Generic degree = No job?

[toyland]

Ds has just finished first year of a History undergraduate at a decent Uni (Top 10 ranking).
He is feeling he hasn’t helped himself by not actively pursuing gaining career skills from looking at how poor the graduate market is at the moment.
He will likely get a high 2:1 (possibly a 1st), but knows it is leveraging relevant experience that matters - of which he has none.
He has joined clubs, but not put himself forward to any positions next year. He has tried to get local summer retail/hospitality work, but hasn’t found anything. He is thinking of volunteering- either at the local museum or citizens advice whilst at Uni next year.
He has started a few Forage courses in Insurance and Finance over the summer (he does have Maths A level) and was looking at Coursera for free courses - was thinking of a Data Analysis visualisation one and Excel skills.
He said he needs interview practice for applying for Internships, but is unsure where to look. He has set up a Linked In Page but connected with 500+ other students mainly! He had a couple of careers 1:1 half an hour sessions at uni -but this was more exploring career thoughts.

I did a degree that led directly to professional exams and career, so I can’t advise him. He does have ADHD and can struggle with focus, so I do try and help if he asks.
What has helped your dc gain skills that helped them get a job -from a degree that doesn’t lead to a specific career?

@BurntBroccoliUnfortunately everything is a drive away (apart from a park)and he hasn’t passed his test yet. He would very happy outdoors. Thanks for the suggestion though and he could look when back at uni as it would be good mentally.

I know someone who studied English, and ended up working for Bupa in a management role, it doesn't always have to be a degree with directly relatable skills.

Following this as my son is in a similar position having just finished yr 1 history in a top 10 uni.

He's got similar concerns to your son.

There's nothing generic about a history degree

Having one child who has finished uni we are not seeing issues with getting into good jobs post uni. All DS friends have found good jobs across a range of disciplines. Most have generic RG degrees

Jobs they’ve gone into

several into

top 4 accountancy degrees include: economics, sport science, history,

law school: history (Oxbridge) American studies

Actuary: business mgt

banking: geography, geography & economics, politics, English

Pharma: bio chemistry and bio medics

social media marketing / Pr: psychology, geography, marketing

commercial property : real estate, surveying, business

Mgt consultancy: PPE, economics, politics & history

plus a couple of PGCE’s and an engineer with an engineering degree

More a mixed picture amongst DDs generic degree (not history) classmates. Many planning panic masters. DDs 1st choice (did internship with them) didn't recruit at all this year.

DD found her unis recruitment fair useful (although would not have gone with engineering BF with defence and nuclear internships - they were almost pushing her out of the way to speak to him (even the finance and banking ones)). Go alone next tetm even if not final year.

My DD has done well but not sure how much luck. I think she was used to the initial tests (verbal reasoning, numerical, situational judgement etc) because she did these for her placement year (good advise earlier about making sure you ace these as some of DDs friends who are as good as her or even better didn't make the initial cut). DD found she had limited time for applications as her uni has mid terms in late October and finals in December and same again in February/April so she went for quality rather than quantity (but she was lucky to have an early offer so had this luxury).

Good that he is starting to think about careers now. Lot's of DDs friends only started to think at beginning of final year.

DD graduated last summer from a top 10 university with a history degree.
At uni, end of Y1, she applied for a short internship run by the uni over the summer (gave her project planning experience). From that she worked in y2 on a project based in the work done at the internship, And in Y3 she worked in the careers department and designed a booklet for students on accessing the various career schemes run by the uni,
On graduating she got a grad role working in a PM role for a global marketing company,
so there are really good jobs out there, but DD sought out opportunities to build her cv right from the start.

@toyland I’m a bit late to this but definitely volunteer! Care homes would love to see him. DD volunteered for the National Trust. They were brilliant. She did meet and greet, talks, room specialist knowledge, helped with inventory and revived the offering to children. She was asked about it at interview. Yes, he might need some confidence but there’s many roles, even gardening.

It really helps if he has a career in mind as y2 he needs to apply for internships. Just apply for as many as possible. He might also find local societies love having help with accounts and finance. DD also worked for uni on open days, was president of a society and organised a ball. He might not want any of that but do something! There really are volunteering roles available so start being proactive.

Thanks so much for the latter comments @PearlStork@TreesOfGreen99@TizerorFizz. I agree on volunteering.
Funnily enough I had him gardening this morning (for me).
He has tried applying for things at uni, but even the volunteer committee roles are competitive. He would love something like National Trust, so I’ll get him to check if there’s anything local back at uni. He has been to careers fairs, but in a non focused way in year one.
He’s willing, but I would say not seeking out the opportunities that others dc have.
There’s lots of ideas on this thread and definitely things he can work on over the summer. Thanks everyone.

@toyland DD volunteered from home in the holidays. Helped decorate the house for Christmas and do Easter egg trail etc. Do you have anything near you? DD knew what career she wanted and did get suitable work experience but for 2 years did a lot for the NT. There might be other charities that really could do with some help!

Even if you’ve only got a local park accessible, buy a litter picker and some dog poop bags on Amazon, make it a one man mission over the summer break to keep the park clean and encourage others to do so, get him a Facebook / instagram etc account set up, it shows some initiative and a care for the environment he lives in!
or if he’s ok with basic gardening there’s always loads of people on nextdoor and local facebook groups looking to get grass and hedges cut, put him to
work selling his skills!!

