Simply Hired UK Blog

Youth Unemployment in the UK: Radical Ways to Assist Young Job Seekers

There is no doubt that our current coalition government is facing an extremely difficult set of circumstances at present. As they strive to keep the nation from the jaws of recession and economic growth continues to splutter like a smoker during a marathon, imagine their consternation last week when it was revealed that more than 1 million of UK citizens aged between 18 and 24 were officially unemployed. Not only this, but according to a recent survey the Great British Public also believe that they are not doing enough to combat youth employment and encourage young adults into work.

In the survey carried out by RecruitmentGenius.com, it was revealed that 58% of 597 UK respondents believed that the government was not doing enough to reduce youth unemployment. Broken down further, 66% of those aged over 55 felt that the government needed to do more, whereas just 52% of those aged between 18 and 34 shared the same belief. In essence it is those with a greater experience of employment markets who feel that the coalition  are lacking in both insight and application, whereas those who are afflicted by high youth unemployment seem more oblivious to their plight.

The Key Areas of Concern

The frustrating thing for the government of course is that while surveys generally reveal where they are going wrong, they do not offer practical advice which may help resolve the issue. Their first port of call must be to address the core issues, and more specifically where there are gaps between young adults skills and knowledge and the job vacancies of today: 

• Expectation: School, college and university does not give an accurate reflection of working life, and this is supported by the high number of graduates who struggle to find or adapt to the work place once they have qualified.
• Ambition: Similarly, there is a widening chasm between the roles that youngsters covet and those which are available in the current employment markets. This translates into the skills they acquire, and leaves them under equipped to find work in a struggling economy.
• Environment: With case studies showing that individuals have been able to live comfortable if modest lifestyles while living on job seekers allowance and other benefits for years, then do we live in an environment where is crucial to enable us to live and enjoy specific privileges?

How Can the Government Tackle These Issues?

With a set of potential problems identified, the governments hardest challenge is to solve them. One thing is for sure, to tackle such a significant problem of youth unemployment they must be willing to be inventive and turn radical concepts into practical applications to get young adults into work: - 

• It is time for schools and educational bodies to place a greater emphasis on work experience. Perhaps they could consider introducing relevant placements to younger students, or increasing the amount of time that students spend in a work place learning about the professional environment.
• Although we live in a free society, there is nothing wrong in the government and parents taking a student or their child in hand and encouraging them into thriving industries. Changing the curriculum to reflect evolving markets is an option, as for example many youngsters continue to want to work in the traditional media industry despite it falling victim to online growth and mobile technology advancements.
• There have been calls to reduce benefits and adapt the system for years, but no government has yet to put tangible ideas into action. Coercing young and long term job seekers into voluntary placements would be a positive step, certainly in terms of teaching the value of work and how job satisfaction creates a sense of worth.

Do you have any ideas on how to reduce youth unemployment? Please let us know your thoughts or tweets to @simplyhireduk.

Youth Unemployment in the UK: An Argument for and Against Young British Job Seekers

As the UK faces up to its highest youth unemployment figures of all time, there is something of a debate concerning the issues at the heart of the matter. Just as with the riots that disturbed the UK during the summer, opinions are divided as to whether the majority of the young unemployed are simply members of a lost and idle generation, or whether they represent a forgotten underclass who have been let down by consecutive governments. So do young job seekers in Britain lack the self motivation to work, or are they victims of a perilous set of economic and political circumstances?

The Case Against the Youth of the UK

There are many social observers who feel that the events which unfolded this year had been due for some time. From the riots that spread throughout Britain in July to the revelation that 1 million young adults are without work in the UK, there has been a depressingly negative representation of youth which to many suggests that they are a generation without respect or perspective. Consider the following:

• In terms of educational opportunities, Britain offers one of the most accessible programs of learning anywhere in the world. With education free up to A-Level, heavy investment in apprenticeships and heavy subsidies for those who take higher education,  UK adolescents have no end of options to achieve job worthy qualifications and form the foundation of a successful career.
• While government investment into youth products has been slashed in recent years, this is the result of a recession which has seen many public sector activities suffer. Budget cuts are a necessary if unpleasant aspect of modern government, and young adults must be more mature and focused to achieve their educational goals.
• The family unit is fragmenting in Britain, with divorce rates high and traditional family values no longer as strong as they were during previous decades. With unemployment high throughout all age demographics in the UK, claiming benefits is becoming a prominent in families and creating a generation that does not have the need or the inclination to work.

