You can definitely ask - you'd be surprised how far that will get you and how often people will be interested in helping out.
Do expect a very high rate of no response and rejections though. I guess same as applying for jobs in that sense.
Agreed. Some likely won't want to let people outside the organisation see how they operate though. For me, I started in a Telephony role then worked my way up but once I was 'in' it was easy to start shadowing and learning about different areas.
I would expect a slightly higher rate of acceptance to applying to jobs given the circumstances and OP is essentially offering to do work experience… which is not often paid.
It’s not that simple unfortunately - it’s actually hard to legally get away with unpaid work experience so it does need to be structured in a particular way, which may make some firms leery
I’m self employed and work alone; but I’d be delighted to have a fresh pair of (competent) eyes on my day to day without paying for it. I imagine it’d be mutually beneficial and worth it in the long run even for bigger companies.
I would do some linkedin stalking and approach people directly through that rather than a HR company. Tell them your story and a lot of people will help with advice and possibly work experience.
They might even be able to put a CV in front of the right person.
That's kind of what I was hoping for - just maybe finding somewhere where I don't hate the work and fit in well. Approaching people individually is deffo the correct call though, thanks!!
What industry are you thinking? I used a similar approach recently when I changed careers in my early mid thirties and people were tripping over themselves to help. A catchy CV will help. I wrote my own then checked it against job descriptions with AI. Don't get the AI to write it for you. It's not as good as people claim for that.
It's really good to know there are people out there that want to help!! I'm in the media industry now so moving to something like PR or a press office seems logical, and I don't really know why I'm currently being drawn to HR, it just seems like something I could do. I'm really just craving stability, I think.
There is a lot to be said for getting into a business and then looking at internal mobility. Maybe take a role you aren't 100% keen on to then side step into an area of interest.
It's much easier to apply as an internal candidate although your road might be a little longer.
Unfortunately that was sort of my plan where I am now, but that hasn't worked out so well. You're probably right in that it'd work better in a more organised company though 😂
Networking.
Get yourself on LinkedIn and network with people you know. Spread out to 2nd degree connections ("friend of a friend").
Use your profile and post updates to talk about what you've done. Intersperse with your "I'm looking to do X and y, if anyone can help let me know". Make sure you're active on engaging with others, too.
You're more likely to see success this way than just sending some speculative emails asking for an in.
I guess they get free labour for a week lol, but I do totally appreciate it's a bit weird. I have considered apprenticeships, but honestly because I don't really know where I fit, I don't want to commit to an apprenticeship and only then realise I hate whichever one I get in with. It feels unfair to the company to waste their time like that.
Thing about 1 week is you probably spend as much time explaining things as you save from the extra person.
Companies do it for school/college kids more as a community/PR thing really, and often they struggle and lean on parents to help find places. Not saying nobody will agree, just that it might be hard to find. Companies that are taking apprentices might be better set up and more amenable to your request.
Maybe some temp role might be an alternative, but many will expect you to largely hit the ground running.
Oh temp roles is a good idea too, now that I think about it. Like a low commitment way to try out a few things. I'm ok with hitting the ground running, so that's definitely a great avenue to explore, thank you!
It’s not free labour as you won’t be doing any actual work, instead you’ll be slowing down their employees as they’d need to explain everything to you and talk you through policies / procedures etc. it would actually be quite an inconvenience for the company, however if you approach companies with good ethics and values then you have a higher chance of success in shadowing.
Good luck.
Ps, you’d have more success in a role where you wouldn’t be exposed to personal / technical / sensitive data or Intellectual property. If you would expect to see any of this, I think your chances are severely reduced.
That's absolutely fair, thank you for the perspective! The data stuff is interesting, and definitely part of the reason I feel weird about it - what if the companies think I actually work for a rival and am pulling off some kind of corporate espionage?
I suppose I just wish I'd tried out a wider variety of stuff when I was 18... But you're right that my narrow-mindedness back then isn't anyone else's problem but mine!
For what it’s worth I did an apprenticeship a few years ago in business admin. and now work (for the same company) in data analysis!
The apprenticeship itself was boring and our tutor was useless, but my team made it worth sticking out and I’m very happy with my current role 😊
I just started volunteering as an adult whose been out of the workforce due to illness for 10 years and... The first two weeks I was just slowing people down.
It's not even as much if you have the skills but a lot I needed training before it was suitable to let me be less supervised with customers due to duty of care and just learning the systems. Also just knowing when to refer up to a more senior member of staff when I'm out of my depth.
