Spporting graduates struggling with unemployment and rejection?

[anotherglass]

Son (22) graudated last summer with engineering degree. Since then he has been applied for 100+ jobs, had interviews, but never got the job. He volunteers part-time in a charity store and works for a sustainability charity. He is learning another language, and playing in a band. In spite of this, he is steadily becoming demotivated and demoralised by the constant rejection.
Parents of l-t unemployed young adults, how do you deal with this?

Hi, yes we've been on that site. Think there's just burnout now from so many rejections. I feel for kids in this market.

Yes he's had a coach and we work on interview technique. I just think there's too many people now going for jobs. It's so much harder to get interview.

I agree and I'm not even sure he'd be eligible already having a degree. I did look at that option when my DS who also graduated last summer was having a really tough time job hunting.

I don't think people who haven't actually been involved in job hunting in the past year have any idea how tough it is and how unlike it was even a couple of years ago.

My DS was getting to the same point as yours after 6 months of searching. Amongst his peers he is the only one with a career type job. The rest are working in fast food restaurants or for family or are unemployed.

What worked for him was connections he already had from before uni but he had worked for a couple of years before uni and is now back in the same type of role but at a bigger company.

My only advice is to use whatever connections you, he or other family and friends have. But I appreciate you've probably already done that.

You have my utmost empathy. It was soul destroying.

My dd is taking an apprenticeship role because the feedback for all the interviews she has had so far stated she needs experience (despite volunteering in the sector she is interested in for 3+ years). One of the place she volunteers at had over 100 applicants for a volunteer role - and several had masters degrees in the subject the volunteer role focussed on. It is incredibly tough at the moment. My ds practically walked into a graduate engineering job 2 years ago - it’s not like that now.

Yes he's teaching himself coding. I think we are beyond all the basics now. After a year of fruitless job search, we need more advanced methods to keep motivation going. Let's face it. the future now is either go back to Uni for post grad or go overseas for a mental health break.

My friends son was in the same situation, he was starting to get quite depressed. His friend suggested they go and teach English abroad for a year. Not only did it save everyone's sanity, he had a fab time and started to get more interest from his CV, which led to an unpaid internship, which led to a job elsewhere.

The other path he considered (and still may do) is the armed forces for a few years.
I wish your son the best, I have this to look forward to with my DD's in a few years.

I'm sorry but you don't seem to have a clue about the state of the job market. Degree Apprenceticeships are harder to get than a place at Oxbridge. Every man and his dog is going for it.
Of course its harder. Im seeing it everyday with the young people im supporting in my job.
Anyway it was a suggestion and uiwas trying to offer an alternative route to help him get real life experience.
Wish I hadn't bothered now to be honest.

This is the best piece of feedback. The hard truth is you really need experience to have a decent chance at a job. I think experience trumps a Masters. Viscious circle tho as it is so competitive to even get that experience.

I assumed that his four year degree included a placement year?

OP the fact that he is getting interviews but not the not the job suggests that employers are interested. So his degree and CV show well.

How does he interview? Obviously you are not there but ask him. Some people just don’t interview well and some do. Don’t dismiss it.

It’s hideous, isn’t it?
And people suggesting applying for jobs in different areas probably haven’t recently checked how much it costs to rent even a room in a house share.
The person I know in this situation has got a summer job in a holiday club at a local school and is then off to do a TEFL course and just get away from being at home and completely stuck.

Has he looked at Teach First? They are really keen to take on engineering graduates.

The hard truth is you really need experience to have a decent chance at a job
That was one if the points that I made but dismissed, 'An apprenticeship provides the exact currency employers are actually looking for: practical skills and commercial experience.'

I'm so sorry to read this. My ds the same age says many of his peers, some who graduated last summer and some who are due to graduate this summer, are starting to get very worried because they've been unable to find any job at all!

Thanks but I can't really take on board hurty adult feelings. What should be centred is the crapshow that young people are dealing with. It's truly demoralising not just for the young,but the support network around them.

Thank you for this. I will suggest. x

Thank you. I don't think people really understand how brutal things are.

I second the TeachFirst suggestion. My son graduated last year and went straight to TF. He’s now finishing his first year and he’s loved it. He’s earnt money while qualifying and hasn’t had to pay fees. He studied film and is now teaching secondary English.

Thanks but I can't really take on board hurty adult feelings. What should be centred is the crapshow that young people are dealing with. It's truly demoralising not just for the young,but the support network around them.

Who the fucks hurt? What on earth are you on about?
Me and others are trying to help
We know its shit out there, this why different suggestions are being proposed knowing some may not fly, but some might.

Im working with young people going through similar as part of my job and was commenting on what has worked for some of them,( including my own) admittedly very few, I acknowledge its a jungle out the for the young adults starting ou.

Im not going to lie I didn't want my lad to quit his decent job up to take on an apprenticeship, especially as he had a mortgage principle agreed based on his salary but it paid off and wasn't a 'huge step down' bur a massive step up. I know its different to your so , the point was it could potentially reap massive benefits for him long term.

I have said that an apprecenticeship is not on the cards. I understand where you are coming from but low wage would mean he is stuck at home for many more years which will is hugely demoralising. He wants a grad job, to go forward and not back. A world where grads compete for apprenticeships is truly fuckedup.

Apprenticeships are really competitive to get, and open to all kind of age groups. We have some where I work and they are from all age groups including people in their 30s.

No advice but sympathy for how frustrating it is. So demoralising after all their hard work and following all the advice and doing all the right things. I know someone who did B Techs then an apprenticeship and did well but there wasn’t a job at the end. It’s just awful at the moment.

This age group really need some help.

@anotherglass
Honestly im not trying to be funny here or anything, im genuinely trying to help.

Something crossed my mind and I think why im seeing a grad apprentice is a sticking block.
Where are you based?
Im in the NW and a grad apprenticeship is around £27 to £30k which is reasonable money and honestly you could get a mortgage for a reasonable house.
The grad apprenticeship people i know have had their masters funded and a guaranteed job.
I understand if you are down south that money wouldn't go far and can understand your reluctance for him to go down that path.

OP you're being quite insulting and rude to posters who are trying to help especially @@notacooldad its totally unnecessary, everyone on this thread gets it fir the most part. Do try and remain civil maybe?

Son IS working in retail part-time for a charity shop and volunteering at an engineering associated electrical sustainabilty organisation. He is also learning a second languge and coding. What a fucking joke of a country where apprenticeships are a career path after racking up £60,000 in debt. No hope of moving out of home before 30,

If his extremely offhand attitude to people trying to be helpful is anything like yours, I'm not surprised he can't get a job!