The last thing Rahma Hayat expected when she graduated from university was to spend more than a year looking for a job – and having to make over 2,000 applications.
Initially excited about her prospects after graduating with a BSc in Economics from City St George’s, University of London, Rahma’s optimism soon turned to dread when many of her applications were not even acknowledged.
She tried to use AI on her CV to help her get past AI CV screeners at the employers’ end, but she found it would insert skills she didn’t have, and she’d have to correct it herself.
“It was the most horrible experience of my life. Every day I’d wake up and just sit on my laptop until I went to sleep. I’d even be doing applications while I was eating. It was the most mentally draining thing ever,” says Rahma, 22, from Hertfordshire.
“So many companies want graduates to have experience, but how are you supposed to get experience when you’ve not been in the workforce? It feels as if they don’t want to train anyone, they just want you to be ready straight into the workforce out of uni. And that’s not how uni builds you up.”
The number of graduate jobs offered by Britain’s hundred leading employers has fallen by a quarter in the past three years — and is forecast to keep dropping, according to recent figures by High Fliers Research. It mean several years’ worth of students are competing for the same roles, and hospitality and retail companies are reporting that graduates are increasingly applying for permanent, rather than seasonal, work.
Indeed, it got to the point where Rahma couldn’t even get a job in retail just to earn some money – she got the sense hiring managers were reluctant to hire graduates who they knew would only stick around until they found their “real” job.
She even came to regret quitting her part-time job at Argos and Sainsburys, which she’d done so she could focus as much energy as possible on completing her studies.
Rahma’s situation began to feel quite dire. Although she was still living with her parents who were happy to support her, she didn’t want to be a financial burden to them, so she cancelled her gym membership and cut back on socialising with her friends. Older family members who hadn’t faced such difficulties finding work couldn’t relate to the challenge Rahma was facing.
“It’s a very stressful experience not being employed in this economy, because it costs money to even leave the house,” says Rahma.
Finally, her luck changed, when she applied for a job in the finance team at the waste management company Biffa.
Rahma was hired after a day-long assessment day with Biffa, who are using skill based tests rather than AI screening in recruitment (Photo: Duncan Gibbons/ Biffa)Biffa is not only making an effort to increase the number of graduate roles available across the business, but has introduced skills based assessments to better understand if someone is a fit for a role, rather than relying on AI-heavy screening.
That’s in light of recent data from job site CV-Library revealing that 35 percent of UK hiring managers are missing out on top talent because AI screening lacks human intuition.
Rahma attended a day-long assessment with Biffa, and along with other graduate candidates, were asked to complete tasks like ranking items from most to least useful in a survival scenario. The day also involved a number of problem solving tasks and a presentation, with the main aim being to observe the candidates’ collaboration and communication skills.
Rahma passed with flying colours – and began her role as a graduate financial analyst with Biffa last September.
“I would never have seen myself in a position where I am today, where I’m looking at this business and wanting to make a difference in so many areas. The opportunities feel endless in this company,” says Rahma.
Where are the graduate jobs?
Despite 37 percent of companies planning to replace entry level roles with AI, as consultancy Korn Ferry’s research shows – playing a big part in the 700,000 jobless graduates in the UK needing to claim benefits – there are still professional roles out there for young people who look in the right places.
Bryony Hughes, Biffa’s early careers manager, is actively trying to encourage more teams across the business to take on a graduate, recognising that not only does the business need to nurture future leaders, but it needs to play a part in providing opportunities for young people.
“We are still a seed. We want to grow big. I’ve had 52 graduates come into the business since we formally launched our graduate programme in 2021. It’s all to do with budgets, but I’m trying to push on different areas of the business, saying, ‘Could you benefit from having a graduate?’” says Hughes.
“I’m also trying to think about what roles could benefit from starting out as a graduate, because we know there are millions of graduates out there looking for work, and the economy is in such a tough stage.”
At graduate recruiter Bright Network, CEO Kirsten Barnes says it’s more important than ever that graduates know where the opportunities are, as competition for places is intense. Barnes says fields like financial services, public sector, charities and teaching have all actually grown in demand for graduates, according to what’s being advertised on her platform.
Meanwhile, sectors like professional services, engineering and technical industries, healthcare and specialised professions, property, insurance and core business services, alongside niche digital and AI roles, are also demonstrating a stable number of entry level opportunities.
“The job market is increasingly about what you can do rather than what you studied. Employers are telling us they are more flexible about degree subject and grade, and are placing more interest in soft skills like resilience, resourcefulness, commercial awareness, communication and adaptability, as well as the ability to work confidently with AI tools,” says Barnes.
“Of course, there will always be roles where a specialist degree or knowledge is required, but for graduates who feel locked into one path by what they studied, there are options. Many function based roles are open to a range of degree backgrounds. So, unless it’s a specialised role that clearly requests a specialist degree, graduates shouldn’t assume they’re locked out of an industry just because of their degree subject.”
Rahma is now eager to see where her career at Biffa will take her.
“If graduates are able to land themselves in a very good scheme like this, then the company will help develop you into someone who has a growth mindset. I feel like there’s so much for me to do, and I can achieve a lot,” she says.
Hence then, the article about i applied for 2 000 jobs after my degree this is how i finally got hired was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( I applied for 2,000 jobs after my degree – this is how I finally got hired )
Also on site :