Testing Testing

I assumed that after 17 years in full time education I'd had my fair share of tests, exams and assessments. It all began back in Year 2 with SATs - I can't remember them in the slightest but I'm going to assume I passed. Fast forward a decade and there were GCSEs and A-Levels, which at the time felt like they were the be all and end all. They were not; as with many things in life, it soon became apparent that they were merely stepping stones towards a far more diffuse aim, that of beginning that elusive thing known as 'a career'. After a further four years at university and the accordant exams, essays and dissertations, I was thoroughly tested out; but at least I had numerous certificates to prove my academic credentials and (I hoped) my intelligence.

Needless to say, when it comes to applying for graduate jobs this is not enough. During applications I have been subjected to a variety of tests and assessments, all of which are designed as a convenient method of unearthing the perfect candidate. Putting the practicalities of filtering through hundreds of applicants aside, it is more than a little frustrating to have my 17 years of education dismissed on the basis of a 15 minute online test. In my opinion, there are many different forms of intelligence, not all of which are tailored to answering logic puzzles or verbal reasoning questions. It is a means of selection that ensures successful candidates come from a very particular mould with a very generic skill set. This may be what businesses and other recruiters want, but I know they are dismissing very talented people on what appears to be an arbitrary basis; there is no room to prove creativity or demonstrate any strength of character. It seems like a lazy method of recruitment.

These tests take a variety of forms, some of which have come as a shock after four years studying humanities. Firstly, the verbal reasoning test: these questions comprise a short paragraph followed by a series of statements which the candidate must state as 'true', 'false' or 'cannot tell' based on the information given. Its not that these tests are phenomenally difficult (they perhaps suit my skills as a historian), but the time limits are tight - you must work quickly if you are to assess the text and answer 40 statements in 15 minutes. Secondly, there is the numeracy test which, having given up Maths after GCSE, certainly has proved challenging. In some spectacularly poor time management, on my first attempt at this type of assessment, I managed to answer 10 out of 20 questions in the allocated time - of the questions answered I managed to get 9 correct but this was largely irrelevant considering how long it was taking me to work through each conundrum. It seems I need to brush up on my skills.

Finally, we come to my most detested of all the tests used by employers, psychometric analysis. Tests where there is no right or wrong answer, merely scenarios designed to find out what kind of person you are - whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, to discover your work ethic, your attitudes and your weaknesses. I can only presume that recruiters associate particular traits with particular roles - again this seems arbitrary and unfair. Give me an interview and you would discover what type of person I am within five minutes.

I may be able to give you a detailed analysis of Rousseau's 'Social Contract' or Montesquieu's 'Spirit of the Laws'; ask me about the popular reaction to the French Revolution in Britain and I will talk to you for an hour - but none of this matters in the real world. Because I am not an extrovert and because I prefer to work independently, this is translated by some to mean 'boring' and not a 'team player'. I am no expert on psychology but I fear the likes of Jung and Freud would be turning in their graves if they saw the way their theories were manipulated and erroneously applied by some employers...

A Difficult Balancing Act

Like many before me, I face the difficult balancing act of staying afloat financially while searching for relevant work experience that will help me in my quest for graduate employment. It is perhaps my greatest regret that during my time at university I did little to secure the placements and internships that seem to be so sought after by employers.

Now, six months after graduation, I am in a tricky situation. I am already lumbered with £20,000+ of student debt and having received significant financial support from my parents over my four years of studying, I am keen to finally support myself. I currently work full-time for £6.13 per hour and it is a job that I do enjoy, if you had told my 14 year old self that I would be operating roller coasters for a living I would have been delighted. I bring home about £200 per week which is plenty considering I live at home; however, my work does little to gain me the kind of experience that will secure me that all important first graduate job.

I have set my sights on a job in politics or the media. Having submitted a number of applications for work as a political researcher with little success, I have come to the conclusion that I must be prepared to offer my services for free if I want to progress up the career ladder. There are many internships and placements that would appeal. However, given that our political nation is focused so heavily on London (a consequence of having one of the most centralised systems of government in Europe!), I am left in a financial quandary. These internships offer 'expenses' which amount to a Zone 1 railcard and a fiver for lunch - factor in living costs and twelve weeks working for free in London is an insurmountable financial barrier.