Your council might have a volunteer site, you could check out if anything suitable is on there though.
I don't know what the situation is like where you are but there might be PR and HR work for charities near you that could lead on a career - good for the CV and the soul really
I did just that in my mid-40s! I'd worked for many years as a consultant at a large engineering company then took a break to have kids, working freelance for some of that time. (Seven year break from working a 'proper job' in total.) When I wanted to get back into things properly I shadowed a former colleague one day a week for ten weeks, which helped enormously when I applied for my dream job soon after. The shadowing also helped me reconnect with other former colleagues, so if I had been unsuccessful with the first job application I think that would have helped me with over potential opportunities.
Good luck on the job front, and I hope you are fighting fit again very soon.
It's really comforting to hear of people doing this sort of thing! Choosing a career straight out of uni and sticking with it forever seems so strange now that I'm looking for a change lol
Have you considered volunteering? There may be charities in your area who would really appreciate your skillset and you can use them on your CV as relevant experience. They will often be willing to act as referees after they have got to know you.
I've trawled my local council's volunteering page recently and it's a great deal of "charity shop worker wanted" and not much else. Though, I suppose emailing the local charities directly and asking about stuff that's not listed isn't a bad plan!
That's what I did when I wanted to get back into work after my children started school. I ended up helping out with admin at the regional office of a large charity.
I’m a lot older than you - I reached out via LinkedIn and heard crickets BUT it is still a route I would suggest.
Consider asking a charity if you can volunteer in their head office.
Given your age, and depending on any demographic factors, look into ‘access’ experiences to professions of interest - for example for people from low socio economic backgrounds, or from under represented groups.
HR can be hard to just turn up in, because of confidentiality, but not impossible.
Good luck!
Thank you! Maybe the cancer will help here because it makes you legally disabled - may as well get something out of it! A few people have suggested a charity and I like that idea!
Mine’s not cancer but I definitely choose to see a silver lining to my disabled status where I can!
If you want to DM about HR happy to do so (25y experience)
I am guessing others are similar, but I would have been happy to let someone shadow me some months, but it would have been a hard no others. Depends on the work and customers I had at the time.
So if someone gives you are hard no one time, gently remind them every so often you are still interested if they seem like they are amenable to the idea, it shows interest and drive, just don't be annoying about it.
Well done getting to the end of your treatment. Ask. Shy bairns get nowt. Future you doesn't care what people who don't have any relevance on your life think. However, years ago I reached out to my local council and other local community services to ask to be a volunteer. As a volunteer you're insured, it also got me a DBS, safeguarding qualifications and experience. It may not be exactly what you're looking for to begin with but it's a start to open doors. Best of luck and I wish you continued good health.
Hi,
I think two things here really matter. Size of the company and how you approach it.
I'd be clear on what your asking for and why.
State your looking for some experience in a certain field and you'd be interested in some unpaid work experience if they would allow for this.
I'd certainly give someone some help if they asked for this.
Good luck withe everything.
Yes, you definitely can. Try to connect with people on LinkedIn or Twitter (that's how I got most of my shadowing experience) and ask for shadowing not work experience. Work experience tends to be an actual process within a company whereas shadowing is more casual and more likely to happen.
I wish you the best of luck!
A lot of businesses in PR might send represtitives to local networking events. Might be worth searching for these events, registering in your capacity as a freelancer and going and meeting the people there and have conversations with people in the fields you are interested in.
I’m 24 and work in HR, and have done since I left uni. I personally love it and think it’s got something for everyone. If you have any questions about what it’s like, let me know or drop me a message!
I would suggest applying for grad schemes with training. We have loads of people joining grad schemes (civil service) who aren’t recent grads but are starting a second career. Grad schemes often give you leeway to move round an organisation and try out different things
For HR you can find “HR assistant” jobs via temping agencies. There are no real qualifications required apart from some basic ability to use a computer. I did this before uni to save up some buffer money.
That’d give you a good idea of what HR involves & give you some solid experience for applying to real jobs.
What do you do now? There are probably some transferable skills if you look at it the right way.
Someone else suggested temping and I like that as a way to try out a few different things. I work in the media atm but my degree was in communications so I'm sure there's something transferrable there!
