Temporary Job Options For Graduates

Many graduates face an uphill struggle when they begin applying for jobs in their chosen industry. Those who have little or no previous working experience, and no vocational training, often struggle to find their dream jobs when the economy is exhibiting scant signs of growth. Graduates today often have to find work in other areas while they apply within their chosen field.

However, graduates who must find another job should make sure to choose wisely. Some jobs will be of greater benefit than others in the pursuit of further work, and there are other strong advantages or disadvantages to certain types of temporary job. For example, one of the most common types of temporary employment taken by students and graduates is bar work. There are many advantages to bar work: it is responsible and sociable, involving cash handling and dealing directly with members of the public; it requires a variety of different skills; it demonstrates willingness to work unpredictable or unusual hours; and perhaps most importantly of all, bar skills are versatile and can help somebody find work in all sorts of situations.

One problem faced by graduates who want to find bar work is that the busiest city centre bars, which are the most likely to have jobs on offer, also often require previous bar work experience. Serving drinks to raucous customers on a Friday or Saturday night can be a daunting task and puts staff members under constant pressure to perform. For first-time bar staff, the best option is to apply for jobs at quieter watering holes. It is worth noting that not all pubs and clubs advertise vacancies clearly and effectively, so it is always worth asking managers whether they are looking for staff.

Field marketing jobs are another attractive short-term option for recent graduates, and particularly those who have aspirations to work in business or marketing. Unlike many other areas of the marketing industry, field marketing work has relatively few barriers to entry and many graduates and school leavers are able to start work without a wealth of previous experience. Successful field marketers learn several vital business skills, such as display optimisation, stock audit, and using conversation to influence consumers at the point of purchase. By taking several short-term field marketing jobs, a graduate can build up experience that will strengthen an application for a graduate-level marketing internship or job. There is an enormous amount of variety between field marketing jobs, so the graduate who always needs a new challenge will find plenty there to keep him or her occupied.

The best approach for graduates who are looking for work in the field marketing industry is to send copies of their CVs to as many field marketing agencies as possible. Because many field marketing professionals are employed on a temporary contract basis, there are more temporary jobs available through agencies than permanent jobs.
Graduates who want to make the most of any temporary job opportunity should consider their long-term goals and try to select areas of work that will strengthen their careers. Nevertheless, graduates should not be too selective - any job looks better on an application form than no job at all.