Young adult son can't find job

[BoyJob]

Does anyone else have a young adult DC who is unable to find a job?

DS graduated a year ago with a 2:1 in a very specific artistic/technical subject. He has wanted to work in this role since being quite young. Unfortunately, neither he nor any of his peers, even those with contacts in the industry, have found a job in that area, although most have found some other type of job. Almost all of the adverts are looking for someone with experience.

He is sending off applications for all sorts of jobs, but usually gets no response whatsoever and, occasionally, a brief "no thank you" email. We are very concerned that the longer this goes on, the more unemployable he will become.

We are in the South East. Is anyone else in the same position?

He should get in touch with the university careers department and ask for help. At this stage, anything is better than nothing

Can he apply for any job and keep looking for something suitable whilst he is working?

Is he volunteering whilst he's unemployed? Attending free conferences/networking? This would help to fill gaps and will be great experience.

At 23 (presumably? Or older if a longer degree?), what work experience has he got ?
What jobs did he do as a teen, or a student ?

can he get work experience or volunteer to build his cv? It’s not unusual to not get your dream job until mid 20s or more so all is not lost.

say its music tech can he help at a school? Local theatre? Pub events? Anything to build contacts and get new ideas for jobs. Same for whatever field he is in

Has he engaged with the uni careers service? What work experience does he have?
Does he customise his cv and cover letter for EVERY post? Is he active on linkedin?
is it possible to volunteer in the field?

What job is it he wants ?

What's he tried - hospitality, supermarkets, delivery driving, cleaning etc are usually always looking for people to fill gaps. Depending on what the mysterious industry he's trying to get into is, something with flexibility is usually quite helpful. I did a lot of temping while trying to crack the TV industry, as the work is often very last minute, and picked up loads of useful transferable skills in the process.

If I were him I would approach companies I want to work for and ask if he can do some shadowing or internship.
I would look to doing a portfolio of stuff to keep my hand in. If it's something that is useful for venues etc he could do some volunteer work.
I would also just get a job that paid the bills to take the pressure off financially.

Can you be more specific what degree is it and what is the industry? As mentioned upthread tell him to tailor the application carefully for each position

Apply for a PGCE so he can work as a teacher?

Dsd took 2 years to find a job and that wasn't what she was looking for, needs must however she's worked in the interim, paid and voluntary

Did he go to to the grad recruitment days for firms in his industry?

My son is in the same situation. Just graduated with a first class degree in computing but really struggling to find a job. He looked for a p/t one whilst at uni but no luck, very little now in IT as experience is asked for pretty much all the time, even for very junior posts. He’s had a few retail interviews but unsuccessful so far. There are so many applying for these jobs, it’s extremely frustrating. I’ve advised him to consider voluntary work which he has agreed to but again they want all kinds of skills. Even our local food bank has no space as they have ample retirees who want to contribute.
Ironically he actually wanted to do an apprenticeship after A’levels but they were few and far between at the time 3 years ago or very competitive. He’s fairly optimistic at the moment luckily but no sure how long that will last. How on earth can the UK do well if many of its graduates can’t find work.

When you say "sending off applications", what kind of job is he looking for?

It doesn't sound as if he's applying for "graduate" jobs through the normal channels for firms who have graduate training schemes. Many larger firms, in all kinds of industries/professions, have graduate training schemes.

Has he tried searching for the specialist graduate scheme job websites? His Uni should have been pointing him in the right direction towards how and where the bigger firms advertise, if he engaged with them on their career sessions.

For the graduate schemes, you don't just send of a CV and covering letter. If that's what he's doing, no surprise he's not getting anywhere. The bigger firms have online application processes including online tests etc - it's quite a long process also involving recording a remote interview etc., to whittle down the numbers before actual live interviews.

if he’s done IT degree has he tried a local temp agency? Get some office work on his cv? That can be a transferable skill to working in teams on projects etc that will help him stand out

Thank you for your replies. I need to provide more information. I had hoped to avoid it as I feel quite disloyal, but here goes.

He was diagnosed with high functioning autism when a child, but he is very borderline and most people might not pick it up. He can be quite intense when talking about his interest, but otherwise he is sociable, talkative and makes good eye contact. He is extremely kind. However, he can only interact with other people to a certain extent e.g. when we have parties at home, he needs to leave from time to time to be on his own.

He has very little work experience - shop work - which he hated. DH and I accept that we were not as forceful as we should have been in insisting he get a job during uni holidays. Our other children had jobs when at school/uni and are now employed.

Hi says he is applying for anything and everything and he is a very honest person (I don't think he is capable of lying). He has even walked into shops to ask for jobs.

Another issue is that he does not drive. He has had lessons, but he was terrified and full of anxiety before each one. He has just found someone who has experience of dealing with someone like him, so he is starting again soon.

I think the issue your son might have with computing is that companies are now looking to see what AI is going to bring to the table. It really is going to change the landscape of working over the next ten years and schools and colleges should be warning students about either choosing AI-proof professions or adding it to their skillset. I'd encourage our son to do additional training in AI that might give him a competitive edge.

Same with OP's son, if he's doing something technical – I'm wondering if it's architecture? I'd be learning as much as I could about transferable AI skills.

I know it's not what your son wants to do long term but mine registered with an agency on the Thursday, did any induction on the Friday and started work on the Monday working shifts in a local warehouse. It got him on his feet financially.

He has a degree in animation and special effects for film/TV. He has made some money (at one stage, quite a lot) designing games on a self employed basis. He still makes something each month from a design he did some time ago, but it isn't enough to live on. He has the capacity to do very well in this area, and he is still working towards that end, but there is a lot of luck involved. He is also quite talented at video editing.

I'm sorry to hear you are in the same situation. Yes, AI is the real killer here. Oh for the benefit of hindsight!

We are definitely at that stage. We now have contact details for agents. I think DH or I are going to have to stand over him whilst he talks to them 😔

Yes, DS has been applying for jobs for over two years without success. He has had several jobs, 18 months on an unpaid internship and three months selling door to door on commission only basis.

Sorry, I have absolutely no help or advice to give, but it seems to be fairly common at the moment I'm afraid.

AI is going to be an issue for a lot of jobs – but someone's got to learn how to use it and your DS could get in at the ground floor! Might be worth exploring courses to expand on his degree skills.

There are very, very few openings for people without experience in the animation industry. IN fact, DH knows someone who has had years of experience (and we hoped would be able to help) who was laid off a few months ago. DS did think he had a way in just after graduating. One of his tutors told him of a possible opening and did put some of his work through to the owner of the company, who praised it, but it didn't come to anything. He has applied to local companies for internships or a bit of work experience - no luck.