You might have good luck with some NHS trusts with this tbh. The NHS has HR departments like any other organisation, and some trusts are really open to engaging with the public (others not so much). NHS Blood & Transplant in particular would be my suggestion, if you live near any of their major sites
Good luck :) I know my particular NHS trust is really open to the public and we run a lot different types of formal apprenticeship and also more informal things - but it does really depend on the trust unfortunately
Don’t sell yourself short, any company worth it will understand and hire you on your merit alone.
Do not give your time away for free, use your degree and amazing life experience to promote yourself!
Call up some charities.
They will still have PR and HR department and that are also welcoming of volunteers.
Not sure that country you are in but in the UK a lot of people use volunteering at charities and away into an industry.
Many will offer free training too.
I had no skills or qualifications and had been out of work for a long time.
I volunteered at a homeless charity, I was given free training , first aid , health and safety etc.
I got an energy level job. I have now been in the same charity for 15 years and am an area manager.
They have paid for me to get a degree, go on management courses.
Volunteering can get you very far .
I would recommend temping, even if it's something completely unrelated.
I had several positions in various companies, doing things like working on a call desk or reception. Every chance I'd get, I'd talk to people and explain I wanted to work in finance.
I did my main job well, explained I was open for work, and wanted a career in finance. I'd speak to people in finance, ask them for tips and what qualifications they did, and how they got into it.
When they needed a temp for a position, they'd come to me. Because they'd met me and I knew the company systems, I was a safe bet.
I used to temp during Easter/Summer/Christmas holidays while I was at uni and in my gap year, and would move to a different position closer to where I wanted to be each time I came back. It also gave me a lot of experience which was helpful padding out my CV. When I left uni I had two job offers for entry positions from my temping contacts.
It's also a good opportunity for you to network, find out what kind of company you want to work for, and get more experience in related areas while earning.
I do like the idea of temping - I'm still not sure what exactly I want to do so I think it might be a great chance to try on a few different hats. Thank you for sharing your experience!!
Do you live in (or near enough) a university town? If so, find out what they do for temp staff. Many either use a specific temp agency, or have their own in house one that you can join. Register with them and accept any role they offer you. It might only be for a few days or weeks, or it could be months. The key is to get your foot in the door. It might be low pay/grade roles but if you're willing to shadow people for free then I assume you'd be okay with that?
I work at a uni and know loads of people who temp almost continually and love the flexibility and diversity of doing different roles for short periods of time in all diffent areas of the uni. You get loads of different experience, and once you get a good reputation, people will ask for you next time they need a temp. Also, many, many people who work at unis, myself included, started as temps. Do well in a temp role and you're in a great position when a permanent one comes up. If you're particularly interested in HR then I'm sure an HR role will come up sooner or later! Unis also have various marketing, press and comms offices that might fit with your PR interest.
Also, once you get on a permanent contract, benefits including sick pay are usually significantly better than you'd get in the private sector. Hi from a fellow cancer survivor that had a paid year off sick! Honestly it's one of the reasons I stay where I am, "what if it comes back" is always at the back if your mind, innit?! (Sending hugs x)
Have you thought about approaching a charity? They often use volunteers for all sorts of admin roles, so it wouldn't be seen as odd. Of course the roles that you've mentioned are paid and need experience etc, but they'd probably be happy to have someone young along to see what's what and potentially help out. Worth a try!
(I used to work in a conservation charity and we had both long and short term volunteer admin and office staff that were really vital!)
Good luck, and wish you good health too
A few people have mentioned this and it's a great idea - I've been wanting to support the charities that have supported me while I've been ill so this might be a good two birds one stone scenario!
Impossible to say for sure, as it depends on the company.
Companies might see it as a burden, cost and risk. You will need some sort of access and supervision.
Possible with zero benefit to them.
However if it was a company that you would genuinely like to work for and possibly hiring (or even just thinking about it). I can see that getting you through the door and sized up, would be a great way to see if you could fit for a job.
I would 100% ask in both cases, a bit of back story wouldn't hurt to explain why someone wants to work unpaid.
While unusual, you have a very good reason for asking prospective employers. As other posters have said, you may struggle to get an unpaid internship due to employment laws but it is possible that through personal connections, you may be able to shadow someone.
I'd suggest reaching out to prospective employers and being very clear on the cancer sparking a real desire to re-evaluate, play up on being part of a team, working together to achieve a goal etc as opposed to freelance meaning no sick pay. It may also help to use LinkedIn and Instagram to forge personal connections.
PR is certainly an industry where you may be able to take on a junior flexible role, for example helping with specific campaigns, curating social media accounts or running specific events with deadlines. You could look to transition gradually.
