[yl_llb]

Just an idea for a thread to share our mutual pain.

As you can see, my grades are slightly below average. Getting a 2.1 or 1st is essential in my final year ( I might be able to omit my first year grades from my C.V. and get away with it, what do you think?) but I am just happy to get a job tbh (25k-28k outside of London would be a steal to be honest).

GCSEs (Maths : B) 3A*s , 3A's , 4B's
A-Level ABBBB (Inc General Studies, not inc. Maths) (Serious extenuating circumstanes re health, not relevant in this economic climate though as i'd doubt anyone would care in reality)
Law at a Russell Group Uni (Newcastle): First year undergraduate: 3rd, 3rd, 2.1, 2.1 (2.2 overall)
Second year undergraduate: 1st, 2.1, 2.1, 2.1 (2.1 overall)
Third year undergraduate: Results pending (Aiming for a first)

Experience: Charity work, mini-pupillage, affiliate marketing site i did in gap year, teaching English abroad in gap year. (So, again, slightly below average/average)

I know people from Oxford and Cambridge with 2.1 and better who are sitting at home unemployed. So tbh, I just feel really quite despondent about all of this. I am below average when I consider that I am in competition with people from abroad looking for jobs here too. It's just very hard and I am struggling to come to terms with it all, it is hard to comprehend for me because in 2008 when i was applying for my degree (I took a gap year in 2009 after my A Levels)

And basically to repeat what a fellow user has posted before:

When my school year was applying to University around 2007/2008, degrees were sold on the idea that employers were after the calibre of person who was able to study at a high level. Study what you enjoy, do your best, then transfer your skills and enthusiasm to a career path that interests you. This is what happened in the years before, and it was an acceptable pre-context for those about to apply. Those people graduating in 2010/11 walked into a strangulated job market where the pre-context held little truth; public sector largely gone only to be replaced by a marketing/sales/recruitment bunfight that cares not for transferable academic ability. Your degree now embellishes any job experience as employers look to profit by avoiding training 'greens', preferring pre-packed vocationally able graduates courtesy of industry years, work exp placements and internships.

Perhaps this generation of graduate should have tried harder to get industry experience, but the challenges in that deserve a separate discussion. What i will say though, is that unlike those undertaking degrees today, those who started 2007/2008/2009, were never given the heads up to fill their free time with extra curricular vocationally relevant experience.

Students today will be heavily encouraged to spend every summer slaving for free in the industry of their choice provided they can get a shot, and it will be institutionally encouraged. Those in the years before have heavily underestimated the role of RELEVANT experience (stacking shelves in tescos for 3 years of uni holidays is far better than watching Top Gear repeats while massaging your balls, but is equally as useless when against a kid with 9 months of industry experience when going for a job).

[JabCross]

you cannot be serious

[yl_llb]

(Original post by JabCross)
you cannot be serious

People are sitting at home unemployed with firsts from respectable subjects at Russell Group universities. Yes, I am serious.

[yl_llb]

(Original post by dentistry'13)
You could have filled out an application form instead of typing the OP.

Thats what your Mum said.

[ProStacker]

If you decide that you are screwed because of the situations other people are in, you only have yourself to blame. They are not you. Getting a job is far more than just a degree. You make your own destiny. Things are tough, but having a whinge on the internet before you try isn't really a way forward.

[yl_llb]

(Original post by ProStacker)
If you decide that you are screwed because of the situations other people are in, you only have yourself to blame. They are not you. Getting a job is far more than just a degree. You make your own destiny. Things are tough, but having a whinge on the internet before you try isn't really a way forward.

I know I'm not as good as the competition though at the moment because we're competing for an extremely low amount of grad vacancies. I am only being honest with myself.

[dentistry'13]

(Original post by yl_llb)
I know I'm not as good as the competition though at the moment because we're competing for an extremely low amount of grad vacancies. I am only being honest with myself.

What do you want from TSR? It has always been the case where graduate vacancies are drastically lower than the number of graduates. The only thing you can do is seek advice from the careers service at Newcastle on how to fill out applications for graduate jobs and look for some voluntary work experience in the field that you wish to go into. You need to take some initiative and be proactive in a positive manner ... not rant about the system on a student forum.

[ProStacker]

(Original post by yl_llb)
I know I'm not as good as the competition though at the moment because we're competing for an extremely low amount of grad vacancies. I am only being honest with myself.

That does not follow. You are saying you are not as good because of the number of vacancies? No. You have to learn how to write a better CV. You have to learn how to pass interviews better than others. You have to know how to sit assessment centres better.

[Stalin]

(Original post by yl_llb)
I know I'm not as good as the competition though at the moment because we're competing for an extremely low amount of grad vacancies. I am only being honest with myself.

