TextJack Goodwin, from Middlesex, graduated witha 2:1 in politics from Nottingham this summer.He walked into the university careers service andstraight back out again; there was a big queue. Helivedwithfiveotherboysall of whomdidthesame.There was no pressure to find a job, even though mostof the girls he knew had a clearer plan.Translation
4 Jack Goodwin, from Middlesex, graduated with a 2:1 in politics from Nottingham this summer. He walked into the university careers service and straight back out again; there was a big queue. He lived with five other boys all of whom did the same. There was no pressure to find a job, even though most of the girls he knew had a clearer plan. Text
Text"l applied for a job as a political researcher, but got5turned down," he says. "They were paying f18,000,which doesn't buy you much more than a tin of beansafter rent, but they wanted people with experience ormaster's degrees. Then I applied for the Civil Servicefast stream. I passed the exam, but at the interviewsthey accused me of being 'too detached' and talkingin language that was 'too technocratic', which I didn'tthink possible, but obviously it is.Translation
5 "I applied for a job as a political researcher, but got turned down," he says. "They were paying £18,000, which doesn't buy you much more than a tin of beans after rent, but they wanted people with experience or master's degrees. Then I applied for the Civil Service fast stream. I passed the exam, but at the interviews they accused me of being 'too detached' and talking in language that was 'too technocratic', which I didn't think possible, but obviously it is." Text
TextSince then he has spent the summer "hiding". He6can recount several episodes of Traffic Cops and hasseen more daytime television than is healthy. He talksto his friends about his aimless days and finds thatmost are in the same boat. One has been forced outto stack shelves by his parents. For the rest it is 9-to-5"chilling"before heading to the pubMore....Translation
6 Since then he has spent the summer "hiding". He can recount several episodes of Traffic Cops and has seen more daytime television than is healthy. He talks to his friends about his aimless days and finds that most are in the same boat. One has been forced out to stack shelves by his parents. For the rest it is 9-to-5 "chilling" before heading to the pub. Text
TextSo how aboutworking behind the bar, to pay for those drinks? "l don'twant to do bar work. I went to a comprehensive and Iworked my backside off to go to a good university,where I worked really hard to get a good degree," hesays. "Now I'm back at the same stage as those friendswho didn't go to uni at all, who are pulling pints anddoing dead-end jobs. I feel that I've come full circle.Translation
So how about working behind the bar, to pay for those drinks? "I don't want to do bar work. I went to a comprehensive and I worked my backside off to go to a good university, where I worked really hard to get a good degree," he says. "Now I'm back at the same stage as those friends who didn't go to uni at all, who are pulling pints and doing dead-end jobs. I feel that I've come full circle." Text
TextJacqueline Goodwin, his mother, defends him. Sheinsists that he has tried to get a job, but having workedfull-time since leaving school herself, she and herhusband find it tricky to advise him on how to proceed."l have always had to work," she says. "lt's difficultbecause when you have a degree, it opens new doorsfor you, or you'd like to think that it does."Translation
7 Jacqueline Goodwin, his mother, defends him. She insists that he has tried to get a job, but having worked full-time since leaving school herself, she and her husband find it tricky to advise him on how to proceed. "I have always had to work," she says. "It's difficult because when you have a degree, it opens new doors for you, or you'd like to think that it does." Text