Become Renewable

Last night was just one of those nights when something interesting/amusing/surprising was bound to happen. I was having a drink in the local pub. This is a dangerous pastime - you never know who you're going to end up talking to...

Although within 5 minutes of entering the building I had a fairly good idea. Leaving my pint at the bar I headed off to the loo. When I came back my pint was still there (more or less in the same position), although to my delight it seemed a little bit fuller than before. I decided to continue my earlier good work, slaking my thirst, when I was confronted by a large, rather aggressive looking man.

You've guessed it, it was his sodding pint.

I apologised, but it was too late. He was being called through for dinner, but I was a marked man. So it came as little surprise when he came to sit next to me about 90 minutes later. Judging by the colour of his cheeks and the size of his eye balls dinner had been a success. But now he wanted his pint back. Being a reasonable man I bought it and within a further 5 minutes we were best friends. I waxed lyrical about my love of all things Arsenal, which he appeared to appreciate. Although I was lying, what he went on to tell me was, I think, more truthful.

Turns out that he works in construction and his firm have recently secured some big contracts to install wind turbines for a couple of New Energy companies. Whilst the rest of the economy is, according to the pundits, not likely to surpass where it stood in early 2008 until late 2014, the Renewable Energy sector is expected to grow. Big time.

The Government has made the growth of this sector a priority. Under the baby faced Ed Miliband (secretary for energy and climate change) Labour aims to provide 30% of the UK's energy needs using wind and other renewable sources within 10 years. In that time they reckon that 60,000 new jobs will be created - a direct result of the £75 billion that will be invested to turn this England and the rest of the UK into a green and pleasant land.

So my drunken friend implored me to look at the Renewables sector. Not all jobs are technical and scientific, he assured me. They too have need of people who can sell, manage and market effectively. And how right he is. Nissan and Toyota have unveiled plans to enter the hybrid vehicle market, with the former already producing a new line of cleaner cars. This could be big. But the sensible money is still on the likes of Dong Energy and Siemens who in partnership are going to rekindle the green revolution in this country and help us realise the potential that, according to the Carbon Trust, the UK has to become a global leader in both offshore and wave power.

Start looking now and you may well be at the front of the queue come the gold rush - it's in line with the Tortoise's philosophy to take a longer term view. And me? well ss ever, I was glad I just made it to the pub...

What a load of Maloney

Faith is a funny thing. People go through their whole lives doubting the existence o God, Allah, Yahweh and Buddha and then one night, when they least expect it, something so dramatic, so life changing occurs that they subsequently execute a 180 degree shift in their thinking.

Now I'm not here today to pronounce a renewed sence of faith in God or a deeper understanding of why I'm alive at all. Far from it. I'm here today to say that I have a renewed sence of faith in Maloney Search on whose books I have been for some time.

I remember the first time I got in touch with them. I was asked in for an interview and Fiona and I painstakingly went through what it was that I was looking to do; why I felt able to do those particular roles over others; the room for manoevre in trying to meet my expectations. I left after a couple of hours feeling positive. It has been a good work out as I had been posed some interesting questions. I had had to really think about why I was interested in what and argue my corner.

Then there was silence. Almost two years of silence. This was briefly broken by one job proposition, which I decided to put myself forward for. The silence then continued. To be honest I had slightly given up on Maloney after my last conversation with the lovely Charlotte. This was about 4 months ago and we discussed over the phone the state of the current job market, my life and where Maloney fitted in. Although this was not made explicit during the conversation the subtext was clear: at this point in time, you're on your own, son.

But then something changed. A new role landed on Charlotte's desk, which was a touch unusual. The candidate requirements weren't what she was used to, whilst the industry's niche. Charlotte clearly spent some time putting together a list of candidates, scouring the company database. Then my CV popped up. After a quick recap and referencing the notes of our last conversation she got in touch. Out of the blue. Completely unexpected. And what is even more exciting is that the role is one that ticks many - if not all - of the boxes on my list.

