How are you helping your DC deal with the terrible job market?

[Holluschickie]

Posting here for some emotional support. Not practical tips. Are any of your DC suffering in the brutal job market?

Interview after interview and rejection after rejection? Mine are and it is very hard to keep good cheer and motivate them to keep applying.

This isn't good

Contraction of the economy today won't help

Thankfully Ds is working in a restaurant whilst studying, during holidays now when he returns

Helpful to read this

It is quite arrogant of employers not wanting to take on someone for their first job but expecting that another employer should have done all the basic work training for a young person.
It is a full time job preparing applications for employment - cover letters, filling in endless forms, sjt, video answering of pre set questions, maths tests, presentations as well as updating and revising their CV at every opportunity. This would be on top of completing their degrees and Workington a couple of jobs in hotels and restaurants.
Perhaps companies can play their part and make more effort in the first round of the applications - do better a better job in stating entry requirements and actually assessing the first stage of the application and even getting off their arses and sending out rejections and invitations to next round earlier rather than going for that cup of coffee.
DD was lucky - one of her early applications was straight to a person in the department where the job was based, got called in for a face to face interview and was able to get a start date as soon as all the checks were through. Her friends are still on the treadmill - no wonder we have a mental health crisis

@fiftiesmum whilst I am sympathetic, I agree with @Onetimeonly2024 . However, I think you are talking about different things. Both my DDs worked from the age of 15 in seasonal hospitality roles (ice cream shop, restaurant, cafe, coffee shop). Both were promoted within those rules. I liked them working because it gave them a sense of the value of money, it incentivised them to work at school/uni because there is precious little else round here if they didn't do well in their exams, and it taught them "work skills" - how to relate to people, how to deal with awkward customers, how to interact with other staff, dealing with money back in the ice cream days - their 19x table was excellent as back then a single scoop cone was £1.90. The owner used to comment that they were the only 2 members of staff who could add up reliably in their heads and always give the correct change.

Just because you have worked in those sort of roles doesn't mean you have to stay in them for life. However, it gives you the life experiences in my last paragraph which you can then draw on during the application process for graduate positions. DD1 is nearing the end of her PhD. She is allowed to work for 10 hours a week, so does shifts in the coffee shop at the gym next to her department. I sincerely hope that she lands a position where she uses her lab experience and skills, but until then, she is happy to take on NMW work to keep a roof over her head. From @Onetimeonly2024 's comments, I trust this will be looked on favourably compared to those who have never taken on any sort of paid work, but expect to walk into a management position.

I’m not disagreeing it’s a tough job market. I have a teen who’s had a p/t job whilst at college (& did a years volunteer work aged14-15) and it’s given her a really good insight into working with the public and dealing with a manager. Having seen the other side recently it’s eye opening. We had 300+ applicants for an entry level job just one job normally we’d get 10 applicants, but it got picked to by a social media network and we were overwhelmed by AI generated application forms it was bonkers. If your going to use AI please don’t assume your the only person we had straight cut n paste answers that matched others taken from the main AI tools. We’ve also had new graduates in roles ask why they have to work 7.5hrs a day as per their contracts why can’t they just deliver the work when they feel like as that’s what they did to get their degree. The level of entitlement is high for some without understanding the basic concept of doing a job for a wage. So if your young person can get any job it really does help teach basic skills. After that it is a numbers game of applications or a who you know game, any way to get your foot in the door if use it.
That role which had 300 applicants ended up going to an in house temp who’d already proven they could turn up every day and be polite and show a willingness to learn but we’d had to advertise external to be a “fair” recruiter as a large business

@Jingle10thWay I'm stunned that recent grads think they can deliver the work whenever. Did their parents not work, or even talk to them about work?

DD2, the recent graduate works a 4 day week, but each shift is 10 hours with a short lunch break. She has to be on site as it's lab based. She is not overjoyed to have to work on Christmas Day, but as it's healthcare related, she has no choice. She will be off on 29th - 31st and can go out on NYE as she doesn't need to work until noon on NYD. I'm really proud of how well she has settled in and she keeps sending messages stating that shift leaders have praised her.

