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?

I have suggested this! He is at the stage where he detests AI and everything it stands for, and wants nothing to do with it. I can see a lot of this on Twitter from creative types (and I have a lot of sympathy with their viewpoint). I know he will have to change if he wants to work in the creative industries.

If he's got a specific technical job, is he looking at in-house jobs.

For example, if it's I.T , is he only looking at I.T companies when he could be looking at in-house I.T. support for large organisations (NHS, large retail chains, etc).

All these places have their own I.T, law, accountancy, and creative design teams.

Also, make sure he is looking at graduate programmes and not just whacking out a generic CV.

I totally feel his pain! I'm a creative and it's going to wallop my particular industry in a few years as well. I'm too old now to do anything about it but if I was a recent graduate, especially in his field, I'd be embracing it to be a pack leader.

Also, is he applying locally or for roles in London? Because all the big animation companies like Framestore do tend to be based there.

Just to add that DH and I believe that the autism is part of the problem. Our other children are definitely go-getters. One lost his job on one day and on the next day had several job offers. DH and I are coming towards the end of successful careers and have tried to instil a good work ethic in all of them. DS works hard - but appears only to be able to do that when he wants to. We are finding it exasperating, but can see that it isn't entirely his fault that he can't get a job.

I'm sorry to hear that. I guess we all have to keep moving with the times, but it is hard. He is applying for whatever he can find in London and locally. In fact, there is a thriving gaming industry not too far from us.

This is the worry for me as well. My son’s graduated with a first in a similar degree but we don’t live in an area that has much of a creative hub. I feel things have changed re AI advances a lot even in the last three years. We don’t live anywhere near a big London type city. It does worry me for most kids’ financial futures and stability the way things are going. I have horrible images of my kids ending up homeless when I’m no longer here as the safety net because it’s a very quick slide down🙁

I'm so sorry. Does he have a job at all?

My daughter works in a similar field. She struggled to get a job after her degree. Entry level jobs are really hard to come by.
She worked in a bar and packed boxes at Amazon while studying for a masters. She then worked a couple of short internships (one arranged by her university), worked on her portfolio, created an instagram following, website showcasing her work before getting some freelance work which led to an offer of an entry position at a newish games firm. 5 years later shes a senior artist and the firm is doing amazing work.
Persistence and a strong work ethic help in a very competitive environment.
Hope your son succeeds in his search.

And I understand your worry. It is starting to affect my mental health. I am approaching my state retirement age and cannot see how I can possibly retire when all my children, not only DS, are so vulnerable, due to the cost of housing mostly, but the world in general.

@BoyJob although my DS is a bright, intelligent, really nice lad I think he’s also pretty socially awkward so at interviews he doesn’t come across the best. He just hasn’t got the gift of the gab or confidence like some. Last year I warned him that he needed to learn how to drive (public transport round here is abysmal) to open up opportunities but he knew better. It’s only now that he’s learning !
I suspect there are a lot of graduates in a similar position, few of his friends have got graduate training posts, even ones who went to decent unis. Some are kicking the can down the road and doing an MA because of this. Crossing my fingers that something comes up for them. We have an Amazon warehouse near us, he was adamant that this wasn’t an option but I think he’s changing his tune.

That is really encouraging to hear. Thank you.

DS already has quite a large Instagram / YouTube following. He posts about gaming mostly, I think - how to get around issues etc. He is working hard to increase the viewings so that he can make some money from it.

Try expanding searches to the North and North East. There's a rapidly expanding games industry here.
They are young companies but often do work ousourced from much larger concerns, and are very motivated to support new employees as most have moved independently to the area. It's also much cheaper to live here.

It seems we have similar sons.

Amazon warehouses appear to be cashing in with all our bright young things! Unfortunately, that isn't going to work with us until he passes his driving test. Public transport is useless here too, unless you want to hop on a train to London.

Unfortunately as a parent in a very similar situation, it's really tough out there.

