I Got Hired: Dominic

Posted on: 4 October 2024 by Richard Finch in Class of 2023

Dominic Wills is a Class of 2023 Sociology and Philosophy graduate who now works as a Talent Sourcing Specialist at Reed.

How did you hear about your role and decide to apply for it?

I was researching graduate schemes and not having much luck. I had considered recruitment before but when I came across the Reed graduate scheme, I became a lot more interested. They offered the chance to move around different departments in the business which seemed quite appealing to me.

How did you get to where you are now? 

I applied to a lot of jobs. It can be quite demotivating applying for so many with little success. I used all the websites I could, researched companies and graduate schemes, spoke to family friends. Something I wish I had done sooner is create a LinkedIn profile and learn how to use it. There are so many more opportunities on there than I was aware of. If there isn't a job to apply for, there is no harm in getting in contact with companies to see if this is something they could create, especially if you have a skill to demonstrate. If I was looking for a role again, I would do this alongside using sites like Prospects, job boards and Handshake.

Your favourite experience as part of your role?

I work in recruiting social workers. I get to talk to people every day and learn about their roles, as well as placing them in jobs that have a beneficial impact on their careers and the service users they help. I have a lot of responsibility for being 10 months in and this is great for personal development.

The most challenging part of your graduate journey?

The period of finishing university and deciding what it was I wanted to do. This consisted of lots of job applications and trying to stay motivated. It seems like so many people are sorted and know what they're doing but remembering it's not unusual to feel a bit lost is helpful.

Top 3 Tips for current students and graduates:

  1. Use LinkedIn. Get on the website, make a profile, research companies, research career paths, contact employers or recent graduates and ask for a conversation. Most people are happy to talk.
  2. Remember it’s ok to not know what you want to do - also choosing a job does not mean you have to stay in that career for life.
  3. Rejections are rough but go again. Most jobs have hundreds of applications, don't take it too personally. It's disheartening but keep going. Do what you can to make your application stand out - research how to modify a CV for different roles and do applications properly.

 
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