Thread 56 – Covid GCSE Cohort – Spring 26 – Yr 4 Uni and Graduates

[crazycrofter]

The old thread has filled up and no one noticed - I think we're missing @oblomov26 sharp eyes!

I've tried to tag in everyone I can think of, but apologies to anyone I've missed!
@shimy @endlessdistraction @justherewithmypopcorn @mummyinbeds @aslockton @oubliettebravo @craggyrat @anothernewname460 @ealingwestmum @ewwsprouts @seeline @piggywaspushed @nctdn @icanbewhatiwant @comefromaway @heifer @kingscotestaff @delphigirl @zebracat @cantonet @socks1107 @blinkbonny @anneofcleavage

I went to my sister’s PGCE in 2001, so they’re not that new. Although I think that was November.

(She went to York St John’s too)

My goodness, that's quite a story, @Aslockton! And good luck to all those in teaching (new or not so new). I'm one of those dreadful Unqualified Teachers who somehow couldn't find time or motivation to gain PGCE/QTS after my Ph.D., so I muddled through for 30 years in the independent sector.

I didn't get to attend my own Ph.D. graduation as I was teaching overseas and had already had to have a few days off for my (rather terrifying) viva. I've still never had a chance to wear those pretty robes! (The certificate was also far less ornate/impressive than any of my other ones.)

😂 same. Well done to everyone whose DC has got a job!

DS is slowly getting there, his anxiety does hold him back though.

He had a great two-day experience at the pharma company and our friend there is mentoring him now 🙏 DS thinks he’s great (he’s known him all his life!) and he’s given him some names of specialist recruiters to contact via LinkedIn. DS managed to apply for one job last week - now he’s got a decent CV and covering letter it should just be a case of editing for different roles.

His gf is back from holiday so that’s two days of not job hunting!! 🤦‍♀️ unless she’s helping him 🤷‍♀️

He’s a bit desperate for work now so that might spur him on.

I predate that significantly. Sadly.

Hi everyone! I have DS2 back for a couple of days as someone crashed the survey vessel into the harbour (not his shift, luckily) and it needs fixing. They are still paying him for 12 hours a day work at an insane hourly rate while he is lounging on my sofa eating crisps and playing xbox though... honestly :)
Lovely to see him though. Taking him out for his delayed birthday dinner tomorrow before dispatching him back to the sea on Wednesday

Great news @Piggywaspushed !
Just back from a week away with DH. First time we've left both the kids together for that long - they don't get in that well - but they seem to have managed without major arguement!
Still no job for DD. She's applying for loads, but has only managed the one interview so far. They offered to give feed back, which she requested, but has heard nothing! I just don't understand the modern employment systems.

DS is off to Worcester house hunting today. He is taking DH which is very much a double edged sword. Wish I could go! Neither of them will notice things I would. DH is one of those people who makes unstressful things highly stressful - so stressful things is a whole otehr level!

He will almost certainly go for the cheapest thing ! I have told him to look at various variables such as parking, housemates , no students, what neighbouring houses look like etc. We'll see!

So frustrating @Piggywaspushed . You can tell a lot from photos so will have to provide a sanity check that way but ultimately he will have to make his own mistakes. Although I must say at this age they often accept as normal and fine things that we really wouldn't and place importance on things we would think are irrelevant so...!

How exciting though @Piggywaspushed, but yes, I completely get the oversight others can have vs our discerning eye ;)

Such a great a great bonus @Delphigirl, enjoy whilst he’s there. I am getting mine back for her 23rd too following weekend; she’s holed up in some old English manor spa in Milton Keynes for 3 weeks with 150 on ‘essentials’ training (I don’t ask), so will. E able to return here for one weekend, she’s happy to celebrate here for first time in 4 years.

Hang in there @Seeline, I don’t know what sectors she’s applying to but the new cycle roles are all dropping now so 🤞for her on this round.

Good luck to your dd @seeline - remind us what sort of thing she's looking for in case anyone can help, is it heritage stuff? And good luck to your ds @Lentilcakes , good to hear his confidence is growing.

@Piggywaspushed I have a dh who makes unstressful things stressful 😂Conversely though, he's quite good in an actual crisis! How long are the contracts on house shares? I think the most pertinent thing is what his housemates are like, but perhaps he won't get a chance to meet them?

Lovely to have your kids back for a short visit @ealingwestmum and @Delphigirl - enjoy!

Dd seems to have settled back in at home now. It was a struggle at first because she doesn't have friends round here (we moved when she started uni), but she's working in Birmingham and is making the most of seeing friends there in the evenings. And she does have a uni friend who's moved back home around 40 mins from us. The plan is to try to get a job in London next summer though and get a house share with her two best friends, who both graduate in 27.