The Case for the Youth of the UK

Others would put forward an entirely conflicting argument, which says that while the manifestation of youth issues was indeed inevitable, this was due to government negligence and a desire in many to promote change for young UK citizens. For example: 

• Education may well be largely free and accessible in the UK, but is it relevant? As more and more school leavers enter the employment world without a fundamental knowledge of economics, an understanding of the workplace or other key trade skills, it appears that the British curriculum falls well short of meeting the job requirements of today.
• While too many budget cuts can actively stall economic growth, slashing investment into youth or community projects can generate feelings of disengagement and frustration among young job seekers. In an economy which is already seeing job creation stall and an increasing number of job cuts, this only darkens the young job seekers outlook.
• The recent recreation of the Jarrow march proved that many young job seekers do indeed want to work, and that they are restricted by the circumstances which surround them more than a lack of self motivation. Though benefit pay outs are disproportionately high in the UK, it is only a minority of young job seekers who refuse to work and cast the majority under the same cloud of suspicion.

Undoubtedly there is an element of unfair judgement in the youth of today, but there is also a case to argue that many do not take advantage of the UK's fair and accessible educational programs. What are your thoughts on this debate, and how can youth unemployment be resolved?

Happy National Freelancers Day!

As the UK economy and its brands celebrate National Freelancers Day, it is important to consider the contribution made by both consultants and contractors during the economic downturn. Not only this, but as recession continues to haunt the UK economy and threaten to alter it drastically through the next 5 years, it may now be time to assess whether freelancing will emerge as the preferred working method of the future. So how does outsourcing help to boost the economy and those who work within it?

The Benefit of Outsourcing and Freelancing

In a recession, individuals respond to unemployment by spending less and reinvesting a reduced sum back into the economy. For businesses, this means that they are less likely to commit to hiring permanent members of staff, and so are faced with the possibility of stagnating and eventually ceasing to trade in the long term.

By outsourcing work, companies can create flexible working arrangements and hire specialist staff only for the duration of a specific assignment. By paying individuals to work on single projects, they are saving money while attempting to increase revenue.

Similarly, businesses can save valuable money in terms of office space and equipment, as freelancers often work remotely and use their own tools and devices. So brands can maintain smaller and more affordable workspaces, and keep logistical costs down to a minimum. 

For those who are unemployed or seeking a more independent mode of working, this provides an opportunity to work from home and dictate the terms of their own success. As outsourcing is now an increasingly prominent part of contemporary business, freelancing is emerging as crucial to the performance of an under achieving economy.

Is Freelancing the Path for You?

The meeting of slow economic growth and high unemployment has created an ideal opportunity for freelancing to bloom, so it is worth considering whether this could be a career option for you. It is an extremely flexible and rewarding mode of working, but this does not mean that it is suitable for everyone. So consider the following:

• Although outsourcing is a growing trend across several industries and occupations, you generally require a tangible and marketable skill in order to become a freelancer. Website design, content writing and IT security are all viable outlets for freelancing, and can provide profitable employment on an independent basis.

• There is a significant element of entrepreneurial ability required to be a freelancer, as you must be able to market yourself and your skills to potential employers. Rather than relying on a regular wage and instruction, you must be self-motivated enough to find and fulfill your own contracts. 

• Similarly, you must display the discipline and organisational skills in order to succeed, as freelancing requires you to work from home and on any number of projects simultaneously. Without the skill to prioritize your workload and meet deadlines, a career as a freelancer would prove to be a short lived one.

Youth Unemployment in the UK: Where Do the Issues Lie?

So youth unemployment finally hit the one million mark in the UK last week, which was as depressing a portent for the coalition government as it was predictable. Despite significant investment in apprenticeship schemes throughout the country, a soaring number of British citizens aged between 16 and 24 are finding themselves out of work and without the skills to make a mark in the world of employment. However there is some debate as to where the true issues lie in this matter, and more significantly whether upbringing or sub-standard education is at the heart of rising youth unemployment.