So although I have previously advocated the need to network over relying on the recruitment agencies, I have seen the light: there is no doubt that it is worth casting your net as far and as wide as possible. Being a tortoise, time is on your side, so approach as many recruitment companies as possible and check in on them whenever you have some news to report, ie a new CV to submit. If you're on their database you've got a chance of making a match with one of their roles. You have, as the saying goes, got to be in it to win it.

About Me

Although I've only recently started this blog I suddenly realised that I've not exactly introduced myself. On the face of it I may not be that interesting (and many who've met me would no doubt agree...), but I do feel that if you're going to read about my views, news and experiences, you do at least deserve to know a little bit more about George Broke, the 27 year old currently unemployed 'bum'.

1/ I grew up abroad as my father was in the army, living in places like Germany, Cyprus, Holland and the US
2/ I'm an only child
3/ I studiend History, Theology and Geography at A-Level
4/ I then read Social and Biological Anthropology at Durham University
5/ Since my father's family comes from Norfolk we've always had a house there and I've had no choice other than to support Norwich City Football Club
6/ I can play the Bagpipes, but few people ask me too
7/ I can't play cricket
8/ Since University I've worked as an Auditor at Grant Thornton LLP, a researcher at Hanson Green Executive Search and as Sales and Marketing Director at a start-up called StrollOn Ltd.
9/ I love travelling but am not good enough at languages. I love dancing and am about to take up lessons. Please don't tell anyone.
10/ I am a Tortoise. I am looking for the perfect job and have been since University. A I get closer to finding out what that is, I want to share my thoughts and experiences with others in similar situations and work on a couple of my own ideas. I promise to let you know how these progress...

In the meantime, remember that slow but steady wins the race.

Wife Swap

I've just come off the back of watching Channel 4's Wife Swap and am surprised that it actually through up a few interesting ideas. Not about swapping wives, although given that one of the families in question was from Norfolk you wouldn't be surprised...No, it was more what one of the daughters said after her surrogate mother for the week had started to impose her own rules on her adopted family.

The daughter had been brought up on a busy schedule of academia, sport, music and drama with a little bit of time left for socialising. Her surrogate mother decided that this was too much and didn't leave enough time in which to "chill out". After a couple of days loving the new regime the little girl concluded that, while fun, the new regime was going to lead her into adopting bad habits. She thought that you could end up forgetting "...how to walk, how to drive and how to breathe." Whilst a bit extreme, you could see the underlying point: you've got to go and get it.

At Durham, where I was at University, I studied Social and Biological Anthropology. Now whilst it hasn't been of direct use in any of my subsequent careers, it has helped me understand many aspect of human nature. At our most basic level, humans have survived and still do today in some culture by being hunter-gatherers. Now I doubt the hunter-gatherer that doesn't actively go and get his food and water survives long. Well the same is true of western society today, especially where the job market is concerned. If you don't ask, you won't get. You need to make the running; you need to be keen. Nothing is going to fall on the lazy man's lap.

Which begs the question: why was I slumped in front of the television watching Wife Swap? Well, what else is there to do at 11 o'clock on a Monday evening other than sit back and chuckle at other people's problems. Tomorrow morning and reality will strike again...

Remember, slow but steady wins the race...

Freshminds - make them work for you

It's interesting because I've heard a lot of negative press about Freshminds Recruitment recently. They're an industry leader and have won award after award over the past few years, but it appears that even they can't cope with the sheer volume of applicants and job seekers right now. I remember when I first got onto their books, I went in for an interview and we assessed my situation and me. Standard stuff really. But then they really came into their own, or at least my rep, Catherine, did. She wouldn't leave me alone and got me interviews here, there and everywhere. She did the running and I could pick and choose what I wanted to apply for at leisure. It was sooo easy, almost too easy. I even had a few job offers thrown at me, some of which were very tempting, but in the end I went my own direction.

That was then; that was when they were winning all the prizes.

