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Higher education

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Original poster

Graduate scheme cancelled and job withdrawn a month before start date

58 replies

Strumpetpumpet · 07/08/2025 07:27

Morning everyone

DS has just graduated and was offered a job back in March, was really looking forward to starting next month and they’ve phoned him this week and said they’re cancelling the graduate scheme for this year. Just wondering if anyone else has had this happen too as I haven’t come across it before? Maybe a sign of the times.

Obviously they will have had good reason (presumably financial - in which case I’ve told him there’ll be staff in worse positions than him) but I feel so sorry for him. He was really looking forward to starting and was genuinely excited about the role. The short notice means he’s also missed out on the opportunity to apply for any other graduate roles in the same area as they’ll have been filled now. Instead he’s stuck at home with us while his friends all go off to start their new adventures 😢 and having to start again.

i just wondered if anyone else has had this happen too - I hope not but would be good to get some feedback/advice etc. obviously he’s been in touch with his uni tutor but I guess I’m hoping someone will tell me this happened to their son/daughter and it all worked out for the best 🤞

OP posts:
HateThese4Leggedbeasts · 07/08/2025 07:29

I would ask the scheme if they will be paying his notice period for the reasons you stated. He's now on the back foot for other opportunities.

RaininSummer · 07/08/2025 07:35

That must be so upsetting for him. I'm sorry.

Original poster
Strumpetpumpet · 07/08/2025 07:37

HateThese4Leggedbeasts · 07/08/2025 07:29

I would ask the scheme if they will be paying his notice period for the reasons you stated. He's now on the back foot for other opportunities.

They’re going to pay him one day’s pay. Almost more offensive than not paying him at all!

OP posts:
Original poster
Strumpetpumpet · 07/08/2025 07:37

RaininSummer · 07/08/2025 07:35

That must be so upsetting for him. I'm sorry.

Thank you x

OP posts:
MerlinsBeard87 · 07/08/2025 07:38

My DH is in a similar position with an apprenticeship he was offered in March. He’s just finished his job in a school ready to start the apprenticeship in September and they’ve just withdrawn it. So now unemployed leaving us panicking about paying the mortgage with 3 children 😠
Im so fuming with the timing but believe there’s nothing to do other than intensive job search!

Original poster
Strumpetpumpet · 07/08/2025 07:40

MerlinsBeard87 · 07/08/2025 07:38

My DH is in a similar position with an apprenticeship he was offered in March. He’s just finished his job in a school ready to start the apprenticeship in September and they’ve just withdrawn it. So now unemployed leaving us panicking about paying the mortgage with 3 children 😠
Im so fuming with the timing but believe there’s nothing to do other than intensive job search!

Oh no I’m so sorry! That’s awful. I hope he finds something soon x

OP posts:
ArtTheClownIsNotAMime · 07/08/2025 07:43

Are you on LinkedIn or know anyone who is? I often see people posting these stories on behalf of young people and loads of comments trying to help.

fthisfthatfeverything · 07/08/2025 07:45

Would it not be worth while him looking any way in case another student dropped out of theirs and the company had an opening?

Canyousewcushions · 07/08/2025 07:46

I had it happen to me- I was sponsored as a student but a company and contracted to take a job with them. They made an offer and then retracted it. TWICE.

It was certainly a good lesson in how some workplaces can treat staff!

I did a mad job search and managed to get an offer elsewhere so it all worked out fine, though I did a vocational degree and graduated in a boom period and skills shortage so the timing was lucky for me. I wasn't smitten on the feeling of the company I did join at interview (they left me sitting in reception for an hour becuase they were busy and then gave me a 15 min interview). Overall it was another good lesson in how not to manage staff. I ended up leaving after about 3 years, but it gave me a good start and great experience and I was enough to be able to bounce on to better things. I definitely wouldn't have accepted it if I'd had a choice of offers to select from though!!

I really hope your DS manages to find something suitable soon!!

Cinaferna · 07/08/2025 07:48

Strumpetpumpet · 07/08/2025 07:37

They’re going to pay him one day’s pay. Almost more offensive than not paying him at all!

Show quote history

How incredibly insulting. He might feel badly knocked back but who would want to work for such a badly run company?

