To be panicking about DC’s employability post uni?

[NeedXanaxPlease]

DD is going into the final year of an Anthropology degree (might get a first but probably a 2:1) from a top RG uni. Has done a Fine Art foundation year. Always worked part time since finishing A-levels (Maths, English Lit, Art), first as a barista/front of house/waitressing, then as an after-school nanny during uni.
She loves working, is highly responsible, great people skills (and people judgement) and quite numerate/commercially savvy. She is a great kid and would be an asset to any team. But… she hasn’t had a single internship so no “relevant” work experience (didn’t get her act together after first year and a long recovery post an operation for a sporting injury after second year) nor does she really know what she wants to do after graduation. She is definitely not pursuing the classic investment banking, Bain/BCG/McKinsey, accountancy, law routes.
I am now feeling highly anxious and helpless as I don’t know how to support/guide her. I did the classic Tier 1 strategy consulting, MBA, corporate M&A so I am spending hours each week helping my friends’ kids who want to pursue this path (mock case studies, mock interviews, CV reviews) but am at a complete loss re how to help my own. I feel that I am spiralling. This is not helped by my being involved in graduate recruitment at my work – CVs I see are all full of Economics/Management/Sciences degrees, multiple internships/work experiences/summer schools – they are highly structured and tick all the boxes (to an extent where I can’t differentiate between them). My DD wouldn’t stand a chance on paper.
Sage mumsnetters, please reassure me that she can get a job without internships and with a “soft” degree? Does she stand a chance with graduate schemes? Should she even bother applying? What potential career routes she could explore?

There are a million career paths that aren’t M&A, investment banking etc. what does she enjoy enough to spend 8 hours of her day doing it?

She does need some experience but she’s been working at least. Internships help of course, my son is on one now, but my oldest was the type who didn’t apply either and he’s definitely not fulfilling his potential in his career but he’s happy and that’s all that matters.

What are her plans with her degree? I would not expect her to be going down the consulting or banking routes with a degree in anthropology.

It depends really what graduate schemes you/she is thinking of. There are obviously some which do need specific degrees (Science/medicine for example), and there are obviously some whereby although not essential to have a specific degree it is much preferred (Law). But it’s not always the case.

I would really recommend trying to find something in place of an internship, it really is largely who you know (and who knows you) for some of these schemes. Building relationships and building your reputation can help massively when applying, I went into a legal graduate scheme when I finished my Law degree helped massively by the fact I did an internship there and also then worked there while finishing my studies/during holidays, I wasn’t an unknown to them at that point and I do think that really helped me get that. I would also say that for some businesses although they take applications for the grad schemes, in mine/my friends experience they tend to have the place earmarked for someone they knew from internship.

Also don’t forget that lots of people don’t get a grad job for a few years after finishing uni. There are far more graduates each year than there are grad jobs, most people don’t start one straight away. If she’s not successful immediately then she can take a year/2 years, get a job somewhere she’d like to have a grad job and then apply the following year with the competitive edge that she’s already working for the company, has an understanding of it’s workings in the way that someone fresh out of uni with no experience doesn’t (2 of my friends have done this).

You're spiralling? Isn't there a career advisory service at her university? Can't she make an appointment and talk over her options? Doesn't she have a tutor she can talk to? Does she have classmates she can discuss this with, people doing the same course who have ideas?

CVs I see are all full of Economics/Management/Sciences degrees, multiple internships/work experiences/summer schools – they are highly structured and tick all the boxes
i.e. are the CVs of privilege - no caring responsibilities nor disabilities, to name just two barriers. Find employers who are a bit more equal ops - for example civil service etc type stuff. She can still climb the greasy pole, if that's what she wants (either within CS, or many jump ship and do a gamekeeper-turns-poacher thing).

My DD wouldn’t stand a chance on paper.

She doesn't need to though does she as she won't be applying for the sort of roles you recruit....

There are a billion and one other careers and grad schemes open to her.

Am I missing something?

If you want to offer her your advice - let her know that grad scheme recruitment starts next month. Civil Service might be one for her to look at. Or local authority management. Or NHS management.

She's a numerate, analytical people person with a demonstrable work ethic. She'll be fine.

