University graduate & can't find a job ANYWHERE! Please please help!

fiddlesticks

I'm in the same place as you. living with parents and struggling to get anywhere. My degree was 11 years ago in chemistry.

DCFC79

OP "get your stamp paid " means you sign on as normal(i think you would but someone else could confirm) but instead of getting jsa you get your NI paid for you so theres no gap in the NI being paid.

Theres a few graduate jobs for JL going on the waitrose job site, theres also jobs going at JL at the swindon outlet but i dont know if thats easy enough for you to get too but have a look.

System

fiddlesticks wrote: »

I'm in the same place as you. living with parents and struggling to get anywhere. My degree was 11 years ago in chemistry.

:eek:

wow... just wow ...

wantsajob

I got a first class degree in Psychology from Huddersfield in 2005. I made the mistake of doing a masters in Psychological Approaches to Health at Leeds in which I achieved a pass with merit. Strongly recommend against doing a Masters unless you have a guaranteed job at the end of it, or are being sponsored to do it, or are rich and can afford the fees.

Something to consider applying to is http://faststream.civilservice.gov.uk/ which opens on the 19th September. I have applied in previous years, but found the assessment intense/difficult. There are two which may be of interest to you. Social Science researcher http://faststream.civilservice.gov.uk/The-Fast-Streams/Analytical-Fast-Stream/Social-Research-Fast-Stream/ and Statistician (only worthwhile if you liked that side of the Psychology course, I know many don't) http://faststream.civilservice.gov.uk/The-Fast-Streams/Analytical-Fast-Stream/Statistician-Fast-Stream/ Assessments are usually in London although jobs themselves are across the country and when I went last year they were quite generous with travelling expenses/hotel/meal/breakfast. Get a few extra nights in a hotel and enjoy a cheap holiday in London

System

wantsajob wrote: »

I got a first class degree in Psychology from Huddersfield in 2005. I made the mistake of doing a masters in Psychological Approaches to Health at Leeds in which I achieved a pass with merit. Strongly recommend against doing a Masters unless you have a guaranteed job at the end of it, or are being sponsored to do it, or are rich and can afford the fees.

Something to consider applying to is http://faststream.civilservice.gov.uk/ which opens on the 19th September. I have applied in previous years, but found the assessment intense/difficult. There are two which may be of interest to you. Social Science researcher http://faststream.civilservice.gov.uk/The-Fast-Streams/Analytical-Fast-Stream/Social-Research-Fast-Stream/ and Statistician (only worthwhile if you liked that side of the Psychology course, I know many don't) http://faststream.civilservice.gov.uk/The-Fast-Streams/Analytical-Fast-Stream/Statistician-Fast-Stream/ Assessments are usually in London although jobs themselves are across the country and when I went last year they were quite generous with travelling expenses/hotel/meal/breakfast. Get a few extra nights in a hotel and enjoy a cheap holiday in London

Thanks for the advice! I was only aiming for the BPS accredited courses (clinical, forensic) , unfortunately they are very competitive. So far, nobody from our grad year has a place on any of these courses! It's shocking, really. I did consider doing another masters to stand out from all of the other graduates, but I was worried it may just be a waste of time/money.

So what are you doing at the moment?

Smidster

Had a rather interesting interview this morning with a recruiter (went for an internship position with them)

When sending out your CV to entry-level positions he advised me to downplay my Degree to avoid 'scaring' potential employers. Instead mainly list your key skills and how they relate to the job in question.

PurplePow

candyflossing wrote: »

Thanks for the advice! I was only aiming for the BPS accredited courses (clinical, forensic) , unfortunately they are very competitive. So far, nobody from our grad year has a place on any of these courses! It's shocking, really. I did consider doing another masters to stand out from all of the other graduates, but I was worried it may just be a waste of time/money.

So what are you doing at the moment?

