Greetings from the JobHungryGrad

One week ago I was employed on a graduate scheme.The Civil Service Fast Stream to be precise.  I'd got the job while I was at university, and it was the best and worst thing that's ever happened to me. It was the best thing because potential employers are pretty impressed that I got on the scheme, and the worst, because despite how impressed they all are, it now makes me too qualified to do anything.




Why did I quit my graduate job?

Firstly because it wasn't in the area that I wanted to work in, nor remotely close to it. It was designed to build skills for working in the civil service and for thriving in the civil service. Those on the scheme who were lucky enough to get a job with a corporate posting would probably fare quite well out of work right now, but, believe it or not, writing primary legislation, briefing ministers and writing speaking notes for parliament. Again, everybody seems really impressed by these skills, but once I've left the interview room they're all scratching their heads in realisation that their company 'don't have no ministers to brief' so I'd probably fail. 'Next!'

Secondly because the hierarchy was extreme. People in the civil service laughed about their colleagues being too regimented by grades and levels, and then balked when somebody asked them to do something they felt was beneath them. "But I'm a grade 7!". It's a well structured and interesting place to work, but I felt that I needed to work somewhere with a bit more freedom. I hated the fact that I had to check whether I was allowed to email somebody before I sent them a letter just in case they were too senior for me to approach them.

Thirdly. I want to write. I am happiest when I am writing all day long. It feels like my fingers are dancing when they fly over a keyboard and only when I'm writing do I get the numbing sense of pleasure that this is what I was put on earth to do. However. I'm not an idiot. What jobs are out there for people like me other than the 'satanic grist of the content mill' as the Guardian recently described copywriting websites?

So I have been applying for jobs that I wouldn't mind doing. More on the current situation of job applications from a JobHungryGrad soon. But please note that I am not a HungryJobGrad or worse, Hungry for a Graduate Job. I am looking for a job that isn't necessarily for graduates, but one that is interesting, requires some brain work and most of all, I get to communicate with others, regardless of whether they've been working here for 6 months or 60 years.