We know the job market can be overwhelming, especially today. Tens of thousands of young people with little work experience under their belts face an uphill battle to even get a summer job. For Grace Pickett, a driven job seeker, the last two years have been especially difficult. She hears again and again that it’s her lack of paid work experience beforehand that’s preventing her from getting part-time, flexible work. But even after all her interviewing and volunteer-on-her-resume-ness, she’s been unable to land a summer gig.
Pickett’s battle to find work isn’t just one story among many – it’s the story. Like fellow 17-year-old college student, Oliver Holton, he faces a difficult economy. He currently has almost four years experience as a paper boy. He’s in the same boat as he looks for summer jobs. Both of these precocious young advocates highlight the plight of current and former students. These young people work hard to earn real-world experience all while juggling their education.
Experts in the field of recruitment emphasize the importance of crafting an effective CV to improve chances of securing a position. Matt Burney, a great career consultant and founder of Career Path Digital, recommends that job seekers do their best to reduce their CVs. We recommend you try and limit your sheet to a single page. Specifically, he stresses that it must be “short and specific,” not bogged down with junk that detracts from the message. He emphasizes, “Don’t pad it out just for the sake of it,” encouraging applicants to focus on their most relevant skills and achievements.
Beyond CV format, tailoring your letters of application can go a long way towards improving your chances. To start, Burney recommends directing your letter to whoever’s in charge of recruitment if you can find that info. This kind of personalized touch goes a long way in making a great impression on your potential future employers.
Now, the application process has been influenced heavily by technology. Sam Westwood, people experience director at KFC UK and Ireland, is a huge proponent of AI. He thinks it can be an incredibly useful tool when generating CVs and cover letters. AI is a fantastic starting point though, he emphasizes, highlighting the advantages in using these resources to make competition for submissions more efficient.
To take application strategies even further, Chris Eccles, a recruitment consultant, advises using the STAR method for answering interview questions. The STAR approach focuses on sharing the Situation, Task, Action taken, and Result with experiences to deliver thoughtful, polished responses. Eccles underscores the importance of clarity in communication: “Make it easy for them to find your best skills and achievements without having to wade through large blocks of waffly text.”
Font and formatting decisions can result in disqualifying or favoring applicants. Lauren Mistry recommends sticking with a font size of 11 or 12 and warns against the practice of submitting ornate, highly-designed PDFs for CV submissions. In her experience, eye-catching yet easy-to-read formats work best. Additionally, she reassures candidates that for part-time roles in retail and hospitality, “maths and English GCSEs shouldn’t be a barrier,” thus encouraging applicants without these qualifications to pursue opportunities in these sectors.
The competitive landscape of summer jobs has gotten much more difficult over the last 20 years. Jane Meynell, proprietor of local Olive and Bean café, admits that these days, the competition for jobs is much more fierce than in years gone by. She laments the advent of the online application. This shift has markedly increased the number of candidates now vying for each available job. Chris Eccles agrees, pointing out that digital platforms foster higher competition for jobs than ever before.
In response to these obstacles, many employers would rather cut through the noise and get face-to-face with candidates. Edward Frank, the owner of the Brewers Arms tavern, has been hiring for many years and favors self-starters. In return, he pushes them to come and apply in person. “I actually prefer it when people come in,” he says, highlighting the value of personal engagement in the hiring process.
For young people entering the job market, prospects are grim, as Grace Pickett and Oliver Holton explain. To increase the likelihood of success, they must rethink their approaches. Include any expert guidance CV writing, and tailor your applications. Use technology to your advantage to make yourself more competitive in this booming but competitive job market.
