Graduating from university comes with a sense of relief and like a huge weight has been lifted off our shoulders. The three years of dedication have finally paid off, and we can leave the city knowing that our job prospects have grown.
But as we try to settle into our new lives and face the working world, the sense of relief drifts quite quickly and we are faced with a system that seems very much broken.
If you are as optimistic as me, then you may have left university without many worries, as you believed that getting a well-paid and respected job would be a simple act. Because who wouldn’t want to hire someone who has devoted years of their life to learning a specific subject.
Well, boy oh boy was I wrong. Looking back, I blame it on delusion, but that doesn’t excuse how hard it is to secure employment.
The sad thing is, I was not alone in my prospects, as many students feel the same way, leaving uni expecting to land their dream job, but end up disillusioned.
Reality really was cruel in comparison to my expectations. My relief quickly faded as I realised just how dysfunctional the job market is.
There is a whole generation of fresh talent being wasted due to the failings of what should be a fully functional system which is always looking to introduce a fresh and motivated team to its workforce. But instead, the youth of today are blamed for their inefficiencies and branded with a “lack of wanting to work”.
The experience trap
The first on a large list of disappointments that comes with trying to secure a job post-uni is the experience trap, and probably the phenomenon that is one of the most frustrating.
The experience trap is when employers are listing entry-level jobs but requiring years of experience. A cycle that remains inevitable, as without getting a job, how can one expect to gain experience.
For this reason, the hiring system today is not only breeding career stagnation but a larger disenchantment of the system.
As reported by The Guardian, 60.4% of university graduates living in England aged 21-30 were in “high-skilled” work, while 26.4% of this group were in medium or low-skilled employment and 5.5% unemployed.
Young people who are trying to enter the world of work are experiencing skill decays, work exploitation and succumbing to lower lifetime earnings.
Since many graduates feel pressured to get some “experience” under their belt, they may end up getting “stuck” in positions which have no relevance to their studies.
Alongside this comes the desperation which employers may use to their advantage. This involves apprentice-style workers being employed for full time jobs or graduates taking on unpaid work hoping it leads to a full time job.
But as the cycle continues- which it will- many of these grads will then become overqualified for the entry level roles they have worked so hard to become qualified for.
Benefits for the “rich”
While we would like to believe that we live in a society which gives equal opportunities for all, unfortunately the system is still targeted to benefit wealthier graduates while making it harder for those with lower-income backgrounds to succeed.
The suggestion that taking unpaid work is a viable solution places those who do not receive financial support from families at a significantly lower foothold than their richer peers.
Many jobs are filled through connections and networks, rendering those who lack access to elite circles to struggle in a job referral process. They say that the job world is who you know, but how can you navigate this when your social circles are lacking, through no fault of your own.
Alongside this, especially in the UK, many of the opportunities are in London or other expensive cities, leaving those who cannot afford high rent prices or relocation fees to struggle.
So how can we overcome these issues?
I always like to bring things to a positive light. As a society we are very malleable and through significant positive changes that echo through to others, there is a chance to turn graduate job prospects into a positive one.
- Improving our education on the job market
I think one of the main issues comes from a lack of knowledge of the working world that commences from when we are placed in school all the way to when we graduate university.
Throughout our childhood we are taught that the process of moving from education to the working world is a breeze, and one that happens quite naturally, when in reality it takes a lot more work than one might think.
I think by removing the notion that getting a degree means a guaranteed job, will lessen the pressure felt by graduates to be full time and secure employment when they finish their course.
- University and industry collaboration
Universities should integrate mandatory, paid work placements into degree programs, ensuring students gain relevant industry experience before graduating.
It’s important that these institutions build direct pipelines to employers through mentorship programmes, internships, and networking events.
Through providing skills-based workshops relevant to modern jobs, universities can play their part in ensuring graduates know what to expect next.
- Changes in hiring practises
By releasing industry reliance on rigid experience thresholds and allowing candidates to demonstrate their abilities and potential, employers will be able to make use of a new motivated workforce.
This means making allowances for volunteering, work experience and internships to count as valid “experience” when applying for roles.
Through clearer and more transparent hiring processes, such as reducing feedback times and providing constructive feedback, the industry will also be able to increase trust with potential employees.