How to prepare for the Big Bad World.

I was asked to write an article for the newspaper at Bucks Student's Union this week. Below are the wise words of advice that I offered for the current students.

How to prepare for the Big Bad World.

My name is Matt Fricker, this time last year; I was the Media Officer for Bucks Students’ Union. I spent my spare time volunteering and generally just got as much enjoyment out of my final year as a student as I could.

Then the recession hit.

And I, along with many of my fellow graduates became stuck in a pigeon hole, “Good but not close enough to the brief for this position.”

As a result I found myself fighting for jobs against people who had just been made redundant from doing that very same job, so it was a bit of a loosing battle.

Never the less, I persevere, and my C.V. is noticed by a number of employers. Why? I hear you ask.

Well, as I mentioned earlier, I spent my spare time at Bucks volunteering, I volunteered in the role of Media Officer. A position that allowed me to chat with Bradley from S Club and get splattered with cold sponges for Children In Need among other things.

More importantly though, I also spent a lot of time in meetings with other members of the Students’ Union debating, devising and then implementing ideas and projects that would benefit the cause that we were fighting for. Whether the cause was raising money for Child Poverty Day, or gaining the biggest election turnout in Bucks Students’ Union history, I was there, giving up my spare time to make a real difference.

It’s because of this that my C.V. looks the way it does, employers love volunteering, as it means that you’re willing to get up and do something different, not just sit about and get drunk or just study like many students.

Employers love candidates who volunteer, as through volunteering you learn those life skills that no classroom can teach you.