Four out-of-work graduate talk about their experience of the jobs market

Prepared to wait

Roxanne Hargreaves, geography, Loughborough University
My dream job would be in development and poverty reduction or environmental management. A geography degree provides you with many skills but it is not specific and leaves your future very open.

When searching for jobs I have found it difficult because many require three or more years’ experience, which, of course, I don’t have. I am also looking for international jobs but the university careers centre does not offer this kind of advice.

I’m not too worried about not yet having a job. I am sure I will find something eventually. I’m prepared to work a few years in something that might not work out as a career but will provide experience and help me to decide what I want to do.

My main worry is the build-up of graduates without a job, making it more competitive the longer you leave it.

Looking at Finance

Usman Khan, law, King’s College London
When I first came to university, I was open-minded on where my law degree could take me. Since then I have become very interested in the financial markets, although I have not ruled out a career as a lawyer. Companies have cut their graduate intake and jobs in response to the recession and the competition is very tough. I have started to apply for training contracts, although that is on hold during my final exams.

Later in the summer, as the financial markets start to open up again, I will apply to banks and other financial institutions. I have already been turned down by several law firms and banks, which is disappointing. Out of about 20 of my closest friends on the course, only three have secured training contracts and a couple of others have been offered jobs outside law.

I have always looked forward to starting work and I hope it is sooner rather than later.

Not disheartened

Anders Schüller, maths and physics, University College London
I have not yet settled on what career I would like, but I’m hoping to find a job that makes good use of the range of skills that I have. I have been looking at engineering, software development and technology consulting. My degree was a four-year course.

I had the choice of finishing it as a BSc after three years but chose to continue for another year for a variety of reasons, including the hope that it would rank me a little higher in the eyes of potential employers.

Of my contemporaries who left last year, some have temporary work, in call centres for example, while they look for something more suited to their degree. I have been applying to graduate schemes and jobs for about four months now. So far none of these has been successful but none has really offered everything I was looking for either, so I am not too disheartened.

The rising star

Farah Kabir, accounting and finance, Durham University
I chose a degree that would give me a broad range of skills and would open doors to a lot of things. I have always had a keen interest in consulting but I’m open to any graduate scheme with a top firm, as it is so hard to get a job at the moment. We are all finding it difficult.

Most of my friends are contemplating doing a masters or taking a year out. The last government pumped so much money into encouraging people to go to university. We now need an environment that fosters growth and creates jobs.

Companies do seem to be offering more graduate places this year but it is so difficult to stand out: you have to be the best of the best to get these jobs.

I have been selected as one of the Graduate Recruitment Bureau’s 50 Rising Stars. I hope it will demonstrate to potential employers that I’m a high-calibre student with tenacity and drive.