Life after Uni - DD about to Graduate, big move to London how about others?

[TangoWhiskyAlphaTango]

Can't see another thread about graduates so thought I would start one. DD has been at Bath for 3 years doing Politics and IR and absolutely loved it there - has met a lovely Boyfriend, lots of good friends, enjoyed her course and the City itself. She was supposed to do the placement year for various reasons didn't and whilst I respected her decision thought she was making a big mistake with regard to future jobs. As predicted trying to get a graduate job has been tough, so so many rejections and only one that progressed to the final stages which she was convinced she wouldn't get as she felt the interview was crap. It was also fiercely competitive 8k applicants for 180 places and amazingly she got in! So now it looks like she is off to London - alone and I am really nervous for her, her BF is going back home to take a year out.

How are other graduate parents feeling? What are yours up to now and are they moving to a new City too? London is so expensive I fear she will have to carry on living on pot noodles for a few years but she is so happy to have a job. Please give me some positive stories, I am sure she will be fine just can't believe the 3 years have flown in the blink of an eye! Our babies are now going into the world of work, I am sure I only dropped her off in Bath last week.......😳

Yes it is graduation for my DD on the 10th.

She won't find out her first posting for another 4 weeks but has reached out to someone who has inside info that anyone putting Scotland as 1st choice will get it so is hopeful (I think London is more popular as more successful applicants come from the SE). Its common to move at least once in the 3 years of the scheme so I think she will be okay with anywhere as long as it's a city (even a small one).

I let my property on the first afternoon of viewings, despite pricing it quite high to deter too many applicants.

Some advice.

• write any response to an ad yourself and if you have to use AI, edit it before sending. A couple were corkers.
• say a little about yourselves. Not just "viewing please". Instead "we are three recent graduates about to start jobs as solicitors/bankers/doctors/accountants or with..... and would like to view your property". Perhaps add in " A combined income of ..." I am not interested in what people earn but I want to know they will pass referencing.
• read the landlords preferred tenant profile. Lots don't.
• If you don't quite meet it, address the issue. So "our third flatmate will be studying for their Bar exams, or taking a Masters at Imperial, or whatever and is able to provide a UK based guarantor". Those without UK based guarantors should consider paying six months in advance (soon to be outlawed but popular with landlord who may have cash flow issues after investing in their properties) or look into insurance options.
• turn up on time and if the landlord is present, be polite. One group of rather public schooly young men were so rude that the bemused outgoing tenants advised me to rule them out.
• ask about move in dates and other constructive stuff. Good also to ask about neighbours. Lots of brownie points to those who welcomed that the property was in a residential road with young families on either side.
• be decisive. Do your homework early and, in the current market move fast if you see something that fits your criteria. If need be, have any absent flatmates on the end of the phone as you video the property. (Subject to the persons showing the property agreeing.) Out of the 7 viewings I arranged, five were well qualified, so the quickest got it. (Actually they first asked for a video appointment where I walked round the house with my phone, and then one jumped on a train first thing the following morning to see the property and confirm everything was OK, made an offer and put down a holding deposit immediately. They have since been prompt with completing the reference forms.)
• do find out when the landlord wants to let the property. It suits me to have a couple of weeks to get the outside of the house painted. If someone had wanted the property earlier I would have asked for them to allow me to do the works when they were in situ. Equally I would not have wanted to wait much longer.
• worth having a Linked In profile. It provides quick reassurance that someone is probably real.

HTH

Pleased to have found this thread. We're based in London but after applying for about a million jobs, and getting rejected from 99%, dd has accepted one with a Big Four in Bristol starting in September. We don't know the city at all, she went to Uni in a different (northern) city.

If anyone has any top tips about Bristol I would love to hear it! Even restaurant recs would be welcome....

Congratulations to your dd @Vargas, it’s a great city for young people. I will leave it to others to provide their insights and recommendations but in the mean time, hope she gets some decent downtime before her start date!

Thanks so much @ealingwestmum . I am a little anxious as she doesn't know anyone who lives there, but at least it's not too far away!

In terms of areas DD, on a six year course, spend her final year in Bedminster. More young professional than student, which by that point suited her. By chance I clicked on an article on the best places to live in Bristol a couple of days ago and Bedminster came top.

My DD has finally had her grad location and it is her uni city (the department seems really interesting). Only down side is that there is little affordable at the moment and most want students. She had one message back on spareroom out of 30 she sent (flat was tiny and mouldy although flatmate lovely) . Should improve when last years master's students leave (and other students drop out /trade up). Has decided to commute in the short term just over an 1 hour door to door (assuming mum's taxi to the mainline station) . She rotates department in 12 months in any case. A bit envious of BF who is on an engineering scheme in the Midlands who had a huge choice of new studios with all bills/WiFi included for £650pm.

How are others getting on.

@Vargas there is a 50% chance that I might be involved in her training. She is going to have a very busy September but will meet some lovely people who will all be in the same position. Her first 2 exams will be in early October.

@Vargas Bristol is a great place to be young ! Lots of nice places to live (beyond the pricey Redlands and Clifton). Easy public transport makes the numerous 20 mph limits a better way to travel. Lots of great restaurants down by the river - there's a lovely Tapas/Pizza place on a boat (something about Stars in its name). Lots of great cozy pubs and a lots of Banksy's to hunt.
Young professionals to be found in Henleaze, Fishponds and St Paul's.
Beautiful open air 'pool' at Clevedon (more like a sea water lake).

DT’s are a few years out from graduating but DS moved to Amsterdam and DD to Brussels. Both as the Covid restrictions were being lifted.

@mumneedswineThanks so much. Dd has found a flatmate and a flat near the county cricket ground. Not sure what the area is called, looks to be in an area called Bishopston. I hope it’s ok!

Congratulations on the Bristol job. Three of my solicitor children went to Bristol for university and indeed one stayed there another year for his first year of post grad law as he loved it so much.

@Vargas DDs have friends in Bishopston and it's v upcoming switch young professionals apparently. V few areas of Bristol are not nice these days.

@Vargas My ds graduated last summer and started a job in Bristol back then. I didn't know the city either but have visited a couple of times now and really like it. He lived in Fishponds first, renting a room with strangers. Then a uni friend moved to Bristol and they are now sharing a flat together. It's roughly in the Redcliffe area so very central but they got a good deal. He can walk everywhere so is saving on transport costs.

For a treat, Pasture is very nice but there are loads of good restaurants.