Go on fess up, who’s eating all the good graduates?

[Whatsyournameandwheredyoucomefrom]

I am currently interviewing grads for an entry level role in the marketing industry and SWEETMARYANDJOSEPH it’s tough going.

I’ve been taking in cohorts of grads for 10 years and in past years they were always keen to learn, chatty, determined to show the best of themselves and keen to know more about the industry. I’ve found graduate hiring to be a really
lovely thing; starting people off on their careers is something I love to do.

This year is bloody horrendous. I’ve done 23 interviews so far (5 roles available) and bar 2, without exception there’s zero enthusiasm or ‘self selling’, it’s more like I’m asking them to do a household chore and they’re getting pocket money in return - it’s ‘well if I really must do this job, what’s in it for me’. For example today a 21 year old cut me off mid sentence as I was talking about possible career progression through the industry and said ‘yeah I’m probably not thinking about that right now, I’m just figuring out what industry I want to get into right now you know? Like what is it about XXXX (that industry I’ve been in my entire career) that you think is worth pursuing because I could do basically anything and be fine you know?’ - very nearly snapped ‘this is an interview not a careers fair’ but held my tongue. Another told me £22k was basically slavery (her exact words) and she couldn’t work for less than £30k - not even graduated yet ffs. Also, oop norf so no London premium either.

I’m not expecting gratitude for the interview, I don’t even expect them to know anything about the industry and I’ll pay them £22k for the privilege of being fairly useless for a year while they learn. They can be earning £30k in 2 years with the training they get at the early stages through this role and I’ve had some go one to £50k+ in that time and yet almost without exception, none of the grads this year have turned up to the interview with any indication that they actually want the job.

What is this?? Is someone sweeping up all the driven, good candidates and paying them megabucks? Or are universities setting mad expectations on salary and not teaching interview skills?

I’m 35 so it’s not like I’m totally out of touch and feel a bit daft saying it but is this a generational thing? Covid?? WHAT IS HAPPENING?

Post Pandemic fatigue?

Could you go for non graduates?

The salary is the issue from what you have posted

22k starting is very low, as is the 30 in 2 years tbh

I've certainly heard this year's crop are a bit immature but these sound rude and a bit thick! 30k for students indeed.

They'll come down with a bump, I'm sure. Or be doing a Daily Mail sadface when they claim they had 100 interviews and everyone hates them.

Not in the north and in marketing, it's not.

I think (trigger: unpopular opinion) a combo of Covid, social media and parenting/education styles that are very much "child led" or child centred, is leading to very entitled young people who think the world owes them everything.

There honestly are some. I supervised some bright, committed, reliable young people this year. Lots seem to be going for Masters courses though, or they already did pretty well in their part time jobs and are in managerial roles now.
I think recruitment is tricky just now in general.

YABU. You're paying well below graduate salary expectations during a labour shortage and expecting to get, not only graduates, but graduates who are enthusiastic and driven? Don't be ridiculous. They're absolutely right when they ask "what's in it for me?" - businesses have a shortage of staff and graduates don't have a shortage of job opportunities, of course they're going to be interviewing you and not the other way around.

No one is setting "mad expectations" at all - the one with mad expectations is you. You get what you pay for. Graduates who are driven, enthusiastic, and have good interview skills are walking into jobs that pay a hell of a lot more than what you're offering.

£19k and a half is minimum wage. You are offering a graduate £2.5k above minimum wage.

it is a very low salary.

22k round my area would get you quite far tbh, especially for starting off

I hear you.

I can't believe the salary expectations.
Another thread was posting about her ds and no sick pay on his contract of £45k.

It really is.

Go for the mature students. In my cohort, the older students were ignored for interviews, despite being keen and motivated with decent results.

@RainCoffeeBook as with property job salaries are dependant on who will take it.

The OP has had feedback from the candidates the salary is too low, and it is.

After graduation many aren't tied to 'up north' either. 22k is barely above minimum wage!!

Older students are even less likely to take a job barely above minimum wage

It depends on the industry though. In the arts, that’s reasonable. In finance or law, it’s very low

Dsd has been offered more to work at our local supermarket, not London either. At £22k you are only going to attract not high flyers

Absolutely. The current crop of graduates come to us very much in the style of ‘who can help me get to where I want to be.’

I think this has a factor to play as well:

www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-unemployment-falls-lowest-since-1974-2022-05-17/

@ShirleyPhallus good thing the OP has listed the sector then isn't it

Marketing is in a massive labour shortage atm.

Most starting in an agency with no degree will be on more than 22k

Actually, pp have a point. The starting salary was 22k for my industry, which was much lower than equivalent professions in law/finance, even a good few years ago. Cough, quite a few years ago...

The current graduates have really really suffered with the pandemic.

They've lost a lot of the opportunities for self development. The universities have made them stay in their rooms and do a lot online, placement opportunities all cancelled.

Their motivation has suffered. They're lacking a lot of soft skills as well as the effect on their education.
Young people have lost a lot to the pandemic

Add 5k to the salary and come back and tell us how you are getting on.

Oooh what goes from 22 to 50 in a few years?!

What do you expect when you pay peanuts.