To ask where ds can find a first grad job...

[wannabedatamum]

(NC for anonymity)

Ds, 22, doing a Masters in Physics that finishes this summer. Has never had a part time job (yeah, I know ).

Not a high flyer academically, will scrape a pass probably. Strength in Python programming though, demonstrated through uni projects. Also knows PANDAS, Matplotlub, Linux - whatever they are....

Wants job in data analytics, not fussy about sector. Has applied to quite a few graduate schemes, but he's shy, with no work experience to talk about and they're so competitive he probably won't get anything, though useful to go through the process.

Any thoughts for plan B? I was hoping there might be some agencies that he could sign up with (we're in London) once he's finished and get at least some experience that way, maybe with a view to getting a grad job next year.

Or Plan C? Frankly anything...

Help a worried mum vipers!!!

Has he contacted the uni careers service? A great place for advice on applications/ industry links advice on cvs and interview techniques.
is he active on linkedin?

My brother is the loveliest but laziest chap ever. He has a 2:2 (scraped it) and is now doing very well in the nuclear industry, and I am constantly getting told that his 2:2 is as good as my 2:1 in philosophy because he did such a hard degree subject (this is absolute rubbish). Your DS will be absolutely fine

Starting point should be his university careers service for an in person appointment.

Does he have coding project to show? Does he have his work on GitHub? Does he attend any industry events? If you are in London then there are loads of python etc meetups like https://www.meetup.com/pydata-london-meetup/.

There are lots of jobs in data - it doesn't have to be a big grad scheme as a first job, can get good experience in a smaller firm. But he needs to start networking with people in the industry.

If he really struggles with speaking to other people then some counselling and public speaking class, could be very useful

What context does he want to work in? Civil Service has data and programming vacancies www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/professions/working-in-digital-data-and-technology/

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/data-scientist

Civil Service he will have missed fast stream applications but could still apply mainstream role if he looks on civil service jobs just sign up and get alerts.

Ha ha snap! Sorry we must have typed at same time

Also more broadly in industry so good chance to talk to more senior people: www.meetup.com/big-data-ldn/

Fast Stream scheme no longer exists although one or two departments(DWP iirc) have a version.

Gradcracker is good for stem work

Where has he looked so far? Graduate jobs seem to start appearing on the websites around September through to December. Not just "listings" websites for graduate schemes, but also look directly at employer's websites as many don't use the listings websites. My DS struggled at first to get past the first stages when he started applying last September, but after 10 or so rejections, he obviously "learned" the tricks as to how to answer their questions and complete the online application form tasks, etc., and then hit a patch where he got through to higher stages in several jobs, including some recorded interviews etc. He actually ended up with a job that appeared on a firm's own website very late in the day (end November I think with an end December deadline), and he sailed through all the stages, finally landing a job offer at the end of January, so the whole process was pretty quick in the end. It's very lucky he did another "sweep" of target employer websites so late on after the initial batch as the job he landed would have been very easy to miss, with it being put on later and also not on any of the listings/directory websites.

He might be a bit late for this round of graduate schemes as I know our work moved our assessment scheme earlier to tie in with other organisations. I found going to the big career fairs useful. At least in Glasgow they have quite a large one (admittedly pre-Covid) your town/city might have similar if there are a few unis.

He might have better luck getting a job to tide him over to the next set of graduate applications and gives him a chance to get some experience. I’m not going to lie, if I see no part time work (even just summer work) then their cv better knock our socks off everywhere else.

He needs to get an internship for the summer to get the experience and networking required to get a job in this field.

Getmyfirstjob.co.uk worth a look as Microsoft and other corporates put entry level roles on there

Definitely get him to talk to his uni careers service - help polish the cv, but also they might know of companies still looking. We often contact careers services when we’re still looking to fill (usually more niche) roles later in the recruitment process. They often have their own online job board too, so worth checking that as it can be a cost efficient way for smaller companies to target graduates.

Btw most career services will also support alumni, so worth remembering post graduation.