Updated:
ComefromAway Leeds Conservatoire. Completed Year 2 - DS working as self employed musician/MD & electronic instrument programming.
Blinkbonny Nottingham, Sociology- DS now working full time in conference sales in London.
Photodad DD Art, ARU (Cambridge Campus). Volunteering in museums and school post degree. Is about to move to Germany to Au Pair on a working farm. DS Gap year in NZ (teaching windsurfing) Starts Cambridge Nat Sci in Oct 2026
craggyrat Cambridge history - Worked as a TA after graduating. DS Possibly going to do a PGCE or start a business or Officer Training in the Army.
cariadmbyth Royal Holloway history, Marketing master's at Cardiff- DD nowjob hunting
aslockton DD LSE Geography with German- Royal Navy officer
DS Reading Meteorology and Climate Science - has a grad role as a meteorologist and has bought a house.
ewwsprouts - Durham, biology - grad role in food science
handmademitlove- York, maths
alwaysplayspiccolopiccolo- Birmingham , English and film
piggywaspushed - DS1 Lincoln -Office work in local bus company
DS2 Birmingham , history - Sheffield for a journalism master's. Journalism job for a local paper in Worchestershire area
justherewithmybabypopcorn - Nottingham, law - now has grad position with funded SQE
Coffeeandbiscuitime - DC just going into Y4 Medicine
oublietteletbravo - Exeter, business with law, now a sales and marketing coordinator (at a specialist software company).
DS - Newcastle, medicinal chemistry - going into Y3.
extensivelydecorating - Cirencester , countryside management (2025), at home, portfolio career in the outdoor environment. DC2 RHUL History going into y2.
Sansou- DS Software engineering in the Defence sector
Orangecinnamon- DD has graduated and starts as an unqualified teacher (apprenticeship/post grad route)
AnotherNewName - working in engineering
Still studying! DS is still working in engineering but in a better job and is now studying with OU to get his degree and buying a house.
delphigirl - DS1 job in political journalism/campaigning for a political publisher. DS2 Plymouth - ocean exploration and surveying- DS has now started an offshore survey job.
DD Demi chef de cuisine
mummyinbeds - DS Nottingham , law and French law- Working in pub, hoping to do ski season. DD graduated from Aberystwyth Uni with a degree in International Relations and Global Development and will be starting a Masters in Global Development at SOAS in September.
oblomov26 - Nottingham , finance degree apprenticeship. DS now working in London for PwC
ealingwestmum - Trinity College Dublin - Middle Eastern and European languages. DD has Graduated and starting work in Belfast: Associate Consulting, Big 4 from Sept 26.
zebracat - off for a year in Denmark
crazycrofter - Nottingham, Psychology- DD working for Mind on a new mental health outreach project.
DS Going into year 2 of Politics & Int Relations at Nottingham.
seeline - UEA , archaeology, anthropology and art history. DD has now graduated, and is job hunting primarily for museum/gallery/heritage/culture type jobs, nationwide.
shimy - Warwick, management- DS job hunting
Anneofcleavage - primary education , Chichester- DD Starting first teaching post in Sept 2026
NCTDN - Liberal Arts, Bristol. DD has just graduated with a masters from Bristol. Secured a first job in the south west.
Icanbewhatiwants- history, Sussex
decorhate - Economics and Politics, Sheffield. DS is a Data Analyst in London
Bluemarigold- Birmingham Biological Sciences- DD now working as an assistant ecologist
Heifer- Nottingham Biology- DD now doing a Masters in Public Health (International) at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
Cantonet DD1: Working as a vet
DS1 Retaking a uni year / job hunting (in limbo)
DD2 UCL Year 3 Architecture
DS2 Bristol changed from Psychology, going into Yr1 Engineering
Lentilcakes: DS graduated in neuroscience at Bristol uni. Currently looking for work, has a voluntary role coming up (Mind charity shop - at least he’s in the right ‘sector’).
Kingscotestaff: DD going into 5th year Medicine at Newcastle

It was good to update @Piggywaspushed @NCTDN and @Delphigirl new jobs.

Good luck with the house hunting @Piggywaspushed. I am enjoying my 2nd Tuesday off after going part time. Last week's Tuesday was overshadowed with MIL breaking her wrist after falling in M and S. Her first break in 79 years.

Thanks @ealingwestmum and @crazycrofter - yes it's museums, galleries, heritage, archives - and anything vaguely related. Unfortunately they don't really do the whole grad entry thing like some sectors, but at least that means jobs can crop at at any time. She is mostly trying for visitor assistant type posts at the moment - not really a graduate level, but higher up jobs require so much experience (for what are really entry level salaries) - I just don't know how they expect applicants to get the experience in the first place! And at the moment she isn't even getting interviews for the visitor experience posts - despite having done the job for a year at a national museum whilst on her 'gap' year! Lots of them are only part time as well, which means that they really have to be local-ish (London) as the cost of her moving out for a part time job just doesn't make sense.

