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Original poster

How easily will he find a job?

41 replies

thebluehen · 31/08/2022 13:36

Dp's nephew is 24 has a biology degree, a sandwich year of data analytics and a masters in a psychology type subject.

He is now looking for his first job having never even had a Saturday job or volunteering experience. He was a member of a uni sports society for a year. That's it.

He seems to think he can walk into a 30k a year job easily. He lives in the south east.

He says he's applied for over 40 jobs and had 1 interview. He says this is normal.

Dp has had the same job for ever and I'm self employed so how likely do you think it is that he will just find a job as easily as he thinks? I think I'm probably a bit out of touch.

OP posts:
brookstar · 31/08/2022 13:41

He should use the careers service at his university. Many (If not all) will support graduates for a few years. Some for life.

Beyondshit · 31/08/2022 13:44

24 without ever having had a job!! I'd been working nine years at that age.

Definitely look for a graduate scheme or higher level apprenticeship. There are some apprenticeships that look for graduate level. He'll need to demonstrate some kind of skill though on top of knowledge...

IMeanItThisTime · 31/08/2022 13:47

I am a recruiter, some roles at graduate level, in my role I wouldn't consider a CV without relevant (or any) experience in the workplace. He's made it very hard for himself.

Original poster
thebluehen · 31/08/2022 13:47

He's already said he doesn't want an apprenticeship as he's not going to work for that little money (although I know grad apprenticeships can be quite well paid).

OP posts:
Keyansier · 31/08/2022 13:49

thebluehen · 31/08/2022 13:47

He's already said he doesn't want an apprenticeship as he's not going to work for that little money (although I know grad apprenticeships can be quite well paid).

Good luck with that! (Not you, him)

midgetastic · 31/08/2022 13:50

I would encourage him to take any job - get a Christmas job whilst he looks for his role - it is tough

EmmaC78 · 31/08/2022 13:50

A lack of any sort of work experience will put a lot of employers off.

LittleFluffyCloudz · 31/08/2022 13:51

IMeanItThisTime · 31/08/2022 13:47

I am a recruiter, some roles at graduate level, in my role I wouldn't consider a CV without relevant (or any) experience in the workplace. He's made it very hard for himself.

He did a sandwich year.

I'm a recruiter (I work in house). We would look at him but he'd be looking at c21k starting salary (in Manchester). He'd have to get through an interview as well though. Although interviews for grads do take into account that the applicants may not be "interview wise".

abovedecknotbelow · 31/08/2022 13:53

Has he been applying for graduate schemes - they usually pick who they want from uni days and a strict application process. What is he looking for?

DelphiniumBlue · 31/08/2022 13:54

Well, if he's applied for 40 jobs and not got one yet, there's probably a reason.

However, my son used to argue that a weekend job in a pub/Tesco would not give him any of the necessary experience for the sort of work he was looking for after university. None of his uni friends worked during their degree (RG) and they all ended up with good jobs. The expectation that students will work whilst studying is not as widespread as I had thought, lots of the ones from better off families are not expected to, and so it does not disadvantage them.. however they have posh boy connections on their side!
Even DS2, who was not at an RG uni, tells me I shouldn't really expect his younger sibling to work whilst studying, that it is too much of a distraction, and those of his peers who worked struggled during their degree and didn't find it any easier to get a job afterwards. Not sure I agree for all sorts of reasons, but your DN won't be the only student who hasn't worked..although you say he did a sandwich course, so presumably he did work for a year of that?

30k might be a bit high for a first job, but I think lots of grad training schemes will offer around that, it depends what industry he is looking at. If he goes into management consultancy or similar, then he might well get that.

Original poster
thebluehen · 31/08/2022 13:55

When I say a sandwich year - it was actually another year at uni, it didn't involve him working anywhere else. I'm not sure what the exact terminology is. He's been at uni for 5 years.

OP posts:
cantcope88 · 31/08/2022 13:55

it's easier to find a job once your in a job, even if it's volunteering

anotherpotoftea · 31/08/2022 13:57

It’s always hard to know if this is down to someone’s experience or lack thereof, or the quality of their applications.

WaveyHair · 31/08/2022 14:01

Having the technical skills to do a job is one thing.

Having experience in a job (any job) tells an employer they will turn up, ideally on time, can get along with other people, work in a team and have the soft skills required for a role.

SmallestInTheClass · 31/08/2022 14:05

I have recruited for large company grad schemes and we rarely took anyone direct from undergrad without some good work experience either a substantial amount (IE months not weeks) of relevant work (paid or unpaid) or doing proper paid work like retail, call centre/customer service/temp office work/summer camps. Even the most simple job can give you great examples to use at interview...eg how you dealt with a difficult customer, what you did if your boss asked you to do something and you didn't have everything you needed etc

Beyondshit · 31/08/2022 14:13

I must admit I would struggle to give him a job. Even for starter jobs you have to be interviewed and what's he going to say about dealing with people/tasks/basic stuff?

He needs to go get something.

whenwillthemadnessend · 31/08/2022 14:15

My dd has a job at 16. This was non negotiable as it's valuable experience for her cv. Tho wont be relevant to her career.

He needs to get a job anywhere and keep looking.

LittleFluffyCloudz · 31/08/2022 14:20

thebluehen · 31/08/2022 13:55

When I say a sandwich year - it was actually another year at uni, it didn't involve him working anywhere else. I'm not sure what the exact terminology is. He's been at uni for 5 years.

Ah, sorry. I thought you meant he'd spent a year at work.

Sandwich years, in the traditional sense ie work, are incredibly good. I don't know why more unis don't do them.

UseOfWeapons · 31/08/2022 14:20

He’ll struggle, I think, unless he changes his expectations.You’re only worth what the job market says, and no matter what his qualifications, he’s no experience of actual work.
I worked before Uni, all my holidays, and during, in all kinds of jobs to make money, and it can tell an employer a lot about you. A reference from an employer, whatever the job, is also worth a lot.

UpToMyElbowsInDiapers · 31/08/2022 14:22

I do recruiting for a major management consulting firm. We only recruit from top universities. Out of thousands of CVs, I’ve literally never seen a profile with no prior work or volunteer experience - and this includes our second year undergraduate interns. I honestly would worry about the attitude of someone who had never worked or volunteered before, especially by their mid-twenties, unless there were extenuating health or family circumstances. I would encourage this relative to get a job - any job - asap.

VerveClique · 31/08/2022 14:25

He needs to do agency work, ASAP, right now, while he’s looking for another job.

Randomusername140 · 31/08/2022 14:26

thebluehen · 31/08/2022 13:47

He's already said he doesn't want an apprenticeship as he's not going to work for that little money (although I know grad apprenticeships can be quite well paid).

Does he know that I want doesn't get?

My first proper career type job paid me £11k.

SILdidittoo · 31/08/2022 14:29

thebluehen · 31/08/2022 13:47

He's already said he doesn't want an apprenticeship as he's not going to work for that little money (although I know grad apprenticeships can be quite well paid).

Our apprenticeship pays £25k to 18 year olds with no degree, up North.

KnowtheBand · 31/08/2022 14:33

I don't have any revert experience but I agree that its best not to work whilst studying if possible, but I would expect to see some holiday work.

PeekAtYou · 31/08/2022 14:33

He's a fool to discount this. My ds didn't go to uni but was on £30k at age 19 when he completed training and his wage is climbing each year.