Cambridge graduate can't get a job.

Chomeur

I got straight As in my 'A' levels, distinctions in both 'S' levels, and a 2.1 at Cambridge. But I can't get a job, and have always had terrible problems with jobhunting. Here are a few examples:

- I went for a job interview at RBS. They required candidates to take a written test. I was later told that I had scored the highest anyone had ever scored on the test. They rejected me because they said we wouldn't get on. (I'm a really nice guy, honestly, so if there was fault in regard to getting on, it wasn't on my side).

- I went for a job interview with a City firm. I heard nothing from them after the interview until they wrote back four months later. They said that my details were very impressive but unfortunately they had no positions suitable for someone of my areas of expertise (I am quite certain that they did have such positions).

- I was told at a job interview at another bank "The trouble is, in a way, your thinking is too far advanced."

It feels like everyone is afraid of me. Might it be worth me going to the doctor and asking for a prescription for some lead tablets to make myself a bit thicker?

dave4545454

you're not alone, there are many thousands of graduates in your position.

and gordon the moron declared the classic comedy line that there was a skills shortage in this country. the reality is that there is a huge jobs shortage and 8+ million without a job.

Alcmene

I agree, the skilled job situation is dire.

What's your degree in?

DVardysShadow

If you see a better way, you probably want to do it that way. If you see something wrong, you probably want to put it right. If you can see something does not work well, you will probably innovate a better solution. Most UK companies cannot abide people who think like this - they want people who will accept 'computer says No' - even though they like to make out that they thrive on innovation. Sorry to bring you this bad news

Owain_Moneysaver

Do you have any work experience?

bristol_pilot

As a resources manager, I have to say that almost every single CV I see has a string of top grades at GCSE/A/S level and a 2.1 is minimum entry qualification these days. However, Oxbridge still opens doors, so I am actually surprised at the OP's predicament.

What subject is your degree in?

Are you getting a good number of interviews from your applications and then being rejected following interview? Or are you mostly being rejected at the initial application stage?

I would suggest going to your uni careers service for advice. If you are being rejected at interview, some professional interview coaching may be the way forward. You may be doing one simple thing that gets people's backs up.

fozzeh

Chomeur wrote: »

- I went for a job interview at RBS. They required candidates to take a written test. I was later told that I had scored the highest anyone had ever scored on the test. They rejected me because they said we wouldn't get on. (I'm a really nice guy, honestly, so if there was fault in regard to getting on, it wasn't on my side).

Possibly due to displacement/sackings, they will look in house and would prefer this firstly over anyone external unfortunately.

Lavendyr

Chomeur wrote: »

I got straight As in my 'A' levels, distinctions in both 'S' levels, and a 2.1 at Cambridge. But I can't get a job, and have always had terrible problems with jobhunting.

Have you had detailed feedback from your interviews? The thing is that so many people have the grades you have that you have to think about your broader skills. A lot of companies are focused on so-called 'competencies' these days and you need to be sure you have a good breadth of these, both evidenced in your CV/application and in your interview.

So if you think people are intimidated by your grades, I'm afraid you're very probably wrong. They are seeing plenty of people with your qualifications. Instead, you're probably coming across in the wrong way - maybe you're focusing too much on the academics, or talking at them in a similar way that you would in a Cambridge supervision, when actually the skills required to get through a job interview are very different to those needed to get through a supervision!

I would suggest you focus instead on your 'soft' skills and competencies. Things like teamwork, initiative, organisational skills, determination and so on - companies value these things very highly. Look over your previous work experience (presuming you did summer jobs etc over vacations) and think of what you learned and achieved there.

After you've worked out your competencies (and thought of some examples where you've demonstrated them), go to your careers service if you still can and do a few mock interviews. Get feedback from every interview you do. Get friends/relatives to interview you & give you feedback on how you come across. Forget your academics - focus on what else you've got.

Oxbridge does open doors, but increasingly these days not as much as it used to. You can't ever expect to walk out of university - any university - and walk into a job now. It's too competitive, and while an Oxbridge degree does denote academic excellence, it really doesn't mean that the Oxbridge graduate is the best person for the job over any other graduate.

Hope this helps and really good luck with your search

dmg24

Perhaps you could get some advice on your interview technique from your university careers service? Many offer mock interviews, and their services should be available to graduates.

It is possible that, although you are a friendly person, your intelligence may mean that you come across as a bit of a know it all. Sometimes there can be a fine line between expressing your enthusiasm for a subject, and being a bit boring?

RobertoMoir

This might come across as rude but it isn't intended that way:

If you're not getting a lot of interviews, then your CV needs work - either presentation or contents.

If you're getting a lot of interviews and falling down at that point then your interview technique needs work.

What sort of jobs are you applying for? You mention examples in banking/finance - have you looked in other areas?

Hammyman

Chomeur wrote: »

I got straight As in my 'A' levels, distinctions in both 'S' levels, and a 2.1 at Cambridge. But I can't get a job,

The reality is you're just another in a long list of thousands of graduates leaving uni every year with no experience. Sadly for your generation, the ever constant dumbing down of the education system has resulted in employers valuing experience far more than bits of paper and the recession has resulted in many qualified people with a large amount of experience being in the job market and they're likely to be hired before you.