I’m one of the people in question struggling to find a job. Ever since I had surgery and my ability to do things changed, I’ve been going for basic retail as that’s all I feel able to do (I didn’t go to uni/have barely any qualifications) and it’s been 3 years and I’ve been rejected or ghosted. Honestly feel like chucking in the towel, it’s making me so depressed I don’t know why I’m still here.

I think things are about to get a bit harder as to getting graduate jobs due to the economy etc Hoever all young people can do is apply having made their CV as attractive as they can to that employer (or the employer's AI) I suppose. If you aren't in it you cannot win it, as it were.

As both my twins now have permanent in-house solicitor jobs in London I think we are in for a fairly stable period. The hardest thing of all is often getting that very first job and that was also the case for me. We have people we know a few years younger looking for jobs though so it all feels quite relevant still. Most of my twins' university friends seem to have okay now in their jobs but it did take a few years for some either with doing a masters or trying a few jobs or just doing very long courses - eg one is a dentist (who like my twins who did law) qualified this year.

It can also be difficult to decide what you want to do. There are loads of careers of which a lot of young people have not even heard.

Former, I hope you find something. Have you tried Royal Mail? My son was a post man for about 3.5 years and then he did van driving full time and that other company always seemed to need drivers. Both jobs were full time PAYE (no zero hours).

Mine got onto a prestigious grad scheme. She has worked since 16 in childcare, cafes and bar work. Went to a good uni. State school. I think her work experience was key as they asked a lot about it - how you work with others, help tricky customers etc

Those applying now - have they tries temp office jobs? Would set them apart as having office work experience and all those useful skills

I have interviewed grads - many come across like they don't understand how to behave in the workplace, the human connection/soft skills are so important, understanding where you are and where you need to go, acting entitled will not impress anyone - the recruitment process is far from perfect but we have to work with what we've got - recruiting people who are unable to do the job is damaging for everyone - no one likes to be sacked or to do the sacking - it's an awful business.
My ds just got an offer from a grad programme - he has been on a bit of a journey, he started in June feeling uncomfortable with a phone call, not really understanding what employers were looking for, being terrified and lacking confidence - he screwed up again and again and he worked at fixing those things and actively listening to feedback, he grew in confidence through every rejection - his resilience powered him on...I think he finally got an offer because he developed confidence enough to smile and bring on the charm - he made a real connection with his interviewer. Throughout the assessment, he moved out of his comfort zone introducing himself to all the candidates and asking them about themselves - getting to know as many people a possible - this is not something he found easy but he knew he had to do it and proved that he can do it. He worked NMW jobs every summer and learned a lot from them all, went to a good state school and a red brick Uni.
I have interviewed grads - many come across like they don't understand how to behave in the workplace, the human connection/soft skills are so important, understanding where you are and where you need to go, acting entitled will not impress anyone - the recruitment process is far from perfect but we have to work with what we've got - recruiting people who are unable to do the job is damaging for everyone - no one likes to be sacked or to do the sacking - it's an awful business.

Do you think employers will renege on offers? Happened in the 1980s to some of my classmates. My DDs plan is only to keep one current best offer whilst waiting to see if she gets a better offer. Should she be hanging on to a couple of offers until nearer September just in case?

@PearlStork I'm not a recruiter so others will have more insight. Purely from anecdote is seems this summer that offers have all gone ahead but with warnings that by next summer some of you will have been let go. Nice welcome!

Probably best not to, pick the safest and stick to it

well, here it goes, didn't take long

UK private sector employment shrinks at fastest pace since 2021

For those who can't access:

"UK companies are cutting employee numbers at the fastest rate since the pandemic, according to a closely watched survey that highlights the impact of Rachel Reeves’ tax-hiking Budget.
Private sector employment in December fell more than during any month since January 2021, according to the S&P Global flash UK purchasing managers’ employment index.
In the third consecutive month of contraction, the index fell to 45.8, down from 48.9 in November. It was far below the key 50 mark and the lowest since 2009 if the pandemic is excluded.
Any reading below 50 indicates that a majority of business are reducing headcount."

Not much on this, apart from a contraction of vacancies statement by Reed

But really, why not more on this? It's bad news for jobs, growth and pretty much all public spending

Are Labour pushing out headlines to cover this, I suppose the figures will filter through more in time

Update from my DD.

