's actually made it harder for what to wear to interview, I think. Wouldn’t you agree?

Emily: Mhm. I think go safe, you know? You can't beat the classic dress, or really nice trousers. I'm not going into detail. Like you said, we're not fashionistas, but I think play it safe. Not one way or the other. But I would say it is the little things that matter. Make sure your hair is dry. Make sure your nails aren't chipped. Those kinds of things are definitely worth your attention.

Tray: Be the best you.

Emily: I think it's almost like you've just made a bit of an effort. That's all. Because sometimes if people turn up, and it looks like they don't really care about the job. They haven't really taken the time. And employers will think, “Hmm well, I'm sitting with you for an hour, and you haven't even made the time”. So I think if we were asked to answer this question in a couple of minutes, just be smart and play it safe.

Tray: Yep, yeah, I would agree. Yeah. Thank you. Thanks, Emily.

Emily: Thanks.

This edited podcast transcript was part of our wider Bitesize series on Links. If you liked what you have listened to/read, please check out the rest of our catalogue here.