New graduate daughter can’t find work

[Bluelagoon02]

This is my first post so please be kind to me. I’m writing about my daughter who graduated last July (2024). Although she managed to get some interviews she hasn’t been able to secure anything yet. Her moods are quiet low and she also lost touch with most of her Uni friends. I’m seriously concerned for her physical and mental wellbeing. She was always very shy but Uni life really helped her develop. She was totally transformed and happy too. She also lived in Spain for a whole year which was part of her Uni business course. This is so frustrating but I can’t get upset with her. She has been looking for anything and keeps receiving rejection after rejection. It’s so heartbreaking to see her so sad and alone in her room all the time. I also looked for jobs for her but she does prefer to keep looking herself. She also applied for volunteering work with no success. I am very scared to lose her if something doesn’t come up soon. Any advice is truly appreciated. Thank you

It is soul-destroying; I’ve been there. It took me a full year from graduation to find my first crap job. And I had a first and oodles of work experience from temporary office roles and a pub job and extra-curriculars and volunteering!

From that first crap job, I:

• Did a vocational master’s
• During which I freelanced and temped
• That combo got me my first entry-level career job
• Where I was promoted then went freelance with word-of-mouth recommendations
• And all that got me several rungs up the ladder when I wanted a salaried job

Marketing is very, very tough and being squeezed by budgets and AI right now. She needs to build skills and experience – there are volunteer mar-comms roles about to do that. But it really does only take one job to get on the career ladder. It’s easier after that.

What’s her USP? Marketing for what sector? Is she on social media?

I would get her to look in to TEFL. She could tutor online.
There lots of jobs outside her chosen field that require languages.
I have the same degree (without Spanish) and ended up in the public sector.

My DC is on a gap year and has done some volunteering and has a part time job with a tutoring company which they go to 3 times a week and really enjoys.

We found the job on Indeed.

Please ignore people who say you shouldn't be helping your DD with the job application process. It is a sole destroying job, so they need all the help you can give.

When my DS was looking, I helped him every day with the process. I researched job openings, discussed answers to questions and proof read everything.

I then got him help with the situational judgement tests and help with video interviews (he found those really hard).

Tbh, I think it helped that we were doing it together, so he didn't feel so isolated. Apart from the occasional blow out, it brought us closer.

She speaks 2 foreign languages - she can apply for localisation jobs (like localisation coordinator/project manager) in translation agencies or retrain as a teacher. This whole marketing/translation market is currently being taken overby AI, but she should at least try - there are lots of vacancies like that online.

You are very kind. Thank you x

Not as easy. People are just trying to help. I think it’s kind x

Totally agree with this
Job hunting can be very lonely . It is useful to have someone with who you can bounce ideas
I have always helped my DCs when they have been looking for jobs

My daughter never asked for help. However, I can’t just let her go through this on her own for months on end without interfering somehow. At first I wasn’t even looking and let her do all the research herself. Now I am just trying to keep my daughter alive. It’s different. Thanks for your words xx

It’s absolutely right that you are supporting your DD through this difficult time. I’m surprised people are even questioning it.

I agree with pp who suggest that volunteering and having a regular routine each day are important at this stage. I’d also encourage your DD to do some kind of exercise on a frequent basis. Was there a particular sport that she enjoyed?

Does she have friends in this situation? If local, they can get together in a cafe or library or alternate at-homes and do a group job seeking session, mutual support. If not local, they can do it on Zoom. Company and a feeling of shared experience are so valuable.

Recruiters and interviewers cannot abide a gap.

She'll need to be prepared to answer 'what have you been doing since you graduated?' and prepared, interesting answers about the interesting proactive things she's been doing will help.

But right now I think your concerns aren't so much about getting her into a job as her mental health. Could she benefit from talking to someone?

Oh sure - sounds like Wildwood - it's very popular, and only so many roles available (cc @EasternStandard). To me the OP made it sounds like she tried for several volunteer roles and got rejected for all of them.