Lets look at some basic figures - a modest flat in central London could set you back upwards of £150 per week; a minimum of £1800 over a twelve week period. Add to this £40 per week for food and another £30 for having some form of social life then we are talking upwards of £2500. It would seem internships are the reserve of the wealthy, the privileged or those who are fortunate enough to live within commuting distance of the capital. I realise there are opportunities outside of London, but in certain sectors these are few and far between. It is a frustrating situation.

In addition, firms seem oblivious to the financial burdens that job seekers can face. Upon submitting an application to a London based media firm earlier this year, I was asked to 'call in for a 10 minute chat' to see if I was suitable for interview. Considering a 10 minute chat would require a £60 rail fare and an entire day off work I was understandably reluctant.

It would seem that for now I must content myself with earning a fraction above the minimum wage until I can find an affordable way to gain 'relevant experience'. I would be lying if I did not say that writing this blog was a shameless attempt to prove my employability and gain such experience in more unusual (and cheaper!) ways.

Thank you for reading, if you've had any similar experiences I strongly encourage you to comment...

'We regret to inform you that your application has been unsuccessful...'

It has been seven months now since leaving university and my search for graduate employment has delivered a rather harsh dose of reality. In September 2011, fresh after handing in my dissertation, I was full of optimism - I was 22 years old, held a first class degree and barring a disaster would soon have an MA. The job market was surely my oyster...

Then came the application forms.

It's not that I'm bitter or anything (I am bitter) but the hours I have spent filling out reams of personal information and answering banal questions on my team building and problem solving credentials could have been better spent.

What particularly sticks in the throat is that on more than one occasion I have received an automated rejection only a few hours after submitting my application in the first place. I can only assume that some aspect of my character has been deemed unworthy by the many filters designed to separate the men from the chaff (a favourite mixed metaphor of mine...).

To add insult to injury, because many graduate schemes (as the rejection emails do not hesitate to tell me) are so very popular, firms are unable to provide any feedback whatsoever. I can't help but feel taken for a ride - if I can spend 3 hours filling out a tediously dull application form, then surely the computer that rejected me can let me know on what pre-conditioned criteria I was filtered out?

Applicants deserve a level of transparency. If, for instance, a firm is not looking to recruit history graduates, make this clear in the job description. In a job market that is tougher than ever, to spend my precious days off filling out forms for jobs that I subsequently discover I had no chance of getting is somewhat galling.

Perhaps I am doing recruiters a disservice, perhaps they are indeed ruthlessly efficient in their selection of candidates. Then again, submitting an application at 11pm and receiving a rejection at 5am the following morning may suggest otherwise...

Rant over.

Desperate Times, Desperate Measures

Friends, Romans, members of the Blogosphere, lend me your ears...

I, Alex Hough, an erstwhile student and incumbent ride host at a *cough* unnamed Staffordshire theme park (there are two...), have decided to start a blog.

For those of you who do not know me, I graduated with an MA in History in September 2011 from a good University. While my historical studies interested me greatly, it is writing that has always been my passion; in recent months I have had little opportunity to exercise my scholastic muscles and that is why I find myself here... I happen to believe writing is not like riding a bike and is instead a talent that needs to be constantly refreshed.

I intend to write about the many trials and tribulations of finding a graduate job . In the months since my graduation I have come to the frustrating realisation that no matter how impressive your academic record, experience counts for everything. As a man with little experience of anything (such are the consequences of growing up in a quiet corner of rural Staffordshire), I have reached somewhat of an impasse in my search.

If anyone is prepared to listen, I'd also like to write about a few of my other interests from politics and current affairs to sport. Mix this in with a few observations on my current place of employment (the kind that won't get me fired) and perhaps this could become interesting, informative or even amusing. We shall see, particularly on that last one...

In all seriousness, if you are reading this and feel you are in a similar situation or would also like to comment on the struggles of recent graduates please get in touch. Many hands make light work and all.

That's all for now but I shall begin in earnest soon...

All the best, Alex