This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/8070183.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Mixed feelings at graduate event | Mixed feelings at graduate event |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| By Natalie Higgins BBC Scotland news The Summer Graduate Fair is organised by Glasgow University Degree of uncertainty for graduates | By Natalie Higgins BBC Scotland news The Summer Graduate Fair is organised by Glasgow University Degree of uncertainty for graduates |
| "I thought I would graduate and fall right into a job - I just assumed that's what would happen," said Fiona Hardie, who completed a postgraduate course in sports psychology in September. | "I thought I would graduate and fall right into a job - I just assumed that's what would happen," said Fiona Hardie, who completed a postgraduate course in sports psychology in September. |
| Today, her job is serving tea and coffee to visitors at the Summer Graduate Fair in Glasgow. | Today, her job is serving tea and coffee to visitors at the Summer Graduate Fair in Glasgow. |
| She said the reality of finding work had been "a lot different than I expected". | She said the reality of finding work had been "a lot different than I expected". |
| "It's been more of a struggle," Fiona said. | "It's been more of a struggle," Fiona said. |
| She decided to keep studying when finding work with her undergraduate degree proved difficult. | She decided to keep studying when finding work with her undergraduate degree proved difficult. |
| Having now finished a second degree, her work prospects have not improved. | Having now finished a second degree, her work prospects have not improved. |
| "I've been applying for quite a lot of psychology assistant jobs and classroom assistant jobs - things to get experience - but I don't even get an interview," Fiona said. | "I've been applying for quite a lot of psychology assistant jobs and classroom assistant jobs - things to get experience - but I don't even get an interview," Fiona said. |
| She said most of the jobs were asking for HNCs (Higher National Certificate) - a Higher Education qualification often in a work-related subject. | |
| "I'm obviously more qualified than that. So I don't even get interviews for things that HNCs get, and I've got quite a lot of experience working with kids," she added. | |
| Fiona said she had "given up hope" of finding a job related to her degree at the moment, but will try again later in the year. | |
| "I'm better to have a job than not have one at all," she added. | "I'm better to have a job than not have one at all," she added. |
| Fiona said all of her friends, who studied various subjects at university, were in the same position. | Fiona said all of her friends, who studied various subjects at university, were in the same position. |
| "Two are in call centres, one works in a shop," she said. | "Two are in call centres, one works in a shop," she said. |
| "None of my friends have managed to get a grad job or slip right into a job." | "None of my friends have managed to get a grad job or slip right into a job." |
| Scepticism rife | Scepticism rife |
| Feelings of pessimism and anxiety are widespread among this year's crop of graduating students. | Feelings of pessimism and anxiety are widespread among this year's crop of graduating students. |
| Jane Weir, director of the careers service at Glasgow University, which organised the Graduate Fair, thinks some are worrying unnecessarily. | Jane Weir, director of the careers service at Glasgow University, which organised the Graduate Fair, thinks some are worrying unnecessarily. |
| We're a bit scared at the moment, but I think we should be okay when we graduate in a couple of years' time Mark Smith, 2nd year engineering student | We're a bit scared at the moment, but I think we should be okay when we graduate in a couple of years' time Mark Smith, 2nd year engineering student |
| She said: "I think there's a degree of scepticism amongst graduates at the moment." | She said: "I think there's a degree of scepticism amongst graduates at the moment." |
| "They're hearing the messages coming through from the media and assuming that the picture is doom and gloom, when in fact we know there are lots of opportunities in Scotland. | "They're hearing the messages coming through from the media and assuming that the picture is doom and gloom, when in fact we know there are lots of opportunities in Scotland. |
| "So we're encouraging them to be more optimistic and positive about their job search and really think about what they have to offer." | "So we're encouraging them to be more optimistic and positive about their job search and really think about what they have to offer." |
| Neil Birkett, a recruitment manager for Morgan Stanley, who is attending the event, agreed. | Neil Birkett, a recruitment manager for Morgan Stanley, who is attending the event, agreed. |
| For him, the only significant change brought by the recession was fewer applications from students who, he believes, may be demoralised by news of cutbacks and redundancies. | For him, the only significant change brought by the recession was fewer applications from students who, he believes, may be demoralised by news of cutbacks and redundancies. |
| He said: "My concern from a recruitment perspective is that it's frightening candidates off from actually coming out and looking. There still are roles - maybe not as many, but there are still jobs for graduates." | He said: "My concern from a recruitment perspective is that it's frightening candidates off from actually coming out and looking. There still are roles - maybe not as many, but there are still jobs for graduates." |
| "We're here to say to grads, the market isn't as bad as you think. Apply - look forward, to next year, as well as this year." | "We're here to say to grads, the market isn't as bad as you think. Apply - look forward, to next year, as well as this year." |
| But some employers have faced a deluge of early applications from students hoping to beat the rush. | But some employers have faced a deluge of early applications from students hoping to beat the rush. |
| Among them was HM Treasury, which received twice as many applications this year as it did in the same period in 2008. | Among them was HM Treasury, which received twice as many applications this year as it did in the same period in 2008. |
| Interest in joining the Army has risen substantially, recruiters said, with more graduates considering it as a career option. | Interest in joining the Army has risen substantially, recruiters said, with more graduates considering it as a career option. |
| The 'year out' also seems increasingly popular. | The 'year out' also seems increasingly popular. |