What does she want to do? You sound over invested and pushy

She did go to the careers centre - they seem to be wildely overrated for anything non standard. They can talk to you about consulting/banking/engineering/accontancy/law and are geared towards maximising your chances of getting those - talking you through the process, interview prep, case studies, assessment centres etc. Anything non-standard and they are at a loss. For example, she asked about marketing and they didn’t really know much. No can they help with off cycle internships. A lot of her classmates are thinking masters/PhD/conservation/charities. She would consider a master’s (she does love the subject) but I am not sure a master’s in anthropology would be additive.

If she loves the subject why not the Masters, PhD, academic/research route?
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/what-can-i-do-with-my-degree/anthropology

Firstly, she’s not a ‘great kid’ if she’s finishing uni, she’s a grown up. Time to loosen those apron strings and be supportive of whatever SHE decides. It might not work out first time but these are her decisions to take, not yours.

How do you think most people manage to get jobs OP?! Plenty of people with “soft” 2.1s from RG universities and no internships have bravely overcome adversity to find employment. Shock horror…maybe even some poor mites that went to ex-polytechnics 😂

She’s an adult who by your admission is clever, well liked and hard working. Let her make her own way and don’t try to force her into any particular career path. Maybe she won’t have a MN 6 figure salary but that’s ok, most people don’t!

You need to calm down about this. It's no longer your responsibility to be so involved.

She's an adult and if she ends up on the dole there's nothing you can do about it and it won't be the worst thing in the world. Simple as that.

What are those paths though? As you might have guessed from my post, my world is quite limited to finance. I am actually happy she is not doing it - I have seen enough women chewed up and spat out in these roles - but I am not familiar with what else is out there (that is not STEM/finance/law) that pays enough to have a semi-decent quality of life in London.

To answer your question re what she enjoys - problem solving, pace, probably projects/variety, rather than routine, degree of creativity, seeing specific outcome/result.

This isn't your problem to solve. As pp said, be supportive and encourage her to continue exploring her options. It took me a good 20 years and a good few dead ends and diversions after graduating to find what I wanted to do with my life!

She loves working, is highly responsible, great people skills (and people judgement) and quite numerate/commercially savvy.

Then she will be fine. She sounds lovely. A lot of the people who go into finance or the "give me your watch and I'll tell you the time" end of management consultancy seem to be either shallow careerist arseholes, or deeply unhappy with the falseness required to success in those roles.

Honestly even people with experience etc are struggling to get into or move employment right now (although the market does seem to be picking up slightly).

She would probably be best to get any job and go from there e.g. if she wants to work towards marketing, apply for any job in a business with a marketing team, then network within the organisation and wait for marketing vacancies/opportunities come up as an internal applicant.

I was going to say civil service fast stream, and it’s second on Prospect’s list! Anthropology does tie with social policy ? Also great graduate career with opportunity for diverse placements, so you don’t have to commit to one route …

Overinvested - probably, pushy - no. As long as she is happy, I am happy. I just haven’t met anyone poor, unemployed and happy…

Finishing Uni is often a difficult time as starting in the world of work is a whole new ball game. I'd concentrate on providing emotional support.

From what you say she will be a great employee and will make a great success of her working life, whatever path she may choose to follow.

This is not a problem for you to fix OP.

Sorry to ask the obvious question… but who on Earth invests their time in a particular degree without considering how it springboards into their career?!?
Seems either unplanned madness or just an expensive and indulgent 3 or 4 years at uni with no real point.

To find a job that doesn’t bore her out of her skull (at least not 100% of the time), where she can have impact, good (or at least non-toxic) culture, and where she can make a decent living and get a mortgage.., sounds pretty vague and high level to me.

I did law at university. I absolutely hated it and I’m now a very happy hairdresser. I wish I hadn’t been pushed away from my passion when I was young, being told lawyers are clever/rich and hairdressers and poor/stupid.

Get her to upload her cv onto handshake, it's really good and will help fit her skills with jobs that match her degree and interests. Lots of internships come up through here too. Hope that helps

That's a depressing point of view - a lot of people choose a subject out of intellectual curiosity, not thoughts of how much money it will make them. Anyway, a lot of the time it is the skills you learn on a humanities degree that are most valuable - ability to distill important information, analysis, report writing etc.

Just leave her be - she'll find something she's interested in that isn't as rigid as civil service work or high finance. Both dp and I found our first careers randomly through taking up temping placements at our companies.