NOW 106 APPLY FOR EVERY JOB

Did you know that there are more people graduating from media-related courses this year than there are jobs in the whole of the British media?

If this is correct (it’s a quote – can anyone find official confirmation?), then it’s pretty shocking.

Should we be talking about the fact that we have record numbers of young people in record levels of debt rushing into an industry that is on its knees?

Are universities conning them out of their money?

Some other stats (definitely true this time!):

- There were 106 applications for every graduate media role in 2010. That’s a rise of over a fifth (22.6%) compared with 2009.

- We don’t yet have stats for 2010, but in 2008 and 2009 the number of graduate vacancies in media fell by 57%. That’s right – it more than halved.

And yet… the number of journalism and media studies students has never been higher:

In 1999, 7,400 students were on undergraduate media studies courses. Ten years later? There were 25,400. That’s more than triple.

In 1999, 1,970 students were on undergraduate journalism courses. A decade on? There were 8,095. Again, that’s over than three times more.

(When looking at postgraduate students on journalism and media studies course, the numbers are smaller but the sharp, upward trend is the same).

Plus, the financial prospects are pretty bleak:

The latest High Fliers report insists the average graduate starting salary in media is £31,500 – but Graduate Fog would love to know where these well-paid jobs are hiding? The average salary for journalists  is £24,500 – but for a junior reporter on a local paper, the salary can be as low as £12,000. And then of course there are those of you who work for absolutely nothing… For months… With no guarantee of paid work, ever…

New research from university guide Push says that the students starting their degree in 2010 will be in an average of £25,000 of debt when they graduate.

If you’re a journalism or media studies graduate, I know I don’t have to tell you how tough it is to break into media is right now.

Two of the most popular pages on Graduate Fog are:

How to get into media

and

How to get a job in journalism

And you probably don’t want to read more ‘downer’ news, when you already feel like you’re walking through treacle.

Most likely, you’re working unpaid (or paid very little), gaining bylines and experience but with zero idea when (or if) your investment will ever lead to a full-time, paid job.

Many of you tell me you’re falling out of love with the industry you used to have enormous passion for.

I don’t meant to be the Angel of Death – really I don’t.

(And, incidentally, I think many of you who don’t ‘make it’ into media ‘proper’ could realise in a few years’ time that you’ve actually dodged a bullet. I fear the road is set to get even rockier in this industry, before things get better. Plus, I actually think media and journalism grads are in big demand in other industries – not because you can work a camera or know shorthand, but because of the sort of person you’re likely to be. On-the-ball, outgoing, motivated, interested…)

But I do think it’s important that we talk about what’s really happening here – to tens of thousands of you every year.

We have huge numbers of young people in enormous levels of debt rushing into an industry that is in big trouble – and showing no signs of recovering any time soon.

Ignoring this situation and telling you to “Follow your heart”, “If you want it badly enough, you’ll get there,” and “Don’t settle for anything less than your dream job” is unrealistic, bad advice.

And Graduate Fog doesn’t give bad advice.

Even if it is what  you want to hear.

(Far better advice: Head for areas in this industry that are growing, not declining!)

I think the time has come to stop ignoring the facts.

These figures raise important questions that demand our attention.

So I’m going to ask them:

- Were media / journalism graduates made aware of your odds of ‘making it’, when you signed up? In introducing (and increasing) tuition fees, students have become customers – and universities have become businesses. These institutions now work on a principle of supply and demand. The more popular a course is, the more places they will create. Did you understand this when you enrolled? My instinct is that many students assume that getting a place on a journalism / media studies course means at least a decent shot at a career in these industries. (I know I would have done, aged 18). If when you started your course, you were asked to estimate your chances of landing a job in media once you finished your studies, would you have said “One in 104″? If not, do you think someone should have sat you down and talked you through your decision, before you enrolled on your course? Or would you have gone ahead anyway and hoped for the best?

- Is there any point in learning skills you won’t use? Employers bang on about wanting graduates with ‘skills’ – but surely these must match the kind of jobs available? Is it sensible that we are continuing to usher tens of thousands of students into courses that will equip them for an industry they have only a slim chance of finding paid work in? Surely a course is only ‘vocational’ if its students end up actually using the skills they’ve learned. No?

