Graduates - post here if your work and jobs so far are not as you expected or hoped

I see all kinds of figures thrown around in newspapers and such, for example that after 6mo the average graduate salary is 25k or so. I find that hard to believe and it must surely be taken from a sample of top graduates. Maybe it's just my friends but after six months most people I knew from uni (left in 2008) were unemployed or working in a supermarket. I took a first in a bioscience from a well-regarded university, but had no work experience or connections in industry and so on. I also didn't realise (poor guidance at school, imo) how there's really no work in biosciences at all, and it offers little or no access to other disciplines.

It took me over 3 years to land a job, and now I earn 15k (gross), working as a lab technician in an unrelated science. That's several thousand £ less than a typical PhD student earns, taking tax into account. I've applied for other jobs but now that I'm several years past graduating I've been told in interviews that they worry I have lapsed a bit, drifted away, mentally - and it's true, I have. My current job doesn't let me use my brain very much and I've forgotten everything I did at uni, so I'm really back at square one, but rapidly ageing and becoming less valuable to an employer with each passing year.

I have no idea what to do - this job is pretty boring but has some positive aspects. It's a complete dead end and my pay scale tops out at 17.5k I think, which I would reach over a number of years if I perform well. I'm closer to 30 than 20 and am still living in a shared student house, no chance at all that I could afford anything better.

I'd be interested to hear from others who were perhaps a bit naiive about their choice of subject, or didn't realise what one has to do to get a decent job, or can't find anything worth doing for reasonable money, etc.

I'm a bit confused by it all, and disillusioned. In my case, university made it harder for me, by letting me live like a child for even longer and shielding me from the real world. People who left school at 16 and started work can do much better for themselves than someone like me.

Let's discuss this situation, increasingly common with jobs as scarce as they are today. I don't like being in this awkward middle-ground. I either want a decent, engaging job earning a wage appropriate for someone my age, or I should just drop out entirely and go and live in a cave somewhere. I could maintain my current lifestyle on benefits alone so I'm not sure why I bother.

nowadays its all about who you know and not what you know!

nowadays its all about who you know and not what you know! within my degree it's all about the contacts and even though my uni is an ex polytechnic our lecturers gave us loads of networking opportunities/ job opportunities and ways to gain experience so we can boost our CV making us more employable!

It's always been that way, and always will be - and it makes complete sense as well. If I had to hire someone I'd think in the same way.

I wish we were really told that from the start, though. Or maybe we were and I didn't listen? Anyone reading this thread, if you want to work in your field, or even out of it, do placement years, do summer internships, do extra projects and "awards" at school, anything will help.

It's always been common sense really, i dont know it's just how my dad raised me to be honest. All off my jobs i've done/had are through networking... only had 1 formal interview ever and I've managed to work around the world since starting my degree.
Tip for you... get on Linkedin it's facebook but for professionals, if you want to see my profile on it as an example ill give you the link if you want it. it's a great way to network

I graduated first with a degree in Nutrition which I topped up into Biomedical Science but I haven't had a relevant job yet. I'm looking for a laboratory job, I'm not fussed about pay to start with. £13k is the usual salary of the jobs I end up applying for. I just need a foot in the door...

I'm now considering any job that has prospects, scientific or not. I've had jobs in shops/bars/restaurants so far and I'm starting another in a factory tomorrow but I'm sick of these type jobs that will get me nowhere. I'm thinking of studying again but I don't know what. A masters is useless without experience. I would start something new in health if I was able to get experience at the same time. I can't afford to go back full time though and as I'm 26 I feel too old to take like, 6 years part time to get another degree while working.

If I could go back I would chose a different degree to start with or else I would have done an apprenticeship in healthcare or... something else Don't know. So depressing.

Aye, common sense isn't too common. I was always sheltered and introverted so didn't realise how society works or how to interact with people profitably.

I'm not sure linkedin is any use for me, I'm not a "professional" as such - and what, do you meet people on there or just add people you know IRL?

I also graduated 2008 with a BSc in Marine Biology and Zoology. Ended up working part time at Debenhams for 2 years (lol) and now I'm in an entry level job with the NHS and going back to uni in Sept to do Radiotherapy. Although my First degree is now virtually useless, I wouldn't have gotten onto Radiotherapy without it because my A Levels were dreadful!

With your degree in nutrition have you thought about training as a dietitician? Pretty sure it's one of the courses the NHS pays for so going back full time wouldn't be as bad as you think.