It seems like there are quite a few UK users on here who are students or graduates, and I don't really know who to ask....

I'm a Psychology graduate (2.1) and I graduated two years ago. Since then I've done basic retail work, voluntary work as a TA with groups of school children (in particular an autistic boy) and for 6 months I've been doing after school science clubs/birthday parties/camps/events with kids aged 5-11.

I think I want to work with kids, because I like them and now I have most experience in this area... But I don't know whether to do some sort of course at whatever bullshit uni will have me, or get a job (it would be a financial stretch to do further study but I could do it). I find it easy enough working with the kids, connecting with them, but I also find the classroom situation and controlling large groups kind of overwhelming and like I'm not using what I can do, so I don't think I could hack a life as a teacher.

My main question is, where do you look for jobs? I look in papers, guardian jobs, gumtree... just look around. But I never seem to find anything, and its really hard to tell what people want and what the job is about. I feel like there is some secret to it everyone else knows but me?
I mean, my other jobs I've just got by seeing shops advertising, or because other people have pointed them out to me.

i look on milkround, guardianjobs, w4mps and any specialist job sites if i'm looking for a specialist area.

but, most actual graduate schemes (not sure if that is what you are after) in big companies don't start recruiting until sept/oct, and they're horrendously over subscribed at the moment. I read the average competition per place at the moment is 48 for a grad job in the uk.

I've got a first, a masters, volunteer experience, experience of working with the homeless, running societies at uni, being in sports teams, and a year in the finance industry (basically everything they ask for) and I'm still lucky to have the crap job I do. That's how shit it is out there at the moment.

I can pass all the initial screenings, tests and telephone interviews, but then at the assessment centres i always get pipped to the post. oh, and in my current job they keep sabotaging me when i get offered promotions just to add to the joy of it all.

you got a masters?

tell me

haha i'm so curious

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I don't have a masters (I feel maybe I should have one? At least then I'd have more direction.) but I have experience, a load of volunteering and masses of experience working with kids/alone, general check box extra curricular shit, a few really good and experience affirming references from just doing whatever anyone tells me to do, and it just feels like there is nothing. And then at present I'm still doing a job where pretty much everyone else working there is a student, because at least its vaguely related to what I want to do - and living with my parents because it doesn't pay enough to rent even on the cheap. Sucks balls.

I suppose if its 48 applicants for posts, you've got to apply for more than 48 posts? I try and look at it like that "just 48 and I might well get a job". I'm not very interested in struggling to get into most corporate graduate training because I want to work in the public sector anyway - lots of NHS jobs applications which are equally annoying...
I'm going through a rigorous CRB/occupational health/detailed reference check right now after applying and being interviewed twice for a position - and its a volunteer thing so I won't even get paid if I get it, and in North Manchester so not exactly exotic job of a lifetime.
Just seems to be the way it works.

Anyway, thanks for reminding me about milkround I had them on my old email address but not now...

i do, my uni paid for it so i thought what the hey.

i think the 48 applied to any sort of graduate job, because I know for things like goldman sachs they get thousands per post.

volunteering is surprisingly difficult to do, given all the checks.