First Class Degree - Unemployed for 2 Years

I graduated in 2015 with a first class degree in physics (BSc). I published work in a journal as part of my final year project, called physica status solidi. I entered university as a mature student and I am now 29. I also have a few "As" at A level but they were a long time ago now.

Over the past two years I have been rejected from almost everything I have applied for and have only worked as a temporary exam marker over the summer. I have never earnt above minimum wage. In May 2017 I was rejected at the final stage from the NHS scientist training programme in medical physics and just recently I was rejected from an entry level graduate job as an acoustics engineer. I have been rejected from minimum wage lab technician roles as well as every other graduate scheme I ever applied for.

I am totally lost at this point and don't know what to do. Currently I am enrolled on an MSc in nuclear science and technology at the University of Manchester, but I am thinking of withdrawing as I am tired of studying with no job in sight and it may not lead to a job. Despite there being a resurgance in nuclear power in the UK I would probably still lack experience and be rejected by the graduate scheme employers. My course is hard, I'm jaded and don't have a lot of work experience. My MSc is free (no tuition fees due to my grades). Would I be a fool to withdraw?

There was someone who dropped out after the first year on my undergraduate course. She instead chose to do a software apprenticeshp with the DWP and now works as a java developer, which is a good job.I looked at the apprenticeship myself and can't do it, as it is a "level 4" course whereas my degree is "level 6". In reality, the national framework for qualifications is meaningless as her apprenticeship is worth far more than my degree. My degree is worth no more than toilet paper, as has proven to be the case. It's a shame as I enjoyed physics.

I have a few years of volunteer work on my CV in addition to office work. I don't have any internships but I do have good references. I present myself well but I am not getting anywhere. I was liked at my previous jobs and was always polite and got work done.To be honest, I wish I had never gone to university, or at least done something employable like medicine. I applied to graduate medicine this cycle but I will probably get rejected from that as well. I am not down on myself here, I'm just being realistic.

There are a few people from my undergradute course who have jobs. One did a PGCE and is a primary teacher and another works in an engineering company. I contacted the engineering company myself with my CV and never received a reply. I feel like employers just don't want to know me. My undergraduate university is lower down the league tablets (I want to mainain ambiguity) but I don't believe university "prestige" is the reason for my lack of success. I don't have any connections, relevant experience (for anything) and I don't know what options are open to me.

Is it possible for me to get on a software apprenticeship?

Should I continue with my masters, or look at other postgrad opportunities?

Should I give up applying to graduate schemes?

First off what do you want to do? You say you are considering a software dev apprenticeship, that youve applied for graduate entry medicine, you're doing a course that I assume is designed for you to enter the nuclear industry and you did apply for the stp program with the nhs. It is pointless going for a scatter gun approach, you should build up the skills required for the sector you want to work in

ie

Medicine - gain relevant work experience (essential for getting onto the course), you cant just do medicine because it is a employable degree, you really have to want to be a doctor

I contacted the engineering company myself with my CV and never received a reply. I feel like employers just don't want to know me.

Is it possible for me to get on a software apprenticeship?

Should I continue with my masters, or look at other postgrad opportunities?

Should I give up applying to graduate schemes?

I wonder how you're marketing yourself considering the high frequency of rejection against your impressive education and experience. It's all well and good having a 1st from a good university, but that counts for nothing if you're not selling yourself and your skills in a way that is appropriate to the roles you're applying for. I graduated in the summer from a good university with a 2.1 degree in the Humanities, and never made it past the CV/Cover Letter stage until I realised how short I was selling myself. After this realisation and adapting my applications accordingly, I began to receive interviews for every role I applied for, and am now in a competitive industry with a competitive salary. I don't think a lot of graduates know how to write a well thought out application, and most depend upon their degree/university ranking to secure them a role (I know I did), but you have to market it all properly if it's going to be of any value to employers.

I say, continue your Masters, since it is a point of interest for employers and characterises you. I also say, however, continue to apply for jobs and graduate schemes, but think more critically about how you're presenting yourself within your CV/Cover Letter and applications. Don't copy and paste answers, don't mass send CVs, don't ignore role specifications. Do make sure you're hitting all their 'essential' qualities by using their own keywords in your applications, do stress achievements and stop being humble, do spend time revising and editing your answers. Since you've been unemployed for 2 years, this can be a point of contention for prospective employers, so also be careful how you address this gap (don't erase it from your history, instead turn it into a strength: perhaps you've been travelling, or have been volunteering, or following your interests after an academic career. Either way, stress the skills and achievements you've gained during this time).

Unfortunately, you've progressed too much in your education to apply for apprenticeships, but if you're interested in software engineering, why didn't/don't you apply for a Computer Science MSc?

