Don't panic

NEW GRADUATES: The recession has hit young people harder than the rest of the population. According to the latest statistics from the UK, almost one million Britons between the ages of 16 and 24 cannot find jobs. There is even a term for these people: they are called Neets (Not in Education, Employment or Training).

Recent university graduates are finding it particularly difficult to join the workforce. Some, like James Hunter-Jones, are using unusual methods to get noticed by potential employers. Hunter-Jones stood in Trafalgar Square wearing a t-shirt printed with his mobile phone number and the words “hardworking graduate seeks paid employment”. It did not get him a job, although he did receive an internship at stockbrokers Killik & Co .

British graduates face another problem: record high debts. According to the website Push.co.uk , 2009 graduates have an average debt of about £14,000 (€16,000). Nearly 80 per cent of the money is owed to the government-run Student Loans Company, but British students are also in debt to banks, credit card firms and their parents.

“Graduates have often struggled financially after leaving university and many find it difficult to walk into their dream job, but these problems are becoming particularly acute in the current economic climate,” Push.co.uk editor Johnny Rich told The Daily Telegraph.

"Many graduates find it hard to walk into their dream job," says Johnny Rich of Push.co.uk.

Of course, some students are invited to job interviews. Dan Hawes of the Graduate Recruitment Bureau advises students to practise interview techniques with a friend and to be prepared by finding out as much about the company and the job as possible. “On the day, be smart, punctual and nice to staff you meet,” Hawes says. “At the end of the interview, ask what the next stage will be and express interest in the role. The next day, call or send an e-mail thanking the interviewer for their time and saying you look forward to their response. If you aren’t offered the job, ask for feedback, learn from the experience and keep trying.”

Johnny Rich says it can be helpful to set one’s sights lower, at least at the beginning. “Get a job, any job, if you need to pay the bills and don’t fret about the fact that you haven’t walked into your dream career. Graduates shouldn’t panic. Life may be tough out there, but there are still some excellent opportunities.”