As many York students enter the final stages of their respective degrees, what are their prospects in the harsh realities of the real world? With a lack of jobs, will they be able to find work in fields that they have studied for? According to the Higher Education Careers Service Unit (HECSU) many will struggle to get a job in the first six months after they leave university. Furthermore we now face the most competitive job market in more than a decade.
In the brutal light of day it is difficult to see that students will be able to continue down the path they have studied for and many will have to accept work elsewhere. Yet, I don’t think it’s that simple, after all – figures speak far louder than words!
One of the most important issues facing those students at the end of their degree is simply doing well. The difference between a first and 2:1 could be the decisive factor in breaking into the work of their choice.
The statistics show that grade differences are indeed telling. Only 4.4% of students who achieve a first are likely to be unemployed after university, while the figure is 11.3% for those who leave with a third.
Although this is major factor in how many students prioritise their time, it is sometimes quite misleading. More and more companies are increasingly concerned with experience as a significant element in graduate employability. This experience is usually up to the student to find via internships or other means. However, without a solid degree this experience won’t always win over perspective employers.
Politics
When people hear the mention of a political degree, the mind automatically jumps to visions of the next generation of sleazy, money grabbing liars who will attempt to run the country further into the ground. That or they’ll provide the backbone of the constantly vilified civil service and the data does not defy this stereotype.
After university, 36% work in graduate jobs and 22% remain furthering their degree. The stereotypical comments about politics’ students going onto run the country may not be too wide of the mark then. Compared to other degrees, the 29% who get non-graduate jobs after studying politics is quite a small figure.
Physics
Aside from trying to form black holes by chucking particles at each other, the job market for a physicist is usually thought to be quite narrow and even more competitive than those in which a BA student would contend in. Having said this, at university these guys experience similar hours to someone in a regular job, which should make them better perspective employees compared to their BA rivals.
The figures reflect this assumption – 28% enter graduate jobs, which may appear to be low compared to the aforementioned degrees; but when one takes into consideration that just 17% end up with non-graduate jobs, the degree really doesn’t sound that bad!
History
The future of a History student is vague and disturbingly unplanned. The career that seems most likely is that of one doomed to the life of continued academia either as a professor or lecture. If worse comes to worse the prospect of becoming the history teacher that inspired them is a not so distant possibility. In contrast, they could follow the path of history presenters such as York’s latest celebrity vistor, Dan Snow, and become an expert on the History Channel.
History out of the three degrees has the lowest percentage of students going into graduate jobs at just 28%. Additonally, history has the highest percentage of graduates moving into non-graduate jobs at a staggering 32%. I must admit however, that this is slightly counter-balanced by History having the highest amount of continued studies at a strong 26% .
English
Students of the English language are often assumed to become some form of writer whether it is an author, critic or reporter. It is the sensible path for those who take the greatest of joy in either reading, writing or especially correcting the spelling mistakes of others. Nothing brings more pleasure to those who dedicate themselves to this country’s language than making sure everyone is acutely aware when they have dared to make the slightest of errors.
The national figures show that 31% of English graduates managed to get into a graduate job. While another 23% choose to continue their studies, meaning that over half of all English students go onto remain in the subject area that they initially embarked upon when they began university. Yet, 31% do enter non-graduates jobs. This is nearly 10% higher than the average of all other degrees.
Writing, Directing and Performance
This degree is where the next Mel Gibson is surely going to come from! Failing this, most will enter the business at some level. There is clearly a wide range for performing outlets – from stage to screen and tonnes of unseen jobs, so finding some sort of work in this industry can’t be that hard. This is certainly true when contrasted with the other degrees, as 40% of these graduates go onto find work in graduate jobs. However, it is a risky degree as only 9% remain to continue their study!
So Should We Be Worried?
Though these stats, figures and all various forms of data can be confusing, complex and soul crushing they should not be seen as the end of the world. For those who push at their degree, the rewards are there to be reaped. Furthermore, the careers outside graduate jobs may actually be more appealing to students than graduate jobs. With this in mind, almost two thirds of these graduates are finding some form of stable employment and those who do not find the right jobs straight away will eventually get to where they want to go. These statistics also fail to take into account those who choose to leave the country or embark or a post-uni gap year!