I'd say HR is less fluffy and required a decent knowledge of employment laws, processes and good attention to details. You may find the best route into it is by joining a company in a different role, learning the culture and applying for internal promotions.
Thank you - that's really great practical advice. Honestly I was this close to quitting and taking a role as a librarian a few months ago so I'm looking forward to trying different doors!
I used to be a press officer and once did a shadowing swap with a press officer from another organisation (I worked for a charity, she was civil service). I say go for it.
Feel free to DM any questions about PR, my experience of it is quite old now but I'll answer what I can.
I volunteered in a vet clinic when I was about 25 and they took me on, then when I wanted a career change I shadowed an electrician, which was in my thirties. It really helped me move on to where i am now. It's been really helpful but I feel like as time goes on there will be less opportunities for people to shadow, an example the vet I volunteered at was bought by a corporate who probably wouldn't allow someone to come in to shadow maybe because of insurance reasons or whatever. The electrician I shadowed was a one man band so he it's up to him if he's OK with someone tagging along.
I don't think it's weird when youre older it's been sooooo helpful in my life to volunteer/shadow people, like if you've got the time to do it then you should.
Don’t ask don’t get!
A lot of organisations have work experience sections on their website. You could try contacting the learning and development department to see if they have any opportunities or contact someone from LinkedIn.
If you have done freelancing with any organisations that you have built a rapport with or have any friends/ family that would be able to ask at their work too.
It’s difficult as there would be an element of data protection and protected knowledge that they wouldn’t want to share.
You could always try temping and try and get a few different assistant or admin jobs in the sectors you’re interested in. Any entry level jobs into an organisation would allow you to gain experience but also provide you the opportunity of seeing what a role is like from a person inside an organisation
I have experience of being extremely cheeky in a very nice way. Basically, with my business development attitude, what's the worst-case scenario? They don't even reply or say no. Big deal. However, this approach can and has proved to be commercially rewarding and often respected. It demonstrates a very driven character, forward thinking, definitely not a thin-skinned individual, resourceful, and lateral thinking. It could, in some respects, be seen as a back door job application and interview in one hit.
You literally have zero to lose.
Quick note: This approach allows you both ends of your personal spectrum. The obvious roles/companies and the absolute dream companies, environments, and roles.
My BDM background is high-end commercial real estate and military contracting. I am so non technical that it's ridiculous to think of the companies I've worked for and the engineering solutions we provided. Within that, the clients I've developed with this very approach are not a fluke. The only rule for this bold approach is NO BULLSHIT. If you are a genuine and confident person with a brilliant initial introduction, the character portrayed in that is your hook. To perfect that may take a few hits, but you literally can approach organisations you would ordinarily consider unreachable. I personally get a huge buzz from this, and I promise you will be surprised by the outcomes. Very, very few people would even consider it. You're there already.
Most sincerely the best of luck, because we all need a sprinkling of that, but attitude can nudge it your favour 😉 👍🇬🇧
The most important thing is the approach. The very first contact has to be 👌, but once you've perfected that intro, you can tweek it as required. 😉👍
I've just had a kidney transplant. You've just got over cancer (holy shit). Wtf can possibly intimidate someone who's just beaten that 😎
Do a dive on LinkedIn and try to identify specific individuals who have the ability to affect the outcome of your initial contract. Put the time in, do the research. If you have a person to aim at, your approach has value. You can not send this kind of approach to HR. Unorthodox has to be personal.
You can definitely ask - you'd be surprised how far that will get you and how often people will be interested in helping out. Do expect a very high rate of no response and rejections though. I guess same as applying for jobs in that sense.
Agreed. Some likely won't want to let people outside the organisation see how they operate though. For me, I started in a Telephony role then worked my way up but once I was 'in' it was easy to start shadowing and learning about different areas.
I would expect a slightly higher rate of acceptance to applying to jobs given the circumstances and OP is essentially offering to do work experience… which is not often paid.
It’s not that simple unfortunately - it’s actually hard to legally get away with unpaid work experience so it does need to be structured in a particular way, which may make some firms leery
Fair enough. I didn’t really consider the legalities of it.
Most don’t but bigger companies have become more wary in recent years - we used to just give work experience out all over the place lol
I’m self employed and work alone; but I’d be delighted to have a fresh pair of (competent) eyes on my day to day without paying for it. I imagine it’d be mutually beneficial and worth it in the long run even for bigger companies.