- If we agree that the mismatch of graduates versus jobs is a problem, should we cap the number of places on extremely popular courses like media studies and journalism? And whose job should this be? I’m not happy at the idea that a universities’ admissions officer might effectively be given the power to decide who gets to have a crack at ‘making it’ in these industries. (Who are they to make that call?) On the other hand, isn’t it borderline-unethical to take your money when they know your chances of finding a job (and then building a career) in media are so slim?

*Thoughts? Questions? Comments?
If you’d known how tough it would be to find paid work in media, would you have done a different degree? Or not bothered with uni at all? Do you think schools and universities should equip students with realistic information about their chances of ‘making it’ when the media industry is in crisis – or is it important that we let students follow their dream at all costs?

If you’re a media or journalism grad struggling to find work, are your career plans changing? Would you like to know more about what career options are open to you now, in related industries where you’d stand a better chance of finding paid work? Or do you just want to throw tomatoes at me for being such a downer when you’re trying to get your career of the ground? ; )

Are there too many media graduates? is a post from: Graduate Fog

UNPAID INTERNSHIPS BRING SHAME ON BRITISH BUSINESS, SAYS GRADUATE FOG

This website today asks whether anybody in the business world is planning to locate their testicles, step forward and declare their support for the battle for fair pay for Britain’s army of young, unpaid interns.

In recent weeks, the interns’ collective voice has grown louder and clearer, thanks to top-notch campaigning by Internocracy and Intern Aware.

Respected think tanks like the IPPR have backed you up.

All five Labour leadership candidates have agree to back Intern Aware’s campaign for fair pay for interns.
The TUC and BECTU have supported it for a long time.

And last week our universities minister David Willetts stunned Graduate Fog by finally displaying what could be a backbone (?), when he declared that:

“The exploitation of interns is unacceptable and employment legislation must not be breached.”

Yet, amid all this discussion over unpaid internships, one group has been uncharacteristically quiet:

Business.

Today, Graduate Fog asks: Why the silence?

Cat got your tongue?

The last few weeks’ fierce debate on Graduate Fog have shown that big business must take a long, hard look in the mirror and ask, ‘Are we being fair to our young staff?’

The Graduate Fog community is unanimous that the answer is: NO.

It’s a fact that right now all around the UK hundreds of thousands of young people are still working unpaid (and illegally) as ‘interns’.

Meanwhile, an even greater number of you have been unfairly excluded from these opportunities because you cannot afford to work for free.

No doubt business leaders will insist that unpaid interns are gaining an excellent opportunity for some hands-on training.

(An argument so rotten it literally stinks).

They will claim that unpaid internships are legally a ‘grey area’.

(Which they aren’t).

They will duck responsibility and pass the buck to their suppliers.

(Yes, we’re talking to you, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Superdrug, Weight Watchers and Morrisons.)

Or they will simply ignore our legitimate complaints that what they are doing is likely to be illegal.

(Shame on you, Urban Outfitters and Selfridges. Do you think this is just going to go away?).

The truth is that – as our nation’s young people slave for nothing, or are blocked from vital opportunities because of their economic background – only one group wins.

Business gains what must add up to millions of pounds worth of free labour – and saves similarly huge sums on training.

(Because in working for free you’re effectively training yourselves).

As you kip on friends’ floors, live on Savers pasta, sink deeper into record levels of debt and are still no closer to securing paid work, your fat cat employers continue to rake in huge salaries and massive profits.

Graduate Fog would like to know how these people sleep at night.

I am disappointed not to have had a reply from James Caan after my invitation to tea with me and my good friends at Internocracy, Intern Aware and Interns Anonymous. But I remain hopeful that a response will be forthcoming.

On Thursday, I sent an email to James’ daughter Hanah, who you’ll remember had sent a prompt (and charming) reply to my first email – but nothing at all to my second, inviting James to tea.

So I wrote for a third time:

Hi Hanah,

I just wanted to check that you had received my email sent on Monday? This story is being closely followed by Graduate Fog’s users, who are very much hoping James will take us up on the offer of a meeting with me, Intern Aware and Internocracy. Obviously it’s no problem at all if you need more time to talk it over with James – I just wanted to confirm that my email had definitely reached you.

Also, you see last weekend’s extensive news coverage about the issue of unpaid internships?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs/7920381/Employers-warned-that-unpaid-internships-could-break-law.html
I think we are set to see a lot more coverage of this subject in the coming months.

Once again, we really would welcome the chance to make our case to James about this issue. Gaining his backing would be a huge boost to our campaign to get this issue taken seriously within the business world, especially given James’ background in recruitment. If he were to come on-board, we are confident that James would become an instant hero to young interns everywhere. It is estimated that there are currently 250,000 young people working as unpaid interns in the UK at the moment.

