Graduates struggling to find jobs

vicisthebest · 10 Aug 2010 at 20:43

Nix said:
I was of the understanding that a PGCE was a post-graduate course?

It's possible to enter teaching in one of two ways:

PGCE - degree, then a 1 year teaching course.

Primary ed degree - 4 year degree.

I chose the 4 year course as I thought there was far too much to learn in 1 year and didn't feel I'd be prepared enough.

Neither course seems to lead to a job any easier - it's just as hard no matter which route you take.

SideWinder · 10 Aug 2010 at 20:45

^ I would have assumed that a PGCE would massively increase your chances of getting a job.

vicisthebest · 10 Aug 2010 at 20:47

SideWinder said:
^ I would have assumed that a PGCE would massively increase your chances of getting a job.

Why? It's just a 1 year course. You need to have done 4 years at uni to be a teacher, you've either trained for 4 years to be a teacher, or trained for 1 year at the end of a different degree.

borich_planner · 10 Aug 2010 at 20:49

The only reason I did a Masters was I wanted to become a Town Planner, and as i didn't have a degree in it I had to do a masters. Now been in my job for just over four years and I have found that when applying for a couple jobs they don't care about my Masters but what experience I have in my job.

I would say doing a Masters just to better your CV or because you can't find a job may not be the best way forward. Nothing beats good on the job experience.

Nix · 10 Aug 2010 at 20:58

borich_planner said:
I would say doing a Masters just to better your CV or because you can't find a job may not be the best way forward. Nothing beats good on the job experience.

And what do you do when you're in the position which many people are in at present and cannot land that crucial on the job experience?

OriginalJonty · 10 Aug 2010 at 21:04

borich_planner said:
The only reason I did a Masters was I wanted to become a Town Planner, and as i didn't have a degree in it I had to do a masters. Now been in my job for just over four years and I have found that when applying for a couple jobs they don't care about my Masters but what experience I have in my job.

I would say doing a Masters just to better your CV or because you can't find a job may not be the best way forward. Nothing beats good on the job experience.

Stuck in a Catch 22. Jobs want experience before they employ you. Can't get experience because jobs not available/can't get hired.

It's a very frustrating loop.

StringerBell · 10 Aug 2010 at 21:22

support_bae said:
computer science is oversaturated and unless you go to a prestigious uni computer science is just as worthless. There is just no demand for comp sci graduates.

I would suggest this is completely wrong, if anything there is a shortage of good quality CS students, and there is plenty of demand, particularly in the banking world...

w11tho · 10 Aug 2010 at 21:23

HangTime said:
Personally I reckon a 1st class degree will open as many doors as a Masters, unless you are going into a research industry or something like that I don't think there are many cases where it will really make you stand out above other candidates.

I would agree. The +1year courses are huge cash cows for universities and it's often an easier option for an individual to sign up for one of them, rather than to join the world of work.