Brutal grad jobs market

[anotherglass]

Hello, my DS 22 graduated last July with an BEng from a Russell Group uni. Since then he has applied for around 60-70 jobs with no success. The whole process of online assessment, video interview and then rejection / ghosting is starting to grind him down. It is even tough to secure a part-time job in our area - such as a coffee shop or retailer - as he is considered over qualified and a risk, due to the fact he is searching for a full-time role.
I am finding myself worrying more and more about his mental health and future.
He is already less enthusastic about applying for jobs.

Any suggestions on what to do from here? Is it worth considering a Masters to try and ride out the horrendous job market?

Thank you

@OhDear111
DS2 has just informed me that he plans on doing a the one year MEng after his 3 years.
So I didn’t know but he did.

@RipplePlease Well that’s the best plan. He should get in touch with just about every company near you to see if he can get work experience. Failing that, volunteer in any area of work he can. What area of engineering does he do?

@OhDear111
He’s in his first year of Civil. DS1 studied ChemEng and now works for a hedge fund so DS2 knows it can lead to different things.

Thanks for all your suggestions. He is not keen to go back to Uni to do a Masters.
It's nearly 9months since graduating and he's had 1 interview final round stage. Nearly 90 job applications.
I don't know where we go from here.

He did Aerospace at RG - top 2 in UK for the subject. I will encourage him to get in touch with local companies.

There are many, many dozens of summer internships available for Civil Eng students, including some that accept applications from first year students. Some companies are even providing scholarships as retainers.

Anyone doing Civil Eng who can't find a job at the end of it only has themselves to blame.

Unfortunately Aerospace is very competitive for jobs, and there are a lot of aerospace engineering grads every year looking, and not enough positions.

He will need to widen his options, look at smaller engineering firms in different disciplines - this may take him back to aerospace in a different direction - for example over the road from my humble electrical engineering business is a factory with about 250 employees that designs and makes hydraulic systems for aircraft - although they class themselves as mechanical engineers.

A little further down is another large firm that manufacture vacuum cleaners, the MD and senior engineer are Aerospace chaps, lot of crossover with vacuum cleaners, turbines, aerodynamics etc.

His skills will be valued by a wider audience.

This is quite glib. Whilst internships might well be available in theory, there are issues of accessibility related to geography and finance: costs of travel and accommodation might make this practically impossible.

@anotherglass Sending this as company to watch / foot in the door opportunity as the airport opens later this year. https://2excel.talosats-careers.com/job/788591

It's based on direct experience.

My eldest DC's aimed for finance/data science and most of those internships were certainly in London or the big regional cities, mostly in summer of the penultimate year. But my other DC does Civil Eng. He got a modest AAB in his A levels, and his second choice uni, but nevertheless was able to choose between 3 internship offers in his first year (from around 12 applications), two of which included sponsorship and following year internships or industrial years. The jobs boards were awash with Civil Eng opportunities all over the country, because civil engineers are needed everywhere, not just in cities. Civil Eng companies are often headquartered in small towns. Some of the internships in more remote locations were repeatedly advertised for months, presumably because they didn't get enough applicants.

Civil eng is less fashionable than mechanical or aerospace engineering, but the skills are very much in demand. We know of applicants to mech/aero engineering at popular unis who were offered civil eng instead, to fill up courses.

As mentioned in a previous post, my DC's most helpful relevant work experience was a couple of weeks as an unskilled labourer on building sites during the summer before uni - it took some online research because, as a family, we knew nothing about site work - he needed to do some online training to get a CSCS certificate, but once he had that there were dozens of casual labouring opportunities. From a logistics perspective it helped that he had a driving license and use of our car to get to remote sites by 8am, though young labourers often ride bikes or motorbikes to sites. They need to get up early and not be afraid of physical work outside.

The Government are trying to encourage more young people into construction-related careers because the skills are in demand.

... worth adding that he didn't particularly enjoy the labouring - it was a means to an end.. He will probably end up as a consultant engineer and only need to do occasional site visits. 🙂

nevertheless was able to choose between 3 internship offers in his first year (from around 12 applications), two of which included sponsorship and following year internships or industrial years. The jobs boards were awash with Civil Eng opportunities all over the country, because civil engineers are needed everywhere, not just in cities.

When was this?

This year. There are still internships being advertised now, though the peak has passed. They start being advertised in the Autumn term.

@VanCleefArpels It’s actually not glib. My DHs former company (he was the founder) has offices in quite small towns. They offer internships and travel costs. We have even had young people stay with us for a couple of weeks. People are not always resourceful but the ones who are, reap the benefits. Civil engineering contractors and consultancies are everywhere! Obviously not in very rural areas but dc need to wean themselves away from the household names and start realising SMEs are looking for talent.

I tend to think aerospace, mechanical and automotive are more tricky for Jim’s and civil and structural is easier to find appropriate work. I agree that any relevant work experience is useful and nothing wrong with building sites!

@anotherglass
It must be soul destroying but I’m sure things will happen for your son.

@strungling
Thanks for all the positive feedback re Civil Engineering.
Your DS sounds amazing, you must be very proud of his drive.
DS1 cold called nearly 100 hedge funds in his penultimate summer holiday and got one response. It was 9 weeks unpaid but it was through this (and him putting in many hours overtime) that helped him get his current job.

He's lovely, but not particularly driven - a typical 19 yo - it's taken encouragement and support from me, and some mumsnet-derived and wider internet-derived nous - so a team effort. 🙂

@strungling My dh ran a civil engineering consultancy for decades. They do go on site! Depends what the client wants though. DH’s first job was as a resident engineer on a huge infrastructure project and was seconded to the site. Careers go in all directions. Engineers with site experience are always useful. It’s where it all goes wrong and engineers have to think on their feet!

@strungling
Ha! The Mumsnet nous is often extremely helpful.

Definitely!

Interestingly, when DS chose to apply for Civil Eng, some of his peers at school were quick to point out that Mech/Aero engineers have higher salaries. They were referencing data available online. But average salaries don't reflect the potential of individuals, or regional variations, or variations between commercial and public sector. If I look up the average salary for my profession, or my DH's profession, they are not reflective of what we earn. And salaries plateau when supply outstrips demand. Once we explained this to DS, he didn't waste any more time doubting his choice.

@strungling
You're right. We googled average salary for UK Civil Engineers and it came out at £35-£48K but that doesn’t take into account potential earnings, earnings abroad etc.

There are many small and public sector employers of Civil Engineers, which suppresses the average salary, but also widens the range of opportunities.

@RipplePlease Those salaries are representative of younger engineers. It’s also no reflection of what type of organisation the engineer works for or level of qualification. Civil Engineers have two main post degree qualifications and of course the more senior Chartered Engineers earn more and DH was chartered at 24 back in the day. (BEng is Incorporated engineer) Almost impossible to do that now but if dc want an accelerated career, who you work for matters.

Of course availability of jobs fluctuates but do get dc to look at quality of training and work. The sooner they get qualified, the better the career options and money. Plus working abroad opens up. DH ran a mid sized consultancy that won awards and he earned a lot. Nothing great at university but business acumen was another matter it turned out!

Thanks @OhDear111
It’s a completely unknown area to me and DH so your info is helpful.

Slight aside - but is anyone on here a careers advisor?