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Original poster

To be panicking about DC’s employability post uni?

331 replies

NeedXanaxPlease · 03/08/2024 17:18

DD is going into the final year of an Anthropology degree (might get a first but probably a 2:1) from a top RG uni. Has done a Fine Art foundation year. Always worked part time since finishing A-levels (Maths, English Lit, Art), first as a barista/front of house/waitressing, then as an after-school nanny during uni.
She loves working, is highly responsible, great people skills (and people judgement) and quite numerate/commercially savvy. She is a great kid and would be an asset to any team. But… she hasn’t had a single internship so no “relevant” work experience (didn’t get her act together after first year and a long recovery post an operation for a sporting injury after second year) nor does she really know what she wants to do after graduation. She is definitely not pursuing the classic investment banking, Bain/BCG/McKinsey, accountancy, law routes.
I am now feeling highly anxious and helpless as I don’t know how to support/guide her. I did the classic Tier 1 strategy consulting, MBA, corporate M&A so I am spending hours each week helping my friends’ kids who want to pursue this path (mock case studies, mock interviews, CV reviews) but am at a complete loss re how to help my own. I feel that I am spiralling. This is not helped by my being involved in graduate recruitment at my work – CVs I see are all full of Economics/Management/Sciences degrees, multiple internships/work experiences/summer schools – they are highly structured and tick all the boxes (to an extent where I can’t differentiate between them). My DD wouldn’t stand a chance on paper.
Sage mumsnetters, please reassure me that she can get a job without internships and with a “soft” degree? Does she stand a chance with graduate schemes? Should she even bother applying? What potential career routes she could explore?

OP posts:
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Donotgogentle · 05/08/2024 09:38

The two people I know with anthropology degrees ended up in academia and the charity sector.

I understand your concerns op if you have a dc who seems to lack direction at the moment. But you are obviously successful in a highly competitive sector you have not found particularly pleasant to work in. Maybe your dd wants something different from her working life.

I agree with pp that is she’s interested in law that would we worth her looking into. Most legal jobs don’t have magic circle hours, or indeed salaries!

senua · 05/08/2024 09:22

Why it is on MN if a person is doing works in a high earning sector it's never the result of hard work they got there it's all because of privilege!
Except I didn't say that.Hmm
OP said that DD missed out on internships because of "a long recovery post an operation for a sporting injury" and I was pointing out that she is not the only one who has had bumps in the road, there will be many other people with non-perfect CVs.

What i will say is, those sectors you mentioned are just a few. There are loads of places your dc can apply to
This time, it is approximately what I said. I can't see that you added anything to the argument.

hobbcat · 05/08/2024 00:22

Let your DD work it all out for herself. She’s an adult after all. All this talk of her doing a « soft » degree isn’t particularly supportive either. Step away.

LadeOde · 05/08/2024 00:19

senua · 03/08/2024 17:35

CVs I see are all full of Economics/Management/Sciences degrees, multiple internships/work experiences/summer schools – they are highly structured and tick all the boxes
i.e. are the CVs of privilege - no caring responsibilities nor disabilities, to name just two barriers. Find employers who are a bit more equal ops - for example civil service etc type stuff. She can still climb the greasy pole, if that's what she wants (either within CS, or many jump ship and do a gamekeeper-turns-poacher thing).

Such a huge generalisation! full of presumption. Why it is on MN if a person is doing works in a high earning sector it's never the result of hard work they got there it's all because of privilege! you know nothing about these people. My DC is amongst these sorts and has more than one disability that he has struggled with throughout his school life and he has the sort of CV OP is talking about.
I'm not saying its easy to break into those industries mentioned by @OP or that it's easy to get internships/work experience (they're bloody hard!), but there's no need to cast aspersions on the achievements of those who have managed it.

@OP it's really tough out there as you can tell and it can't be easy being a graduate recruiter because of course you'll be comparing all day. What i will say is, those sectors you mentioned are just a few. There are loads of places your dc can apply to, they don't even necessarily have to apply for a graduate scheme! they can just apply for a job targeted at entry-level graduates.

