Graduate Unemployment and Mental Health

by ChristopherCockshott on 04 November 2013 15:46

Hi,
I'm currently looking into the life experiences of graduates who are struggling to make the transition into graduate-level work. Details below. I'd appreciate any help with this - either volunteering to take part or its advertising/promotion.

GRADUATE UNEMPLOYMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH STUDY - UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL

Researchers at the University of Liverpool are currently looking for volunteers to take part in a research study investigating the experiences of unemployment and mental health issues in university graduates.

* Are you between 21 and 29 years-old?

* Have you graduated from university within the last six years?

* Have you been out of work since graduation and/or for at least two months?

* Have you been diagnosed with a mental health issue such as depression or anxiety?

If you meet these criteria above and would like to be interviewed about your own experiences of being out of work and your mental health, then we would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact:-

Christopher Cockshott (Principal Researcher)

Email: christopher.cockshott@liverpool.ac.uk

THANK YOU FOR READING THIS

by Anthony Sibanda on 06 November 2013 14:38

I graduated from the Manchester Metropolitan University in 2011 with a 2.2 Honours degree in Human Resources and Legal Studies and had hoped that after graduating my life will be quickly be transformed into one of those aspiring middle aged HR Officer, but that was not to be. I have made numerous applications to Graduate jobs and schemes but have been unsuccessful in all my attempts.I have resorted to doing low pay jobs, agency care work to be precise, whilst trying to persue my dream graduate job. Care work has been the job I did before I enrolled into the university although

I often feel inadequate while in my role as a care worker as I am not the one that makes decisions that may often impact directly on a patient's life and neither am I consulted as a care-giver, and in most cases I have just to follow care plans that according to me, may not meet the patient/clients' needs, and being an outsider it takes a lot of time and effort to get things rectified on behalf of the patient and mentally this is quite stressful.

Another problem facing graduates is age discrimination both young and old,if an organisation consists of old or middle aged people younger people may be discriminated, for instance at the Mental Health Hospital I am currently placed, the hospital prefers hiring older people as they are seen as unlikely to quit jobs soon after induction. As a very mature graduate I feel I am a very easy target for unlawful discrimination on the grounds of age despite the government anti discrimination legislation introduced in 2010 for example when a prospective employer sees that I have GCE O Level educational qualifications instead of GSCEs' they can easily figure out how old I am, and if they are an organistion obsessed in keeping a youthful image they can then discriminate me on the basis of age after looking at my CV irregardless of my impeccable work experience and all this impacts negatively on the well being of my mental health.

by Tom on 08 November 2013 10:11

Yeah same boat mate.

I get quite sick of Baby Boomers looking at me smugly from their comfy chair whilst passing judgement on me, when I have worked hard just to find work.

I don't expect much just a reasonably paid job in the area I specialise. I work self employed as a web/graphic designer and part time in care.

I really don't think those smug boomers get it after all their education was free and they lived through an era of high prosperity and employment.

We on the other hand are screwed.

by naomi on 13 November 2013 11:09

At the age of 20, I graduated in 2011 with a 2:1 (Hons) in Geography from a Russell Group university. I was unable to find any relevant employment and as a result ended up working in a bar, hotel and hairdressers for a year after graduating. As I could no longer afford to live in London, I was forced to move back home to the countryside which also limited my job options (I was unable to drive at the time). These various factors left me very depressed and anxious; I was given Cognitive behavioral therapy through my GP, this was the first time I had ever experienced any feelings of depression. I eventually enrolled to do a MSc, which I completed and now have a great job doing exactly what I had planned back in 2011.

by Lucky on 19 November 2013 14:41

Well done. It is good to do an MSc.

