Jake wants to know: "I am going to be leaving school this year and am interested in doing something more vocational than one of the classic degrees but I have been told they are not as well regarded. Is this true?"

Adam Shaw said:

I don't think so, employers increasingly recognise the practical value of vocational degrees and I also think that they're looking for more rounded package to see other activities you are involved in. So it's important to show them the other skills you've got. From personal experience one of the most important things to do is choose a degree that you actually enjoy because you will do well in it and hopefully excel in the job that leads you to.

Skinny J wants to know: "I am doing my A levels at the moment. My teachers tell me that I should try and go to a red brick university to study History or English. I would rather get in to work sooner rather than later. Do I have any alternatives?"

Adam Shaw said:

I definitely don't think you have to do an academic course to succeed, and my experience is that employers are more broad-minded than that and so there are lots of alternatives out there for you. If you are looking for a vocational course then Foundation Degrees could be a great opportunity for you... As for working sooner rather than later well employers do like experience and you'll be getting that quickly which is a great bonus. One thing to consider is getting the best of both worlds. Working and taking a part time Foundation Degree at the same time could be the answer.

Amy wants to know: "Is work experience more useful in some industries than others?"

Adam Shaw said:

In my experience in television where there are a lot more applications than there are jobs, you need something that will make you stand out from the crowd. Some applications I've seen are frighteningly well qualified and often the person who gets the job is the less qualified applicant who’s had some experience actually doing it.

Following that response, Lee wants to know: "How can you make your application stand out from the rest? "

Adam Shaw said:

Do your research, work out what the company actually needs. That means changing your application for each job. It means working out what the company does by looking at their website and deciding in your own mind what the perfect applicant would look like. A boss might be looking at hundreds of applicants, try and make their job easy by being concise and relevant.

Frank wants to know: "Did you do work experience to get your job, Adam? If so, what did you do?"

Adam Shaw said:

If you mean did I work for free - yes. I worked as a researcher on a BBC2 late night show called the Late Show. Once I was in the building I managed to get meetings with BBC bosses and ended up with a wonderful job opening letters for Esther Rantzen.

Jamie wants to know: "How can I make up for a lack of work experience when at interview stage?"

Adam Shaw said:

I think the key things an employer is looking for is enthusiasm and dedication, everything else can be learnt. If you're willing to go the extra mile in a job that's often the clincher.

Moderator :

Isiah wants to know: "If you get to the end of your degree and you haven’t applied for anything and don't know what you want to do.....what do you do?"

Adam Shaw said:

That's exactly the position I was in, so I tried lots of different things. It's very frightening to think that the one job you go for after college is the one job you're stuck with all your life. By trying different jobs you'll see what you are good at. There were a few jobs I tried for example I was a bouncer (the world's worst) for Jean Michel Jarre, I was a spear-carrier at the Royal Shakespeare Company and a gardener. Now, I do a daily TV programme for the BBC, who knows what I'll do tomorrow.

Rob wants to know: "After finishing my degree I've completely changed my mind about what I want to do with my life! How can I change direction without confusing employers?"

Adam Shaw said:

I don't think employers insist that you've had one idea from birth to job. You've got to present your experience in the best possible light. It shows you've got lots of interest and that's a big bonus. Most people take jobs that weren't related to their first degree. So I wouldn't worry about it.

Bill wants to know: "When during a uni degree should you begin looking into potential jobs? I get loads of conflicting answers from my lecturers!"

Adam Shaw said:

It's never too early to start thinking or developing your CV to best suit what you hope will be your future employer but I wouldn't get overly worried about making an early decision. Part of your time at university is about finding what you are interested in, so just make good use of the time.

Orla Fleming wants to know: "Hello, I am a recent graduate and I have found the advertising and marketing industry very competitive. I may get a job in media sales, but I am more into the creative side and would like to be a copywriter. Should I go into media sales even though I am not a sales person? Would work experience be more beneficial to me rather than sales? Or gaining a qualification in advertising? Thanks"

Adam Shaw said:

If you can afford to work for nothing and get some experience that of course is great. If you can't and need to work in sales that can be an opening for you but you have got to be careful that you don't get stuck in the job you don't want to do or get disillusioned in the whole industry. I'd suggest you give yourself a timetable, so if doesn't work out you can cut your losses and get that qualification in advertising.

Sall wants to know: "I left school after my A levels and now regret it but I think it will be really difficult for me to do a conventional degree now. Is it possible to do a Foundation Degree part time whilst working? "

Adam Shaw said:

It sure is. One of the advantages of Foundation Degrees is that they can be very flexible and you can study for them whilst working. "Earn, while you learn". You can get some good information on www.foundationdegree.org.uk

Paul wants to know: "I'm in the middle of my law degree course and know that work experience is vital but I don't how where to start please help."

Adam Shaw said:

Law isn't my specialty but I'd suggest you contact Citizens Advice Bureau or a number of other specialist advice centers like Debt counselling services who need legally qualified advisors and might be very grateful for some free help. Your teachers and tutors should be able to help you with some more specific advice.

Nigel wants to know: "Can you suggest any ways for getting work experience as I'm finding it really tough to get accepted by companies"

Adam Shaw said:

Ask yourself why you are finding it tough, if it's because you can't get companies to read your CV call them on the phone or turn up in person. When I tried to get through to senior people at Shell when I was seventeen and couldn't I just turned up at their office, in the end they took me out for lunch and gave me all the information I needed.

Rhiannon wants to know: "How long should your CV be and in what order?"