I graduated in 2015 with a first class degree in physics (BSc). I published work in a journal as part of my final year project, called physica status solidi. I entered university as a mature student and I am now 29. I also have a few "As" at A level but they were a long time ago now.

Over the past two years I have been rejected from almost everything I have applied for and have only worked as a temporary exam marker over the summer. I have never earnt above minimum wage. In May 2017 I was rejected at the final stage from the NHS scientist training programme in medical physics and just recently I was rejected from an entry level graduate job as an acoustics engineer. I have been rejected from minimum wage lab technician roles as well as every other graduate scheme I ever applied for.

I am totally lost at this point and don't know what to do. Currently I am enrolled on an MSc in nuclear science and technology at the University of Manchester, but I am thinking of withdrawing as I am tired of studying with no job in sight and it may not lead to a job. Despite there being a resurgance in nuclear power in the UK I would probably still lack experience and be rejected by the graduate scheme employers. My course is hard, I'm jaded and don't have a lot of work experience. My MSc is free (no tuition fees due to my grades). Would I be a fool to withdraw?

There was someone who dropped out after the first year on my undergraduate course. She instead chose to do a software apprenticeshp with the DWP and now works as a java developer, which is a good job.I looked at the apprenticeship myself and can't do it, as it is a "level 4" course whereas my degree is "level 6". In reality, the national framework for qualifications is meaningless as her apprenticeship is worth far more than my degree. My degree is worth no more than toilet paper, as has proven to be the case. It's a shame as I enjoyed physics.

I have a few years of volunteer work on my CV in addition to office work. I don't have any internships but I do have good references. I present myself well but I am not getting anywhere. I was liked at my previous jobs and was always polite and got work done.To be honest, I wish I had never gone to university, or at least done something employable like medicine. I applied to graduate medicine this cycle but I will probably get rejected from that as well. I am not down on myself here, I'm just being realistic.

There are a few people from my undergradute course who have jobs. One did a PGCE and is a primary teacher and another works in an engineering company. I contacted the engineering company myself with my CV and never received a reply. I feel like employers just don't want to know me. My undergraduate university is lower down the league tablets (I want to mainain ambiguity) but I don't believe university "prestige" is the reason for my lack of success. I don't have any connections, relevant experience (for anything) and I don't know what options are open to me.

Is it possible for me to get on a software apprenticeship?

Should I continue with my masters, or look at other postgrad opportunities?

Should I give up applying to graduate schemes?

5 years here.

I graduated in 2015 with a first class degree in physics (BSc). I published work in a journal as part of my final year project, called physica status solidi. I entered university as a mature student and I am now 29. I also have a few "As" at A level but they were a long time ago now.

Over the past two years I have been rejected from almost everything I have applied for and have only worked as a temporary exam marker over the summer. I have never earnt above minimum wage. In May 2017 I was rejected at the final stage from the NHS scientist training programme in medical physics and just recently I was rejected from an entry level graduate job as an acoustics engineer. I have been rejected from minimum wage lab technician roles as well as every other graduate scheme I ever applied for.

I am totally lost at this point and don't know what to do. Currently I am enrolled on an MSc in nuclear science and technology at the University of Manchester, but I am thinking of withdrawing as I am tired of studying with no job in sight and it may not lead to a job. Despite there being a resurgance in nuclear power in the UK I would probably still lack experience and be rejected by the graduate scheme employers. My course is hard, I'm jaded and don't have a lot of work experience. My MSc is free (no tuition fees due to my grades). Would I be a fool to withdraw?

There was someone who dropped out after the first year on my undergraduate course. She instead chose to do a software apprenticeshp with the DWP and now works as a java developer, which is a good job.I looked at the apprenticeship myself and can't do it, as it is a "level 4" course whereas my degree is "level 6". In reality, the national framework for qualifications is meaningless as her apprenticeship is worth far more than my degree. My degree is worth no more than toilet paper, as has proven to be the case. It's a shame as I enjoyed physics.

I have a few years of volunteer work on my CV in addition to office work. I don't have any internships but I do have good references. I present myself well but I am not getting anywhere. I was liked at my previous jobs and was always polite and got work done.To be honest, I wish I had never gone to university, or at least done something employable like medicine. I applied to graduate medicine this cycle but I will probably get rejected from that as well. I am not down on myself here, I'm just being realistic.

There are a few people from my undergradute course who have jobs. One did a PGCE and is a primary teacher and another works in an engineering company. I contacted the engineering company myself with my CV and never received a reply. I feel like employers just don't want to know me. My undergraduate university is lower down the league tablets (I want to mainain ambiguity) but I don't believe university "prestige" is the reason for my lack of success. I don't have any connections, relevant experience (for anything) and I don't know what options are open to me.

Is it possible for me to get on a software apprenticeship?

Should I continue with my masters, or look at other postgrad opportunities?

Should I give up applying to graduate schemes?