How to help my graduate son find a decent job?
Discussion
My son (23) has just graduated with a 2:1 in Human Geography and is looking for a permanent role in sustainable energy/technologies/logistics. How best can I help him e.g. employment websites, getting contacts, prepping for interviews. He's a bit of a defeatist so will think think of 10 excuses not to do something rather than 1 reason to do something. South west area.
I hate to be that guy but he has to want to do it himself, otherwise what will he do once he gets into a job and something goes against him? Job hunting is one of those things that builds resilience as a graduate in my experience. (I appreciate I’m stating the bleeding obvious and as a parent we all want to help our kids)
More constructively, I d advise him to get a good profile built up on LinkedIn and then use the jobs section of that to the max. The recruiters are also very active on there and regularly post about jobs and he may even be contacted directly.
More constructively, I d advise him to get a good profile built up on LinkedIn and then use the jobs section of that to the max. The recruiters are also very active on there and regularly post about jobs and he may even be contacted directly.
Just been through this with Madness the Younger, He's just got a 2:1 in Economics, Finance and International business and started his graduate level job in Finance/Wealth management sector last week.
As said above he has to be proactive, MtY must have applied (apparently its really easy through Linkedin) to nearly 50 jobs, had many tests, interviews and selection days and was eventually offered 4 different jobs. The more you go through the process the better and easier it gets was his lasting opinion.
Very proud of the effort he put in.
Very happy that he's off my hands financially! Well........maybe
As said above he has to be proactive, MtY must have applied (apparently its really easy through Linkedin) to nearly 50 jobs, had many tests, interviews and selection days and was eventually offered 4 different jobs. The more you go through the process the better and easier it gets was his lasting opinion.
Very proud of the effort he put in.
Very happy that he's off my hands financially! Well........maybe
Cyder said:
I hate to be that guy but he has to want to do it himself, otherwise what will he do once he gets into a job and something goes against him?
Yeah he wants a job, but having temp work, bar work, etc so far, I think he needs some help moving into the big bad world of permanent employment.Linked-In is a good shout.
As someone who has seen applications flood in recently for a vacancy I’d advise a couple of things, make sure he is qualified for the job he’s applying for and tailor his application to the job vacancy.
I appreciate when someone is applying for a lot of jobs it’s easy to keep sending the same thing in almost as a copy and paste but it shows to the person looking to recruit, as does AI written applications.
90% of the applications we received will be sifted straight out without much consideration at all.
I appreciate when someone is applying for a lot of jobs it’s easy to keep sending the same thing in almost as a copy and paste but it shows to the person looking to recruit, as does AI written applications.
90% of the applications we received will be sifted straight out without much consideration at all.
Logistics - I’d say get any (almost!) office / admin / warehouse job with a reputable company and then look for internal moves. Jump on training opportunities, especially ones that give you a bit of paper.
Alternatively, did his geography degree expose him to GIS at all? Always a demand there, and transferable across multiple industries.
Alternatively, did his geography degree expose him to GIS at all? Always a demand there, and transferable across multiple industries.
Human Geography is a fascinating subject and one that can lead to a very wide range of careers.
As for job opportunities, I'd look at public sector first - local authorities, government institutions and the like. Many will have graduate intake schemes of some kind. They can be a good jumping off point as his career progresses with additional on-the-job training often thrown in.
HTH
gmaz said:
looking for a permanent role in sustainable energy/technologies/logistics
Unless he has any particular keenness on these specific fields, I would first urge him to cast the net a little wider. Get him to research something called Smart Cities and consider the relevant fields linked to this. Also something called Green Infrastructure Principles and Standards.As for job opportunities, I'd look at public sector first - local authorities, government institutions and the like. Many will have graduate intake schemes of some kind. They can be a good jumping off point as his career progresses with additional on-the-job training often thrown in.
HTH
StevieBee said:
Unless he has any particular keenness on these specific fields, I would first urge him to cast the net a little wider. Get him to research something called Smart Cities and consider the relevant fields linked to this. Also something called Green Infrastructure Principles and Standards.
