The journey from graduation to securing a fulfilling job is often extremely challenging. After six months of job searching with little to no success, feelings of frustration, discouragement, and anxiety can begin to surface—not just for your graduate but for you as a parent.
Understanding the challenges of this journey, recognising the emotions involved, and exploring avenues of support are crucial steps in navigating this critical period.
The Long Road to Graduate Employment
The graduate job market has grown increasingly competitive over the years. With more individuals obtaining degrees and the economic landscape shifting due to various factors—including the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the long-term effects of educational policies aimed at increasing university attendance—the path to securing a graduate-level position has become fraught with obstacles.
These challenges are compounded by the need for not only academic achievements but also relevant work experience and a broad skill set that includes both technical and soft skills.
This has resulted in several graduates finding themselves in unemployment 6 months or more after graduation.
Six Months In: A Spectrum of Emotions
For Parents: Watching your child struggle to find their footing in the job market can be tough. You might feel helpless, worried about their future, and anxious about the best way to offer support without overstepping boundaries. There’s also the financial strain of supporting an adult child longer than anticipated, which can add to the stress. After 6 months, you may also be concerned about their mental health due to frequent rejections despite their hard work.
For Your Graduate: Six months is a significant milestone that, unfortunately, can mark a shift from optimistic to disillusioned. Your son or daughter may start doubting their abilities, the value of their degree, and their career choices. This period can be marked by lowered self-esteem, increased stress, and even depression, as continuous rejection or lack of responses from employers takes a toll. It can be worsened if their peers are finding success.
Why haven’t they found a graduate job 6 months on?
Here are some of the things they might be struggling with, they do not:
Know what graduate job is right for them
Many students only think seriously about what job or career they want either just before or after graduating from university. This leaves them underprepared when they start applying for jobs, scrambling for ideas.
Have a CV that reflects the key skills recruiters are looking for
Employers care far more about whether a graduate has the skills and experience to succeed in a workplace environment than they do about how well they did at university. These skills and experiences should be emphasised whenever possible, in CVs cover letters and during interviews.
Know how to present themselves in interviews
Graduates will have little to no experience doing job interviews, and will likely have to learn on their own what makes them more likable and employable, as this is not something explicitly taught by universities.
Send out enough high-quality job applications
Sending out just a few applications is not enough to secure employment. Graduates should be sending out applications on a daily basis for as many suitable jobs as possible to increase their odds of being invited for an interview
Ask for feedback and follow up after interviews
This is a great way for graduates to learn from their mistakes and shows interviewers how much a graduate values their opinion, something that might be important should the same graduate apply for a job at the same company in the future.
Prepare adequately for their interviews
Graduates should have pre-prepared answers for many common interview questions, such as competency questions, and know how to use the S.T.A.R method.
Available Help: Finding the Right Support
This is where the expertise of a graduate career coach is invaluable. A coach specialises in navigating the complexities of the job market, offering personalised strategies to enhance employability.
We can assist with refining graduate CVs, honing interview skills, identifying strengths, and even exploring less conventional career paths that match your graduate’s skills and interests. Find out more about how we can help you with our one-on-one career coaching.
Career coaches also bring an objective perspective to the job search process, helping to rebuild confidence and motivation. Their support can be a catalyst for change, encouraging your graduate to adopt new approaches and persevere.
Beyond professional coaching, consider leveraging your network for informational interviews, internships, or temporary positions that can offer your child valuable experience. Encourage them to engage in volunteer work or further education, such as online courses, to expand their skill set and fill any gaps in their resume.
Conclusion
The six-month mark in a job search is often a turning point that calls for reassessment and reinforcement. It’s a time when the need for external support becomes clear, both for the emotional well-being of your graduate and to boost their chances in a saturated job market.
Introducing a graduate career coach into this equation can provide a fresh perspective, equip your son or daughter with new strategies, and most importantly, reignite their hope, motivation and determination.
As a parent, your role is to provide encouragement, understanding, and practical support during this challenging time.
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Featured image by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels
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