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| Swansea University graduate applied for 646 roles before getting a job | Swansea University graduate applied for 646 roles before getting a job |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Caitlin Morgan describes the emotions of an 18-month job hunting journey after graduating from Swansea University | Caitlin Morgan describes the emotions of an 18-month job hunting journey after graduating from Swansea University |
| After applying for more than 600 jobs, university graduate Caitlin Morgan almost felt like giving up hope of finding employment. | After applying for more than 600 jobs, university graduate Caitlin Morgan almost felt like giving up hope of finding employment. |
| Just as she was becoming demotivated, the 23-year-old's persistence was rewarded as she was offered a job as a trainee accountant after her 647th application. | Just as she was becoming demotivated, the 23-year-old's persistence was rewarded as she was offered a job as a trainee accountant after her 647th application. |
| But after 18 months of job hunting, Caitlin was left wondering if going to university for four years and getting a degree was worth it. | But after 18 months of job hunting, Caitlin was left wondering if going to university for four years and getting a degree was worth it. |
| Latest research from the Institute of Student Employers shows competition for graduate roles is at a "record high" as estimates suggested there were 1.2 million applications for 17,000 graduate vacancies last year. | |
| Setting herself a target of sending two applications a day, Caitlin was immediately rejected 150 times without feedback and did not hear back from 271 other applications. | Setting herself a target of sending two applications a day, Caitlin was immediately rejected 150 times without feedback and did not hear back from 271 other applications. |
| She said: "I put so much effort into my applications and so much time that when I didn't hear back from them that I just wondered what made my application not worthy of feedback?" | She said: "I put so much effort into my applications and so much time that when I didn't hear back from them that I just wondered what made my application not worthy of feedback?" |
| Caitlin completed a year in industry as part of her finance and accounting degree at Swansea University and hoped it would help her stand out when applying for roles. | Caitlin completed a year in industry as part of her finance and accounting degree at Swansea University and hoped it would help her stand out when applying for roles. |
| Instead, she has a spreadsheet filled with rejections dating back to September 2023. | Instead, she has a spreadsheet filled with rejections dating back to September 2023. |
| "I worked hard for my degree and had experience so was thinking, was it worth it? | "I worked hard for my degree and had experience so was thinking, was it worth it? |
| "There was a period where I was feeling completely demotivated and didn't believe in going to university or getting degrees." | "There was a period where I was feeling completely demotivated and didn't believe in going to university or getting degrees." |
| After 18 months of job hunting, Caitlin finally got a job as a trainee accountant in London and will start in September | After 18 months of job hunting, Caitlin finally got a job as a trainee accountant in London and will start in September |
| Caitlin thinks the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by companies as part of their filtering process could be a reason why she did not get very far in some applications. | Caitlin thinks the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by companies as part of their filtering process could be a reason why she did not get very far in some applications. |
| She said initially her CV was not written in a way that could be read by some resume screening programmes where AI is used to read CVs. | |
| "I was just getting straight rejections whereas after adjusting it, sometimes you'd be invited to an assessment after you've applied," said Caitlin. | "I was just getting straight rejections whereas after adjusting it, sometimes you'd be invited to an assessment after you've applied," said Caitlin. |
| "Had I have known that from the get go, that would've helped me with my other applications." | "Had I have known that from the get go, that would've helped me with my other applications." |
| She reached the assessment stages for 221 of the roles she applied for and had five final interviews before getting a job. | She reached the assessment stages for 221 of the roles she applied for and had five final interviews before getting a job. |
| Latest data estimates an average of 140 applications were received for each available graduate job in 2024. | Latest data estimates an average of 140 applications were received for each available graduate job in 2024. |
| The Institute of Student Employers spoke to 145 companies that hired almost 40,000 new students and the body said applications were the highest for 30 years - a more than 50% rise from 2023. | |
| The figures showed that for finance roles like the ones Caitlin applied for, an average of 188 applications were submitted for each role. | The figures showed that for finance roles like the ones Caitlin applied for, an average of 188 applications were submitted for each role. |