I would do some linkedin stalking and approach people directly through that rather than a HR company. Tell them your story and a lot of people will help with advice and possibly work experience. They might even be able to put a CV in front of the right person.
That's kind of what I was hoping for - just maybe finding somewhere where I don't hate the work and fit in well. Approaching people individually is deffo the correct call though, thanks!!
What industry are you thinking? I used a similar approach recently when I changed careers in my early mid thirties and people were tripping over themselves to help. A catchy CV will help. I wrote my own then checked it against job descriptions with AI. Don't get the AI to write it for you. It's not as good as people claim for that.
It's really good to know there are people out there that want to help!! I'm in the media industry now so moving to something like PR or a press office seems logical, and I don't really know why I'm currently being drawn to HR, it just seems like something I could do. I'm really just craving stability, I think.
There is a lot to be said for getting into a business and then looking at internal mobility. Maybe take a role you aren't 100% keen on to then side step into an area of interest. It's much easier to apply as an internal candidate although your road might be a little longer.
Unfortunately that was sort of my plan where I am now, but that hasn't worked out so well. You're probably right in that it'd work better in a more organised company though 😂
Well, good luck with whatever you end up doing. As my old gran used to say, "shy bairns get nowt"
Networking. Get yourself on LinkedIn and network with people you know. Spread out to 2nd degree connections ("friend of a friend"). Use your profile and post updates to talk about what you've done. Intersperse with your "I'm looking to do X and y, if anyone can help let me know". Make sure you're active on engaging with others, too. You're more likely to see success this way than just sending some speculative emails asking for an in.
I think I underestimate LinkedIn, good call!
It's a bit odd but you can ask - main question might be them working out what they get from it. Have you considered an apprenticeship?
I guess they get free labour for a week lol, but I do totally appreciate it's a bit weird. I have considered apprenticeships, but honestly because I don't really know where I fit, I don't want to commit to an apprenticeship and only then realise I hate whichever one I get in with. It feels unfair to the company to waste their time like that.
Thing about 1 week is you probably spend as much time explaining things as you save from the extra person. Companies do it for school/college kids more as a community/PR thing really, and often they struggle and lean on parents to help find places. Not saying nobody will agree, just that it might be hard to find. Companies that are taking apprentices might be better set up and more amenable to your request. Maybe some temp role might be an alternative, but many will expect you to largely hit the ground running.
Oh temp roles is a good idea too, now that I think about it. Like a low commitment way to try out a few things. I'm ok with hitting the ground running, so that's definitely a great avenue to explore, thank you!
It’s not free labour as you won’t be doing any actual work, instead you’ll be slowing down their employees as they’d need to explain everything to you and talk you through policies / procedures etc. it would actually be quite an inconvenience for the company, however if you approach companies with good ethics and values then you have a higher chance of success in shadowing. Good luck. Ps, you’d have more success in a role where you wouldn’t be exposed to personal / technical / sensitive data or Intellectual property. If you would expect to see any of this, I think your chances are severely reduced.
That's absolutely fair, thank you for the perspective! The data stuff is interesting, and definitely part of the reason I feel weird about it - what if the companies think I actually work for a rival and am pulling off some kind of corporate espionage? I suppose I just wish I'd tried out a wider variety of stuff when I was 18... But you're right that my narrow-mindedness back then isn't anyone else's problem but mine!
For what it’s worth I did an apprenticeship a few years ago in business admin. and now work (for the same company) in data analysis! The apprenticeship itself was boring and our tutor was useless, but my team made it worth sticking out and I’m very happy with my current role 😊
That's a really interesting perspective, thank you!!
I just started volunteering as an adult whose been out of the workforce due to illness for 10 years and... The first two weeks I was just slowing people down. It's not even as much if you have the skills but a lot I needed training before it was suitable to let me be less supervised with customers due to duty of care and just learning the systems. Also just knowing when to refer up to a more senior member of staff when I'm out of my depth. Your council might have a volunteer site, you could check out if anything suitable is on there though.
I don't know what the situation is like where you are but there might be PR and HR work for charities near you that could lead on a career - good for the CV and the soul really
I did just that in my mid-40s! I'd worked for many years as a consultant at a large engineering company then took a break to have kids, working freelance for some of that time. (Seven year break from working a 'proper job' in total.) When I wanted to get back into things properly I shadowed a former colleague one day a week for ten weeks, which helped enormously when I applied for my dream job soon after. The shadowing also helped me reconnect with other former colleagues, so if I had been unsuccessful with the first job application I think that would have helped me with over potential opportunities. Good luck on the job front, and I hope you are fighting fit again very soon.