by Sarah Obloid Anonymo on 22 November 2013 01:08

I graduated this year with a 2:2 in Physics and Mathematics. Got told by my advisor I would struggle greatly to find work with this degree value.
I suffer from anxiety, (it has ended up in my record as affecting my studies) occasionally, and bouts of migraine and I was badly affected by depression in my final year (excuses, excuses). I felt generally excluded while at uni and did better overall with the maths part of my degree.
But I'm struggling to find a job doing anything. I'm struggling to motivate myself now and felt I'd given up this week.
My best chance was a telephone interview which stopped short when I had no driver's license - I'm now getting driving lessons on my jobseeker's allowance (which they stopped for two weeks at the height of my jobhunting - moans about job centre include that they put me on a so-called 'training programme' and even attending all these, I still went without my allowance)! No wonder it's depressing.
I've joined a volunteer list to help with a local craft shop, and might do some more volunteering, and may go back to painting and sculpture as a vocation!

by Sarah Obloid Anonymo on 22 November 2013 01:09

Meant to say, I was 25 when I graduated, and am now 26 this month.

by Sarah Obloid Anonymo on 22 November 2013 01:20

Sorry. While I say I get anxiety & depression , I am not on any kind of disability whatsoever. I had later been diagnosed with depression but while I received medication for this latterly, before I was directed to self-help books by another doctor for anxiety problems. I'd say the unemployment is having a negative effect too.

by Richard on 22 November 2013 08:01

In order to attempt reduce ageist attitude, I would suggest that those who graduate in later life omit GCSE/O' level/CSE grades, I am sure there is plenty more relevant information which could be added to a two page CV. Of course, working dates might ameliorate this, but one needs to be creative but honest!

by Nigel Smith on 25 November 2013 12:19

I am a very mature student who graduated from Nottingham Trent in 2013 with a 2:1 in History. At the present time I am employed by a major supermarket for two days a week as a warehouse operative. Having previously suffered from a depressive illness I find the task of seeking graduate employment extremely daunting. The majority of schemes are for two to four years which really leaves me 'out of the game'. Having returned to both college and attended university in an effort to gain better and more accomplished employment, I feel resigned to poorly paid manual labour - I have no real idea of producing a good CV, nor of applying for graduate level jobs and feel from job descriptions that employers are not interested in older and mature students.

by Paul on 30 November 2013 11:09

I have the same problem. A mature student in my forties and graduated with a 2:1 in education and English. I was unsuccessful when applying for PGCE and school direct so I believed applying for TA vacancies would boost my chances for 2014. However I was unable to land a full or part time role, so i joinned one of the major agencies and managed to get a temporary contract until christmas on minimum wage. I'm earning less now than I was ten years ago.

by Alex Farrell on 09 January 2014 18:40

Hi, I was a mature student (now 44) I Graduated in 2013 with my BA (Hons) in social work. Every day I search for positions available on my local councils web-site but there are none for social workers. Even when they do arise, I am advised that I do not have the experience for the post etc. I then look on the jobcentre plus web-site and the positions advertised there are from agencies who require at least two years practice experience. How are we to gain the experience if we can't get through the door.

by Matthew on 11 January 2014 18:01

I am in the same shoes with you after graduated in mechanical engineering with first class (Hons) degree in 2013 with 15 years of experience in welding and fabricating. Still nothing to show off, l have been to numerous interviews what they really need is someone with experience then l asked myself how can we have experience if not giving the opportunity to work.I have now decided to go for voluntary job which l will be starting on Tuesday with Harlow college, hope with this something good will come through.

by Malcolm Greyling on 14 January 2014 14:08

Although I fall outside of the age criteria listed, I would like to say that as a recent science graduate, I am now in exactly the same position that I was in 2008 after being made redundant when I was not able to find work. I returned to university to re-skill and even undertook an industry placement in my chosen career to gain some additional experience. Despite now having 2 degrees, experience in my field, life and prior work experience, with transferable skills, I am still not able to find work due to having to work through specialist agencies, aka gate-keepers where the recruiter has 100% complete say over who gets to go forward for interview. This is discrimination in the worst possible sense as generally some-one with limited experience is making a judgement about some-one with greater experience. Further predjudice is evident in regard to further studies through studentships, as admission personnell at the institutions consider the length of a career that suitable candidates may have after completion of these further studies. In essence therefore opportunities are limited unless you are able to self-fund higher qualifications. This is a rather narrow view as evidence suggests that more mature people are more committed to the work and the employer with less time off, so a benefit to any would-be employer.