Fast forward a couple of years and things have changed. Catherine's no longer there so I have someone else. She's bright, she's focussed, she's capable and she does think outside of the box, putting me forward for some interesting roles. Sadly, for various reasons none of these roles have materialised. More frustrating though is the fact that each time a role falls through I appear to be placed firmly back onto the scrap heap. All of a sudden my name appears to be black listed. I have become "too difficult" to place, perhaps? It is only when I ring up for a chat that there ever seems to be a role that might be of interest to me. Coincidence? I don't think do

How to win

What I am fast learning is that no one else appears to have your best interests at hear anymore. You just can't afford to sit tight and expect to be spoonfeed with the job market as it is currently is. You have to look after your own best interests. Recruiters now have a wealth of candidate choice meaning that they can focus their energies on the quick sales, filling the easiest roles and keeping the cash flow steady. So you have to do everything within your power to keep your name in their consciousness, pressing them regularly for job specs. You need to be leaning forward and keen (to the point of being a bit of a bore) and, perhaps most importantly, you need to let them know exactly what you're capable of and what you're looking for. This is best done face-to-face when you can explain in detail your CV. So pick up the phone (they never seem to get my emails) and ask to see someone. That way you're serious. That way you've got their attention.

A flexible route to success

Whilst it is crucial to come across as focussed there is a school of thought that says one should also be flexible. There are less jobs out there at the moment and more people going for them. It is, to all intents and purposes, a buyer's market. So if you want a job it's worth being open minded about the way forward. Although the proposed role may not be exactly what you thought you were looking for, so long as you are using and developing your core skills, considering it will mean that you're a) still firmly in the recruiters' minds, b) getting valuable interview practice and c) becoming more aware of what is out there. And who know, you may even get a job offer out of it.

Some Tortoise Tips

One minor success that I did have recently was managing to organise a meeting with Freshminds' head of marketing. An enthusiastic and amusing guy, he did give me two pieces of very good advice:

1/ Make sure that you have a presence (that you control and regularly update) on Google. One of the first thing that employers do nowadays is look up a potential candidate's name on the internet. Recruiters too. So try setting up a blog, starting a Twitter account or even getting yourself onto a network such as LinkedIn because it will serve to give you credibility and to be honest it's just quite fun.

2/ Read around what you think you want to do. Have context. See the bigger picture. I said that I wanted to go into Sales and Marketing and he told me the names of some books and magazines to read. You don't just want to know the latest developments, but it's good to know who the trailblazers were in your chosen industry. - the guys that developed new thinking and set new trends. It makes you come across as a more 3 dimensional character in interviews and if nothing else it makes the world of work that little bit more interesting.

Becoming a "Mind":

One rather good thing that Freshminds can offer graduates (who have left a number of top universities - not just Oxbridge) with good degrees (2:1 and above) as well as more experienced jobseekers is the opportunity to become a "mind". By becoming a mind you join one of two teams, interim or research. The idea is that part-time or even full-time (should they or one of their clients really like you) you will work on behalf of Freshminds on research and other projects commissioned to them by clients. These range in bredth, depth and specialisation, but it gives you something else to put on the CV, further develops your research skills and again gives you access to new industries and companies with whom you might not have had any contact otherwise.

Slow but steady wins the race...