As for job opportunities, I'd look at public sector first - local authorities, government institutions and the like. Many will have graduate intake schemes of some kind. They can be a good jumping off point as his career progresses with additional on-the-job training often thrown in.
HTH
Great suggestions, thanks.As for job opportunities, I'd look at public sector first - local authorities, government institutions and the like. Many will have graduate intake schemes of some kind. They can be a good jumping off point as his career progresses with additional on-the-job training often thrown in.
HTH
Sometimes its finding the right keywords for the relevant industries.
gmaz said:
My son (23) has just graduated with a 2:1 in Human Geography and is looking for a permanent role in sustainable energy/technologies/logistics.
My son did the same course, asking him if a stone is igneous never gets old...Another vote for LinkedIn, my son did an internship at one of these firms. Once you follow one the LI suggestions should be pretty good at finding others.
My son graduated with a 2:1 in Physical Geography; got an inkling that data science was a good route into a career. He spent the summer picking strawberries to help fund a Masters, where he studied Geospatial Data Science. Once he was close to finishing his Masters, he applied for a few jobs, registered with a couple of agencies and was inundated with offers. He ended up with a blue chip insurance co' in London and has progressed quickly. He reckons there are lots of good opportunities in data science / analysis. Good luck to your son...
1. Identify some places he'd be interested to work.
2. Research the businesses. Find out which way they're developing.
3. Research the senior management. Write a direct personal letter, well presented, to someone very senior in line management setting out what your interests are and what you think you could bring to their company.
4. The more "company specific" all of this is, the better. Make the approach relevant.
5. Send lots of letters. The "hit rate" will be a low percentage so expect to be busy on the project. But don't just send a standard letter - make it relevant.
Sure, the letter will almost certainly get passed across to HR (or whatever) but hopefully the CEO will have scribbled "Have a look at this guy, he sounds interesting" on it.
2. Research the businesses. Find out which way they're developing.
3. Research the senior management. Write a direct personal letter, well presented, to someone very senior in line management setting out what your interests are and what you think you could bring to their company.
4. The more "company specific" all of this is, the better. Make the approach relevant.
5. Send lots of letters. The "hit rate" will be a low percentage so expect to be busy on the project. But don't just send a standard letter - make it relevant.
Sure, the letter will almost certainly get passed across to HR (or whatever) but hopefully the CEO will have scribbled "Have a look at this guy, he sounds interesting" on it.
Why not get him to contact his university careers service? They will (should) be most interested to help him, point in directions where they may already have contacts, plus give him help to modify applications and tailoring CV to various applications.
He may have already done this but worth mentioning as too many undergrads fail to engage throughout their course and then start to panic in last semester. It's a service open to graduates and totally in their interest to help him for their future graduate outcome stats.
He may have already done this but worth mentioning as too many undergrads fail to engage throughout their course and then start to panic in last semester. It's a service open to graduates and totally in their interest to help him for their future graduate outcome stats.
Panamax said:
1. Identify some places he'd be interested to work.
2. Research the businesses. Find out which way they're developing.
3. Research the senior management. Write a direct personal letter, well presented, to someone very senior in line management setting out what your interests are and what you think you could bring to their company.
4. The more "company specific" all of this is, the better. Make the approach relevant.
5. Send lots of letters. The "hit rate" will be a low percentage so expect to be busy on the project. But don't just send a standard letter - make it relevant.
Sure, the letter will almost certainly get passed across to HR (or whatever) but hopefully the CEO will have scribbled "Have a look at this guy, he sounds interesting" on it.
Hmmmm. I don’t think this approach is particularly suited to the modern age. 2. Research the businesses. Find out which way they're developing.
3. Research the senior management. Write a direct personal letter, well presented, to someone very senior in line management setting out what your interests are and what you think you could bring to their company.
4. The more "company specific" all of this is, the better. Make the approach relevant.
5. Send lots of letters. The "hit rate" will be a low percentage so expect to be busy on the project. But don't just send a standard letter - make it relevant.
