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.

It is absolutely ok...the company has a right to recruit whoever they want, no one was discriminated against - you may not approve but it's not your decision.

Likewise, I've recruited for accountancy trainee positions, both when working for others and now for myself as self employed. The standard of literacy (and numeracy!!!) of some graduates was shocking, even those who had a degree in accounting, or economics, or businesss/finance etc.

I created my own short tests for the candidates to take at interview, very simple just 5/10 minutes, one being a profit and loss account with some "glaringly" obvious errors, such as year end date of 31 February, a figure being subtracted instead of added (when the page clearly said "Add"), a few obvious spelling mistakes (stationary, maintenence, etc), and a short column of figures that didn't add up! No pass/fail mark, just to give me an indication of where they stood in basic literacy/numeracy. Most did well, but a few, including one with a First in accounting, was shockingly bad, and also had dire handwriting too.

@Badbadbunny Yes, they had Engimeering tests but report writing is difficult when the grad is not expected to do it immediately. Use of English is something I believe universities must be tighter on and ensure grads can write well enough for employment. A well rounded grad is a much more useful one.

They also need to be able to speak English! My brother has recently conducted some interviews for internships with IT candidates at masters level (in the UK), who could not speak English well enough to understand or answer the questions. How do they get through a degree of any kind in this country, with that level of English?

I think they meant the grad ceremony was disrupted. by covid.

@pinkspeakers thank you for answering my question.

@SwirlyGates Yes. It’s unfortunate to say the least that universities don’t always expect presentations from students and too many say they are too stressful and don’t do them. They are not the same calibre as students who speak well. Employers do find its buyer beware!

I did a supplementary subject in history & philosophy of science during my chemistry degree. My tutors hated this - in their view the only supplementary worth doing was advanced quantum mechanics. But I’m now a patent attorney, and learning how to write persuasively during this course has been invaluable.

Although I’m in-house, and would never have been in the position to apply for the internal trainee position without my PhD and my R&D experience. So I’m well aware that the path to your ultimate career might not be what you initially expect it to be. And I don’t regret any of my education - even the GCSE in cookery and the RSA qualification in typewriting I did at night school during my lower sixth have been useful!

DS did CS at Uni took a year out after poor MH . He had a message on Linkedin from one of the FAANG lot and asked him to apply for a software tech role with them. Interviews were brutal but he got a yes. Grad starting salary of 80k (with shares) and a relocation lump sum. It is beyond his wildest dreams tbh and out earns me who has spent 30 years in the NHS.

I have a child who is dyslexic. Has received 25% extra time since primary school. They are anxious about requesting extra time for online tests as it flags them and when companies have a choice of 1000s of candidates why would you choose someone who takes 25 % longer to analyse info? Giving the extra time ticks the box for companies that they don’t discriminate. This AI driven world of recruitment is awful and I agree with a comment near the start of the thread that contacts will become increasingly important to circumnavigate AI driven processes.

DS graduated last year,he took a fixed term contractor in October which ended in April this year and then he got a permanent contract. Where he works, they run annual graduate programmes which last for 2 years, he was told he could have one starting this year but he declined it as it was less money (over £15k less) and after the 2 years he would have to apply for a job at the same level he is working at now. My advice would be to look at the companies the young person want to work for, get through the front door and them work hard and see what comes up internally.

I think that is right. Also, lateral moves are much easier at lower levels. So get positioned in the right function while still early.

The same here (dyslexic dc). I suspect some of the larger firms will accept this, as it contributes to their diversity profile. My dc has just finished an internship with a large company, he disclosed that he was dyslexic at the start of the process, and was given extra time during the 4-5 stage recruitment process to the internship. He is waiting to hear whether he has a return offer for next year (we are all keeping fingers heavily crossed).

There is a big push around neurodiversity now. I don’t believe DC will be disadvantaged if they disclose it. I have a DC at uni currently who is dyslexic. My advice to her is to be open.

I agree. I think especially with internships / Spring break schemes. I have even seen some internships / schemes that especially encourage applicants who fulfil diversity criteria.

Only big companies can take a hit on someone taking much longer to do a task. If that was transferred to engineering, the company would make no money. Speed of work does matter in SMEs because profit is on the line. Firms do run tests and they are not all bothered about DEI quotas. Yes, large firms offer internships widely and often choose apprentices to fill DEI quotes, but only larger employers I think. Everyone else had to employ the best person for the job, and times are challenging due to NI, wage and employment law changes.