| Gail McGuigan from Bunac, which organises voluntary and paid work schemes abroad, said there had been "a noticeable increase from last year in the number of people looking to go abroad". | Gail McGuigan from Bunac, which organises voluntary and paid work schemes abroad, said there had been "a noticeable increase from last year in the number of people looking to go abroad". |
| And Teach First, a charity which recruits graduates to teach in challenging schools before pursuing their intended career, is strengthening its presence in Scotland - despite the need to relocate to a school in England or Wales. | And Teach First, a charity which recruits graduates to teach in challenging schools before pursuing their intended career, is strengthening its presence in Scotland - despite the need to relocate to a school in England or Wales. |
| It began recruiting from St Andrews and Edinburgh universities last year. | It began recruiting from St Andrews and Edinburgh universities last year. |
| Students are sceptical about the number of jobs available | Students are sceptical about the number of jobs available |
| This year applications from St Andrews were up 50%, and were also 37% higher at Edinburgh. | This year applications from St Andrews were up 50%, and were also 37% higher at Edinburgh. |
| But students who planned to head straight into employment reported unforeseen problems. | But students who planned to head straight into employment reported unforeseen problems. |
| Philip McEachen, who graduated from Glasgow University with a law degree last year, said entering the jobs market in a recession had been "an unsettling experience". | Philip McEachen, who graduated from Glasgow University with a law degree last year, said entering the jobs market in a recession had been "an unsettling experience". |
| His traineeship with a large commercial firm was deferred for a year when the company found it had an excess of staff for its workload. | His traineeship with a large commercial firm was deferred for a year when the company found it had an excess of staff for its workload. |
| He said: "What was always a competitive job market has become a virtually non-existent one with deferment and withdrawal of job offers becoming the norm." | He said: "What was always a competitive job market has become a virtually non-existent one with deferment and withdrawal of job offers becoming the norm." |
| "I am fearful of my ongoing job security when I do eventually enter the profession and what the long term ramifications of the past 18 months' events will be." | "I am fearful of my ongoing job security when I do eventually enter the profession and what the long term ramifications of the past 18 months' events will be." |
| Mark Smith, a civil engineering student due to graduate in 2011, said he was already feeling pressure as he tries to organise work experience placements. | Mark Smith, a civil engineering student due to graduate in 2011, said he was already feeling pressure as he tries to organise work experience placements. |
| Though engineering jobs were predicted to increase by more than 8% this year, the message did not seem to have filtered through to his fellow students. | Though engineering jobs were predicted to increase by more than 8% this year, the message did not seem to have filtered through to his fellow students. |
| Job market | Job market |
| "We're a bit scared at the moment, but I think we should be okay when we graduate in a couple of years' time," Mark said. | "We're a bit scared at the moment, but I think we should be okay when we graduate in a couple of years' time," Mark said. |
| Kevin Brady, an electrical engineering student who graduates this year, said he was confused by uncertainty over which businesses were recruiting, and which were limiting their intake. | Kevin Brady, an electrical engineering student who graduates this year, said he was confused by uncertainty over which businesses were recruiting, and which were limiting their intake. |
| Graeme Honeyman, who finishes his business studies degree at Glasgow Caledonian University this year, said many of his fellow students were "on edge" about finding work. | Graeme Honeyman, who finishes his business studies degree at Glasgow Caledonian University this year, said many of his fellow students were "on edge" about finding work. |
| He believes that, preoccupied with dissertations and revision for final exams, the challenge of organising their future could sneak up on them. | He believes that, preoccupied with dissertations and revision for final exams, the challenge of organising their future could sneak up on them. |
| He was considering staying on for a postgraduate course. | He was considering staying on for a postgraduate course. |
| "But it seems like, not an easy way out, but that you're putting things off," he said. | "But it seems like, not an easy way out, but that you're putting things off," he said. |
| "The job market could possibly get better within a year, and it would add some qualifications under your belt, but it is inevitable that you have to find a job at some point." | "The job market could possibly get better within a year, and it would add some qualifications under your belt, but it is inevitable that you have to find a job at some point." |
| Jane Weir at Glasgow University hopes about 3,000 students and graduates will attend the two-day event at Glasgow's SECC. | Jane Weir at Glasgow University hopes about 3,000 students and graduates will attend the two-day event at Glasgow's SECC. |
| She advised students contemplating postgraduate study to properly research their course and ensure that it was useful to them, rather than a delaying tactic. | She advised students contemplating postgraduate study to properly research their course and ensure that it was useful to them, rather than a delaying tactic. |
| For Fiona Hardie, serving coffee at the jobs fair, studying through the Open University could provide a way of staying informed of developments in her chosen field of psychology while she waits for a job. | For Fiona Hardie, serving coffee at the jobs fair, studying through the Open University could provide a way of staying informed of developments in her chosen field of psychology while she waits for a job. |
| She believes the £400 fee for every module she studies would be worth it. | She believes the £400 fee for every module she studies would be worth it. |
| "I feel like this work isn't challenging enough for me, so if I've got something to go home to at night it keeps me active." | "I feel like this work isn't challenging enough for me, so if I've got something to go home to at night it keeps me active." |
| Is she worried about her future? | Is she worried about her future? |
| "I'm staying positive, hoping for the best and doing everything I can to gain experience so I can get my dream job eventually," she said. | "I'm staying positive, hoping for the best and doing everything I can to gain experience so I can get my dream job eventually," she said. |
Previous version
1
Next version