It's really comforting to hear of people doing this sort of thing! Choosing a career straight out of uni and sticking with it forever seems so strange now that I'm looking for a change lol
Have you considered volunteering? There may be charities in your area who would really appreciate your skillset and you can use them on your CV as relevant experience. They will often be willing to act as referees after they have got to know you.
I've trawled my local council's volunteering page recently and it's a great deal of "charity shop worker wanted" and not much else. Though, I suppose emailing the local charities directly and asking about stuff that's not listed isn't a bad plan!
That's what I did when I wanted to get back into work after my children started school. I ended up helping out with admin at the regional office of a large charity.
That sounds like a real good plan - thank you!
And if you can shadow the right person they might just offer you a job. So good luck.
I’m a lot older than you - I reached out via LinkedIn and heard crickets BUT it is still a route I would suggest. Consider asking a charity if you can volunteer in their head office. Given your age, and depending on any demographic factors, look into ‘access’ experiences to professions of interest - for example for people from low socio economic backgrounds, or from under represented groups. HR can be hard to just turn up in, because of confidentiality, but not impossible. Good luck!
Thank you! Maybe the cancer will help here because it makes you legally disabled - may as well get something out of it! A few people have suggested a charity and I like that idea!
Yes, and remember that your qualification as disabled under the Equality Act is lifelong - even recovered. Best wishes
I've been calling it a cancer perk 😂 thank you!!
Mine’s not cancer but I definitely choose to see a silver lining to my disabled status where I can! If you want to DM about HR happy to do so (25y experience)
Oh thank you that's so kind! I'm a little poorly atm but I'll reach out in a little bit if that's ok!
Not a problem :) wish you better
I am guessing others are similar, but I would have been happy to let someone shadow me some months, but it would have been a hard no others. Depends on the work and customers I had at the time. So if someone gives you are hard no one time, gently remind them every so often you are still interested if they seem like they are amenable to the idea, it shows interest and drive, just don't be annoying about it.
That's fab to know - thank you!
Well done getting to the end of your treatment. Ask. Shy bairns get nowt. Future you doesn't care what people who don't have any relevance on your life think. However, years ago I reached out to my local council and other local community services to ask to be a volunteer. As a volunteer you're insured, it also got me a DBS, safeguarding qualifications and experience. It may not be exactly what you're looking for to begin with but it's a start to open doors. Best of luck and I wish you continued good health.
Thank you! That's a great shout, it seems like a less "super weird" way to go about things!
Hi, I think two things here really matter. Size of the company and how you approach it. I'd be clear on what your asking for and why. State your looking for some experience in a certain field and you'd be interested in some unpaid work experience if they would allow for this. I'd certainly give someone some help if they asked for this. Good luck withe everything.
Thank you, that's really helpful!
Yes, you definitely can. Try to connect with people on LinkedIn or Twitter (that's how I got most of my shadowing experience) and ask for shadowing not work experience. Work experience tends to be an actual process within a company whereas shadowing is more casual and more likely to happen. I wish you the best of luck!
Thank you!!!
A lot of businesses in PR might send represtitives to local networking events. Might be worth searching for these events, registering in your capacity as a freelancer and going and meeting the people there and have conversations with people in the fields you are interested in.
Oh I like this idea! I'll have to get googling
GL
Explain your situation, being as factual as you can. An honest approach from someone willing to give their time and learn will likely result in a yes
I’m 24 and work in HR, and have done since I left uni. I personally love it and think it’s got something for everyone. If you have any questions about what it’s like, let me know or drop me a message!
Thank you! That's really kind! I'm a bit poorly at the moment but I'll reach out when I'm feeling better if that's okay!
I would suggest applying for grad schemes with training. We have loads of people joining grad schemes (civil service) who aren’t recent grads but are starting a second career. Grad schemes often give you leeway to move round an organisation and try out different things
That's a great idea, thank you!
For HR you can find “HR assistant” jobs via temping agencies. There are no real qualifications required apart from some basic ability to use a computer. I did this before uni to save up some buffer money. That’d give you a good idea of what HR involves & give you some solid experience for applying to real jobs. What do you do now? There are probably some transferable skills if you look at it the right way.
Someone else suggested temping and I like that as a way to try out a few different things. I work in the media atm but my degree was in communications so I'm sure there's something transferrable there!
