Graduate daughter still looking for work.

[Bluelagoon02]

Hello Mums.

Few months ago I opened up about my daughter’s job situation. She graduated July 2024 but hasn’t been able to secure anything yet. At first she was very much trying to find a job in line with her studies. But as time moved on it became obvious she needed to lower her expectations so she applied to just anything UK based and abroad, mainly Spain and Italy. She managed to get through several job interviews but her shyness and lack of experience landed her to nothing. Lots of rejections that if you are lucky to hear back from companies or recruiters. I was genuine very scared when I originally wrote my very first post on this forum. Now I feel literally petrified to lose her. Every morning I go to her room fearing the worse. She lost contact with most of her Uni friends who had moved on. Her bf has some serious family issues so my daughter is pretty much on her own apart from us.
What do you suggest I should do ? What can I do ? I fear for her mental and physical health. It’s just so sad to see her going through this given what she had achieved not just academically but on a personal level too. She tried so hard, now she just burnt out staring into space. This isn’t healthy !
Applications after applications with very little response let alone feedbacks. Maybe you are a Mum like me who is struggling to keep her adult child alive. Maybe you lived the same situation and can offer advice. I would love to hear from anybody who can help. Thank you

If she’s very shy then marketing would eat her alive quite frankly. She should look into translating or foreign language transcription.

I totally agree. I’m not even sure why she’s still considering it. She is trying to look for admin roles too.

How is your daughter doing op? Please tell me she has tried some sort of charity volunteering since you started this thread? It is very hard to get any job without work experience these days.

If either of you would consider it I am happy to provide some feedback to help her. I was absolutely lost with employment in my early 20s and didn't know where to begin but now mid 30s I know the ropes pretty well just through working and travelling around the world.

I hate to say it but I'm shy and probably autistic and I still got my last two jobs through who I knew, not what I knew. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Volunteering/internships although frustrating not being paid really do get your foot in the door and your face known.

There's also temping agencies where companies need short notice staff for kitchens and admin. It must still be a thing, especially if you live near large towns or a city. Google "temping recruitment agency near X Town". Blue Arrow is an agency that works across the UK.

Sorry OP but it's not really luck you need. It's experience and attention to detail. I hire a lot, and last entry-level admin role had a 100 applicants within few days. Honestly I barely glanced at the education section. Only 20 or so applications were decent - lots of sloppy AI garble, and SO MANY people who didn't answer the actual question or hadn't read the JD.

Going for any basic admin role in any office, the questions are going to be fairly predictable, like "can you tell us of a time when you worked as a part if an effective team". If you have no work experience, it's going to be hard to answer them. The issue right now us the massive 2-year period where your daughter hasn't done much. Key is to get any experience at all.

Oops just realised this is a zombie thread. But still think that people focus way too hard on getting a job in their "degree area". Most people, unless you did medicine, end up on their degree fields. It's just not how it works.

It’s so hard for young ppl to get jobs my son is shy and managed to get a temp Xmas job but nothing else since . He has now applied to volunteer and will be retraining to become an electrician. So he can work for himself, could she start a little business.

Didn't you post a few days ago saying your daughter had found a part-time job, yet you were still seeking support for yourself rather than for her?
Reading your posts, the thing that stands out most isn't your daughter's situation but your reaction to it. You describe yourself as "petrified", talk about checking on her every morning fearing the worst, and frame her job search as though it is a life-or-death crisis.
The question I have is: does your daughter actually need support, or has your obsession with her job search become the bigger problem? From your posts, anxiety about your daughter's career seems to have become your entire identity. I wonder whether that anxiety is now more burdensome for her than the job search itself.
If I were in her position, I think I would struggle more with carrying a parent's constant fear and catastrophising than with the challenge of finding work.
I say this kindly, but your daughter sounds like an adult navigating a difficult job market. You sound like someone who may need support for their own anxiety.

I know of a young graduate who started out walking dogs. She then trained to become a dog obedience trainer. She now has a fantastic, lucrative business training dogs. This is in London, admittedly, where people perhaps have a good amount of disposable income. Just thought I’d mention it.

@thefloorislavayes yes same poster. I swear it's like screaming into void on mn sometimes. Daughter has got a job, so no idea why this thread was revived by op.

I hear what you are saying but she has worked in an admin role since November. Unfortunately the role is only part time. How would you consider it yourself ? I know it’s not massive but it is something. Looking forward to hearing back from you. Thanks

There are many reasons but obviously I had to ask for some kind of permission for posting again. How bizarre.

Youth unemployment (under 25) is at 12 percent. Overall I employment is at just over 5 percent. It's very hard to even find suitable jobs to apply for. There are organisations that coach people through interviews. They suggest good responses to questions you may be asked and help you to have sensible questions to ask. Could you find her this type of help. They help CV too. Try getting your DD out of her room. Ask her to walk the dog or go for a walk with you.

I know; it’s dreadful. It’s incredibly frightening because getting a job involves so much more than just the financial aspect. Without stable employment, you can’t live a normal life, rent or buy a home, or socialise. It feels as though your life simply comes to a standstill.

Of course we have. However, she is now an adult, so it's up to her to make the decision to seek help. I can only guide her so much. For the most part, she doesn't listen to any advice at all.

@Bluelagoon02even more reason to assume she is then.
look at PDA or demand avoidance
she needs to make her own decisions even more

Hey @Bluelagoon02

Have you tried signing daughter up with employment suport organisations?

Many housing associations have them (you don’t need to be a resident to get support) as do local councils, charities, reed in partnership, ingest etc.

The support is free and your daughter is given an advisor who will help her find, apply for work and they usually have relationships with employers to help her get into work