Need help finding a job

[Butterflytat]

I have NC for this. I am really posting here for traffic and a bit of advice. My son is 26 and is really struggling to get a full time job. He got an honours degree and finished about 3 years ago. His degree wasn't in a subject I would have chosen (think gaming) but I did think he might have some transferrable skills. While he was at Uni he worked at a supermarket but he gave that up during his honours year. Since finishing Uni he has had a few part time jobs. I think basically he was lazy, which he is now really regretting. He has done a few bar shifts and now realises how daft he has been and is desperately looking for a full time job. He has had quite a lot of interviews but never seems to get any further. He is a fairly bright boy, always dresses well for interviews but he is not the most confident. Anyone on her who is in HR who could tell me what he should say in an interview about his degree. There is no way no will get a job in the industry he studied in - it's too competitive and he's left it too long now. He would at this point do anything. Any advice would be gratefully received.

Anyone?

Has he had feedback from any of the interviews?

A job is not going to magically appear. Suggest he applies to local companies. Suggest he signs up to agencies. If he can drive that will provide more opportunities. What is the job centre doing to help him find a job. Apply for all types of job. At 26 he needs to find employment. Do you have any contacts that would offer work ? Is he volunteering ? There is alot of people looking for jobs

could he temp

Just pm you op hopefully it’s helpful

What sort of job does he actually want to do?

I work in recruitment (not HR). If he has changed his mind about field of work since his studies, he needs to be honest. Plenty of people change career and it's not an unreasonable thing to do, especially when young. However, I would look for some sign of commitment to the field he is now looking at - voluntary work, apprenticeship, training or qualifications would all be suitable. It's a tough world out there and employers can choose those who stand out as having potential, commitment and enthusiasm for their industry/department.

What degree classification did he get?

What kind of job would he like?

I would say he needs to decide what he wants to do and then be realistic. I've just finished my degree with the OU. But I have just taken a bottom of the rung job in the career I want (and that my degree is based on) because I had no experience and I knew that the degree would get me in the door but I'd have to work my way up. I've only been there a couple of months but they've already sat me down, told me how much I've impressed them and talked to me about progression.

Yet if I'd applied for the positions they're talking about moving me into two months ago I wouldn't have stood a chance.

Equally, he's going to be working a LONG time so he needs to at least be working towards something he wants rather than just taking anything. He also needs to be constantly applying to everything and using agencies like a PP said.

Depending on what jobs he is going for I know a lot of employers in the lower paid/lower skilled jobs look at people with degrees and don't think they are suitable due to them being scared they will waste the "training" time and money on someone who won't be there long because they'll always be "on the lookout for a better opportunity"

I think he got a 2:2 degree which i appreciate is not great. He would literally do anything at this stage. He has applied to the Merchant Navy now but ideally he would like a technical based job in computing but he doesn't have the experience. I have tried all the contacts I have and he has been for loads of interviews - I'm just not sure how he comes across.

Could he see if any grad schemes appeal to him?
GCHQ, civil service and lots of big companies would still let him into their grad scheme

Also RFA would be a good place to apply if he wants a merchant navy style job.
Civil service pension and month on month off work.

I work in a technical field. Has he had any feedback from any of the interviews? You say you don't know how he comes across - of course you don't, but the interviewer does and you (he) need(s) to find out.

siwel123 that's a good idea, many thanks. I think also joining a temp agency would be good. I have managed to get him a few bar shifts and he would do this if need be - at this stage he's not at all fussy, however, as someone else has said people think if you have a degree you are only going to bide your time until something better comes along. I think he should maybe say at interviews that he was a bit naive when doing his degree and his prospects of employment. Would that be a good thing to say? The Job Centre are not helpful at all. One of the jobs he really wanted was dealing with children with special needs, however, he did a really good interview but they took the person with the qualification even though they have to put you through it anyway. I have said he should maybe go to night school to do something along those lines.

siwel123 the thing is hardly anyone phones to let him know if he has been successful at interview. He ends up chasing them up and when they tell him why he didn't get the job they say he did a good interview but there was someone with more experience. It's soul destroying for him.

What kind of jobs with kids does he want to do?

yes, temping, contracting, building up his cv as much as possible.
One temp job can lead to a longer placement, and sometimes perm opportunities, but even a good experience to add to your CV is worth adding.

Don't think it's the 2.2 that's the issue, it's going to be the time elapsed (?) since he left and lack of a coherent CV with an actual work record.

He really needs to get himself working, for free or whatever (sounds like you're keeping him anyway) and put together some transferable skills and show an interest in something that he can then talk about in interview. Temping is probably the way to get some experience.

Is it easier for him to not work than work currently? I'd be sorting that out too.

Thank you so much for all your suggestions. If any recruiters are on her looking for someone in the West coast of Scotland please feel free to PM me (long shot I know).

Further qualifications or volunteering will really help. Preferably both. Especially if they help him evidence a coherent interest in X industry or role.

Get him (and yourself) a printed brochure for the local FE and Adult Ed college (if they still do them m), or have a good poke around the website.

What kind of a technical job is he after?

If it's coding, can he code in the languages he'll be required to use (and has he got any qualifications to show that?).

Can he demo his work? (Has he created a website, an app, something like that?).

Can he volunteer his techy services to any local businesses or charities who'd likely snatch his hand off...?

What do all his uni mates do? Can one of them get him a foot in the door where they are working? (Even if it's an entry level job)?

Could he contact his uni careers dept for advice?