As youth unemployment stands stubbornly above the one million mark and competition for work experience places is intensifying, the summer holidays provide a great opportunity for thousands of young people as they prepare for the world of work.
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Despite a third of UK adults believing parents are most responsible for helping young people into work, it can be difficult to know how best to support your son or daughter as they look to take their first step on the career ladder.
Recognising the tough time ahead for young people searching for work, O2 is offering practical top tips and advice that parents can give their sons or daughters. But businesses can also play their part. O2 is throwing open its doors and providing 50 paid internships to give young people the chance to improve their skills and get ready for the world of work.
O2’s HR Director, Ann Pickering, said: “We know that young people today are facing some of the toughest employment challenges ever – presenting a difficult challenge for parents too.
"At O2, 25 per cent of our workforce is under 25 so we’re privileged to see first-hand the benefits that young people bring to our workplace on a daily basis.
“We know that there is an untapped wealth of skill and knowledge sitting firmly within the youth community. It’s not just parents who can help support young people on their journey to work – businesses have an important role to play too.
"This can be anything from offering quality work experience and apprenticeships through to advice on what to wear on your first day and what to take to a meeting. It’s not just about the number of opportunities, it’s also about the quality of those opportunities, and any business can play a part in that,” she added.
This summer’s top tips to get on the career ladder from O2
Highlight your digital skills
In this digital age, now is the time to capitalise on the fact that you have digital skills in abundance. It’s odd that at a time when growth and jobs depend on the digital economy, the very people who hold these skills are being excluded. Draw these skills to a potential employer’s attention and show why you think they are valuable.
Get experience
Gaining experience doesn’t have to mean months of unpaid work but rather valuable experiences that will benefit both you and your employer in your new position. This could be anything from taking part in a local sport or interest group, undertaking work experience or volunteering with a local charity. It all counts and shows that you have a range of skills to draw from.
Show what you’ve learnt
When employers receive thousands of applications each year it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd. Make it easy for a recruiter to put you through to
the next stage by matching your skills with the ones that they’ve asked for in the job description.
Be prepared
When you’re getting ready for an interview make sure you’ve done all the necessary preparation. Take time to plan what you’re going to wear or how you’re going to get to the interview. These simple measures will make you feel more relaxed and you’ll be able to concentrate on the important job of selling yourself!
Demonstrate your potential
When we recruit young people at O2 we don’t expect them to be experts at this stage in their career. What we are looking for is the potential to develop. There’s an untapped wealth of skills and knowledge that sits within the youth community but many employers are not yet making the most of them. Your application or interview is your opportunity to show them what they’re missing out on.
For more careers advice, opportunities and information on O2’s new intern programme visit http://www.o2careers.co.uk.Â
FemaleFirst @FemaleFirst_UK
Shabana Adam @Shabana_FAM
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