To be panicking about DC’s employability post uni?

OP I get it we want the best for our kids but you need to step back.

She needs to decide her own path not have her mum choose it for her.

If she struggles to get the job she wants having chosen a (in your words) soft degree that’s a life lesson - life isn’t fair sometimes.

If she can’t secure the type of job she wants using persistence, by creating a good cv, having a good interview, speaking to tutors etc despite having a ‘soft degree’ then maybe that career wouldn’t be for her anyway.

Good hires aren’t the type who have had their Mum and Dads do everything for them. Let her build some reslience.

Same goes to the friends kids you are helping.

I’m a big believer in having a specific skill or profession because it gives job security for life. So- law, accountancy, teaching, engineering, etc. she could look at large construction firms, car manufacturers, and other big companies that will give specific skill training. I would also Google ‘best employers in the UK’ and work through that list, check websites for opportunities.

She has had multiple privileges - now she will have to face reality, if she wants to continue that type of life (without you bankrolling her) she will have to get organised and make sacrifices

sounds like a great opportunity for her to
develop as an individual

Sounds good to me - I couldn't get anywhere with graduate schemes either and never really knew what I wanted to do. Non grad scheme route doesn't mean poor and unhappy... It may in fact mean comfortable with a decent work life balance as opposed to high earning and working herself to the bone. Entry level jobs in fields that look interesting to her would be great - if she is as skilled and motivated as you say she will easily be able to progress.

I work at a University, good but not megabucks salary, great benefits. I get involved in loads of different projects/compliance areas in my Faculty - including sustainability, EDI and staff development... there are so many varied roles out there and personally I think being open minded and flexible is a real asset in the job market not a negative.

First step is get experience in a formal office environment. If she isn't up for applying for graduate programmes (public sector is your in here) then an entry level customer service/reception/administrator job is a good foot in the door. If she is as hard a worker as you say she will shine and get up and out in next to no time.

All the anthropology majors (approx 10) I know took a conversion course in law and work in magic circle law or M&A firms.

Really interesting thread

Perhaps she could consider something like communications roles. Where is she based? If she has a LinkedIn profile sign up to internships or graduate schemes on there. There are many and varied ones that come up on there and they may inspire a route for her.

They will get there. Don’t let your stress make her strsssed.

From experiences amongst my peers who attended top 10 universities, Oxford and Cambridge included, and studied arts subjects (English, languages, anthro) they did not typically quickly get full time jobs with zero work experience. Many had to do unpaid work experience or internships before landing a full time paid position after uni.

My learning has been that real life work experience (even if in an unrelated field to what you end up in) is essential, a great degree alone isn’t enough. I’d advise your daughter to seek work experience asap alongside applying for full time roles, if that is what she really wants. If anything, internships can be more appealing as they’re less of a commitment than a full time job if they don’t turn out to be the role you’re after. Good luck to her!

Nothing focusses the mind on employment prospects more than getting a crap job and being skint.

Leave her to it. She can move to London, get a waitressing job and realise how rubbish it is! She sounds fairly capable though she’ll probably end up in a start up or marketing agency or something.

I have 2:2 from a third rate uni and now have a highly paid career in public relations. Chill, let her find her way and don’t pile on the pressure.

I also did no work experience or internships. I just applied, applied, applied. It was during the credit crunch and it was very competitive finding junior positions.

My nephew has a degree in archaeology. He’s currently at law school !!

that pays enough to have a semi-decent quality of life in London. There’s plenty of people earning enough to have a good quality of life outside London. Why the necessity to stay in London?

I'm sorry she's such a disappointment to you. Don't forget she has a massive leg up just from your social capital which so many others do not have.

FFS SHE IS NOT YOU AND DOES NOT WANT TO FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS. SHE DOESNT NEED TO HAVE HAD INTERNSHIPS.

YOUR EXPERIENCE IS NOT HERS. Your experience, advice and attitude are spectacularly unhelpful to her.

If she's thinking of another year of study she could consider teaching, an unpopular choice I know, especially on MN, but you said she wanted variety and every day to be different and teaching fits the bill.

If DD is interested in marketing/creativity she could maybe look at ad agencies and marketing/PR agencies as they sometimes offer grad recruitment schemes. She'd need to do some research on London agencies or register with a relevant headhunter for advice, or ask her Uni for direction.
She could also try looking at industry jobs/recruitment online -- Campaign, Marketing Week or The Guardian Jobs (media section).
Employers would appreciate her logical thinking and proof she can retain and build on information (i.e. her Degree -- the subject of the degree itself is often irrelevant). Her work ethic is also a plus, holding down jobs while studying she would be seen as a self-starter.
Getting in at entry level for an Account Management/Marketing Executive role can be a springboard to building a really good and interesting career.

HTH - and try not to worry :) They often find themselves within a year or two of leaving Uni.

Firstly - kindly - it’s time to the cut the cord. She’s an adult now and can manage her own career decisions.
secondly - there are many grad schemes that aren’t banking/ law/finance. She can look at joining these for a blue chip company - HR/ logistics/ etc.
she does need a plan though - even if she does ends up deviating from it. A plan more than ‘something that is not boring, non toxic that pays a mortgage’.

I agree. I work with a woman whose degree is in Anthropology. We work for a charity, and she is something along the lines of (don't want to be too outing for her) podcast director. One of mine has a Masters in International Politics and works in tech.

OP there are many many more careers than the one you work in. Leave this to your DD, she's an adult now

I went into bio anthropology masters, then genetics.
HR is a common pathway from anthropology, as is marketing,

Things people I know have done with a RG arts degree:

Law conversion course - doesn't have to lead to corporate law, could become government lawyer or small firm

Civil service - fast stream isn't the only route in, can also look at the Treasury grad scheme, just applying for a job

Consultancy - most consultants I know have humanities degrees but I know more on the social policy side

NHS grad scheme

Local government grad scheme

Retail management

Social/political research grad scheme - like Kantar or Ipsos

What about looking at brand consultancies or qualitative research / cultural insight agencies? Some have grad schemes. Loads of ex anthropology students in this field.
Check out agencies like Space doctors, Kantar, Verian, Ipsos Mori… perhaps she could create a LinkedIn account and start following the above agencies and see if she’s interested in what they post. She could start listening to podcasts related to this.