With many thanks again to you both for considering our invitation,

Tanya

I will let you know as soon as I hear from the Caan camp on this.

But, if James is not prepared to stand with us, perhaps one (or some) of his fellow Dragons will?

Duncan Bannatyne?

Peter Jones?

Deborah Meaden?

Theo Paphitis?

Or how about Sir Alan Sugar?

TopShop’s Sir Philip Green?

M&S boss Sir Stuart Rose?

French Connection founder Stephen Marks?

These people are not known for being shy.

So where ARE they?

Why aren’t they adding their voices to the battle for a fairer deal for our nation’s young people?

Do they think it’s fair that young people are the only group expected to work for nothing, when we agree that everybody else should be protected by the National Minimum Wage laws?

It’s my belief that for a long time the business community has known, deep down, that unpaid internships are unethical.

Now – thanks to Internocracy and the IPPR’s new report – it can be in no doubt that they also likely to be illegal.

But Graduate Fog knows that the next battle is enforcing the law.

Despite the TUC’s noble insistence that interns have the law on your side, I feel that advising you to demand the minimum wage from your employer effectively means throwing you to the lions.

I think unpaid interns are by far the most vulnerable groups in today’s workforce.

(Who else is too scared to ask for a wage, in case they get fired from a job they aren’t being paid to do?!)

How can you stand up for your right to the national minimum wage, whilst trying to make a good impression with tough bosses in competitive industries that have grown used to getting something for  nothing?

In the current climate, I don’t think you can. You can battle for fair pay OR you can work to make a good impression and maximise your chances of being offered paid work. But with things as they are right now, I just don’t see how you can successfully do both.

You simply don’t have the support you need.

Some who disagree with me might say that things will only change if interns start pressing charges against employers who exploit them.

I disagree – and think it is unfair to ask (10? 50? 500?) young workers to make this sacrifice before your plight will be taken seriously.

I think pressing for a cultural shift in the business world is a better solution.

Admitting to using unpaid interns must become not just embarrassing but shameful.

Graduate Fog thinks it is time for high-profile chief executives and entrepreneurs to find their conscience and take the lead on this issue.

Can they show that British business is great enough to treat its young workers fairly?

*HAVE YOUR SAY
Should British business do more to support its young? Are you shocked at how many supposedly reputable companies openly abuse graduates’ desperation to enter the workforce? Or do you think companies have the right to behave like this, until interns stand up for your rights?

Why business must do right by its young is a post from: Graduate Fog

TESCO, SAINBSURY’S, MORRISONS, SUPERDRUG, WEIGHT WATCHERS, SELFRIDGES AND URBAN OUTFITTERS IN THE DOCK

Graduate Fog has learned that the seven big brands caught advertising for unpaid internships could face official questioning – and even criminal charges.

The grilling is also likely to also involve the contract publishers Cedar, Seven Squared, River and Result, who placed the advertisements on behalf of Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Superdrug, Weight Watchers and Morrisons for interns to work on the brands’ customer magazines.

This weekend’s report by the IPPR and Graduate Fog’s friends Internocracy confirmed that all these internships are likely to be unlawful, stating:

“Private companies will normally be under a legal obligation to treat people employed on internship programmes as workers and to pay them the appropriate minimum wage.”

“Employers often mistakenly believe there is a ‘grey area’ around internships in the National Minimum Wage legislation that allows them to take on unpaid interns as long as both sides understand it is a voluntary position – this is simply not the case.

“The law is, in fact, very clear and the problem is a failure of enforcement.”

However, the inquiry may not happen.

It all depends on you.

Why?

Because we have a tough decision to make – and I’m not going to do it alone.

It’s like this.

The good folks at the Pay and Work Rights Helpline have told me that they will investigate any credible ‘intelligence’ about companies which could be undermining the minimum wage  laws.

The informant doesn’t have to be the intern themselves.

It could be me.

All I need to do is submit the screen shots of the advertisements.

But there’s a ‘but’.

They can’t guarantee what will happen next.

The information will be handed over to the tax men at HMRC, who will conduct a full investigation – including contacting the companies concerned to see what they have to say for themselves.

I have no problem getting on the wrong side of these companies (I sense I may already have my grinning face pinned to a dartboard at Sainsbury’s HQ!).