Applied for 7 schemes. Two offers. One ghosting. Two she's binned. One invitation to final assessment centre at the end of month. One waiting to hear whether she's made it to final stage. She will apply to one more when it opens in April as its her number 1 choice.

So surprisingly much better than she expected (and much much better than placement year applications).

Good luck to everyone else's DC.

Hope she gets something @PearlStork

to add context not that it helps when your the other side I work in a large organisation with various levels of jobs there were 1000’s applied for 100+ roles last year, but looking at our stats last year only 5% of applicants got the job, that shows the volume we get through. I too remember 25yrs ago when I got my first graduate job I was told we were the 5% that got through. It’s a tough market but it’s a numbers or contacts game to get that foot in the first door. Hope your YP can get the role and that opportunity to shine.

Yes, it certainly also wasn't easy at various times in the past too - eg one of my children did first job hunting at time of 2008 credit crunch crash. In 1982 I graduated when then the UK had the highest unemployment for fifty years (3m out of work) and had 25 interviews before the 25th one was successful and applied to 139 law firms in year 3 of my degree. Now we have more graduates than ever so is certainly not an easy time in 2024 either.

Yes it was difficult in the past - probably in different ways before the introduction of multiple online selection lotteries to cut numbers down for the assessment days and interviews.
I have recently heard that one of the jobs I applied for the entry requirement included possession of testicles (I met up with someone who had worked at that organisation for many years). Yes it was illegal but the head interviewer (female!) was a dinosaur.
It does seem that invitations to interview and rejections are beginning to come through now so good luck to all involved

Some more good news to report. After applying to over 80 paid internships in finance, DS- still in uni- has landed two, one at a Big 4 firm. They are very competitive as they often lead to full-time jobs. He was beginning to lose all hope, but persistence pays in the end, as I always say ( but was wondering if it was even true).

In other less good news, DD who has been in her job two months, is finding it rather a harsh adjustment. Not a great workplace in some ways. But she is persevering until she finds something better, and working as hard as she can.

Thirty odd years ago I hated my first grad job. I gave it 3 months and then applied for 2 jobs in completely different areas. Got asked why I was switching so quickly by one interviewer. Turned out they'd bailed from similar area themselves. Got offered both jobs. Chose my favourite and remain in this area to date.

I am impressed by the amount of motivation shown by these youngsters even if they are not landing the jobs. Did you have to push them or is this from themselves?

My DD is at uni and had jobs in the sixth form and during her gap year. But now nothing. I don’t think she is applying although she tells me how terrible the market is. I do believe jobs are hard to come by. I am so worried she is not earning anything - ultimately the lack of funds will come back on me to bail her out. And of course she isn’t adding to her experience. Uni seems to have sapped her of motivation.

My kids found it very hard to apply for grad jobs whilst in the final year - they tried but eventually had to defer the search to concentrate on their studies. They were not alone lots of kids struggle with this. Some companies will only accept applications from final year students but most are fine.

When ds graduated I gave him a couple of weeks and then I told him he needed to get some money as we wouldn't be funding him beyond providing food and accommodation - he thought we'd support him financially through his search but I don't believe that provides the right incentives - so he had to sign on. And someone at the DSS had to mark his homework and judge his job search - took the pressure off tbh - not that he wasn't motivated but it allowed me to be the carrot rather than the stick. He got an office job middle of August and then by Oct he was offered a Grad Programme which starts in Sept. Meanwhile he's learning loads in his office job - it's a great training ground for him to develop his interpersonal skills and they are the skills that really matter!

Well done to the Hollus children - particularly the one who did 80 applications. I did loads for my first job although I would have stopped had I had an early offer but that didn't happen.

Toast that was the case with some of mine - I can understand the point of view for some that university may be the best years of your life and you are certainly not going to ruin them by doing boring job applications. I don't support that point of view but do understand lots of young people will have it and then tend to sort themselves out after it but it was never going to be at my expense so they knew the rules. Once in like the Toast son it can be easier to get further jobs. Eg one of my solicitor sons has a permanent job this year from a company to which he had been seconded as they saw his work, liked him and hired him. The first foot through the door is hardest.