DS struggling to get an engineering job

[Enginer]

DS graduated in engineering with a 2.2 from Oxford. He didn’t apply to jobs while a student as the course was too intense.

He’s now really struggling to get anywhere with jobs. He’s applied to a few graduate schemes but got nowhere. He’s got as far as second interview with a speculative application but that’s it.

He is getting increasingly low about it and I’m worried about him. His mental health isn’t great anyway due to previous issues and he’s quite isolated as many of his friends have moved away.

Has anyone got any tips to pass on? Any good recruitment agencies to try? Is he stuffed because of his 2.2? He would like to live at home for the moment (London area) so maybe that is also part of the problem as many jobs are elsewhere.

To answer possible questions in advance, his CV looks quite good I think. He’s got some good internships on there and he has done things outside of formal study that are relevant to engineering (personal coding projects etc).

It’s worth him getting in touch with the university careers service. Most provide support to graduates for at least a couple of years post grad.

If not already tried, then drop the grade off the CV and applications unless it’s specifically asked for. Most people think oxbridge is weird and dont necessarily clock the lack of classification.

Some places also ask for 2.1/Masters. He’s got an MEng so he’s got a Masters. A lot of masters aren’t graded.

Afaik undergrad masters are usually graded as Distinction, Merit and Pass. The 1st 2:1 grade at Cambridge alongside the MEng, and I’d guess elsewhere, is based on the third year grade. Well, my dd and her cohort did that in 2020 remotely and the department decided not to grade them, they all got a Pass for the bachelors grade plus their transcript (and then their masters were classified as above). It didn’t seem to adversely affect their employability - idk what they put on their CVs, maybe just their masters classification.

The poor lad. I wish him all the best.

Its finance he's doing it in, not engineering.

(Thanks BTW 😊)

Thought I'd update the thread. DS has had another (in person) interview and thought it went really well but he got rejected which was a blow. Apparently they had 150 applicants for one single vacancy, so he did well to get to interview.

Meanwhile he has a temporary/clerical/coding job which is very boring but is getting him out of the house and is getting him some money which is definitely helping to lift the spirits. He's still applying for jobs and trying to stay positive. Having the temp job definitely helps in terms of his overall outlook -- he's running and going to the gym much more than he did when he was stuck at home.

We recently went on a flight together and DS was wearing an "oxford engineering" hoodie... he got approached in the security queue by a guy who did the same course who wished him well and gave him his card. The guy is in finance but it did make me think that maybe DS should hang round the airport all day with the hoodie on and see what turns up 😂

That sounds like a great lead to follow. In person events are a great idea- any imeche conferences/ exhibitions etc?
Networking is such a valuable tool

I really hope he is successful in his next interview @Enginer

Is he only applying in the London area?

Thanks @JacknDiane. The recent interview was far from home. His net is cast widely now.

I'm glad things are looking more positive for him. The job he's got may eventually lead onto better things, and at very worst, will be giving him some material to use in competency interviews.

Its good hes trying further away. Its so difficult getting something these days.
My heart goes out to him.

This is all sounding very positive! He’s working which will help him hugely in his search. I think it’s unusual for an Employer to take on someone who is unemployed over a candidate who is currently employed elsewhere.

It’s also great that he has a lead to follow up and that he is now applying for jobs further afield

He shouldn’t not apply to jobs because they specify a 2:1 minimum, job adverts are like a shopping list, no candidate ticks every box. From your responses it sounds like he’s not applying if he doesn’t meet every bit of criteria. He might still get rejected but it doesn’t hurt to try.

Also check out engineering jobs at commercial insurance companies, Allianz and Zurich are two that spring to mind that have big engineering divisions. I’d imagine that they involve travelling and probably based in the Midlands or the North

OP - not sure if you've seen this thread? Some really good suggestions on how to help engineering grads find jobs - might be of interest? https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/higher_education/5486245-brutal-grad-jobs-market?page=2&reply=150367398

I think that might have been good advice a few years ago but it does seem very competitive now. DC1 has secured an internship for this summer. He’s studying for an MEng and expected to get a 2:1. 500 students applied for 2 internships.

I just can’t see how someone without the qualification requirements would get through the initial sift when you’re dealing with those kind of numbers.

A lot of firms also seem to be using AI to select candidates now so there seems to be less chance of a candidate being selected because they are strong in all factors bar one.

I’ve definitely applied for jobs in the past though where I haven’t got everything they’re asking for and got the job. Maybe this tactic might work with smaller employers now?

I think it's not worth applying to companies who specify 2-1 when you have a 2-2 - unless the jobs market is going your way. Every application has to be tailored precisely to make it through the sift - don't waste time on the one thing that all sifters will do first because it's easy and that's degree qualification level.

Not always true. I applied for a job recently which specified phd, I hadn’t even finished my Masters and I got the job and have been promoted since.

Thank you @SirChenjins — hadn’t seen that. Will check it out.

No problem, I hope it's of some use to him 😊

I am glad to hear your son is feeling better. And hanging around the airport in a hoodie might not be a bad idea on his days off. He could be a reading an engineering magazine.

I recently lost a job and I was really struggling. Then I discovered Jack Ma, the billionaire founder of Alibaba.

The guy came from the most humble background and got rejected again and again and again but he never gave up trying. I find his videos very inspiring and watch at least one every single day. A sample to follow

I hope it helps