Should you take a stop-gap job

Should you take a stop-gap job Its easy to feel despondent about the graduate market; headlines screaming out news of  52 applicants chasing every vacancy, are enough to weaken the resolve of the most resilient job seeker. So should you be taking a  low skilled, stop-gap job to cushion yourself against unemployment or wait for something better? It aint what you do, its the way that you sell it! Online forums are littered with anecdotal evidence that filler jobs are good â€" any experience is better than none and bad â€" recruiters will think you lack focus and motivation. I think the argument centres less around what you do, than how you sell it. It calls to mind a recent conversation I had with one of our graduate recruiters, who was keen to stress that  relevant  work experience â€" whilst desirable â€" is only meaningful where the applicant clearly articulates the benefits. And many dont. You can go further with less, so dont write yourself off because you havent had any industry or sector experience. Stop-gap or filler jobs can offer a surprisingly rich seam to draw from. An AGR report suggested that  Employers cant always find graduates with the right skills.  with many employers citing a skills deficit as a contributory factor. Effective communication skills and team working capabilities are valued highly by employers, but these are areas of particular weakness for many graduate applicants. And heres the thing: these are exactly the skills that youll acquire through temporary, stop-gap or filler roles. Holding out for your big break might spare your pride, but fallow time will add nothing to your CV and simply leave recruiters wondering whether you can adapt to a work environment. Look on the bright side When the time comes for you to move into more substantive, challenging role, youll be work ready. Dont underestimate the importance of this. Punctuality and time keeping are essential whether youre working a bar shift or modelling economic growth. Whatever the job youll probably encounter colleagues you like and respect, and those you dont. Again this is good preparation for â€" and a mirror of â€" the professional workplace. Youll acquire the evidence and examples to strengthen future applications. Telling an employer that youve worked in a call centre is unlikely to impress: telling them that youve developed organisational, communication and team working skills in a customer-facing role may go a little further. Stop-gap jobs may not be the most fulfilling, but theyll keep you afloat financially whilst you re-double your efforts to find more challenging work. If youre still trying to find your career niche, temping can be a great way of exploring different fields and may lead to some interesting opportunities. And at worst? Well youll have some breathing space to consider where your future lies. With the right approach and positive attitude, youll develop a strong work ethic. This isnt just desirable, its essential if you want to compete for graduate-track jobs. Yes, there is a but If youre still working in a bar two years after graduation it might be time to take stock. Its important for your self esteem (and employability) to keep moving forward and you probably wont be learning anything new after two years in a service oriented job. Good administrative skills are a must-have for many entry level and graduate positions, so why not find office or admin roles instead? Remaining in a job that stifles your motivation is counter-productive, as youll permeate negativity through any applications and interviews. For cash strapped graduates taking a filler job is often a necessity, but try to avoid stagnating in the  same  job. A few tips: Dont define yourself by your filler job. You need to continue building your CV, but you can accomplish this through other means: learn a language, volunteer, set up a website, or start blogging. You may not be in your chosen sector, but you can still make contacts. Join a professional association (if relevant), follow companies (and individuals) on Twitter and dont be afraid to use LinkedIn as a resource and network. Set yourself a timescale for when you want to move on and stick to it. Or try to! Be realistic about what you can achieve and when, but dont expect change by osmosis. You have to put yourself in the driving seat. You dont want to be pigeon-holed as a job-hopper, so move on when you need to, but stay long enough to pick up a good reference. Improve your digital literacy, as  over 90% of new jobs will require excellent digital skills. Gen Y are often seen as the tech savvy generation, but theres a huge gulf between being digitally aware and digitally proficient. Keep applying. If you lose motivation, you lose direction and find yourself further way from your goals. Dont be afraid to ask for help with your CV and applications â€" there are plenty of people you can tap for advice (not least  Student Careers and Skills, which you can access for three years after graduation) And remember, a stop-gap job is just a staging post on the way to something better.