I think your plan to temp (ideally in relevant field) is an good idea. Python, programming etc is really in demand but his lack of work experience (and did he do anything extra-curricular at uni?) combined with not top grades(?) will likely be holding him back at the moment in the grad recruitment processes.

Shy graduates absolutely can land great graduate positions - but often you do need more to talk about than coursework that was part of your degree to demonstrate the competencies looked for.

So getting some experience will either set him up to apply in the next round of grad recruitment, or might lead to full time work not via a grad scheme. Which is of course also a great path - especially if he lands a role he loves, and perhaps in a company with progression opportunities.

Good opportunity for him to test out via different temp roles actually does he care about industry? Does he want to work for a big company vs. small? Etc etc

I’m pretty sure in London he will find some great opportunities via agencies in the data analysis field, but he needs to be proactive and get on it post graduation whilst his technical skills are super crisp and fresh.

DD got an IT job with Sparta, they train you up in both tech and interviewing skills, and then hire you out to third parties. She had no work experience before doing this, had a degree in a different subject, and is not the most confident of people, but this worked for her.

There are other companies that have a similar model to Sparta, can't remember their names just now.

Interested to know employers view candidates that have never even had a part time job at 22?

Forgot to add - I’m at a big FTSE100 and we have graduates on the FDM schemes working for us in our digital & tech organisation. They pride themselves on inclusive resourcing, focusing on potential not experience. They might not have all their schemes open at the moment, but worth bookmarking for future https://www.fdmgroup.com/careers/graduates/

Also - worth looking at skills boot camps; often combine 12 weeks or so of training with support to find a role after. Lots in the technology field. Just encourage him to vet the provider and quiz them on job prospects afterwards.

examples of government linked ones, but this isn’t exhaustive;
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-a-skills-bootcamp/london

Wow thank you - you've all given me hope!

Not sure he's visited the uni careers centre tbh. I'll talk about that next week with him.

Various grad schemes he's applied for - Nuclear was one, BAE, some financial services data ones. All through gradcracker. Funnily enough he mentioned some of his undergrad peers had got work through Sparta, but dh told him not to as he thought it sounded like a scam  - glad it isn't! Will suggest he ignores his father and applies...

Python Meet-ups I'd never heard of so thanks for that. Not sure he'd be confident enough to go by himself but he might. He uses GitHub, not sure any of his work is on there, though it's only uni stuff so I'm not sure he'd be allowed to - won't they own the copywrite?

Civil service I could see him fitting in actually - I'll get him on to that.

@GlitteringFeeling - thank you so much for those pointers. Really useful - is FDM like Sparta then in training people then presumably charging a huge rate to hire them out? If anyone knows any other agencies that would be fab!

Thank you all so much!

Sparta is definitely not a scam, since DD and another relative both got work through them. In fact they have improved since these two did it, as they didn't use to pay you through the training phase, but now they do. I think they also used to make you go into their offices for training (so potentially you'd have to pay for lodgings etc.) but now the training is online.

Try virgin media. Lots of grad schemes and they have a data one. It pays approx 36K in the first year and will include huge amounts of training in numerous areas

I think FDM schemes are longer term than Sparta (but I haven’t looked at Sparta in detail!). So typically 2 year programme with FDM (and employed by them) and in that time are placed into their partner companies, balanced with the training time too. I know we have then hired FDM graduates into our permanent roles.

I’m sure there are other companies like that out there - but hopefully some inspiration for DS!

i can understand why there may be a hesitation with these ‘skills bootcamp promise of a job’ type schemes, but there are certainly a number of legitimate companies out there. We have considerable skills shortages in many areas, and schemes like this are a good way to retrain people, as you can see from the government list. I would just encourage DS to do thorough research on reviews, outcomes, how long it’s been running etc, to avoid any scam.

I was going to suggest Civil Service, but see that many others have too! They recruit for statisticians and analysts every 8 weeks at the moment, that's how desperate they are. Python and R are the most used languages.

analysisfunction.civilservice.gov.uk/government-statistical-service-and-statistician-group/gss-careers-and-learning/joining-us/

Stay away from traditional grad schemes, apply for data analytics roles at entry level. He’ll progress quickly if he’s any good.