Does your Graduate child have a job?

[Karma2023]

The volume of advertised jobs for Graduates is apparentely at a historical low which is obviously worrying for students and their parents.

Just interested in sharing experience and perhaps offering assistance to those going through the job hunting process.

Has your young person secured a job? If so what subject did they do and how did they find the role?

I have a dc who secured an internship this summer, he is studying STEM and found the job directly from the company site. He is hoping to get a return job offer however he hasn't loved the job so will be looking for other opportunities. He may take a year out and improve his language skills as it might add to his CV.

My DC are still at school but all the recent graduates I know have jobs in their chosen area or are in postgrad study. They are mostly in science, engineering, and medicine but also a couple in law and modern languages.

Yup. I'm fed up of the sneerers who say, "Well of course graduates can't find jobs when they've done useless degrees..."

We weren't fans of postgrad study for the sake of it. On asking for 2 years experience one applicant suggested that their Masters was the equivalent of 2 years work experience - if they really believed that they were sitting in the same place as the grads from (often Oxbridge & other top Universities) who suggest in their covering letters that they and their degree are so amazing they'll make a massive impact and sort out all the problems that have been plaguing the industry for years. Try to know where you are at and realistically what you can do - credibility is important, no one want to employ someone who has no clue about how little they know. Over confidence/arrogance is not a trait many employers look for - maybe in sales?

Another tip - and one that frequently made us smile (not in a good way) asking if they got the role, what could we do to support their personal/career development - this is a what are your weaknesses style question - it's testing your self awareness, your understanding of what help you need and if you've thought about how that help could be delivered. Don't suggest sitting down with the CEO to tell them all your amazing ideas (you wouldn't believe how many grads said this).

I agree, I don't know anyone who has got a job through "contacts", with the exception of those proving themselves via internships and work experience, which is a rather different thing. I think some parents would rather erroneously believe that others had been given some kind of advantage, rather than simply accepting that in a very competitive job market their YP simply didn't perform at rhe standard required to secure a position.

Relative, not my child, no, only worked in hospitality since graduating with a science degree.
Same for many friends kids.

Degrees aren't useless - grads with stem degrees quite often struggled with writing because they hadn't written an essay in years and they also struggled with being personable in interviews - I know it's a stereotype but it what we saw. Non stem grads often had stronger communication skills and those who have strong analytic and numerical backgrounds from school - were definitely of interest - play to your strengths, not your degree.

Neither of my DCs have grad jobs (one is doing bar work, the other is finishing a Masters). I feel sorry for kids these days because the market is so competitive. Yes, it's wonderful to see those dynamic, pro-active, career driven young people getting jobs, but not all students are that driven or confident.

I'm sure you are careful with that message around your young people - they need to feel some hope.

Oh it's not my view, but it is a longstanding one. When I was at uni back in the stone age some of the science students looked down on arts students, who they thought had chosen their subjects because the arts students just weren't clever enough to understand science.

I'm never very impressed with narrow minded people - many businesses aren't either.

I think her course mates did carefully consider their masters as has she - the heritage sector often expects a lot of qualifications - most are also do volunteering and internship along side study.

She did try for the few work and combination master out there as well as jobs. One job paying minium wage for 5 months in back of beyond replied to her that they were surprised she applied as they were more looking for PhD and min masters level for their entry level position.

The post graduate qulification she is looking at is one of the best of it's kind in the country -just means more debt working and saving to pay for it on top and more time but should imporve her chances of doing what she wants.

My master back in day was conversion to sector taking on loads of people and paying well and DH direct onto a PhD fully funded both very carefully considered. I could only do mine as had to borrow to fund because I had little student loan debt and worked - becuase I missed the uni fee and still got small amout of grant.

Her BSc did involve reports, essay writing lab and field work and presenations - so should have a lot of transferable skills. She has a p/t job working with public - leaves time to pick up few more skill as well - which I'm sure she will. She's not ready yet to give up entirely on getting into that sector but again time may change her mind there and we unlike my parents at least are willing to have her back while she follows her path.

Depends on the STEM degree. Some do have significant "essay" content. My DS did Financial Maths BSC which had several "written" modules in economics, finance and business studies which included "word" heavy sections/essays. It certainly wasn't all numbers.

And I'm sure your ds highlighted that on his applications.

