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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be sad dd still isn't in a graduate job 5 years later?

135 replies

tinyelephantlargeant · 02/04/2023 18:47

Dd is 27 and did her degree in biology, with a placement year in a chemistry based laboratory.

She has been working in retail ever since. She has been looking and applying, but says nothing much comes up and when it does there is no luck.

I'm aware she is a grown adult and can do what she wants, but me and her dad financially supported her the whole of university and we are a bit sad that she is still just in retail, it's not as if she is overjoyed with it either.

OP posts:
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TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 02/04/2023 18:48

I think it’s a sign of the times. Graduates are ten a penny but jobs are hard to come by in certain fields.

emmathedilemma · 02/04/2023 18:50

YANBU and sadly the longer she’s out of the industry the harder it will probably get to get a job, particularly in STEM where technology etc can move on quite a lot in a few years. I’d be looking at why she’s not getting roles, does she need CV or interview guidance, are employers expecting a masters degree or PhD, or is she just looking for a very niche field in a small geography?

WhiskersPete · 02/04/2023 18:51

What career did she have in mind while completing her biology degree?

Nimrode · 02/04/2023 18:53

Was she not offered any employment by the employer that gave her the placement? this usually the major attraction of doing placement degrees.

memesndmoreme · 02/04/2023 18:54

Could she do further training and go on to become a biology teacher at secondary school?

35965a · 02/04/2023 18:55

Many graduates never get a graduate job, unfortunately.

Easterfunbun · 02/04/2023 18:56

Does she like children? If so she could go in to teaching. Anything from early years, to primary or secondary. Very high workload but it’s something she could potentially do for a few years and then it might open up a few more doors for her?

Original poster
tinyelephantlargeant · 02/04/2023 18:56

She was keen on pathology (APT roles) or forensics (but realises this might need a masters as there's so many forensics graduates) but that's why she did her placement in the chemistry field, as both routes use chemistry too.

APT roles seem to like funeral experience, so she has been applying to those too, which told her they are looking for someone very empathetic vs keen on the science side when she had one call back. I'd say DD is empathetic but probably doesn't always come across super warming and a huge people person... so I feel she may really struggle to ever get that experience necessary. APT roles are obviously not graduate jobs anyway but would be her ideal role. Why is there no pathology role that needs a degree!?

She did like just the lab work though and would be keen to just start in a lab somewhere...

Think everyone is just hoping for anything at this point

OP posts:
DarkDarkNight · 02/04/2023 18:59

Has she considered Biomedical Science if she liked lab work as there is still a medical link?

Easterfunbun · 02/04/2023 18:59

What do you mean she isn’t a people person? I think that’s potentially quite a core issue here. It is hard for graduates, but not impossible and certainly possibly within a few years to at least get your foot into the door of something other than retail. How are her basic communication skills?

Easterfunbun · 02/04/2023 19:00

If I was her I would be applying for NHS band 2 admin roles (very much sought after) and then she can apply for a lab assistant role, there are so many ways around this.

fluffi · 02/04/2023 19:01

Is she applying online for Biology / Chemistry roles? Does she have a 2:1 or 1st, she could apply for any of the grad programmes offered by the Banks, Consultancies and large IT firms. It would get her good experience and be a lot better paid than retail.

Some smaller grad schemes take people regardless of degree as long as they can show they are smart and show they want to work hard

Original poster
tinyelephantlargeant · 02/04/2023 19:03

Not a people person in the sense she is quite blunt but polite of course. It's quite hard to explain. There was suspected ASD in year 11 but then she moved to college and it was never really considered again. I do think it's possible so just wanted to mention so you don't think she is just some rude person who needs to work on how to be around people. She is very polite, but I just find people think she maybe isn't super friendly at first impression?

She works as a custom assistant though so she obviously isn't incapable!! But her constant feedback is to usually smile more and subsequently she is usually put on restocking.