A friend of mine graduated with a 1st a few years ago, and she has done a lot of voluntary work and has been working for the past few years in mental health, and the past year as an Assistant Psychologist in the NHS. She applies for the clinical course every single year and never gets a place She is now looking to do some voluntary work abroad to add even more to her application form, it does sound very competitive!

bristol_pilot

DCFC79 wrote: »

OP "get your stamp paid " means you sign on as normal(i think you would but someone else could confirm) but instead of getting jsa you get your NI paid for you so theres no gap in the NI being paid.

This is not as important as it once was and is probably not an issue unless the OP was thinking of being unemployed for a couple of decades. You only need 30 years of 'stamps' to get a full state pension now and there are credits for years spent in full-time education. The 'stamps' you get when signing on only count towards state pension (and widow's bereavement benefit) - not for contribution-based JSA.

System

Smidster wrote: »

Had a rather interesting interview this morning with a recruiter (went for an internship position with them)

When sending out your CV to entry-level positions he advised me to downplay my Degree to avoid 'scaring' potential employers. Instead mainly list your key skills and how they relate to the job in question.

It's a common suggestion to students to remove the degree from your CV completely when applying for low-pay jobs. I have considered this also. It is a bit depressing that my degree has decreased my chances of employment.

GemmaC25 wrote: »

A friend of mine graduated with a 1st a few years ago, and she has done a lot of voluntary work and has been working for the past few years in mental health, and the past year as an Assistant Psychologist in the NHS. She applies for the clinical course every single year and never gets a place She is now looking to do some voluntary work abroad to add even more to her application form, it does sound very competitive!

I know students who've been working for 4-5 years unpaid volunteer work to get onto courses. It's ridiculous considering some people enter medical degrees with little or no prior experience. A lot of the posts I've applied for offer me volunteer work instead. I think a many charities/companies are aware of our desperation and take advantage of it a bit.

claire16c

candyflossing wrote: »

I already have a lot of voluntary experience. A lot of the time, when you are rejected from psychology posts, you are offered unpaid volunteer positions instead. I've taken this up a few times.

Post graduates in BPS courses such as forensic are very competitive. None of my friends have gotten in either. I am re-applying every year with more and more volunteer experience so hopefully I will get a place. However, I am quickly using up my post-grad savings so I will need a paid job to make this money back.




could you recommend any in particular? A lot of the agencies I've come by charge high fees.

I want/need a post-grad to get onto my chosen career path. Until I get a place I need a job to pay for it. Any job will do. It has been recommended to graduates to omit their degree from their CV to increase their chances of getting a job. I may do this next.



If I go on benefits I cannot afford my post-grad education. It's not an option for me. Most of my graduate friends are on benefits right now, but a lot of them really want work too.



Going to try and answer all your questions.
- I've tried graduate schemes, I've only gotten places on unpaid work schemes. I did this for a few months last summer for the experience.
- I have a lot of volunteer experience. Usually, when you are rejected from psychology posts, you are offered unpaid volunteer positions instead. I do these a lot of the time.
- I've only had 1 part-time job before as a store assistant. I went to CV clinic and they said lack of paid work was my issue. I have no employer references.
- Sorry, what does 'get you stamp paid' mean?
- Only my father works, he's in security, not many contacts there.

- I added most of my grad year on facebook for networking purposes. Unfortunately, most of my grad friends are unemployed and on benefits.

- It is very clear our university has washed their hands of us. They only contact us to ask for donations. It took myself and fellow students months of begging to get references for our post-grad apps this year. In short, my university doesn't care.

I applied for a job I saw online on the Reed website, through an agency called Alexander Hill. You could probably find their website directly and apply. Theres also Bucks and Berks. Office Angels etc.

I think your lack of work exp could definitely be a problem, did you really not have any sort of part time job when you were at school, sixth form or uni? Because many grads will have years of experience in part time jobs by the time they leave and its them you are competing against. Even if it was working at a supermarket you need to put it on your cv.

There is a new Hollister store opening in Reading I think next week. They put up times for interviews on their facebook page - just type in Reading Hollister and it comes up. At the moment they are holding interviews tomorrow at 3 and 4pm. If you add your name you will get an interview, they dont even ask for your cv or anything, so you could try that. You just turn up outside the store at the right time and youll at least get an interview.