Have you looked in your local council page for volunteer opportunities?
This is ours and there’s some opportunities that may suit a yp studying history.
lancsvp.org.uk/opportunities/?location=&aoi-filter=&org-filter=21&action=myfilter&order=date

@MiddleAgedDreadI agree with some initiative, but not sure he would do a professional enough job with my basic electric lawnmower. He could definitely do something along local walks. I may also volunteer him for the local area litter picking group which shows some willingness to work at least and interact with an older group (I am sure he will love me for this)!
@TizerorFizzNothing near us unfortunately, but I’ll get him to look if there’s anywhere accessible by bus. I found temporary work in all my uni holidays, so it definitely seems more difficult nowadays .

Dh takes on 10 graduate trainees in insurance each year, and they have very varied degrees - languages, history, law, geography and agriculture are some of the ones I remember. Work experience as such doesn’t matter as much as showing they give stuff a go, but more it’s about their problem solving and how they interview. A big problem these days is getting graduates who can write a formal letter and make a phone call would you believe.
if transport is an issue in doing things locally, can he cycle? Locally there does seem to be summer jobs popping up now. My ds is at the end of his first year and got his cbt so he could get a scooter and get to a summer job that way as it was a bit far to cycle every day

@toyland is he into IT?

I can give you the names of couple of agencies that take grads on and train them as consultants (they become junior project managers, business analysts, coders etc) .. they start low and in a few years make good money

if he likes gaming , he can really go down the IT path (can be quite lucrative)
he can also do one year MSc on IT

i have an adhd kid too I would love him to get into coding etc

well done for him making it to uni although facing adhd challenges !

x

Any number of charities are asking for volunteers. Food banks, Museums, National Trust, Refugees, St Vincent de Paul, Hospitals, Credit Unions/ Debt Management, Council /other Summer activities for children etc etc.

These would eg give him training/experience in speaking to the public, English conversation classes, helping visitors, helping to run courses etc. All useful experience for future application forms and concentrate his mind on what he would or would not want in a job.

@CMOTDibblerHe has great problem solving skills and as a previous poster mentioned it’s worth practising the specific types of tests employers use in these holidays . I agree with the loss of skills of formal letter writing/phone calls working in a medical field. He tends to walk or bus which does limit his work area. Scooter is a good idea.
@CakeandusernameThe volunteer council page is a great resource - just nothing in our area for the summer within a hour’s bus ride.
I appreciate all the replies and he will definitely keep looking.

Forget courses. Internships is what he should be focusing on. And building his network, not his LinkedIn with 500 students, cull that but recruiters for the City firms he will be targeting. Reach out to those already there for a coffee too. Is his uni a target? If so, network, and get face time. Get good at assessment centres etc.

Finally, uni careers office suck. They help no one. Not really. Completely useless compared to the real world.

Would it be worth asking at library? Just thinking it’s probably accessible without transport. Even if nothing official like on our council website they may need a hand. Ours do drop in sessions like researching family tree - helping with that type of thing may be an option.

What has helped your dc gain skills that helped them get a job -from a degree that doesn’t lead to a specific career?

• Growing up doing Scouts and taking advantage of all the opportunities offered.
• Volunteering through Scouts as they got older - both weekly with younger sections but also in planning camps, organising activities, organising fundraising events, and so forth. Also doing First Aid.
• Learning to drive
• Working during 6th form and then the years at University, which meant they had experience and gained skills dealing with the public (massive for so many roles), but also managing their time, and working with colleagues of different ages and who had different skills
• Taking on responsibilities for organising things at University (2 of mine through Sports Teams, the other CU, but it doesn't matter what it is, it is having examples of how you managed X or Y or how you managed a situation that didn't go to plan

Would he consider Project Management? Often suits an ADHD brain as is very varied and you don't really get chance to get bored! The pace often provides the dopamine hit as there are always deadlines. This can be stressful though.

Project Managers exist in most sectors so you can be a generalist or specialise.
I have a 2:1 in History and Politics from a good (but not RG) uni and graduated during the 2008/9 financial crisis so similar circumstances. I struggled to get a job after graduating and eventually did a 3 month local government project assistant (admin) role for a submission for national funding. Have since done various PM roles and now am quite senior. I am a non IT PM in a very niche sector.

@BrentfordForeverHe does like anything related to computers. He did some coding for GCSE Computer Science. Loved the coding, but the GCSE otherwise was pretty dry (learn the components of a computer etc) and he decided IT wasn’t for him. He did however do Maths A level. He is classic ADHD and struggles with planning and future tasks, but has hyper focus and ability if put under pressure. Agencies would be great to look into if you can give some details .

@ElizaMulvilThe problem seems to be local opportunities for just the summer and getting to these by bus. I have checked the great resource of the council website suggested above and there are definitely some of these things, but over a hour’s bus ride. Most also seemed to be volunteering with the elderly or clinical vulnerable to help them attend appointments etc, which I wouldn’t personally say he is suitable for. There’s definitely lots more opportunities in the city area of the ones you have given.

I’m aware I’m sounding quite negative after being given lots of great ideas, but he can definitely look into all the suggestions further and keep his eye out for anything else. Thank you.

@cazingeInterestingly his Dad, who also has ADHD, did Project Management for a year or so. He definitely likes the dopamine hit of short term task focus and is competitive.
@CarpetKneesThis is exactly what he needs I feel. He has won academic prizes, but needs to be much more rounded to be attractive to employers. He did volunteering and mentoring in 6th form, but at uni this hasn’t carried on. He has time to fix this though hopefully.

@CakeandusernameUnfortunately our library is one that has gone part time hours and mostly automated. They did advertise a volunteer club leader post he would have been great at -but -annoying it’s for an ongoing position, not just the summer. We also live in a lovely place where there’s a very active early retiree volunteer community for anything that is available. There are definitely things out there, but just not easily accessible.

Would he consider going abroad next summer if area where you are is so limited? My dc is currently at Camp America after yr1, obviously not a huge amount of cash but good experience.