OP posts:
Annasgirl · 02/04/2023 19:03

There are loads of vacancies in lab tech in Ireland. Also in pharma companies. I don’t know anyone with a science degree who is not working in the field if they want to. Would she be willing to emigrate?

slowquickstep · 02/04/2023 19:04

Too many graduates chasing too few jobs, Happens when too many go to uni, the flip side is not enough trade apprenticeships and too few trades, that's why qualified trades earn a fortune and many with degrees don't

titchy · 02/04/2023 19:05

35965a · 02/04/2023 18:55

Many graduates never get a graduate job, unfortunately.

If by many you mean about 10% then yes you're right.

Original poster
tinyelephantlargeant · 02/04/2023 19:06

She is applying online for any biology jobs she sees and any Chemistry lab ones. She's had probably 8 interviews over the last 5 years.

Oh yes that's true even working in admin in a more related place would probably be better...

OP posts:
LIZS · 02/04/2023 19:08

A lot of schemes went by the by in the pandemic. Could she take an MA in a relevant field? Volunteer in a lab or clinical setting?

Glitterandmud · 02/04/2023 19:10

Is she applying for non-grad roles as well as grad ones? I, and everyone I was friends with at uni, started out going for admin /assistant type jobs in fields we were interested in. Easier to apply for internal roles, get to know the hiring managers etc... sorry if that is obvious but it's still the way in for a lot of people (I work in HR so see a lot of cvs / candidates). Once she's in and proven herself the promotions will come.

titchy · 02/04/2023 19:10

Where are you based? Are you in a part of the country with relatively few suitable roles - London would be a good base if she could move. Has she signed up with any Life Science agencies? With five years out of the lab her skills will be very rusty so any lab tech job she should consider - unis, hospitals, pharma.

memesndmoreme · 02/04/2023 19:10

Sadly, some people never get a graduate job in their field. She is still young though, just keep trying and don't give up. Biology teaching could work and just keep trying for what she really wants in the meantime, it would at least be put on her CV.

Jellycats4life · 02/04/2023 19:10

There must be something holding her back. Possibly autism, since it was mentioned when she was younger and then no one could be arsed to follow it up.

Speak to any autistic adult diagnosed late in life and they’ll tell you a story about doing well academically but never quite living up to their early potential; feeling like a failure.

How is she with friendships? Relationships? I bet being stuck in a dead end job isn’t the only dissatisfaction in her life.

Grumpybutfunny · 02/04/2023 19:12

DarkDarkNight · 02/04/2023 18:59

Has she considered Biomedical Science if she liked lab work as there is still a medical link?

That a separate degree which has to be accredited by the IBMS.

What about looking at lab tech roles like MLA in a hospital lab then using that experiance to apply to places like the waterboard? Big pharma often take biology grads. Other option is a PhD

Georgiepud · 02/04/2023 19:13

If she is shy, or not a people person, could she try selling herself more while in retail? It's the ideal environment in which to get out there, and engage with people who you never have to see again. Could her manager encourage more contact on the shop floor? It's just a confidence thing really.
Does she belong to any groups, clubs outside work? Maybe something like a book club, a cookery course or learning a language where she can share ideas.

UnsureHmm · 02/04/2023 19:13

As a BSc biology graduate (graduated in 2020) I think it is really hard to get a role in the field unless you do a masters/PhD.

Even my friends who did masters tended to struggle for a year after to find roles. 1 friend is starting a band 3 admin role next month after finishing her msc in 2021 at UCL.

On the other hand I became a science teacher and am now in the civil service a project manager - I never liked lab stuff and ecology post docs (the stuff I love) aren't very stable and I have a child, so I wanted a stable role.

I would say she needs to do a masters to get an actually lab/science based role, but even that doesn't guarantee anything.

Could you look at recruitment agencies ( if you're in London, PM me as I know one the MHRA uses), just to get her some office experience? That's what I did when leaving teaching.

As a final side note - I don't advise biology for people unless they are extremely passionate about it, as I know so many people who still don't have a role in the field they want to be in.

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