To be panicking about DC’s employability post uni?

If I was starting again with my RG soft subject 2:1 and wanted to stay in London I'd look at the Civil Service. There are lots of options to move around and try new things and even if she decides after a few years it's not for her it never hurts in life to have a good understanding of how public sector bureaucracy works.

She might also do what I did which is drift around trying new things in her 20s and eventually land in a not spectacularly well paying but deeply satisfying public sector job, living comfortably in a place which - the horror - isn't London. There are worse things in life than not going onto a graduate scheme at 21.

You need to chill out

If she chose a degree in anthropology it’s unlikely she will earn a lot of money in the beginning, but there must have been something about it that has interested her and kept her motivated?

maybe she will travel or pursue a higher degree or find an internship … let her explore her options without pressure from you

she may have ideas of what she wants but the reality of what she will need to do to achieve this and whether she’s prepared to make sacrifices and put in the work to do so is now a test that she has to endure herself. This is all part of growing up. she’ll be fine she’ll be resilient. She’ll find her place. She’ll find her space.

OP there are literally tens of thousands of grad scheme vacancies open for application in Autumn that aren't the sort of cut throat area you work in. Ive suggested three big recruiting schemes. There are many others - inc marketing if that's an area she'd like to work in.

You do know about the grad scheme websites yes? Your dd will if you don't.

I completely understand how you feel. I am not in a dissimilar position. I could have everybody in the world telling me that my child is as an adult and they will find their own way and it is not up to me to get involved etc and it would not make me feel less anxious.

The only way I console myself is by telling myself that they are young and there are so many different ways to live life. They will eventually find their way and I should not compare to the high flying kids of my peers. It is hard though so you have my sympathy.

having said that, I would not want my kid to go through the early graduate life in the city. I know it pays well but I do not want them to have to cancel holiday plans and work all hours. I don’t believe that good mental health lies that way. Ironically, one of my other kids may be going down that route and that also makes me anxious!

A lot of her classmates are thinking masters/PhD/conservation/charities

So you do know some of the routes available to her! Does she want to do any of those things?

A research or policy job in the Civil Service or going into the grad scheme also a good shout.

She may not want to live in London, she may travel overseas or in the UK.

She could work at professional qualifications in project management via the APM or asset management (of things not money) with IAM. Or at number of other professional qualifications.

She may work in a museum, HR, a diplomat. Plenty of CS or public sector careers don't require a specific degree.

She may not end up on six figures but most people don't.

That's a depressing point of view - a lot of people choose a subject out of intellectual curiosity, not thoughts of how much money it will make them. Anyway, a lot of the time it is the skills you learn on a humanities degree that are most valuable - ability to distill important information, analysis, report writing etc.

Just leave her be - she'll find something she's interested in that isn't as rigid as civil service work or high finance. Both dp and I found our first careers randomly through taking up temping placements at our companies.

Get her to upload her cv onto handshake, it's really good and will help fit her skills with jobs that match her degree and interests. Lots of internships come up through here too. Hope that helps

I did law at university. I absolutely hated it and I’m now a very happy hairdresser. I wish I hadn’t been pushed away from my passion when I was young, being told lawyers are clever/rich and hairdressers and poor/stupid.

Sorry to ask the obvious question… but who on Earth invests their time in a particular degree without considering how it springboards into their career?!?
Seems either unplanned madness or just an expensive and indulgent 3 or 4 years at uni with no real point.

Finishing Uni is often a difficult time as starting in the world of work is a whole new ball game. I'd concentrate on providing emotional support.

From what you say she will be a great employee and will make a great success of her working life, whatever path she may choose to follow.

This is not a problem for you to fix OP.

I was going to say civil service fast stream, and it’s second on Prospect’s list! Anthropology does tie with social policy ? Also great graduate career with opportunity for diverse placements, so you don’t have to commit to one route …

Honestly even people with experience etc are struggling to get into or move employment right now (although the market does seem to be picking up slightly).

She would probably be best to get any job and go from there e.g. if she wants to work towards marketing, apply for any job in a business with a marketing team, then network within the organisation and wait for marketing vacancies/opportunities come up as an internal applicant.

She loves working, is highly responsible, great people skills (and people judgement) and quite numerate/commercially savvy.

Then she will be fine. She sounds lovely. A lot of the people who go into finance or the "give me your watch and I'll tell you the time" end of management consultancy seem to be either shallow careerist arseholes, or deeply unhappy with the falseness required to success in those roles.

This isn't your problem to solve. As pp said, be supportive and encourage her to continue exploring her options. It took me a good 20 years and a good few dead ends and diversions after graduating to find what I wanted to do with my life!

You need to calm down about this. It's no longer your responsibility to be so involved.

She's an adult and if she ends up on the dole there's nothing you can do about it and it won't be the worst thing in the world. Simple as that.

How do you think most people manage to get jobs OP?! Plenty of people with “soft” 2.1s from RG universities and no internships have bravely overcome adversity to find employment. Shock horror…maybe even some poor mites that went to ex-polytechnics 😂

She’s an adult who by your admission is clever, well liked and hard working. Let her make her own way and don’t try to force her into any particular career path. Maybe she won’t have a MN 6 figure salary but that’s ok, most people don’t!

Firstly, she’s not a ‘great kid’ if she’s finishing uni, she’s a grown up. Time to loosen those apron strings and be supportive of whatever SHE decides. It might not work out first time but these are her decisions to take, not yours.

If she loves the subject why not the Masters, PhD, academic/research route?
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/what-can-i-do-with-my-degree/anthropology

What does she want to do? You sound over invested and pushy

My DD wouldn’t stand a chance on paper.

She doesn't need to though does she as she won't be applying for the sort of roles you recruit....

There are a billion and one other careers and grad schemes open to her.

Am I missing something?

If you want to offer her your advice - let her know that grad scheme recruitment starts next month. Civil Service might be one for her to look at. Or local authority management. Or NHS management.

She's a numerate, analytical people person with a demonstrable work ethic. She'll be fine.