So sorry for him. Help him create a plan of action to overcome this knock back - look for local bar work or delivery driving for income, send out letters and CVs to prospectives succinctly stating that the graduate scheme he was due to start was abruptly cancelled so he is now available for work. Teach him how to really target companies by showing he's done due research on them: e.g. 'I noticed on your website that you have a forthcoming expansion project developing X. My graduate thesis focused on X so I would be particularly excited to be considered for any role that may come up during this expansion'

And maybe discuss a few life goals he has and encourage him to achieve them during this unexpected gap - training for a marathon or getting his driving licence if he hasn't already, or learning a language that would be useful in his field of business - not just on duolingo but actively. That sort of attitude will impress future employers and can be the deciding factor, if a CV comes in from someone who can speak German, Italian or Mandarin.

MalcolmMoo · 07/08/2025 08:00

This must be awful for your son. I agree there won’t be any graduate schemes he can apply for as they typically start in September.

Id encourage him to apply for 2026 grad schemes instead of he’s got his heart set on a grad scheme. And come up with a plan for the next year maybe travelling if that’s his thing or finding another job temporarily. But try plan an exciting year for him.

TizerorFizz · 07/08/2025 10:29

@Strumpetpumpet I’d ask the firm what they are planning for 2026? No recruitment at all or is it just paused for 2025? Also look them up at Companies House on the Government web site to see financial history. What field of work was it?

Motnight · 07/08/2025 10:37

That's awful, Op.

Original poster
Strumpetpumpet · 07/08/2025 21:45

ArtTheClownIsNotAMime · 07/08/2025 07:43

Are you on LinkedIn or know anyone who is? I often see people posting these stories on behalf of young people and loads of comments trying to help.

Thanks I’ll suggest that to him x

OP posts:
Original poster
Strumpetpumpet · 07/08/2025 21:45

fthisfthatfeverything · 07/08/2025 07:45

Would it not be worth while him looking any way in case another student dropped out of theirs and the company had an opening?

He will do anyway as you say you never know. Just aware it’s a bit of a long shot but worth a try x

OP posts:
Original poster
Strumpetpumpet · 07/08/2025 21:46

Canyousewcushions · 07/08/2025 07:46

I had it happen to me- I was sponsored as a student but a company and contracted to take a job with them. They made an offer and then retracted it. TWICE.

It was certainly a good lesson in how some workplaces can treat staff!

I did a mad job search and managed to get an offer elsewhere so it all worked out fine, though I did a vocational degree and graduated in a boom period and skills shortage so the timing was lucky for me. I wasn't smitten on the feeling of the company I did join at interview (they left me sitting in reception for an hour becuase they were busy and then gave me a 15 min interview). Overall it was another good lesson in how not to manage staff. I ended up leaving after about 3 years, but it gave me a good start and great experience and I was enough to be able to bounce on to better things. I definitely wouldn't have accepted it if I'd had a choice of offers to select from though!!

I really hope your DS manages to find something suitable soon!!

Edited

Thank you that’s reassuring that it worked out for you - must have been awful to happen twice 😢

OP posts:
Original poster
Strumpetpumpet · 07/08/2025 21:47

Cinaferna · 07/08/2025 07:48

How incredibly insulting. He might feel badly knocked back but who would want to work for such a badly run company?

So sorry for him. Help him create a plan of action to overcome this knock back - look for local bar work or delivery driving for income, send out letters and CVs to prospectives succinctly stating that the graduate scheme he was due to start was abruptly cancelled so he is now available for work. Teach him how to really target companies by showing he's done due research on them: e.g. 'I noticed on your website that you have a forthcoming expansion project developing X. My graduate thesis focused on X so I would be particularly excited to be considered for any role that may come up during this expansion'

And maybe discuss a few life goals he has and encourage him to achieve them during this unexpected gap - training for a marathon or getting his driving licence if he hasn't already, or learning a language that would be useful in his field of business - not just on duolingo but actively. That sort of attitude will impress future employers and can be the deciding factor, if a CV comes in from someone who can speak German, Italian or Mandarin.

Show quote history

Thank you that’s a really good idea. He’s wallowing a bit this week and feeling sorry for himself but will get him to start making a plan at the weekend x

OP posts:
Original poster
Strumpetpumpet · 07/08/2025 21:48

MalcolmMoo · 07/08/2025 08:00

This must be awful for your son. I agree there won’t be any graduate schemes he can apply for as they typically start in September.

Id encourage him to apply for 2026 grad schemes instead of he’s got his heart set on a grad scheme. And come up with a plan for the next year maybe travelling if that’s his thing or finding another job temporarily. But try plan an exciting year for him.

