The Final Frontier Part 3

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I could be a journalist. I could be a copywriter. I could be a book editor. With some further study, I could be a lawyer or a lecturer. The possibilities, while not endless, are certainly numerous.

Having spent time over the Christmas holidays researching work possibilities on the web, I practically bounced into my first interview at the Careers Service. I'm potentially employable after all! There are jobs I can do! And even maybe enjoy! But it turns out that the greatest barrier between me and my dream job is my inability to focus on what that dream job might actually be.

My Careers Advisor - let's call her Maura - pointed out nicely that my CV reflects my lack of focus; there's nothing on it that suggests a particular passion for any one sector. I joined every society going during Freshers' Week and promptly forgot about them, opting to spend that year drinking. During my second year I dabbled in student journalism and helped organise the Freshers' Ball (it meant I got a free ticket). I also became a student representative on the faculty committee (nobody else wanted to do), which involved going to 3 meetings and quietly taking notes. I've done a lot of travelling, funded by nondescript temp jobs. Not exactly world-beating material, it seems.

But Maura is nothing if not determined. Before our next meeting, I have to rewrite my CV to make it seem more impressive. And it turns out that this won't involve elaborate lies about my fictional tenure as chair of the debating society. Maura insists that everything I've done can be useful so long as I present it properly. Instead of simply writing: Summer 2007, temp work at XXX Corp, I should put something like: Summer 2007, temp work at XXX Corp - duties included X, Y & Z, successfully implemented X. According to Maura, you have to spell out to future employers exactly what you've gained by your experiences, however insignificant they may seem. Even my wanderlust will serve me well, if I play up the organisational and logistical skills I used to sort out my trips. Oh, and comedy fonts on your CV are a no no, so I'm told.

Once I've done that, Maura's going to check it over, & then she's going to put me in touch with graduates who are already working in fields I might enjoy. It's a rather terrifying prospect: 'Hello, I'm totally clueless. What do you do all day, Ms Incredibly Successful Journalist?' I'm also going to a covering letter session at the Careers Service in a couple of weeks, on Maura's recommendation, so that I can start sending out applications for internships. My aim is to have my summer work experience sorted by the end of term- so I can concentrate on my finals over the Easter holidays...

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