Benefit Culture in the UK and Parental Responsibility

A perceived benefit culture in the UK is undoubtedly a factor in driving high youth unemployment, and the volume in which youngsters claim benefits and job seekers allowance over a prolonged period of time is troubling. There is an element of parental responsibility at the root of this issue, especially when you consider the concept of learned behaviour and the guardians status as a role model. The statistics themselves are shocking. In April it was reported that a staggering 80,000 claimed benefit money for issues which were addiction related, while north of the border in Scotland just over 500,000 individuals were claiming job seekers allowance in the third quarter of 2011.

If children grow in an environment where neither parental guardian works, then regardless of the circumstances behind this they will begin to accept this as a state of normality. When this occurs in a political climate where benefits are made easily accessible and investment in non-critical youth projects becomes minimalized, then you are left with disengaged adolescents who lack motivation to work. This does not account for the majority of unemployed youngsters of course, but it does help to explain the record high levels currently being experienced in the UK

Education in 2011: Should it be Adapted to Suit the Times?

As the recent recreation of the 1936 Jarrow march against youth unemployment showed, there is in fact a core of young people in this country who desperately want to work. Despite this excess of willing they are hindered by a lack of relevant skills, and there is more than a suggestion that the fairly rigid UK curriculum is not tailored to suit the growth industries of 2011. As energy management, the environmental sector and financial services all continue to thrive, these subjects remain largely neglected by comprehensive schools throughout the land.

While youngsters continue to be taught the established basics of English, Maths and Science, more practical and beneficial subjects such as economics and environmental practice remain marginalized in mainstream education. Even IT, which is more prominent in education than it was 10 years ago, could benefit from being diversified and taught to students on a far deeper level. These are the skills which are needed in the modern world of work, and without these the current generation of school leavers will find it hard to secure stable and long term employment.

The Bottom Line

Clearly parents can play a role in reducing youth unemployment, but it is the government and its policies on benefits and education which will ultimately play the pivotal role in galvanizing UK youngsters. They must take responsibility for its young citizens as a collective, and strive to create an economy where not only is it financially essential for young adults to work but also one where there are jobs being created and individuals with the relevant skills to perform them. Otherwise, Britain must face up to the prospect of a lost generation and decades of rising unemployment.

Where do you think the main issue lies with youth unemployment? If you are a young adult and unemployed yourself, what are your concerns? Please let us know your thoughts.

Tough Interview Question: What Will You Do if You Don’t Get the Position?

‘What will you do if you don’t get the position?’ is a challenging and unheralded interview question, and one that demands a certain amount of consideration to answer effectively. So what is the purpose of this question, and how can you best satisfy your employer’s demands?

Why Do Employers Ask This Question?

This question probes several different aspects of your philosophy as both a job seeker and an individual, and more specifically the way in which you conduct your search for employment. So before it is posed in an interview situation, consider the following:

• Employers are often drawn to well-organised individuals, especially those who can implement strategies and counter strategies to account for all possible twists and turns. This includes being prepared for all possible outcomes, and being able to communicate this clearly and effectively. 

• Similarly, potential employers are also keen to hire highly motivated individuals, and more specifically those who are motivated to work for their company in particular and not just any role. This reassures management that you will be committed and dedicated to the organisation, and motivated more by the role than mere financial compensation.

• This question also sits alongside ‘what are your weaknesses?’ in terms of broaching a negative consequence or feature of your application, and is partly designed to see your response to this. After all, being aware of your own limitations and dealing with set backs is key to success in any industry sector.

So how should you respond? Try to strike a balance between proving your desire to be offered the position and not being overly reliant on one vacancy. It’s important that your answer reflects a clarity and structure of thought with regards to your career path, so that employers are aware that you are a driven, knowledgeable and self-motivated individual. Make sure to discuss the role as part of your ambition to work within a desired market sector or industry, and not as your one and only aspiration.

Conversely, it is important to also reinforce your reasons for wanting to work for a specific organisation, and how this correlates with your career plan. So while applying for any role maybe part of a larger strategy, you can explain exactly why you have chosen an employer and what you can bring to their day-to-day operation.

Be sure to be strong, clear and concise with your response, and maintain an upbeat tone and focus throughout. Adversity is a feature of every industry, company and job role known to man, so your ability to respond to this positively will stand you in good stead. Not only this of course, but it will encourage employers to see you as a confident and world wise candidate for work.