OMG. I can't imagine the grief the parents will feel. I suspect that social media adds to feelings of being behind when they are still very young.

Are job seekers on LinkedIn? My dc has had an approach from a grad recruiter to attend a specific company careers event, which came from LinkedIn.

Yes both of mine got jobs right away. DS1 got a training contract (law) with the same firm he did his VAC scheme with. They made him permanent when that ended. Dd got a job in marketing with the same firm she did her 2 week work experience with in year 12!

So many trite application and interview tips from the generation of people who walked in and out of jobs. So much smugness and schadenfreude. The retrospective scolding for people who didn't do the "right" degree. It's not a case of "try harder": This is a massive nationwide crisis. For everyone posting in the affirmative, there are people reading with wonderful, capable, bright, accomplished DC without any kind of employment at all.

Both DD's know many fellow graduates who have done all the right things before during and after the degrees to secure any type of employment and have nothing to show for their efforts. Ghosted at whatever stage they reach; not even a generic email to say "no". ALL the ones they know working in corporate are exploited: utterly shite wages, 16 hour days, eating lunch at their desk. Often they get free food and drink, so they don't leave the building. International teams meetings at midnight (after the 16 hour day). Zero social life.

The only good thing about the shortgae of graduate jobs is that we're going to have access to better qualified trainee teachers in shortage subjects.

I’m certainly not scolding anyone. I’m trying to point out that you need to try incredibly hard and get a bit lucky. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. The biggest thing my DC have learned is to handle rejection and to keep trying.

I have bucked my organisation and opened up a role that is usually for someone experienced to novices and made an offer to a new graduate just this afternoon. Good for him, I hope, and good for my team because we get some one bright and enthusiastic. We just have to make the effort to teach him.

I hope more people think like me. It would help if Labour rolled back on some of their daft policies.

I think the problem is that once, just having a good degree, put you at the top of the pile for recruitment. Nowadays, only the young people with good degrees, work experience and good social skills and emotional intelligence are at the top of the pile, and even some with all that don't make the grade. The market is super competitive. Simply being clever and having a good degree isn't enough. It's really tough out there for graduates who are perfectly clever and capable, but don't make the cut when it comes to graduate employment.

@Lentilcakes Yes, I know exactly what you mean. Arts are just so difficult for jobs. DD2 had to retrain and that’s been the best decision! She’s now self employed with great contracts. Fingers crossed it continues.

Regarding a big solicitors firm taking on someone post qualification is not the same as a grad post. He’s already a solicitor isn’t he if he’s post training contract? In general though I’m amazed anyone now allows this. Terrible and unfair recruitment.

@SwirlyGates My DH employed engineering grads over several decades. I’m afraid it’s definitely an issue. They often don’t write well. Poor punctuation and spelling - yes, even with spellcheck! His “red pen” got used I’m afraid. Engineering consultants cannot send out poorly written reports to clients . It’s embarrassing. All employees should be tested on English it turns out.

My dd found her job through word of mouth through some boys she went to uni with who have now made millions in advertising and social media.

It’s not terrible recruitment- recruitment is incredibly expensive if you can find someone suitable who is recommended by a colleague it saves a huge amount of time and money. Loads of big firms provide financial incentives to them employees to recommend candidates they know. The problem is when these candidates are not put through the same rigorous testing and interviewing that everyone else goes through, resulting in a less than able employee.

Yes, I would say that my DC’s wider skills and breadth of the degree/masters study have contributed to gaining employment.

Science degree, masters in performing arts, experience in performing, producing, marketing shows for the uni amdram society, customer service through cafes. A wide background to his personal specs and job descriptions.

Online interviews, sometimes recorded, have played to confidence, experience and strengths.

@GardenDiscriminated I’m sorry but recruitment policies should be open and transparent to get the best applicants. It’s not ok to take the DS without competition and exclude others from applying for a very sought after role. The firm has no idea if he was the best candidate. This didn’t appear to be a recommendation - it read like active recruitment! No issue with staff putting people forward but law jobs are hugely competitive and most firms look at hundreds of applicants so there’s no discrimination or appointing in the image of those already there. Most law firms know to look widely.

I also had one DC graduate in 2020/1 and whilst the grad ceremony was disruptive the job market was so much better.

@Cars4Gov In what way was the grad ceremony disruptive?