Now I am just trying to keep my daughter alive.

Is your daughter so low that she's at risk of self harm?
Has she spoken along those lines?
How serious is this?

Twice in your posts you've mentioned 'losing her' and 'keeping her alive'.

Which uni did she go to?
Is she averse to getting in touch and asking for support from their careers advisor?
Have you suggested that to her?

Did she ever work as a teenager? Saturday/ weekend job?

Has she any sporting achievements that show resilience or independence, or any of the 'soft skills' that will give her the edge over other applicants? These need mentioning on her CV.

I'm sure you can appreciate that almost everyone here is saying the same thing- she needs to get out of the house and doing something, mixing with people.
It doesn't matter if it's 3 half days in Caffe Nero, or cleaning an office, or working in a bar- just something.

If she's only been applying for specific marketing roles she will be competing with other grads who've had some work experience etc.

If she's fluent in Spanish she could consider tutoring (GCSE/ A level) online through an agency. Or offering translation services.

Get her to think outside the box.

Also, if she's now registered with agencies, she needs to pester them- the squeaky wheel gets the most attention! If she goes into their offices or calls them every 3-4 days they will respond better.

I think we’ve all sussed your modus operandi but tbh nothing is going to change the way we chose people.
The skills we need simply don’t relate and we do not disregard those that either do or don’t work.
We have other priorities

Actually it was Howletts
He got Wingham….he wanted the ‘lions and tigers and bears oh my’🤣.

Wildwood is more uk species

My vegetarian son is interested on big carnivores

Animal and zoo volunteer roles are notoriously competitive! (and underpaid if you do get a paid job) Hope he's getting there career wise.

This post makes no sense at all.

It is probably unhelpful that she hasn't got a history of casual work from her student days. I understand that she has to study but juggling it with work helps discipline.
Times are really tough in the graduate market at the moment and I think it right that you are supporting her through this.
My dd landed a graduate job by the Autumn of her graduate year.
She had done various hospitality and shop roles since A levels which I think helped.
Also immediately after her degree finals, she worked in a kids Summer camp. This gave her 6 weeks pay and some childcare experience. It was easy to get and they are always looking. She didn't have any childcare experience but it's easy to assist and they give you a bit of training.
She worked for Camp Beaumont. There are others (Barracudas?). We are in London and I'm not sure where you are in Herts but they have camps in Watford, Elstree and Enfield. It is entirely seasonal so they will be recruiting for Easter and Summer.
I think you just need to kick start any kind of work record to build her CV (and self esteem). That might mean a bit of lateral thinking.

I already replied to a few and will continue to do so. I am extremely grateful for the support given.

It’s very kind of you to say these words. We’ll look into it for sure. Thanks x

Could she offer some language tutoring locally, even if only in return for references?

Rubbish? Volunteering?

What a privileged view. The people working part time throughout their education didn’t have the parents to pay for them unlike you clearly.

Yesterday I wrote my first post here on this forum. Although I tried to reply individually to some of you I would like to thank you ALL for showing support and great advice. It is fair to say that some of the comments mentioned weren’t a total surprise. But it doesn’t matter I really appreciate the efforts.
To answer some of the questions. She has a degree in INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT WITH A MODERN LANGUAGE. She can speak three languages and worked at her Uni “ Henley Business School in Reading” during the summer months. She applied to many employment agencies and she’s considering temp work too. She had a number of interviews then went well, sadly nothing ever came out of it. She is looking to work into Marketing however, it is proven to be difficult without the appropriate experience. Next Monday she has her 1st career coaching appointment. We hope she’ll gain some valuable insights from it. Thanks again for your support 🌸

International Business and Management with a modern language.

Yes masters at St Andrews and crossing all fingers and toes for The British Antarctic Expedition……

Not many zoologists actually end up in a career in that area so it is very difficult.