The last goodbye

As regular readers of this blog will know I’ve been known to slip in the odd one or two references to music to my postings. It’s a shared passion alongside an irrational love for a certain tangerine-clad Scottish football team. A solvent one. So it seemed fitting to borrow a song title from the untouchable Jeff Buckley to give notice that this will be my last post in this present guise at least. Today I move on to take on a new but similar role at City University, London.

Thank you for taking the time to read my posts. I know grads have found real grad jobs through it because they’ve told me. I’ve really enjoyed making it a forum for both career advice, and employers opinions on what they’re looking for from you. I hope beyond hope that you’ve gained confidence from my concerted efforts to give the REAL recruitment picture out there for you as a graduate. I’ve only been heckled once in all my postings so I think I must have been doing something right.

I leave you in the capable hands of Brunel University’s Placement and Careers Centre. A new correspondent will be found. The url and title of the blog may change but the quality of advice will not.

Two last things. I’m about 60 hits short of the 35,500 mark so see if you can help me break that barrier by the end of today. And the other thing? This isn’t the blogging last you’ve heard of David Gilchrist. Keep an eye out.

Getting what YOU want out of recruitment agencies

During my fairly frequent trawl of grad job related on line sources I’ve gone from the (occasionally understandable) frustrations of recent grads on Prospects student forums concerning working with recruitment agencies to a timely guide from one such agency about how best to use them. I certainly echo the comment about mixed experiences (they are like the well known Forrest Gump box of chocolates) and that there are some fantastic and knowledgeable ones out there. For evidence of that see my post quite some time ago from one I know well.

2010 in review part two – through the 25,000 views barrier

Hi and happy 2011 to you all. Apologies for yet another delay in posting but my Xmas period was book ended by two particularly nasty bouts of flu-like symptoms. I am now well on the way to recovery and have been buoyed by a couple of things on my first morning back. Firstly news from a 2010 grad I’ve worked with that they’ve received a job offer. That type of thing always puts a smile on my face. Secondly that this blog has crashed through the 25,000 views barrier in just 15 months or so. Thank you for your continued support and keep an eye out for a definite upward spike in the number of new posts in the weeks to come. Time to get 2011 off to a flyer.

Blog writer’s block

I must admit I’m struggling a bit at the moment. Struggling for fresh insights to give you. I’m still scouring the main graduate news sites and keeping up to date with my fellow graduate job scene bloggers. But there’s little that’s grabbing me. Maybe the fact that it’s a year since this blog started (a blog rapidly approaching 20,000 hits) is a factor. There is a natural cycle of information that flows round at different times of the year.

Despite the ever changing economic circumstances some advice never changes. I’m not that comfortable just repackaging it for you. This blog is an archive of information and even posts written 12 months ago are just as relevant now. Feel free to Continue reading

Still not sure quite what you want to do? Time for a pressure release

Returning to a previous musical theme, sometimes I can say it best by saying nothing at all (Keith Whitley, Alison Strauss or Ronan Keating in case you were wondering). That does require someone else to say it for me and I’ve found a perfectly formed and well judged post on the subject of Continue reading

Extra Law resource from source with 10 years legal experience

I’ve found an additional resource of information for those of a legal persuasion out there. Matt Oliver has 10 years legal experience and is now providing (very often for a fee) legal career advice. Part of his web site also has a blog which he’s beginning to add content to. Perhaps you’ll find something on here that helps you. Continue reading