There are lots and lots of graduates all hoping to start their working lives. Most are only hoping for an entry position somewhere where they can get to in a field they have studied in.

Graduated jobs unfortunately are usually concentrated in particular areas and have huge numbers of graduates applying for each job. This means they can cherry pick exactly what and who they want.

It leaves lots of those who don't quite fit the criteria, or aren't great at interviews or assessment centres at a loss.

People will say there is plenty of work - they mean minimum wage precarious work offering limited contracts and hours who are looking for fully flexibility and don't like graduates because they are aware that they are looking for something more than what they are offering and unlikely to stay.

We are 12 miles outside a northern city but public transport is nearly non existent. Most jobs are on industrial estates so nowhere near a bus stop. Back in the day youngsters seemed to get jobs relatively easily, now the competition is ferocious with 100s of applicants for NMW jobs alone. Junior IT jobs want at least a years experience, you’re expected to hit the ground running and employers aren’t obligated to train new starters up, they want ready made employees.

Okay, thank you - that's worth considering. He got through to the interview stage for one company where they had looked at his show reel and really liked it. They were based in Ireland but the job was advertised as being remote. At the interview, they said he had to relocate, and it was simply too much of a big thing for him. DH and I agreed that he would have been miserable being so far away.

Thank you. Those of you who are telling me your children are in a similar position are helping me put it all into perspective. Sometimes, I feel myself getting exasperated and cross with him. We have always had the best sort of mother/son relationship, and I hate myself for threatening this.

Yes - so why are we being told by the government that we don't have enough people to do the work. It doesn't make any sense.

I'd probably say to him that he's still young, he shouldn't feel despondent and it'll come right in the end.

Because it wouldn't do for you to pass on this anxiety you're feeling to him. Yes it's important he gets a job etc etc but I'd be mindful of coming across as overbearing right now

This isn't new. My youngest graduated in 2019 and it took a year to get a grad job and he wasn't fussy about where or what, literally hundreds of applications, tests and online interviews (much of this during covid). Several of his peers did masters just because no jobs came along and they were all science / maths graduates.
It also took him a few months to get a temporary job but eventually he got into a local Tesco Express. The work experience was invaluable in applying for other jobs.
I think those who walk into high flying careers are in the minority.

The creative sector does seem a bit worrying atm and it’s hard for a graduate in any case

Just to add that DH and I believe that the autism is part of the problem

It could be but I think it's unlikely to be honest. I work in tech and anything to do with gaming / animations / etc. it's almost expected that you'll be somewhere on the spectrum. There are developers I work with who don't even speak in team meetings let alone have the gift of the gab. It's seen as par for the course really.

The job market right now is really tough, especially in tech and even more so in TV. I had a guy deliver my Sainsbury's shopping yesterday who has a physics degree and is a software developer with 3 years experience but can't get a job. A good friend of mine in TV says the majority of her peers are out of work right now.

I've not got any silver bullets but I'd definitely encourage your son to embrace AI as it's not going anywhere. The positive side for your son is that it will advantage those who are early in their careers and can learn how to wield it.

I sometimes get people messaging me on LinkedIn asking if I'll give up half an hour of my time to give them some careers advice. I only ever say no if it looks like a generic message they've sent to loads of people. So it might be worth him trying that?

Because quite a lot of businesses want to be able to bring in cheap and grateful labour from abroad without any restrictions rather than having to train up our young people.

@BoyJob the relocation thing is a issue isn’t it ? I’m sure there are suitable jobs in London or the South East but DS isn’t the type to just up and off. He’s never lived alone as he went to a local uni ‘to save money’. 30 years ago youngsters were quite happy to move away to embark on a career but now they seem far more reticent.
My friend’s daughter relocated to London post uni but she had the advantage of going with her boyfriend so psychologically it was less of a move.

Which area of the country are you in, @BoyJob? You don't have to say specifically, just a rough location. You never know, people reading this thread might have contacts there!