Pharmaceuticals, education, retail, NHS to name a few so many avenues to getting one's foot on the ladder. All the ones mentioned recruit people with all kinds of degrees. If your dc can't say what they like do you know what they don't/wouldn't like as a job/career? sometimes you have to just do something you're mildly interested in and that's available in order to find what you truly enjoy.

PerpetualOptimist · 05/08/2024 00:06

An early poster highlighted the prospects.ac.uk website. Specifically you might want to look at the page that analyses the stats on where anthropology grads typically end up (link below). Hope that helps you and, potentially, your DD.
www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/what-can-i-do-with-my-degree/anthropology

CountryMumof4 · 04/08/2024 23:51

So long as your daughter can show that she's worked (as she can) with a good work ethic, coupled with a degree, it can open a number of doors to her. For example, I'm in publishing - we have a massive recruitment drive for grads each year, and there are huge opportunities for development within the company. Some may leave after building up experience with us to work in other fields and others stay, but we do find their employability soars once they've had experience with us. There are lots of other companies that offer similar opportunities - try not to worry.

OhcantthInkofaname · 04/08/2024 23:38

Have you had her have a consultation with one of her favorite professors?

What does she see herself doing in 10 years? Does she want to use her degree in a public agency?

A basic degree in anthropology is fairly limiting without post graduate degrees.

MellersSmellers · 04/08/2024 22:28

If you're getting stressed and anxious now, what are you going to be like in a year when she actually graduates! You'll be a mess.
I do understand your position though as my recently graduated DS (Maths MA) spent last year unemployed.
As others say, she is an adult and needs to find her own way, with your support. There are plenty of grad schemes but many have closing dates in Nov/Dec/Jan for an Oct 2025 start. Be aware they are very competitive and applications are time consuming. I agree Civil Servive or NHs sound a good match but ultimately it's her choice. She sounds highly employable and she'll be fine.

Original poster
NeedXanaxPlease · 04/08/2024 22:13

Wow, so many interesting, exciting ideas! Thank you!🙏

OP posts:
Original poster
NeedXanaxPlease · 04/08/2024 22:11

Look. I do appreciate advice on keeping my beak out. It’s a valuable perspective. But I think there’s a balance between being pushy and living their life for them and being an engaged parent trying to give a leg up. My own anxiety about this is a separate matter that I am trying to address.

But friends and I had multiple existential and career crises through which we supported each other. Endless conversations on what next, how to position oneself, helping with writing business cases for promotions, helping with case studies/providing feedback etc. If I’d do it for my friends and young mentees, why wouldn’t I do the same for DC?

Genuine question - where does healthy support stop and over- involvement begin?

OP posts:
Justthistime1234 · 04/08/2024 22:07

Haven’t RTFT apologies but my step niece is working at Parliament - all the fast track civil service friends of hers quit since it’s not all it’s cracked up to be at the moment apparently so she went there. Also RG uni, politics degree but I think they are flexible. Anyway, she applied direct and is being moved around as you’d expect plus they pay for professional qualifications if you like an area with no payback should you leave. She’s on c£30k pa at around 23 and lives in a flat share in Hammersmith.
I’m you btw - chartered accountant, M&A etc and I look at her and think - nice, it’s a fantastic springboard if you don’t know what you want to do.

Original poster
NeedXanaxPlease · 04/08/2024 22:05

@Ethylred
Doing a PhD is not the way to go; never do a PhD in subject X unless the thought of pursuing anything except X is unbearable.

completely agree - same stands for art, music, ballet etc. as I mentioned prior, ex is an academic as was a lot of our social circle- they all loved what they did (at least initially) but all the pressure and competition was something out of a dystopian novel. You really do need to be brilliant to do well (and I don’t mean financially) whereas in a lot of corporate careers being good enough is more than enough.

