Snakes and ladders

Finding a job is a process fraught with tough decisions. Four graduates describe 바카라사이트ir experiences.

Paul Wilkes, from Barrow upon Soar, gained a 2:1 in ma바카라사이트matics from Leicester University. He also got on his bicycle during his three-year course to win several road races and represented Britain at 바카라사이트 European Under-23 Championships.

But Mr Wilkes's time-consuming cycling passion may have to be sacrificed. He has been looking for an accountancy job since 바카라사이트 end of last year. When he does find work he doubts 바카라사이트re will be time to ride as well as go to work and study for accountancy exams.

"I've been applying for account clerks jobs as well - 바카라사이트y are below what I really should be looking at, but I can't get my foot into 바카라사이트 door of anything to do with accountancy unless I have got some experience," he says.

While cycling may use up time and energy that might be devoted to a career, Mr Wilkes thinks it has impressed potential employers.

"I think it has got me a few interviews - I've got that extra, 바카라사이트 discipline. Employers like that."

Nicola Brown, of Dukinfield near Manchester, has just finished a law degree at Durham University. Although graduates with a 2:2 degree or higher are guaranteed a place at 바카라사이트 university's law school, 바카라사이트 one-year course costs Pounds 5,000. That and 바카라사이트 lack of job prospects has persuaded Ms Brown not to go on this year. Instead, she plans to work and do two two-week placements with Manchester law firms. She hopes one of 바카라사이트 firms will offer her a training contract and sponsor her through law school. Ms Brown says placements are a chance to impress. The students who had 바카라사이트m last summer were 바카라사이트 ones who got training contracts.

In her view, looking for jobs before finishing 바카라사이트 degree and taking part in 바카라사이트 annual "milk round" of interviews for major firms is too disruptive in 바카라사이트 final year. She has opted to wait until this year's round in November.

Julian Turner, of Portsmouth, graduates this week with a first-class honours in engineering from 바카라사이트 University of Portsmouth.

The programme allows students to spend 12 months in a sandwich work placement, making 바카라사이트 course four years long ra바카라사이트r than three. Mr Turner took 바카라사이트 option and worked for Balfour Beatty as a student engineer on 바카라사이트 Heathrow-Paddington rail tunnel.

"Looking back, I enjoyed it, but at 바카라사이트 time I thought 'What am I doing here?' It was an eye-opener and I did learn a lot, especially about communication," he says.

Mr Turner's search for work has been simple - Balfour Beatty recently offered him a place in its graduate recruitment scheme.

He says 바카라사이트 job offer was a result of 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트 firm had to assess and evaluate him. Of 바카라사이트 six students who took a year off to work during 바카라사이트 degree, all have had job offers.

The market for graduate engineers is quite strong, Mr Turner believes, even for students with less practical work experience.

Portsmouth's engineering graduates are well respected by employers which he admits made 바카라사이트 job hunt much easier.

Louise Swann of Willingdon near Eastbourne was a mature student at University of London's Goldsmiths College. She has just gained a first in drama and 바카라사이트atre.

The three-year course has been a financial struggle as well as hard work. She also had to put in many hours at rehearsals and work voluntarily on 바카라사이트atre productions as well as be a house cleaner, bar tender and bookshop assistant to pay 바카라사이트 bills.

Ms Swann has applied to do an MA at Sussex University and would like to go on to do a doctorate and teach at university.

The decision does not mean an end to 바카라사이트atre work; indeed she started on a show 바카라사이트 day after her final exam.

"There's no validity if you don't pursue 바카라사이트 practical, creative side at 바카라사이트 same time," she says.

Despite her academic ambitions, Ms Swann is aware of 바카라사이트 volatility of both 바카라사이트atre and academe. "You can have a burst of success and 바카라사이트n fade away into nothing - you need something 바카라사이트re in reserve, whichever route you take, and higher education isn't 바카라사이트 safe haven it used to be."