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Original poster

Graduate (un)employment

101 replies

scotchbroth1 · 28/06/2011 13:20

Though my own DC are a long way off employment age, I can see this through myself, siblings, cousins and some friends. Yes it is a tough time for graduates to get work in the fields they have studied at university, but I find a lot are too proud to just take anything until this happens, be it bar, cleaning, hotels, retail or admin work etc. because they are 'too bright' for it. Huh, I have a postgrad and am a cleaner on minimum wage. Others of my aquaintance just claim benefits and refuse to take any of the easier jobs mentioned. Some 'universities' are truly worth going to and give you valuable skills. Others are just glorified colleges that serve to keep you sheltered for 3 or 4 years (and make money for the institutions) then people wonder why they can't get employment.

Is this a common trend?

ps, this is not meant as a benefit bash thread but more attitudes of graduates to their true self worth.

OP posts:
MrsKravitz · 28/06/2011 18:48

Sorry Im just comparing the employment stats from my place of employment. Maths isnt the holy grail as some make out and , in fact, many go into teaching from maths (not that theres anything wrong with that).

I graduated with a science degree and spent a year (this was in the early 80's) in the same boat. No job, no experience, over qualified. It took me the year to ecide to do postgraduate studies and it was from there that I never looked back career wise.

Tryharder · 28/06/2011 18:49

I actually agree with the OP although hasten to add not wishing to detract from other people's (sad) experiences of unemployment.

I have a lot of friends/colleagues with children who have recently left school or graduated and hardly any of these children have ever had part time jobs. I know 22 year olds who still get pocket money FFS. The sense of entitlement is beyond belief. No wonder no-one wants to employ them.

GrendelsMum · 28/06/2011 18:57

I've also noticed that some recent graduates are much better prepared for interviews and job hunting than others (I've been recruiting for a couple of graduate positions lately). Although we had some excellent applicants we also had some applicants who had made some pretty fundamental mistakes, probably through naivity and lack of thought. (No, micro shorts are not an appropriate outfit to wear to a job interview for a post dealing with members of a fairly conservative profession.)

I think that Universities need to offer better and more rounded careers advice, and that University students need to attend their careers training sessions and take them seriously.

limitedperiodonly · 28/06/2011 18:57

xstitch you said you won't stop trying so therefore you aren't lazy, you aren't useless and you will get somewhere. It must seem fucking hard right now, and I know you won't believe me, but you will be okay because you are determined.

Just pity the people who don't know better than to say ignorant things.

Tchootnika · 28/06/2011 18:58

IMO, there's (sometimes) a connection between what can be seen as a 'sense of entitlement' and mickey mouse courses (at A level as well as re. degrees)... i.e. many 6th formers just aren't given good information about what A level subjects will get them on to courses suitable for chosen careers... and information about suitable degree subjects for preferred careers often arrives too late (as does info about gaining work experience etc., though I know unis make a huge effort in informing students about this).
Can't really understand why there's not more of a drive to encourage school leavers to work for a few years before even applying to uni - any ideas?

MrsKravitz · 28/06/2011 18:59

We have a huge emphasis on employability now. Module and programme specs have to outline transferrable skills and employability los. We also do mock interviews and sessions on self employment.

GrendelsMum · 28/06/2011 19:09

MrsKravitz - yes, one of our candidates (the one we gave the post to!) had obviously really thought about what questions were likely to come up at interview, and had carefully prepared her answers with examples of when she'd needed that skill at University. She was nervous, but very well prepared (and appropriately dressed), and the result was excellent. She was a credit to whoever had prepared her for job interviews!

goinnowhere · 28/06/2011 19:12

I think it seems so hard to get started in so many things these days and it's a real shame, for everyone. I think many people with some intelligence and some work ethic, could do many, many jobs. Yet there seem to be so many obstacles. Overqualified, underqualified, need for unpaid internships, qualifications that don't "fit", the need to prove over and over that you are committed and have never wanted to do anything else your entire life. Many jobs could be learned on the job quite successfully, but I always get the impression that some employers want a perfect finished product.
I don't recognise this "slacker" image fully though I have to say. All the past pupils from my school seem to be working post university, even if it is not their "dream" job.

happybubblebrain · 28/06/2011 19:12

Fabbychic - I did an art degree - it wasn't ridiculous. I set myself up as a freelance illustrator and it paid very well, until the stress, deadlines and volume of work got to me. Now I have a office job, which I enjoy. And I also have lots of lovely creative interests which I probably wouldn't have without my art degree. I don't think a degree has to necessarily give you a career for life, it's still worth pursuing your interests as far as you can go, even if they don't pay off financially - there can be other rewards.

