Blogs: Jack's job log: 7

Welcome back to reading the emotional rollercoaster that encapsulates my life.

The curtain being drawn on 2010 has proven a very turbulent and chaotic year for such a steady, down to earth chap such as myself. Well ok, I may not be a tea and crumpets type of person, yet, even for me, it has been rather stickier than a very large beehive.

The graduate recruitment market seems to be in the same state as my year. It is badly lacking in capital, desperately in need of a mass overhaul and cannot wait for 2011 to come into full swing.

Recruiters are increasing their demands on graduates in terms of the application process, with the bog standard being an application form, CV, telephone interview, assessment centre, trolley dash, do my washing, give the office a spring clean, go visit Aunt Nora followed by a ‘better luck next time’. The market is in dire need of more companies, more vacancies and more competition.

With big companies having such a stranglehold on the market, there are less and less alternatives. This leads to higher education becoming more strained from the pressures of leading industry players putting their two penneth into what they think their eventual employees should be taught.

Myself? I followed my heart over my head. My mother has worked within a certain industry for over 30 years and I followed her, working with her since I was a teenager. Upon graduating I carried on working with her part time, whilst still seeking a professional graduate career. From reading earlier posts you may have gathered that it has been rather heartbreaking. It seemed I was destined to permanently reside in Strugglesville.

Luckily there is a happy ending. A couple of months ago I switched to a far superior competitor, with a view to moulding a career for myself in the industry I have been brought up in and have a very good knowledge and zest for.

I was fortunate enough to do an interview with BBC Radio 4 and their Today programme, discussing the problems with the graduate market and the fact that there is no easy solution. I was in a fortunate position from my own business upon graduating that I had a little nest egg to smooth the transition process of entering the ‘real world’ as opposed to living in the bubble that is student life.

In all of the tasks that the powers that be have, easing the transition from student to graduate has to be near the top of the list. A dose of reality and a kick up the backside are some of the medication my father would prescribe, and whilst not totally agreeing with him, some form of work experience or internship should be made compulsory on all courses. I managed to get a one year industrial placement with a respected company and I turned out all right. I think.