| Following months of uncertainty after graduating last year, Caitlin has been offered her first degree-level job and will move from her home in Tintern, Monmouthshire, to London to become a trainee accountant in September. | Following months of uncertainty after graduating last year, Caitlin has been offered her first degree-level job and will move from her home in Tintern, Monmouthshire, to London to become a trainee accountant in September. |
| Caitlin was one of about 465,000 students that graduated with a degree from a UK university last year | Caitlin was one of about 465,000 students that graduated with a degree from a UK university last year |
| "It was exactly what I wanted and is offering all the courses I want to do in finance," she said. | "It was exactly what I wanted and is offering all the courses I want to do in finance," she said. |
| "I just wished it would've happened a bit quicker." | "I just wished it would've happened a bit quicker." |
| Despite Wales having the lowest proportion of graduates in the UK workforce, the group that represents universities believes the demand for graduate-level skills will grow by 2035. | Despite Wales having the lowest proportion of graduates in the UK workforce, the group that represents universities believes the demand for graduate-level skills will grow by 2035. |
| "While we recognise that today's job market presents real challenges for many people, research shows that a degree continues to boost lifetime earnings, career prospects and personal development," said a Universities Wales spokesperson. | "While we recognise that today's job market presents real challenges for many people, research shows that a degree continues to boost lifetime earnings, career prospects and personal development," said a Universities Wales spokesperson. |
| "University offers a transformative experience that not only benefits individuals but also strengthens our communities and economy." | "University offers a transformative experience that not only benefits individuals but also strengthens our communities and economy." |
| Thousands more students are now preparing to follow in Caitlin's footsteps this summer. | Thousands more students are now preparing to follow in Caitlin's footsteps this summer. |
| Huw Williams is getting ready to start his role as Bangor University Student Union's Welsh officer for 12 months, before returning to education next year. | Huw Williams is getting ready to start his role as Bangor University Student Union's Welsh officer for 12 months, before returning to education next year. |
| Huw Williams says some of his friends from Bangor University are "struggling" to find work in the area | Huw Williams says some of his friends from Bangor University are "struggling" to find work in the area |
| "I think I'll apply to be on a teachers' training course in history, a career pathway I've always been interested in," said the 21-year-old. | "I think I'll apply to be on a teachers' training course in history, a career pathway I've always been interested in," said the 21-year-old. |
| While Huw knows what the next year looks like for him, the future is not so clear for fellow Bangor graduate Alaw Simpson. | While Huw knows what the next year looks like for him, the future is not so clear for fellow Bangor graduate Alaw Simpson. |
| The 21-year-old is returning home to nearby Anglesey where she hopes to find her first graduate-level job. | The 21-year-old is returning home to nearby Anglesey where she hopes to find her first graduate-level job. |
| She said: "I want to move on from education and try something different. | She said: "I want to move on from education and try something different. |
| "It is a worry because it can be very difficult to find professional jobs these days." | "It is a worry because it can be very difficult to find professional jobs these days." |
| As she prepares to graduate, Alaw Simpson has started looking for jobs at home on Anglesey | As she prepares to graduate, Alaw Simpson has started looking for jobs at home on Anglesey |
| Recruitment experts have said many employers now focus on attitude and personal behaviour. | Recruitment experts have said many employers now focus on attitude and personal behaviour. |
| "Getting your first job post-education is the biggest step because you might not necessarily have a lot of experience," said James Fortnam of Robert Half Recruitment. | "Getting your first job post-education is the biggest step because you might not necessarily have a lot of experience," said James Fortnam of Robert Half Recruitment. |
| "I think there's a lot of noise with employers with a sheer number of applicants for an opportunity, so it's really difficult for clients to whittle that down. | "I think there's a lot of noise with employers with a sheer number of applicants for an opportunity, so it's really difficult for clients to whittle that down. |
| "It's really important applicants tailor their CV to the opportunity." | "It's really important applicants tailor their CV to the opportunity." |
| Many companies use AI to help with recruiting, according to recruitment expert James Fortnam | |
| Mr Fortnam has said some firms use technology to help assess applicants' skills. | Mr Fortnam has said some firms use technology to help assess applicants' skills. |
| "Companies will use software tools to match somebody's CV to the job," he said. | "Companies will use software tools to match somebody's CV to the job," he said. |
| "Because they won't have had huge volumes of experience, typically a lot of graduates sometimes appear lower on that matching capacity." | "Because they won't have had huge volumes of experience, typically a lot of graduates sometimes appear lower on that matching capacity." |
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