Post uni is making me depressed :(
I think I can finally admit it, but I think post uni is defiantly making me feel depressed.
Not finding a job after one bad job experience, and 6 months later still looking for something - anything - shop jobs, office jobs or something in my degree subject is just so soul destroying.
I never understood why some graduates got depressed after university I used to think they were just been dramatic, but now i can completely relate and see why it would make you depressed, your thrown in to the real world and you just aren't sure where life is going to go next.
I thought id leave uni and land a job, but it just hasnt worked out the way..
I've just lost all hope and motivation when you get turned down for retail jobs it can be a little hard to take. I just want to sleep in all the time and all day and hide away.. i've just lost all motivation completely
Not finding a job after one bad job experience, and 6 months later still looking for something - anything - shop jobs, office jobs or something in my degree subject is just so soul destroying.
I never understood why some graduates got depressed after university I used to think they were just been dramatic, but now i can completely relate and see why it would make you depressed, your thrown in to the real world and you just aren't sure where life is going to go next.
I thought id leave uni and land a job, but it just hasnt worked out the way..
I've just lost all hope and motivation when you get turned down for retail jobs it can be a little hard to take. I just want to sleep in all the time and all day and hide away.. i've just lost all motivation completely
What university did you go to and what course did you graduate in? (If you don't mind me asking)
Original post by Thahleel
What university did you go to and what course did you graduate in? (If you don't mind me asking)
University of Lincoln I graduated with a BA HONS Graphic Design degree a 2.2.
Ive had a few interviews for graphic design jobs but no luck yet, I'm either under qualified or over
Essentially you have taken a vocational course, graphic design, in which there is a massive over-supply of graduates. Unless you build up contacts you will find it very difficult to break into the industry.
Although the other poster is being harsh about your 2:2, and you may be correct that this is a reasonable grade for your course, when you're applying for jobs outside the design sphere employers will just see a poor grade where they believe someone didn't work hard enough on their course (because they would be expecting to see 2:1s and firsts for people that applied themselves). When applying for non-design jobs you might even want to drop your degree from your CV.
I would recommend that you try the employment agencies in your local area, to see if you can get temp work in design. Join any design-related organisations and go to their events, start networking. If you live outside the major conurbations, particularly London, you are going to struggle to find work.
Although the other poster is being harsh about your 2:2, and you may be correct that this is a reasonable grade for your course, when you're applying for jobs outside the design sphere employers will just see a poor grade where they believe someone didn't work hard enough on their course (because they would be expecting to see 2:1s and firsts for people that applied themselves). When applying for non-design jobs you might even want to drop your degree from your CV.
I would recommend that you try the employment agencies in your local area, to see if you can get temp work in design. Join any design-related organisations and go to their events, start networking. If you live outside the major conurbations, particularly London, you are going to struggle to find work.
Original post by kate2610
Most graduates on my course are still working in bars and still looking for a full time job even though they have had internship after internship and work experience coming out of their ears.
That is because, as I have already written, there is an over-supply of graphic design graduates each year, and this is something that has been going on for at least 20 years if not a lot longer. When you graduate you have to make your own luck, that means going out and finding the work, or generating your own projects. It is hard work, get used to it or get used to not working.
Here's a little bit of research for you to do: how many graphic design degree courses are there in the UK? If each one of them is turning out 100 graduates each year how many graduates are looking for jobs in that field?
Do you think the market really bears that many?
I totally hear you on this one. For what it's worth I got a 2.1 and I was unemployed for a year after graduating so it's not just your degree result. It felt absolutely devastating. Like many people, I didn't do my degree to get a job afterwards, I did it because I wanted to learn, so I too made the mistake of getting little work experience at university because I was too busy studying. Then I beat myself up for that like crazy after I graduated. The reality is that we're graduating into an over-saturated market. When our parents graduated they landed jobs very easily. Sadly for us the majority of 'starter' jobs at the bottom of the rung have at many places been replaced by unpaid work placements and internships, so jobs that used to be paid jobs for graduates are now voluntary, leaving the competition for paid jobs extremely high. I don't think a lot of people realise that until they actually graduate. You're not the only one.
Part of the problem is that the job centre puts pressure on you to prioritise applying for as many jobs as humanly possible - ANY jobs - rather than advising you on applying for the right ones. And I don't mean the ones that are right for you, because in this market you have to take what you can get. I mean the jobs you might actually get. For example, you are unlikely to get hired in an admin or shop role with a degree because they know you aren't going to stay very long. They will choose somebody with fewer qualifications who has a lot of experience because that shows it's something they really want to do. My advice is to re-think your strategy.
I started off applying for office and charity jobs, but quickly realised that the charity sector has no money to hire graduates and offices wanted experienced office workers, not grads. So I had a think about what I REALLY had experience with. I had been a child-minder for a year before I went to university and I had volunteered in a nursery while I was there because I like working with kids, so I started applying for nursery jobs. And although I didn't have a qualification, I found a job fairly quickly after that because there's a big push now to get graduates into classrooms and nursery settings. My second job came from an employment agency that specialised in graduates, and those are also a good bet but you have to be persistent, keep calling and asking if there's anything available because chances are they won't call you necessarily.