Let's get one thing straight, and this is free life advice for you: if you keep telling yourself you're not as qualified as the competition, not as competent, not as smart, et cetera, you sure as hell won't be. What I find particularly pathetic, however, is that you've accepted defeat before the battle has taken place. In other words, you haven't even graduated but you've chosen this moment to have a childish emo breakdown?

Ask yourself what you want to do post-graduation and work towards getting there. Having a soak won't get you into any graduate scheme, no matter how hard you cry.

[wanderlust.xx]

It's ironic that your 'support group' thread was actually just a ploy for validation. I'm afraid, judging from the previous posts, you won't be getting much of it.

It's true, though. You need to... well, practice. Life is essentially just masses amount of practice. The people who are sitting at the top of companies? They're not necessarily more intelligent than other people, they just knew what skills they needed to enhance and when/how to practice them.

[M1011]

What? You have a 2.1 in a strong subject from a good university, alongside decent A-levels (please note if I hear extenuating circumstances again I will strike thee down with a deathly blow), and some reasonable work experience. What is the purpose of this thread?

Anyone sitting at home with a first from Oxbridge probably has the personality of an over ripe lemon. Don't use the failings of others as an excuse for yourself.

[yl_llb]

(Original post by M1011)
What? You have a 2.1 in a strong subject from a good university, alongside decent A-levels (please note if I hear extenuating circumstances again I will strike thee down with a deathly blow), and some reasonable work experience. What is the purpose of this thread?

Anyone sitting at home with a first from Oxbridge probably has the personality of an over ripe lemon. Don't use the failings of others as an excuse for yourself.

It's just the fact that I'm average at the moment. That I realise that I have to achieve more to be a success. Other people have firsts overall in equally strong subjects in similar universities.

People don't give a **** if you did Law or a prestigious degree these days it seems. Getting a 2.1 has to be a given so a first is what is seen as an indicator that you can achieve academically.

[yl_llb]

(Original post by wanderlust.xx)
It's ironic that your 'support group' thread was actually just a ploy for validation. I'm afraid, judging from the previous posts, you won't be getting much of it.

It's true, though. You need to... well, practice. Life is essentially just masses amount of practice. The people who are sitting at the top of companies? They're not necessarily more intelligent than other people, they just knew what skills they needed to enhance and when/how to practice them.

What? Are you kidding? I knew people would react in the semi pissed off way that they are doing. It is life, when it comes to money all is fair. I don't expect any sympathy from anyone but in return they should not expect any from me. It's fine.

[MagicNMedicine]

(Original post by yl_llb)
but I am just happy to get a job tbh (25k-28k outside of London would be a steal to be honest).

I think you mean £15k-£18k outside of London. The only way you will get £25k plus is if you get on a graduate scheme.

[yl_llb]

(Original post by MagicNMedicine)
I think you mean £15k-£18k outside of London. The only way you will get £25k plus is if you get on a graduate scheme.

What are the salaries like abroad? Every grad here seems to either be jobless or working for peanuts.

[yl_llb]

(Original post by xoxAngel_Kxox)
If you fail to get a job it will be due to your immaturity rather than your lack of credentials. A comment like this from an adult at University, thinking about looking for a serious job, is quite frankly ridiculous.

He repeated attacked me and then deleted his posts. You may have a job as a moderator, but, the fact hat you missed that is also quite ridiculous.

[xoxAngel_Kxox]

(Original post by yl_llb)
He repeated attacked me and then deleted his posts. You may have a job as a moderator, but, the fact hat you missed that is also quite ridiculous.

It isn't my job to moderate this section of the forum. If ever you have an issue with a post, feel free to use the "report" tool and the moderators who work in this section will deal with the report.

[yl_llb]

(Original post by xoxAngel_Kxox)
It isn't my job to moderate this section of the forum. If ever you have an issue with a post, feel free to use the "report" tool and the moderators who work in this section will deal with the report.

I was about to say something really quite over the top and sarcastic here, but since you have the dreaded ban hammer then it really isn't my lowly place to say so.

But, basically, lol.

[xoxAngel_Kxox]

(Original post by yl_llb)
I was about to say something really quite over the top and sarcastic here, but since you have the dreaded ban hammer then it really isn't my lowly place to say so.

But, basically, lol.

I don't really see what your problem is. Feel free to PM me if you wish to discuss the issue further as I don't want this thread to be derailed.

[M1011]

(Original post by yl_llb)
People don't give a **** if you did Law or a prestigious degree these days it seems. Getting a 2.1 has to be a given so a first is what is seen as an indicator that you can achieve academically.

To be honest I disagree. If you're intending to apply to graduate schemes they don't seem to care what your degree grade is as long as you meet the requirements (2.1). It's your people skills and aptitude that'll make or break your applications.