I really feel for those looking for work now. I think you have to develop a very thick skin and knock on as many doors as you can, offering your services for free until you get a foot in the door.

goinnowhere · 28/06/2011 19:16

I agree happybubblebrain. 17 is so young to have to make the decisions about what you want to do with the next 50 years, and it seems difficult to change because of the cost of many retraining courses. I wonder would we be better with broader degrees, followed by specialising at a slightly older age, say 20.

wearenotinkansas · 28/06/2011 19:28

xstitch - Do you mind me asking what part of the country you are in? I don't want to state the obvious but have you tried setting up doing something on your own? Avon selling, cake making etc?

MrsKravtiz - am intrigued. What do you teach??

xstitch · 28/06/2011 19:45

I'm in Scotland.

I've considered stuff but couldn't work out of flat as would be against tenancy agreement. Money is really tight around here in general so I have my doubts about the availability of customers.

xstitch · 28/06/2011 19:46

I could really do with interview practice, mind you I am so bad I usually don't get that far so a waste of time tbh.

wearenotinkansas · 28/06/2011 19:54

mmm, - would your landlord even know if it was something like Avon/Usborne or something like proofreading? Technically you could always be running it from a cafe down the road. My sis lives in a pretty deprived area of NW and her Avon lady always did very well.

You do really have my sympathy though. Particularly hate it when people don't acknowledge your application - or as happened recently, specifically told me they would get back to me at the end of the week (having asked to see my CV) and never did. I don't take it personally though and just think they are tossers.....

xstitch · 28/06/2011 19:56

I got as far as interview once and didn't get a reply. I was pretty sure on leaving I hadn't got it but even so it was a kick in the teeth not to get a thanks but no thanks on that one.

wearenotinkansas · 28/06/2011 20:03

as I said - Tossers. Don't take it personally.

DP applied for a job recently and got a rejection pre-interview, even though on paper he was the ideal candidate. He asked them for feedback twice and they didn't reply. Eventually (at my suggestion) he wrote to them saying that as they hadn't replied he could only assume that he'd been rejected on the basis of his age and would be looking to see if he could pursue them for age discrimination. Got a long reply from the head of HR within 24 hours with an explanation as to why they hadn't selected him for interview! He didn't get the job but he did feel better about it!

BabyDubsEverywhere · 28/06/2011 20:13

Oh god.....i was looking at doing an OU degree (or 2)...should i sit burning fivers instead :(

Mandy2003 · 28/06/2011 20:21

If you're doing an OU degree, presumably you have plenty of work and life experience, which is what seems to count most.

Tchootnika · 28/06/2011 20:33

BabyDubs... that depends...

maighdlin · 28/06/2011 20:35

i worked for a few years as a legal secretary before starting my law degree last year. i know how bloody competitive it is after graduation but feel hope and pray that my years as a secretary will pay off. i know what skills they need, i already have an idea about stuff and procedures plus have made loads of contacts who although may not give me a job will recommend or give a good reference.

im doing legal secretary temping over the summer because a new contact will never be unwelcome and it keeps my knowledge fresh. some classmates would rather eat glass than do even a weeks work experience in the summer. "it will be boring" um hello is that not why your are here to get a legal job?? "im not going to get paid." so suck it up its only a week. im only in a position to get paid because i did it for years before i started.

xstitch · 28/06/2011 20:45

If you are doing an OU degree I would assume it would be easier to pretend you didn't have it if necessary for a particular application.

youarekidding · 28/06/2011 20:54

I agree with xstitch

I am currently working F/T in a school and doing OU degree to do teacher training. Whilst working in school I have looked at other positions - more pay. I've applied. Whe no interview I question why? All 3 jobs = over qualified. Thats with only an NVQ level 4. These jobs are higher paid than mine so you would expect they want more qualified/ experienced people. I am lucky I have my current job as I don't think I'd get it now - as over qualified. Hmm

Its ridiculous - people want to work but are dicouraged at times to take anything going.

3littlefrogs · 28/06/2011 20:59

My nephew and my ds have graduated , one last year, one 2 years ago. It is heartbreaking to see how hard they have worked and studied, and the debt they have got into, and there are no jobs. They are overqualified for most things, and have no experience for others.

This is a lost generation and it is an absolute tragedy.

xstitch · 28/06/2011 21:12

I have just been going through my job hunting records. Lost count at job 219 and that is just the stuff since the beginning of March. What's the point?

BabyDubsEverywhere · 28/06/2011 21:13

Mandy2003....no, i dont really, had a few jobs, moved abroad for a bit, came back pregnant and been just a mom for a few years battling mental health...i want to do a degree in history, for pleasure really. Not looking at going back to work for a good few years yet....Teaching hopefully, not too sure what to study to bag a job though? sounds pointless looking at this :(

Hope your situations improve mumsnetters