Adam Shaw said:

I'd never have more than two pages. If you've ever sat on an interview board you might have to read a hundred CVs and interview twenty people. In the end you don't give each CV the attention it deserves. Often you don't even read to the end, making your CV readable is a skill in itself and if you can't do that you are unlikely to be able to write company reports or properly summarise issues for your bosses. Get the most interesting thing in first and make sure you adapt your CV for each job to make it most relevant. The most interesting thing would be different for each job. Sometimes it will be your experience, sometimes your qualifications and sometimes your background.

Frank wants to know: "I am currently trying to get a job but I just can't manage to get through interview stage - they terrify me and I think this comes across in the interview. Can you give me some tips on how to make a good impression at interview?"

Adam Shaw said:

People employ people who are like themselves. Think of an interview as nothing more than a conversation. You're trying to show the other people some of your experience but you are also trying to get from them an idea of what the job is like. If you've got an interview they're already interested in you, one of your biggest jobs now is to make them like you and that's the sort of thing we do all day. Don't worry you're not alone as a recent survey carried out on behalf of Foundation Degree revealed that over a quarter of people found job interviews terrifying.

Sian wants to know: "I always get asked what are your weaknesses in job interviews and I never know what to say!! What is the perfect answer?"

Adam Shaw said:

It's a difficult one, if you say nothing then you sound pig headed, on the other hand you don't really want to reveal the worst aspects of your character. If it was me, I would say "I find it hard to criticise people" that is a managerial failing but it also makes out that I am actually rather nice. So it's turning a negative into a positive.

Gerry wants to know: "Is there a secret to being confident at interview? Would being more qualified help?"

Adam Shaw said:

No and yes. No there isn't a secret and yes being more qualified should give you more confidence in your ability to do the job and therefore more confident in an interview.

Alan wants to know: "If you were interviewing someone, what are the key things you would look out for as an employer and are they the same things you would be trying to get across as a potential employee?"

Adam Shaw said:

I'd look for basic intelligence, someone who is nice to work with and someone who can apply themselves. On the skills front it's different for different jobs. There are some jobs for which you just need some basic skills and without which you can't function properly. Obviously any applicant has to make sure they have got those skills.

A Moderator said:

Company employer wants to know: "I run my own business and am currently searching for new staff. I've interviewed a few candidates so far but no-ones has particularly stood out. Could it be that I'm not asking the right questions? I know what type of employee I'm looking for and on paper all have seemed perfect, it's just the interview where they don't but I think that may be my fault!"

Adam Shaw said:

There are courses you can go on which will help you identify good applicants in an interview. Perhaps you should think about what it is you want from the perfect applicant. But that is the point of interviews. They show you things that aren't in the applications. So if you're not finding what you want, keep looking.

A Moderator said:

Darren wants to know: "I have been doing office work since I left university but would really like to get into engineering. My degree didn't have much to do with this and no one will employ me without experience. Would a Foundation Degree help?"

Adam Shaw said:

I think that is a perfect example of when a Foundation Degree could be an ideal solution to your problem. It would also enable you to get experience and do a degree at the same time, so you can kill two birds with one stone.

A Moderator said:

Fiona wants to know: "I'm due to graduate in July and haven't properly thought about applying for jobs yet - I keep putting it off because I'm worried that employers will take one look at me and laugh because I've never really worked properly and I have also never had proper interview experience. What can I do to increase my chances in an interview?"

Adam Shaw said:

If you haven't yet graduated I wouldn't get overly worried about not having a long track record of work. As for interview experience I use to get friends to pretend to interview me. It was pretty cringeful for them and me but it was useful because I could hear how stupid some of my answers were before I shared them with prospective employers.

A Moderator said:

Fiona wants to know: Did you reverse roles with your friends to appreciate the interview process from the employer's perspective?

Adam Shaw said:

No, isn't that awful.

A Moderator said:

greg414 wants to know: "Does a Foundation Degree have to be taken purely with vocational advancements in mind or can I do one for my own interest?"

Adam Shaw said:

Yes of course you can do one for your own interest. A friend of mine has been studying degrees for the past fifteen years, just because he's interested and doesn't want to change job at all.

A Moderator said:

Pete wants to know: "I'm in my final year and have started setting up interviews with companies for graduate schemes - I wouldn't mind that so much if all my mates didn't do the same course as me and so are setting up interviews with the same companies. Although I genuinely want all my friends to do well and get great jobs, there's going to be so much competition for minimal places that we can't possibly all get the jobs we want. How can I make sure I stand out without feeling like I've stabbed my mates in the back if I get the job I want and they don't?"

Adam Shaw said:

The decision about who gets the job is nothing to do with you. If you manage to make a successful application, that's because the company thinks you are the best person for the job. It's them that are making the decision, you're not stabbing anybody in the back. The recent report on behalf of Foundation Degree showed that confidence, personality and understanding of the industry are the three most important things in making an applicant stand out.

A Moderator said:

Whiz wants to know: "I would like to change jobs and work in a new area to that where I currently am but how can I confidently apply for jobs in an area where I am inexperienced and a more mature candidate?"

Adam Shaw said:

If you are worried about experience then you should start considering a Foundation Degree which, as I have said, can be studied whilst you're working. As for being a mature candidate, turn it into a positive, you've got experience that other applicants don’t have, you're likely to be more settled, have a more mature outlook. Make sure your prospective employers see that side of you.

A Moderator said:

And finally, Polly wants to know: "What is your dream job...really!"

Adam Shaw said:

Testing the sand on a beautiful beach somewhere, reading about how my investments are getting larger everyday.