Keep your head up. And try to occupy some of your time with volunteering and building your design portfolio. The worst thing about it is the monotony of applying for jobs from home with nothing to give you a change of scenery and a fresh perspective. It might even lead to a job.
Part of the problem is that the job centre puts pressure on you to prioritise applying for as many jobs as humanly possible - ANY jobs - rather than advising you on applying for the right ones. And I don't mean the ones that are right for you, because in this market you have to take what you can get. I mean the jobs you might actually get. For example, you are unlikely to get hired in an admin or shop role with a degree because they know you aren't going to stay very long. They will choose somebody with fewer qualifications who has a lot of experience because that shows it's something they really want to do. My advice is to re-think your strategy.
I started off applying for office and charity jobs, but quickly realised that the charity sector has no money to hire graduates and offices wanted experienced office workers, not grads. So I had a think about what I REALLY had experience with. I had been a child-minder for a year before I went to university and I had volunteered in a nursery while I was there because I like working with kids, so I started applying for nursery jobs. And although I didn't have a qualification, I found a job fairly quickly after that because there's a big push now to get graduates into classrooms and nursery settings. My second job came from an employment agency that specialised in graduates, and those are also a good bet but you have to be persistent, keep calling and asking if there's anything available because chances are they won't call you necessarily.
Keep your head up. And try to occupy some of your time with volunteering and building your design portfolio. The worst thing about it is the monotony of applying for jobs from home with nothing to give you a change of scenery and a fresh perspective. It might even lead to a job.
Why don't you try going freelance?
I've been doing design work as a hobby for a couple of years and have landed some paid work. Any is better than none as it goes towards a well-rounded portfolio which is what you need in the creative industry!
The degree gets your foot in the door, the portfolio keeps you in the building!
So start doing some non-profit work, competitions and freelance work. Focus on your portfolio! In your next interview, if they ask "what have you done since you graduated?" and you say you've been looking for work they wont be impressed. If you responded with "I've been doing freelance work, some non-profit work and building a well-rounded portfolio while looking for a career in the creative industry." They are going to be a lot more impressed!
I'm not a post-grad but I have been given paid work! Work on your portfolio all the time, sharpen your skills and build an online presence for yourself! If you want any help or advice I'm only a PM away!
I've been doing design work as a hobby for a couple of years and have landed some paid work. Any is better than none as it goes towards a well-rounded portfolio which is what you need in the creative industry!
The degree gets your foot in the door, the portfolio keeps you in the building!
So start doing some non-profit work, competitions and freelance work. Focus on your portfolio! In your next interview, if they ask "what have you done since you graduated?" and you say you've been looking for work they wont be impressed. If you responded with "I've been doing freelance work, some non-profit work and building a well-rounded portfolio while looking for a career in the creative industry." They are going to be a lot more impressed!
I'm not a post-grad but I have been given paid work! Work on your portfolio all the time, sharpen your skills and build an online presence for yourself! If you want any help or advice I'm only a PM away!
(edited 9 years ago)
Original post by D.MCK
Why don't you try going freelance?
I've been doing design work as a hobby for a couple of years and have landed some paid work. Any is better than none as it goes towards a well-rounded portfolio which is what you need in the creative industry!
The degree gets your foot in the door, the portfolio keeps you in the building!
So start doing some non-profit work, competitions and freelance work. Focus on your portfolio! In your next interview, if they ask "what have you done since you graduated?" and you say you've been looking for work they wont be impressed. If you responded with "I've been doing freelance work, some non-profit work and building a well-rounded portfolio while looking for a career in the creative industry." They are going to be a lot more impressed!
I'm not a post-grad but I have been given paid work! Work on your portfolio all the time, sharpen your skills and build an online presence for yourself! If you want any help or advice I'm only a PM away!
I've been doing design work as a hobby for a couple of years and have landed some paid work. Any is better than none as it goes towards a well-rounded portfolio which is what you need in the creative industry!
The degree gets your foot in the door, the portfolio keeps you in the building!
So start doing some non-profit work, competitions and freelance work. Focus on your portfolio! In your next interview, if they ask "what have you done since you graduated?" and you say you've been looking for work they wont be impressed. If you responded with "I've been doing freelance work, some non-profit work and building a well-rounded portfolio while looking for a career in the creative industry." They are going to be a lot more impressed!
I'm not a post-grad but I have been given paid work! Work on your portfolio all the time, sharpen your skills and build an online presence for yourself! If you want any help or advice I'm only a PM away!
I agree with most of this. You need to find some work, any work, unpaid work... generate your own briefs and develop your portfolio. Find areas you think you are weak on and try to work on those. Go to local charities and offer to do some design work for them gratis. This will help you to start living in the real word, help develop people skills and develop your portfolio.
The work won't come to you, you need to go out there and find it.
