UK Youth Unemployment: Advice for Young Job Seekers

About 1 million 16- to 24-year-olds in the UK are not in employment, education or training, and a recent report said this could rise to 1.25 million by the early 2030s without urgent government action.

With the obstacles young people face in securing employment now greater than ever, we asked readers if they had any advice for those seeking work. Here are some of their responses.

‘Don’t be afraid of being seen as cringey’

My advice would be to make your own luck. Put yourself out there, meet as many different people as you can, post content online, don’t be afraid of being seen as cringey. I messaged so many people at the start of my career for coffees, for help with interviews. Many ignored me. But some helped me along the way.

I’ve tried to lean in to fear and do things anyway. That’s served me and helped me to build skills that have been invaluable to me when the doors finally opened. It is hard, yes, but you can succeed – don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Christopher, 28, London

‘Find things that make you feel good about yourself’

I was unemployed for a couple of years, with no savings as a safety net, and the constant stream of rejection on top of the worry about my finances was incredibly hard to cope with. Your self-esteem naturally suffers – why wouldn’t it when you’re continually either being told you’re not good enough or not even worth the effort of a quick email to say you were unsuccessful?

My advice is to find cheap hobbies and things that make you feel joyful, connected to nature, and/or creative, to keep yourself sane. Volunteering can be a good way to connect with others and feel as if you’re doing something worthwhile. Staying positive is hard when the job search feels so soul-destroying, so try to build a life that makes you feel good about yourself whether you have a job or not. Kay, 35, mathematics tutor, Staffordshire

‘Visibility is everything’

My advice for young people is to talk to as many people as they can, from different backgrounds. I understand that it is not always possible for various reasons, such as anxiety, being introverted, health reasons or fatigue. But visibility is everything. Having a LinkedIn profile and being active is essential. Tell people that you’re at the beginning of your career journey. Own it!

Be very curious and interested in people’s stories. Try not to be intimidated because others are more knowledgable or experienced; admire them, and tell them how inspiring they are, and feel free to ask them for a chat or mentoring. Nikola Doanova, 31, Brighton

‘Cast your net wide’

If you’re struggling to find work, focus on securing a job for now, not for life. We all have hopes and dreams when it comes to our careers, but this can put you at a disadvantage if those ambitions are preventing you from casting the net wide enough in your job search. Core professional skills, such as communication and team work, are highly transferable, and so taking any opportunity to develop those is key. Finding another job when you already have a job is far easier and less stressful than starting from zero. Your dream job can always come into play further down the road.

Be kind to yourself. Looking for work, particularly in the current economic climate, is challenging even for experienced candidates. Be serious about your job search but also be serious about your personal wellbeing. You want to be able to bring your best self to job applications and interviews, and you can only do this if you’re looking after your mental and physical health. Ryan McKiernan, 31, managing director of a charity, London

‘You absolutely have value to offer’

You can create your own job opportunity; you just need to get a foot in the door. This could be adding value to a business by offering to work on a commission-only basis for a few months – creating marketing materials, case studies, recording interviews, conducting sales development, for example. All the above are linked to revenue generation for any business – working with a new startup or inspiring leader will give you experience that a month at home applying for jobs can’t beat.

In times like these, the opportunities go to those who aren’t afraid to take a chance and demonstrate their value. You absolutely have value to offer. From here you’ll have new connections, perspectives, and momentum. Tim Castle, author, Singapore

‘Take up the job offer’

Not having any particular skills or specialties, I came to realise that there would only ever be one job offered to me during a search and my advice to anyone is to accept that one. Employers like people who can show they are prepared to work, so take up the job offer and stick to it until you can find or earn yourself a better one. Christine, 75, Kent

‘Don’t be embarrassed to network’

1. Network. Network. Network. Use every available network you and the people around you have. Don’t be embarrassed about doing it, either. Someone will know someone who knows someone else who will help get your foot in the door or be willing to vouch for you.