I love seeing the updated list, thanks @Aslockton Nice to see how all the dc are progressing. I didn't know we were adding our dc1's (2019 cohort) to it, i might add ds1 so things don't look quite so bleak . Here goes: DS1 (Cardiff Uni) 'Software Engineer - Tech Consultancy (Aviation & Defence).

DS1 continues to 'very quietly' get on with his work. DH & i had hoped his next job would require him to be in the office at least 3 days a week to get him out of his room, but we were dissapointed to be told he's only required in the office twice every fortnight, so even worse than the last job.
DS2 works furiously on his applications daily and gets out a min of 3 a day. He meets up with friends occasionally but mainly focuses on job applications, working on his app that he's been developing in Python and going to the gym. He still shows signs of health anxiety though (i know there are others with dc that have adhd here with anxiety issues) , there's always something that needs seeing a 'specialist' about. Lately its the belief he is going bald! I hope all the adhders here are coping well.

@Lentilcakes Good luck to your DS & anyone else still job hunting. A strong CV always helps, although DS sent one off on Monday after spending ages carefully writing his cover letter and tweaking his CV, to get a rejection within 10 mins of submitting it.

@Aslockton So sorry to hear about MIL's accident, i hope she's not in too much pain.

@Piggywaspushed Good luck to ds with the house hunting.

Updated:
ComefromAway Leeds Conservatoire. Completed Year 2 - DS working as self employed musician/MD & electronic instrument programming.
Blinkbonny Nottingham, Sociology- DS now working full time in conference sales in London.
Photodad DD Art, ARU (Cambridge Campus). Volunteering in museums and school post degree. Is about to move to Germany to Au Pair on a working farm. DS Gap year in NZ (teaching windsurfing) Starts Cambridge Nat Sci in Oct 2026
cariadmbyth Royal Holloway history, Marketing master's at Cardiff- DD nowjob hunting
aslockton DD LSE Geography with German- Royal Navy officer
DS Reading Meteorology and Climate Science - has a grad role as a meteorologist and has bought a house.
ewwsprouts - Durham, biology - grad role in food science
handmademitlove- York, maths
alwaysplayspiccolopiccolo- Birmingham , English and film
piggywaspushed - DS1 Lincoln -Office work in local bus company
DS2 Birmingham , history - Sheffield for a journalism master's. Journalism job for a local paper in Worchestershire area
justherewithmybabypopcorn - Nottingham, law - now has grad position with funded SQE
Coffeeandbiscuitime - DC just going into Y4 Medicine
oublietteletbravo - Exeter, business with law, now a sales and marketing coordinator (at a specialist software company).
DS - Newcastle, medicinal chemistry - going into Y3.
extensivelydecorating - Cirencester , countryside management (2025), at home, portfolio career in the outdoor environment. DC2 RHUL History going into y2.
Sansou- DS Software engineering in the Defence sector
Orangecinnamon- DD has graduated and starts as an unqualified teacher (apprenticeship/post grad route)
AnotherNewName - working in engineering
Still studying! DS is still working in engineering but in a better job and is now studying with OU to get his degree and buying a house.
delphigirl - DS1 job in political journalism/campaigning for a political publisher. DS2 Plymouth - ocean exploration and surveying- DS has now started an offshore survey job.
DD Demi chef de cuisine
mummyinbeds - DS Nottingham , law and French law- Working in pub, hoping to do ski season. DD graduated from Aberystwyth Uni with a degree in International Relations and Global Development and will be starting a Masters in Global Development at SOAS in September.
oblomov26 - Nottingham , finance degree apprenticeship. DS now working in London for PwC
ealingwestmum - Trinity College Dublin - Middle Eastern and European languages. DD has Graduated and starting work in Belfast: Associate Consulting, Big 4 from Sept 26.
zebracat - off for a year in Denmark
crazycrofter - Nottingham, Psychology- DD working for Mind on a new mental health outreach project.
DS Going into year 2 of Politics & Int Relations at Nottingham.
seeline - UEA , archaeology, anthropology and art history. DD has now graduated, and is job hunting primarily for museum/gallery/heritage/culture type jobs, nationwide.
shimy - DS1 (Cardiff Uni) 'Software Engineer - Tech Consultancy (Aviation & Defence).
DS2 Warwick, management- DS job hunting
Anneofcleavage - primary education , Chichester- DD Starting first teaching post in Sept 2026
NCTDN - Liberal Arts, Bristol. DD has just graduated with a masters from Bristol. Secured a first job in the south west.
Icanbewhatiwants- history, Sussex
decorhate - Economics and Politics, Sheffield. DS is a Data Analyst in London
Bluemarigold- Birmingham Biological Sciences- DD now working as an assistant ecologist
Heifer- Nottingham Biology- DD now doing a Masters in Public Health (International) at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
Cantonet DD1: Working as a vet
DS1 Retaking a uni year / job hunting (in limbo)
DD2 UCL Year 3 Architecture
DS2 Bristol changed from Psychology, going into Yr1 Engineering
Lentilcakes: DS graduated in neuroscience at Bristol uni. Currently looking for work, has a voluntary role coming up (Mind charity shop - at least he’s in the right ‘sector’).
Kingscotestaff: DD going into 5th year Medicine at Newcastle

Love the updated list.