Networking and The SG Group A while ago I found a recruitment website that I thought was the answer to my marketing dreams. You see, for the past few months I had become increasingly sure that marketing was what I wanted to do as a career. In my last job I did quite a lot of online and traditional marketing and I felt that I was well qualified as a creative and gregarious type of person to forge a good career in this industry.Soon after I'd submitted online my CV and some supplementary information about myself, I received an email from one of the SG Group team. I was disappointed to read that whilst they thought that I had an interesting CV, they did not feel that they were able to help me. In my fury I sent a response to them asking for a further explanation of why; why they felt that my particular case was beyond them. I was disappointed, frustrated and was not far from exploding into a frenzy of self-pity...Amazingly, within a couple of hours I received a phone call. The man on the other end of the phone was from SG. He was sympathetic but honest and gave me two invaluable pieces of advice, both of which have proved well worth the initial rejection.Firstly, he mentioned how I simply was not qualified enough. Compared to many people on their books I did not have the requisite experience that employers were looking for. According to him, my CV suggested that I had had more transferrable experience and obvious success in sales and business development. He made the point that it's not worth trying to be a jack of all trades as that will put off most employers - they want to be able to quickly identify where your key strengths lie so that they can see where you will add value to their organisation. Bottom line: be honest with yourself.And secondly he made the surprising point that in the current climate, perhaps more so than in the boom years, the highest percentage of new jobs are secured by networking. This is a phrase that used to make me cringe, but no longer. It is invaluable, because each meeting and phone conversation throws up new ideas, facts and suggestions, giving you more credibility come your next introduction. On top of this, you might just leave your new contact with a new set of eyes and ears helping you in your search.Finally - and this is something that I have found out for myself - talking to as many people as possible (preferrably in person) helps you define what you're looking for. When you hear yourself speak out loud and witness people's reactions to your thoughts and opinions you quickly see what stands up and what does not. Such experiences help you ammend and develop your sales pitch so that next time you talk to someone you are that much more desirable as a commodity.If this all sounds like it will take time then you're beginning to understand the process. It will take time, so start now because my God it's worth doing. Start with 4 or 5 names and give them a ring (always ring as emails can easily be forgotten/missed). Try to find people whose job titles you're interested in. Although you may want to go into film finance, it's unlikely that you'll know someone already in it. It's also just as unlikley that you'll be able to move straight into it. Instead find someone in finance with whom you can discuss what roles are out there, making you more conversant with the associated lingo. Then ask whether they know anyone in film finance or operating in that kind of area. The aim is to leave each meeting with one new name to add to your list of contacts and to leave each contact as you'd wish to find them should you need their help again.But start networking now because slow but steady wins the race.

A while ago I found a recruitment website that I thought was the answer to my marketing dreams. You see, for the past few months I had become increasingly sure that marketing was what I wanted to do as a career. In my last job I did quite a lot of online and traditional marketing and I felt that I was well qualified as a creative and gregarious type of person to forge a good career in this industry.

Soon after I'd submitted online my CV and some supplementary information about myself, I received an email from one of the SG Group team. I was disappointed to read that whilst they thought that I had an interesting CV, they did not feel that they were able to help me. In my fury I sent a response to them asking for a further explanation of why; why they felt that my particular case was beyond them. I was disappointed, frustrated and was not far from exploding into a frenzy of self-pity...

Amazingly, within a couple of hours I received a phone call. The man on the other end of the phone was from SG. He was sympathetic but honest and gave me two invaluable pieces of advice, both of which have proved well worth the initial rejection.

Firstly, he mentioned how I simply was not qualified enough. Compared to many people on their books I did not have the requisite experience that employers were looking for. According to him, my CV suggested that I had had more transferrable experience and obvious success in sales and business development. He made the point that it's not worth trying to be a jack of all trades as that will put off most employers - they want to be able to quickly identify where your key strengths lie so that they can see where you will add value to their organisation. Bottom line: be honest with yourself.

And secondly he made the surprising point that in the current climate, perhaps more so than in the boom years, the highest percentage of new jobs are secured by networking. This is a phrase that used to make me cringe, but no longer. It is invaluable, because each meeting and phone conversation throws up new ideas, facts and suggestions, giving you more credibility come your next introduction. On top of this, you might just leave your new contact with a new set of eyes and ears helping you in your search.

Finally - and this is something that I have found out for myself - talking to as many people as possible (preferrably in person) helps you define what you're looking for. When you hear yourself speak out loud and witness people's reactions to your thoughts and opinions you quickly see what stands up and what does not. Such experiences help you ammend and develop your sales pitch so that next time you talk to someone you are that much more desirable as a commodity.

If this all sounds like it will take time then you're beginning to understand the process. It will take time, so start now because my God it's worth doing. Start with 4 or 5 names and give them a ring (always ring as emails can easily be forgotten/missed). Try to find people whose job titles you're interested in. Although you may want to go into film finance, it's unlikely that you'll know someone already in it. It's also just as unlikley that you'll be able to move straight into it. Instead find someone in finance with whom you can discuss what roles are out there, making you more conversant with the associated lingo. Then ask whether they know anyone in film finance or operating in that kind of area. The aim is to leave each meeting with one new name to add to your list of contacts and to leave each contact as you'd wish to find them should you need their help again.

But start networking now because slow but steady wins the race.