You might have good luck with some NHS trusts with this tbh. The NHS has HR departments like any other organisation, and some trusts are really open to engaging with the public (others not so much). NHS Blood & Transplant in particular would be my suggestion, if you live near any of their major sites
I had considered the NHS actually - it'd be nice to engage with them after how well they've looked after me this year! Thank you :)
Good luck :) I know my particular NHS trust is really open to the public and we run a lot different types of formal apprenticeship and also more informal things - but it does really depend on the trust unfortunately
Don’t sell yourself short, any company worth it will understand and hire you on your merit alone. Do not give your time away for free, use your degree and amazing life experience to promote yourself!
Call up some charities. They will still have PR and HR department and that are also welcoming of volunteers. Not sure that country you are in but in the UK a lot of people use volunteering at charities and away into an industry. Many will offer free training too. I had no skills or qualifications and had been out of work for a long time. I volunteered at a homeless charity, I was given free training , first aid , health and safety etc. I got an energy level job. I have now been in the same charity for 15 years and am an area manager. They have paid for me to get a degree, go on management courses. Volunteering can get you very far .
I would recommend temping, even if it's something completely unrelated. I had several positions in various companies, doing things like working on a call desk or reception. Every chance I'd get, I'd talk to people and explain I wanted to work in finance. I did my main job well, explained I was open for work, and wanted a career in finance. I'd speak to people in finance, ask them for tips and what qualifications they did, and how they got into it. When they needed a temp for a position, they'd come to me. Because they'd met me and I knew the company systems, I was a safe bet. I used to temp during Easter/Summer/Christmas holidays while I was at uni and in my gap year, and would move to a different position closer to where I wanted to be each time I came back. It also gave me a lot of experience which was helpful padding out my CV. When I left uni I had two job offers for entry positions from my temping contacts. It's also a good opportunity for you to network, find out what kind of company you want to work for, and get more experience in related areas while earning.
I do like the idea of temping - I'm still not sure what exactly I want to do so I think it might be a great chance to try on a few different hats. Thank you for sharing your experience!!
It's great to help you figure out what you want without committing to something.
Charities have volunteer positions in PR departments. My advice is see if they have any offices near you? Don’t do HR, it’s a bottomless void.
Do you live in (or near enough) a university town? If so, find out what they do for temp staff. Many either use a specific temp agency, or have their own in house one that you can join. Register with them and accept any role they offer you. It might only be for a few days or weeks, or it could be months. The key is to get your foot in the door. It might be low pay/grade roles but if you're willing to shadow people for free then I assume you'd be okay with that? I work at a uni and know loads of people who temp almost continually and love the flexibility and diversity of doing different roles for short periods of time in all diffent areas of the uni. You get loads of different experience, and once you get a good reputation, people will ask for you next time they need a temp. Also, many, many people who work at unis, myself included, started as temps. Do well in a temp role and you're in a great position when a permanent one comes up. If you're particularly interested in HR then I'm sure an HR role will come up sooner or later! Unis also have various marketing, press and comms offices that might fit with your PR interest. Also, once you get on a permanent contract, benefits including sick pay are usually significantly better than you'd get in the private sector. Hi from a fellow cancer survivor that had a paid year off sick! Honestly it's one of the reasons I stay where I am, "what if it comes back" is always at the back if your mind, innit?! (Sending hugs x)
Actually yes there's a few uni towns not far away - that's a really good shout. Thank you for the hugs, back at you!!
Have you thought about approaching a charity? They often use volunteers for all sorts of admin roles, so it wouldn't be seen as odd. Of course the roles that you've mentioned are paid and need experience etc, but they'd probably be happy to have someone young along to see what's what and potentially help out. Worth a try! (I used to work in a conservation charity and we had both long and short term volunteer admin and office staff that were really vital!) Good luck, and wish you good health too
A few people have mentioned this and it's a great idea - I've been wanting to support the charities that have supported me while I've been ill so this might be a good two birds one stone scenario!
Impossible to say for sure, as it depends on the company. Companies might see it as a burden, cost and risk. You will need some sort of access and supervision. Possible with zero benefit to them. However if it was a company that you would genuinely like to work for and possibly hiring (or even just thinking about it). I can see that getting you through the door and sized up, would be a great way to see if you could fit for a job. I would 100% ask in both cases, a bit of back story wouldn't hurt to explain why someone wants to work unpaid.