Sure, the letter will almost certainly get passed across to HR (or whatever) but hopefully the CEO will have scribbled "Have a look at this guy, he sounds interesting" on it.
Just get him to apply for jobs that actually exist and are hiring.
okgo said:
I find it unimaginable that someone can come out of Uni with whatever tens of thousands of debt and have no idea how to get a job. What on earth are these uni s doing if people are needing posts like this at the end of their degrees?!
Have you ever heard the phrase you can lead a horse to water etc?Right from moving in day undergrads are made aware and given the means to access the career service systems, job adverts, the staff search everyday for jobs from those typical part time students type jobs, to proper placements that will help them improve their position after graduation. They are posted up in the system. On top of that employers can put up job adverts directly in the software which are subject to vetting, as are job advert emails. Sadly there are some scams.
Additionally shout outs in lectures to events and specific careers led courses, jobs fairs, availability of one to one career counselling, right through their undergrad years and also after graduation.
Sadly quite common for a final year final semester student to make contact for the first time despite having had regular emails throughout the three / four years reminding them of the resources available. If they don't want to engage despite best efforts who is to blame?
If I'm honest he's left it a bit late for any graduate schemes in specific industries - these filled up ages ago.
I think the best advice is for him to get some kind of clerical job with the local authority or large local private employer, get a bit of experience of adult working life under his belt and look at more targeted employment from a position of strength, ie already working. It's deffo no big deal a new graduate moving around a few times before really hitting upon a job they really want/like.
My eldest is a bit of a maths geek and got a 1st from a really good uni. He moved 3 or 4 times before landing a job he really loves. No stopping him now.
I think the best advice is for him to get some kind of clerical job with the local authority or large local private employer, get a bit of experience of adult working life under his belt and look at more targeted employment from a position of strength, ie already working. It's deffo no big deal a new graduate moving around a few times before really hitting upon a job they really want/like.
My eldest is a bit of a maths geek and got a 1st from a really good uni. He moved 3 or 4 times before landing a job he really loves. No stopping him now.
FiF said:
Have you ever heard the phrase you can lead a horse to water etc?
Right from moving in day undergrads are made aware and given the means to access the career service systems, job adverts, the staff search everyday for jobs from those typical part time students type jobs, to proper placements that will help them improve their position after graduation. They are posted up in the system. On top of that employers can put up job adverts directly in the software which are subject to vetting, as are job advert emails. Sadly there are some scams.
Additionally shout outs in lectures to events and specific careers led courses, jobs fairs, availability of one to one career counselling, right through their undergrad years and also after graduation.
Sadly quite common for a final year final semester student to make contact for the first time despite having had regular emails throughout the three / four years reminding them of the resources available. If they don't want to engage despite best efforts who is to blame?
Fair enough. Sounds like a bit of a plonker then. Right from moving in day undergrads are made aware and given the means to access the career service systems, job adverts, the staff search everyday for jobs from those typical part time students type jobs, to proper placements that will help them improve their position after graduation. They are posted up in the system. On top of that employers can put up job adverts directly in the software which are subject to vetting, as are job advert emails. Sadly there are some scams.
Additionally shout outs in lectures to events and specific careers led courses, jobs fairs, availability of one to one career counselling, right through their undergrad years and also after graduation.
Sadly quite common for a final year final semester student to make contact for the first time despite having had regular emails throughout the three / four years reminding them of the resources available. If they don't want to engage despite best efforts who is to blame?
Good luck, it’s brutal out there as there’s so much competition for not many jobs are sheer stupidity from employers
My partner did a HR degree and then a masters and got rejected from a graduate scheme for not having work experience
Did a year doing a HR admin roll editing peoples contracts etc and suddenly that qualified him for the grad scheme the next year at a multi national aviation company.
Madness!
My partner did a HR degree and then a masters and got rejected from a graduate scheme for not having work experience
Did a year doing a HR admin roll editing peoples contracts etc and suddenly that qualified him for the grad scheme the next year at a multi national aviation company.
Madness!
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