It’s no secret that the graduate job market is rife with competition and becoming increasingly fierce. In fact, The Higher Education Statistics Agency graduate outcomes on the class of 2025 reveal that 59% of graduates had secured full-time employment. That’s great for the half of students who managed to snag a job, yet it is important to note that not all these secured roles were related to the participants chosen degree, this data includes outcomes for sectors like hospitality and retail. But, the evidence that just under half of university graduates haven't yet found a solidified position can be quite daunting for current students picturing their futures post study.
Such proof of the looming reality of the job market adds another layer of pressure to the university experience. Now, students not only have to contend with assigned workloads, lengthy commutes, living alone and balancing down time. They also must consider extra-curriculars and CV boosters during their study.
As with post graduate employment, part time roles for university students are extremely competitive to secure as home students are often favoured for their year-round proximity to the location, leaving students from further afield neglected in the hiring pool. It’s important to note that whilst part-time roles, such as the typical bar work or weekend retail, are certified ways to add valuable skills to one’s CV, the commitment to such jobs can equally deduct time from study and degree related experience. It’s a double-edged sword of choosing between part time work experience and relevant opportunities which are time consuming, often unpaid, and difficult to come by.
Newcastle university offers the NCL+ award to students to provide a certification of volunteer roles, part time employments and extra curriculars. It’s a great way to evidence how each extra activity highlights transferable skills. But, to gain the award, students must attend workshops, complete extra written activities and complete a minimum of 40 hours of related experience. Can all students afford the time to meet this criterion? Here we see how even the most accessible of career support can be out of reach for students with heavy workloads, long commutes or uncredited commitments.
University is said to prepare students for employment, but pressures to secure a job post study could most certainly distract from the experience of university that most students expect.