Young, Single ... Unemployed?

Four years previously, I had no idea that I would be faced in a market saturated with keen recent graduates all wanting the same thing as me ... a job. With recent figures indicating that there are more than 60 applicants per job available, there is little hope for me or my fellow peers. Having finished my exams in June, I was positive that I would be able to find a temporary summer job in Brighton. After all this is the season where the town is concentrated not just with national tourists but those from abroad. However after over 2 months looking, I have reached a full state of depression (well nearly). Whilst in London I was even offered a job but within the same hour it was taken away with some poor excuse that I had no commercial experience even though I had already completed work experience at that company this year.

So what do you need to do to stand out from competition?
Apparently completing a 3 month internship is not enough. Some jobs have even advertised for 1-2 years worth of experience whilst stating that the job is intended for a recent graduate. With the heavy work load and increasing cost of living as well as tuition fees, I can't imagine how anybody would be able to gain experience alongside their studies for free (something that companies are now taking advantage of - free labour).

The only strategy I can think of is to complete a postgraduate degree, building upon my existing qualifications. However I do realise that with the necessity to obtain a job (in anything- just to raise the dinero) it is likely I will be un able to undertake an internship in my desired career - Public Relations.

Although I have achieved a respectable 2:1, it has been reported that this is the minimum that companies are looking for. They are also short listing those applicants only from the top universities, which leaves me with even less hope that I will be able to secure myself a job.

My conclusion: even if I can manage to save up for a postgraduate course, I will still be facing fierce competition and be stuck photocopying for a good couple of years to come.

Good luck every body who are recent graduates. I am most defininately in the same boat - drifting not sailing.