Thank you - we will get him to start making a plan so he doesn’t feel like he’s wasted a year x

OP posts:
EasternStandard · 07/08/2025 23:12

I’m so sorry, he must be so disappointed.

Malbecfan · 10/08/2025 17:02

If it's any consolation, my DD2 graduated last summer with a 1st, Masters and the prize for coming top of the year. Because her Masters project was all-consuming, she didn't apply for any jobs, much to my annoyance. We agreed that she could come home and live for free as long as she did P/T work in a cafe (she had worked there in holidays before) and helped out with household chores and caring for my DF alongside applying for graduate roles.

She had a couple of interviews and got to 2nd or 3rd stage - one of which rejected her for being "overqualified" then was offered one in a very different part of the country. She wanted to go to the pub quiz with me but I persuaded her to go to the interview as good practice for when the dream job came along. Of course, she nailed it, got the job and started there almost 11 months ago. She is loving it - the post uses lab skills from her Masters and her quarterly appraisals are very positive.

The company did another round of recruitment just before DD's and also a month later, so please don't panic about the timings. Let your DS wallow this weekend then get a job, any job. The questions that DD was told afterwards swung it for her were the "tell us about an occasion when you went over and above what you were required to do and how it worked out" and "how would you deal with an angry customer?" Working in a cafe at the beach had given her shedloads of examples to choose from. There is virtually nothing in her chosen field in this area, but cafe work didn't hold her back. Good luck to your DS.

EwwSprouts · 10/08/2025 17:12

I am so sorry for him. I feel it is a sign of the times. Even though they knew for a while the NI increase has been hard for companies along with the US tariffs. Agree with PPs get him to apply for anything or plan travel as it looks better on the CV that he has done something constructive with his time. Friend's DD, who has a masters with distinction, took a job in a supermarket and 3 months later secured a graduate level job in her chosen field. There is hope!

CoastalCalm · 10/08/2025 17:17

Would he consider doing his masters ?

MaturingCheeseball · 10/08/2025 17:18

The same happened to dd: “Very sorry, decided to suspend the graduate training scheme.” It does seem unfair to time it like this since, as OP says, there’s no opportunity to apply for anything else this cycle.

It does seem like the end of the world when everyone else is moving on, getting flatmates etc. Dd says it’s the first September ever when she hasn’t known what she’s doing - the “new pencil case” feeling.

Dd has got a temp office job as it’s no use having a gap yah when you’ve got to be on the spot to apply during the next cycle.

Mind you, I wish I hadn’t stressed about jobs when I was her age. It soon dawns on you that working life is much overrated!

WanderingWisteria · 10/08/2025 18:26

How horrible.
What does his contract say about notice? Are they trying to argue that they are giving him notice before his start date and that counts? I think you need to post in Legal or speak to ACAS as I’m not sure if they can do that - and, even if they can, they are shooting them selves in the foot as I would expect them to give the usual notice period as a goodwill gesture. I would also expect them to be bending over backwards to find alternative opportunities for their grads.
Is he already in contact with some of those who were due to start with him? Reaching out to them might help him.

Original poster
Strumpetpumpet · 10/08/2025 19:44

Malbecfan · 10/08/2025 17:02

If it's any consolation, my DD2 graduated last summer with a 1st, Masters and the prize for coming top of the year. Because her Masters project was all-consuming, she didn't apply for any jobs, much to my annoyance. We agreed that she could come home and live for free as long as she did P/T work in a cafe (she had worked there in holidays before) and helped out with household chores and caring for my DF alongside applying for graduate roles.

She had a couple of interviews and got to 2nd or 3rd stage - one of which rejected her for being "overqualified" then was offered one in a very different part of the country. She wanted to go to the pub quiz with me but I persuaded her to go to the interview as good practice for when the dream job came along. Of course, she nailed it, got the job and started there almost 11 months ago. She is loving it - the post uses lab skills from her Masters and her quarterly appraisals are very positive.

The company did another round of recruitment just before DD's and also a month later, so please don't panic about the timings. Let your DS wallow this weekend then get a job, any job. The questions that DD was told afterwards swung it for her were the "tell us about an occasion when you went over and above what you were required to do and how it worked out" and "how would you deal with an angry customer?" Working in a cafe at the beach had given her shedloads of examples to choose from. There is virtually nothing in her chosen field in this area, but cafe work didn't hold her back. Good luck to your DS.

Thank you so much for your post. I’m so pleased your DD is doing well and it’s very reassuring to hear that there may be vacancies coming up mid-year

OP posts: