End of uni, when to apply for UC/JSA?

[ifonly4]

DD leaving uni soon, then goes straight off to a six week internship abroad. If she can't find a job for her return, when would be a good time to apply for UC/JSA? We've never applied for benefits so not sure how it works, so not sure if she can apply before return as I think she'd need to sign on.

Loans are lower in the final year as it doesn't need to cover the summer.

Loans are lower in the final year as it doesn't need to cover the summer.

Thank you! @SouthCountryGirl I thought that might be the case.

Taking on a non-graduate role, especially for a longer period of time, can negatively impact a person's ability to land a graduate role.

Can anyone who recruits graduates confirm whether claiming benefits makes a graduate more employable than one who started a non graduate job after leaving university?

Straw man: It isn't "being on benefits" that is helpful for a graduate job, but instead the advantage is "not being in a non-graduate job". First you can do internships relevant to the role you really want: building relevant skills, networks and experience. Unemployment benefits can be a buffer after such internships if you don't have a job lined up. And you're entitled to claim them. This is the OP's situation.

Second, if you end up in a non-graduate job it can be difficult to get out. If you're in a non-grad job for 1+ years it can be difficult to get yourself out of that pigeon hole, whereas if you are unemployed you will have more time and energy to apply to graduate jobs and are likely to secure one sooner. It is easy to get stuck in non-grad jobs during economic down turns, ask the folk who graduated around 2008.

So there can be 2 benefits for not taking a non-graduate job as soon as you graduate, if you have no graduate job offer: 1. More time and energy to apply for graduate jobs should lead to securing a graduate job sooner (you can spend 40 hours per week on job search, networking, interview prep). 2. You have more time and energy to complete internships, which let you build competencies, experience and networks for securing a graduate job.

It is what you do with the time saved from non-grad work which is the true value. Not "claiming benefits" in and of itself. Similarly, there is a halo effect of a perceived "fresh graduate" vs one that has been on the market for a while a presumably rejected by other companies. This is like the benefit of getting multiple competing job offers - it looks like the candidate is wanted.

You're a recruiter or hiring manager and see 2 CVs: One with a few non-paid internships with reputable companies and in relevant roles over 6 months. The other with call centre work for 6 months. Who do you choose to interview given similar grades and schools? Unless it is for a call centre manager job, I'm guessing the first candidate. Experience matters.

This is coming from my own experience as a hiring manager from undergrad all the way up to PhD-level graduates, and from working with recruiters and other hiring managers.

OP's DC is fresh out of uni, stop pushing them to "get any job" when this is detrimental for careers. They haven't been "sitting on benefits" for years. They need a buffer while they find the right opportunity for their long-term career goals.

You're a recruiter or hiring manager and see 2 CVs: One with a few non-paid internships with reputable companies and in relevant roles over 6 months. The other with call centre work for 6 months.

But we aren't talking about a non grad job vs internships here. We are talking about paid emplyment vs UC/JSA.
DD's job is relevant to her post grad course BTW.

Thank you for your replies.

She's generally well driven, but has had a bit of a wobble these last few months and feeling the pressure of achieving the best degree she can, so is concentrating on that. She's not lazy, eg worked 39 hours a week during lockdown whilst doing her uni work.

Her degree is in a bit of a niche and hard to get into field. She's applied for internships for more experience and had four offers. She also had an interview a month ago (and hasn't yet been rejected) for a job that starts in October.

She knows we can't support her any more (other than a roof over her head) and is worrying about money. We just wanted to understand the process in case there's a gap between returning home and a job, as none of us have ever claimed benefits.

I think the paid employment vs JSA is a strawman. In all likelihood, if that was all the experience on the CV, and it had gone on for a while, I think neither would get an interview as there are many more competitive candidates. The length of unemployment vs non-grad role is relevant too: unemployment for 1 year vs paid work for 1 year, obviously the latter is better for getting another job whatever that job might be.

The danger with non-grad employment is that it is difficult to get out once you're in - if you're not building relevant skills, experience abs networks - because working ft saps energy. You apply for a role as a trainee management consultant or assistant psychologist and the only experience you have is "call centre" that won't look good. If the non-grad role is related to the dream graduate role, then that's a benefit because your building relevant competencies (maybe you want to be an assistant psychologist and you have a job as a carer for people who have head injury). If the non-grad role is unrelated i think it ends up being a detriment to the individual because it is easy to get "stuck" in the role.

"You're a recruiter or hiring manager and see 2 CVs: One with a few non-paid internships with reputable companies and in relevant roles over 6 months. The other with call centre work for 6 months. Who do you choose to interview given similar grades and schools? Unless it is for a call centre manager job, I'm guessing the first candidate. Experience matters."

As a PP says, this isn't the choice. If she gets relevant experience, great, problem solved.

The issue arises if she doesn't get the relevant experience. Each and every employer I've ever talked to would prefer some kind of work while continuing to apply for relevant positions. In fact, they tend to take a very dim view of just claiming benefits - it hardly looks proactive. Particularly in today's job market, where every town I've visited lately is awash with 'we're hiring' signs.

Maybe whilst applying for jobs in her field look for other jobs, hospitality have loads.

According to Orangeradiorabbit this is a strawman argument.

If a person claims universal credit for being out of work the jobcentre ensures they are applying for work. So it is a strawman: the situation it isn't either/or. The jobcentre will determine what jobs a claimant must make themselves available for. They can claim Universal Credit and focus on applying for grad roles or look for non-grad roles. A person can do both and you have to look for work when claiming universal credit if you're able to work.

There are a bunch of posters who suggest not claiming any benefit and instead just get "any job", presumably because benefits are only for people with the "most need". Getting "any job" to save the the dwp money isn't a great long-term career strategy for a new grad. Hence, claim a benefit if you're out of work and looking for work, you're entitled to it. Then prioritise grad roles in your job search, especially when you're fresh out of uni. I don't think there is anything radical in that advice, unless you don't belive young people living at home should get benefits. If after a certain amount of time you're not getting grad jobs, think why and adjust your strategy accordingly, you can even get feedback on why from prospective employers after the interview stage.

Are you aware that if she is on an internship, she won't be able to claim UC as she isn't available for work. Apologies if already mentioned but haven't read whole thread.