Computer science graduates struggle to secure their first jobs

[Protagoras]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm21dvg8l1go

Interesting article on the state of the graduate IT market echoing some of the posts in the 'State of the Market' discussion.

[Fraidycat]

After graduating in '93 i was out of work for over a year. But at least I lived with my parents so didn't have any costs.

Then in 2001 I was out of work for 12 months, that was brutal as I had a young family and a big mortgage by then and the memory of my sisters house repo in the early 90s gave me panic attacks.

[Dorkeaux]

Harsh.
I've always believed that you make your own luck, but I'm considering now that my relative good fortune could be partially down to accidents of history and instinctively moving away from disaster like an ant in a microwave.

I graduated in the 80's from a programme that included a work placement sandwiched between study and coursework.
At the time, there was a high demand, and our year had 100% placement within weeks of graduation. Usually to the same company at which we interned.

I think incorporating internships in education works beautifully, I don't know why more unis don't do it. Too bTech?

[Protagoras]

Now one has to consider the business case for a degree and the advantages of the degree are probably lost in a few years if not utilised. This is a signal to the market to study something else because the computing jobs have gone overseas.

[sadkingbilly]

degree?? wassat??

[ladymuck]

degree?? wassat??

I don't have one! What did I miss?

[sadkingbilly]

I don't have one! What did I miss?

dunno, maybe that's why we're in contract??

[NotAllThere]

Took me about six months to find my first job in 1990 - this was despite having worked for British Gas in their IT department for the previous two summers, so having real experience. In the end it was a contact in British Gas that got me onto a graduate training program.

I recall being interviewed by ICL and turned down because I had no aptitude for IT despite having a degree and experience.

[NotAllThere]

dunno, maybe that's why we're in contract??

Genuinely funny. And probably true.

[SussexSeagull]

Took me three years from finishing my HND to getting a 'proper' IT job between 95 and 98 and even then it was done through an IJA at the company I was working at.