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Transitioning from student to full time work - how did it go for your DCs?

6 replies

puddyhug · 30/10/2025 11:01

My DS was a student in London and we live on the outskirts, so he lived at home in his final year, but maintained an active social life either sofa-surfing or arriving home in the early hours by night bus or the first morning train.

He's now graduated, but many of his friends are still students in London, so he sees them regularly. He has also started a full time graduate-scheme job, which is also very sociable.

When I was at that stage of life I moved to London not knowing anyone, so my social life was confined to work. In any case, pubs shut at 11 and clubs (which I rarely went to) shut at 2. I had to be in the office each day, so was up early.

In contrast, my son has the option to work at home, usually 2 days a week or sometimes 3. On these days he rolls out of bed shortly before 9 and puts a shirt on over his pj bottoms. This morning, he arrived home from a sofa-surf at 7.15am, went to bed for an hour, then started work.

I'm obviously worried this isn't sustainable. He's had a gentle start at work, but it's going to get busy, and he will have professional exams. He's generally sensible, so I'm hoping he will make the right decisions going forward, but at 21 he probably feels indestructible.

How did your DC's navigate this transition from student to professional? Hopefully successfully in most cases, so you can reassure me. 🙂

OP posts:
vivainsomnia · 30/10/2025 15:01

He's young, he can do it! I personally couldn't, always needed my proper night sleep but my husband could party all night and go straight to a quite demanding job and be absolutely fine.

mamagogo1 · 30/10/2025 15:04

He’s young, you can manage stupid things when young! I would sometimes go to a club until 4am (it was already that late in London in the 90’s) go for food in an all night cafe before going to work and showering, then have multiple coffees. I wasn’t alone, I was often with colleagues!

Seeline · 30/10/2025 15:36

My DS (24) didn't have a job when he graduated so came home (south London) he managed to get a p/t job in a pub in November which was mainly evening shifts with socialising afterwards. He finally got a grad job, which he started early in April, living at home. Like yours around 3 days WFH and a easy commute up to London on others. His social life is very active. We are suffering from him coming up in anytime between midnight and 4/5 am once/twice a week, sometimes more. Yes to the rolling out of bed at 8.55 and pj bottoms. Sleeps during the day most weekends, and then off out again in the evening. Student life is still alive and well.

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kittywittyandpretty · 30/10/2025 15:37

Honestly, I’m 52 and I lead a very similar lifestyle. Burn it at both ends Monday to Friday and then spend most of the weekends in bed.
Something to look forward to for everybody

isitmyturn · 30/10/2025 15:47

DS started his grad scheme in lockdown. Moved to the city thinking WFH would be a temporary blip and spent months in a house share working in a bedroom and being unable to meet people.
Five years on he still WFH 3 days a week. He bought a house and doesn't live at home but when he visits and works from here he rolls out of bed at 7.55 and starts work at 8am.
I'd say your DS will be fine. He's lucky to still live near all his friends and it takes time to make new friends at work. As the work / training ramps up he'll have to adjust and put more effort in.

Extragreen · 30/11/2025 14:06

kittywittyandpretty · 30/10/2025 15:37

Honestly, I’m 52 and I lead a very similar lifestyle. Burn it at both ends Monday to Friday and then spend most of the weekends in bed.
Something to look forward to for everybody

How do you manage to do that with dependent kids @kittywittyandpretty ?!

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