Because we are different.

case studies

30 June 2011

  TWENTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD Scott Bryan graduated last year from York in politics. He says, “I had two weeks at a marketing firm and after that they offered me a six-month freelance contract. But in April it was terminated at very short notice. It’s been quite a knock to the confidence, to be honest. A lot of companies want really exact experience. I think I’ve applied for about 80 or 90 placements.”
n Twenty-one-year-old Joseph Donaldson has just completed a degree in music at Goldsmiths University. Working in a shop while job hunting, he says, “I’ve been looking at some internships with people who write music for adverts, but other than that there isn’t much around. My friends studying less specialised subjects have had slightly more success.’
n Twenty-five-year-old Jonny Mallinson from London graduated from Bristol University in politics and philosophy before doing an MA in international relations. “Despite my extensive further education, I am getting interviews but being leapfrogged by people with a few years of experience in the industry. That is all employers seem to want now. I wish somebody had told me that before.”
n Twenty-three-year-old Victoria Lamgraduated from Southampton University in 2010 in film and English. “I have managed to secure some running work on sets but they usually last only a few months. Nor do they come along very often. In between that I have done three internships to gain experience. But none ever seems to lead to a real job. If I don’t get work by Christmas, I will move to Hong Kong.”