While unusual, you have a very good reason for asking prospective employers. As other posters have said, you may struggle to get an unpaid internship due to employment laws but it is possible that through personal connections, you may be able to shadow someone. I'd suggest reaching out to prospective employers and being very clear on the cancer sparking a real desire to re-evaluate, play up on being part of a team, working together to achieve a goal etc as opposed to freelance meaning no sick pay. It may also help to use LinkedIn and Instagram to forge personal connections. PR is certainly an industry where you may be able to take on a junior flexible role, for example helping with specific campaigns, curating social media accounts or running specific events with deadlines. You could look to transition gradually. I'd say HR is less fluffy and required a decent knowledge of employment laws, processes and good attention to details. You may find the best route into it is by joining a company in a different role, learning the culture and applying for internal promotions.
Thank you - that's really great practical advice. Honestly I was this close to quitting and taking a role as a librarian a few months ago so I'm looking forward to trying different doors!
I used to be a press officer and once did a shadowing swap with a press officer from another organisation (I worked for a charity, she was civil service). I say go for it. Feel free to DM any questions about PR, my experience of it is quite old now but I'll answer what I can.
Thank you, that's really kind! I've just had a round of chemo (my last one!) so I'm a little poorly now but I'll try to reach out next week!
I volunteered in a vet clinic when I was about 25 and they took me on, then when I wanted a career change I shadowed an electrician, which was in my thirties. It really helped me move on to where i am now. It's been really helpful but I feel like as time goes on there will be less opportunities for people to shadow, an example the vet I volunteered at was bought by a corporate who probably wouldn't allow someone to come in to shadow maybe because of insurance reasons or whatever. The electrician I shadowed was a one man band so he it's up to him if he's OK with someone tagging along. I don't think it's weird when youre older it's been sooooo helpful in my life to volunteer/shadow people, like if you've got the time to do it then you should.
It's so good to hear that sort of personal experience, it all just depends doesn't it? Well done for taking the plunge!
Don’t ask don’t get! A lot of organisations have work experience sections on their website. You could try contacting the learning and development department to see if they have any opportunities or contact someone from LinkedIn. If you have done freelancing with any organisations that you have built a rapport with or have any friends/ family that would be able to ask at their work too. It’s difficult as there would be an element of data protection and protected knowledge that they wouldn’t want to share. You could always try temping and try and get a few different assistant or admin jobs in the sectors you’re interested in. Any entry level jobs into an organisation would allow you to gain experience but also provide you the opportunity of seeing what a role is like from a person inside an organisation
Thank you, that's a really helpful perspective! Much to consider from this thread! ❤️
You can very well ask but you might not get many responses
I volunteered at 2 schools ( but I was working full time too) before I got a job in one! I don’t see any reason why you can’t ask to do that.
I have experience of being extremely cheeky in a very nice way. Basically, with my business development attitude, what's the worst-case scenario? They don't even reply or say no. Big deal. However, this approach can and has proved to be commercially rewarding and often respected. It demonstrates a very driven character, forward thinking, definitely not a thin-skinned individual, resourceful, and lateral thinking. It could, in some respects, be seen as a back door job application and interview in one hit. You literally have zero to lose. Quick note: This approach allows you both ends of your personal spectrum. The obvious roles/companies and the absolute dream companies, environments, and roles. My BDM background is high-end commercial real estate and military contracting. I am so non technical that it's ridiculous to think of the companies I've worked for and the engineering solutions we provided. Within that, the clients I've developed with this very approach are not a fluke. The only rule for this bold approach is NO BULLSHIT. If you are a genuine and confident person with a brilliant initial introduction, the character portrayed in that is your hook. To perfect that may take a few hits, but you literally can approach organisations you would ordinarily consider unreachable. I personally get a huge buzz from this, and I promise you will be surprised by the outcomes. Very, very few people would even consider it. You're there already. Most sincerely the best of luck, because we all need a sprinkling of that, but attitude can nudge it your favour 😉 👍🇬🇧
This is so inspiring honestly I'm ready to start sending emails 😂 thank you!!
The most important thing is the approach. The very first contact has to be 👌, but once you've perfected that intro, you can tweek it as required. 😉👍 I've just had a kidney transplant. You've just got over cancer (holy shit). Wtf can possibly intimidate someone who's just beaten that 😎
Do a dive on LinkedIn and try to identify specific individuals who have the ability to affect the outcome of your initial contract. Put the time in, do the research. If you have a person to aim at, your approach has value. You can not send this kind of approach to HR. Unorthodox has to be personal.
No because there’s a risk that you might see confidential information.