She hasn’t had an entirely soft, easy life if one adds a disabled sibling into the equation but materially it was soft and easy. And you are totally right - that’s exactly what I want her to have - a soft easy life because I didn’t have it. I am not actually sure she does. I think she is ok with adversity but I don’t want her to have the soul destroying adversity of working 90-120hrs a week producing absolutely meaningless pitches or presentations. Zero impact, zero purpose.

OP posts:
brogueish · 04/08/2024 21:19

notprincehamlet · 04/08/2024 20:59

Something like this might be of interest
"Archivist and Records Manager Apprentice - Civil Service Jobs - GOV.UK" https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/jobs.cgi?jcode=1917357

That looks great. Good spot! If I were 20 years younger…

avocadotofu · 04/08/2024 21:16

My sister did a few internships after she finished uni. Now leads a team in fin tech. She was also able to buy a flat in London before turning 30. So I think your daughter could go down the route of doing internships after she finishes in a field she's interested in.

bridgetreilly · 04/08/2024 21:12

She is an adult. You have to stop doing the worrying and planning for her. It’s up to her to find jobs she’d like to apply for, not you.

JustMeAndTheFish · 04/08/2024 21:10

NeedXanaxPlease · 04/08/2024 20:45

She is :-) something h to look at - she’d love this.

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Can I suggest she looks at Cambridge; the majority of UK/international conservation people have their headquarters there. My daughter did an internship (concurrently with working full time in Bill’s 😬) and successfully applied to the same charity. She’s been there for about six years now. She did have conservation experience and an MSc in Conservation Science/ that might be a sensible progression from your daughter’s undergrad?

Original poster
NeedXanaxPlease · 04/08/2024 20:55

Holluschickie · 04/08/2024 20:49

I am actuallly happy for my DD to be in a houseshare. It would be less stressful than working in finance or law.

Agreed re less stressful, but I hope (the whole point of this thread) that there are other oaths that would still allow for one’s own housing at some point. That’s the holy grail - the quality of life a teacher or civil servant once had.

OP posts:
Ethylred · 04/08/2024 20:54

NeedXanaxPlease · 04/08/2024 20:44

The latter LOL. The former she can do as a barista. No need for an unhinged thread on MN. Zone 3 would do though.

Show quote history

This is MN, do you expect hinge?
But to the point: your posts, including this one, show that your daughter is a lovely young woman who has had a soft easy life, has done a soft easy degree and now wants (or you want, on her behalf) to continue the soft easy life. Television, advertising; aren't those the usual routes? Doing a PhD is not the way to go; never do a PhD in subject X unless the thought of pursuing anything except X is unbearable.

Holluschickie · 04/08/2024 20:49

I am actuallly happy for my DD to be in a houseshare. It would be less stressful than working in finance or law.

Original poster
NeedXanaxPlease · 04/08/2024 20:47

I agree with posters that if doing a Master’s it needs to have more of an angle or better still do it after a couple of years of employment.

I am getting very reassured by this thread and am losing my obsession with graduate schemes. It just seemed the most linear (if the most competitive) route. But whereas I am very linear, DD is the opposite.

OP posts:
shuggles · 04/08/2024 20:47

@Aliciainwunderland I was implying that you were mistaken, not lying. But you have since clarified that, thank you.

Original poster
NeedXanaxPlease · 04/08/2024 20:45

JustMeAndTheFish · 04/08/2024 20:00

OP your daughter sounds delightful. Has she considered an internship - initially - with a conservation NGO/charity?

She is :-) something h to look at - she’d love this.

OP posts:
Original poster
NeedXanaxPlease · 04/08/2024 20:44

Ethylred · 04/08/2024 20:24

"while also earning a decent wage"
Decent is doing a lot of work there. Are you happy for her to be sharing a flat in Clapton with 4 other people? Or does she need her own 1BR in Vauxhall?

The latter LOL. The former she can do as a barista. No need for an unhinged thread on MN. Zone 3 would do though.

OP posts:
Ethylred · 04/08/2024 20:24

"while also earning a decent wage"
Decent is doing a lot of work there. Are you happy for her to be sharing a flat in Clapton with 4 other people? Or does she need her own 1BR in Vauxhall?