Just to say I do have a dd. She is older than ds but after originally trainign as a dancer and spending a few years dancing at a theme park and in TIE panto she has returned to uni and is in Year 2 of a sports science degree.

@Aslockton I too hope your MiL is ok, and that with it being a wrist she is able to look after herself as best as she possibly can.

My DH luckily caught my 86 yr old mum backwards, getting out of the car this weekend. She is very frail and loses her balance easily. But she is also incredibly stubborn. An Indian 4'8" who still thinks it's appropriate to wear socks with slippy 'healed' shoe wear. Less of the pride, more vanity before a fall is apt for my mother! The New Balance size 2 kids sits patiently in a box waiting...

I know it's not easy to do @Seeline for fear of rejection but has your DD gone old school, in the sense of sending short but targeted email/messages to the culture sector leads via LinkedIn (if she's not on Premium, she can subscribe free for a month I believe) and craft something on the lines referring to something of specific interest that they display/they specialise in museum/gallery wise, link it to how she's interested because she studied it/has always been interested in etc etc and ask for a coffee/short call to ask how they got into the industry, what advise could they give her and so on?

I have just had a friend's daughter secure her dream job this way, was disenchanted with her current role, approached a well known caffeine brand affiliated with a premier motor sport (trying avoid the SM bots picking up brand chatter, apologies) and introduced herself, interests etc got in, informally and speculatively. In the past the statistic was circa 80% of job role are not advertised, how true this is in today's world I don't know.

Apologies if she's already applying these strategies. The advice I have always applied to mine (numerously) is what is the worst thing that can happen; you get a rejection or a ghosting silence. It's thankfully not life or death, you pick yourself up and move on, but sometimes people can just surprise you.

@ealingwestmumthat was a very good catch!
My very frail 87 year old parents need urgent help today but can i find a doggie sitter anywhere? I also dropped off Ds2 at uni yesterday and hes just told ne he needs to see a psychiatrist again 😞
Not a good day.

DC1 has offically moved out and started his graduate software engineer role. His placement team welcomed him back with open arms so he's really happy. Apparently, his security clearance is till valid (defence sector) so he could attend meetings straight away. He found a flat mate on spare room and coincidently, he works at the same company on a different team so that's all good.
Dropped DD off at uni at the weekend so now, we're empty nesters. The house is weirdly too quiet.

Just checking in, so many updates! DS has an interview today, he wasn't expecting one for this application as it read as being a bit more senior than others, but it was the first one he's been able to put "full UK driving licence" without qualifying it as (auto) so that's good. He's actually really enjoying his work in the garden centre but it is only three days however he's just about to start some new, relevant volunteering as well so he's OK for now if he doesn't get this one. He's not applying for grad scheme roles just individual vacancies as they crop up like yours @Seeline .

We had a family holiday last week, 5 days in Prague, it is a bit of an adjustment holidaying with them as adults, there was one night when they didn't roll in till 3am and I couldn't get to sleep but they are sensible kids and stuck together. It was nice that we could all come and go from the apartment separately, together, in different combinations depending on interests/energy levels etc. DH managed the travel with his broken arm, still having to drive him everywhere at home and he can't do much round the house but he is going to work. DS is going to have to take DD back to uni as I'm away again for a long weekend and DH can't either drive or carry boxes.

@Aslockton sympathy re MIL, my mum is causing me a lot of grief at the moment and it is hard. Her behaviour towards me is controlling and abusive and I am not sure where to go with it all (DDad is alive but in a home and totally different, he's a sweetheart so NC isn't an option)

Wow! that was quick @Aslockton , Thank you.

@ealingwestmum "Less of the pride, more vanity before a fall is apt for my mother! "Sorry but that has made me laugh so much, thank goodness your DH caught her.

@Cantonet Just saw your post about ds needing help. Mh health is a bitch isn't it? how bad is he and do you have access to somebody he already knows? will the counsellor (i know theyre not proper psychiatrists) offered via DSA be of any help?

Good luck for your ds @EffortlesslyDistracted🤞🏼
@Shimy I hear you on the issues our adhders share.
I've just heard from ds re. the psychiatrist because I was really panicking but I think it's anxiety about returning to uni & living in a shared house.
Found a dog sitter at last and now have to drive up to Manchester as my mum has bad cellulitis . I'm still tired from driving the 6 hours round trip to Bristol yesterday.