However, I want to make sure we have thought this through before we go any further – and that I have the backing of the Graduate Fog tribe before I take action against these companies.

As I see it, there are several possible outcomes to taking this further and making our complaint official – and not all are 100% good:

1) The companies get a scare and decide to start paying their interns, keeping on those they have already hired. (*Best result)

2) The companies get a scare and terminate all seven internships (if indeed they have gone ahead – remember we only have ads recruiting for these roles). These are not replaced with paid roles.

3) The companies get a scare and terminate all unpaid internships in their entire company. These are not replaced with paid internships. (*Worst result)

See? This is quite a conundrum:

Do we press ahead and submit our evidence, show these companies that we mean business – but risk these internships being terminated altogether?

Or do we search for another, more diplomatic approach in the hope that we can maximise the chances of maintaining these internships in some form, for future graduates to benefit from? (Any ideas?!)

Sometimes, I find myself leaning towards throwing the book at these companies.

And – given my previous dealings with these companies – I’m losing faith that a diplomatic approach is even option.

Like on Monday when I received this email from Urban Outfitters, who you’ll remember we caught advertising for a NINE MONTH unpaid internship at their head office.

It read:

‘No comment Tanya’

That made me MAD.

I have also just read through the responses from all the other brands, which were – in my opinion – uniformly arrogant and dismissive towards our entirely legitimate complaints:

TESCO
“I worked for many years as a journalist and work experience/internships are an invaluable way of gaining experience in an industry that is very difficult to get a foothold in. I personally worked on this basis for two national newspapers and was extremely grateful for the opportunity.”

SAINSBURY’S
“This [internship] is [at] Sainsbury’s Magazine. They are separate from us. They are completely a separate commercial entity. I’m going to drop you an email but we’d be grateful if you could change those tweets because they are simply not correct. They are factually incorrect.” Referred me to the PA to the magazine’s Editor.

MORRISONS
“We believe the role was offered by our publishing company with the best intention of providing a valuable work experience opportunity.”

WEIGHT WATCHERS
“As you know already Weight Watchers magazine is run by River Publishing, therefore they will be coming back to you with a response in due course as it is an issue relating to them directly that you are questioning.”

SUPERDRUG
“We work with a number of agencies who may have people on work experience in their office working on their projects. We have asked them to clarify the status of all such individuals.” I have heard nothing since.

SELFRIDGES
I have chased this several times but I am still awaiting a response.

URBAN OUTFITTERS
“No comment Tanya.”

When I read these outrageous messages, I think the time has come to take a stand against companies who think it is reasonable to ask young people to work for nothing – when every other employee receives a salary.

However, the idea that my actions could terminate a young person’s internship makes me really uncomfortable.

If a Graduate Fogger is struggling to find paid work, I always advise you to take volunteer work or unpaid work if you can – because doing something is better than nothing. Not just for your CV, but also for your confidence and motivation. I really believe this to be good advice.

Then again, I also believe that the unpaid internships culture is corrosive. We have already seen that it not only exploits those who take these placements (many of whom can only just afford to do them – we know that not all unpaid interns are princesses). It also excludes those who can’t afford to do them.

What’s more, it seems that this trend is spreading into new industries every day. Something needs to be done.

So here we have a clear case of doing the best thing for the common good – versus the individual.

My hope is that if unpaid internships are stopped, the companies who run them will have to start taking the same people on – but with pay.

We know that unpaid interns are doing proper, necessary, valuable work at the moment – so surely these companies won’t be able to do without you altogether?

However, it may not be this straightforward. For example, if employers have to start paying interns, they may only take on half the number. What happens to the other half?

Urgh – my brain hurts.

What do you think?

*Whose side are you on?
Should the greater good come before the individual?

IF YOU’VE NEVER COMMENTED BEFORE ON GRADUATE FOG – PLEASE DO SO TODAY!
If I don’t hear from enough of you, I won’t submit our evidence. Thanks – x

Seven big brands face unpaid intern inquiry is a post from: Graduate Fog

Tycoon and Dragon’s Den star James Caan has advertised for a three-month internship, paying expenses only.

The job description is the longest Graduate Fog has ever seen for an internship, coming in at close to 1,000 words.

The ad (pasted in full below) outlines a long list of responsibilities and qualities that the successful candidate must have.

This role is not just tea-making and post-sorting. And if it was within the private sector, it would be illegal.

However, the multimillionaire’s people have told me it is perfectly lawful – because it is within the James Caan Foundation, a registered charity.

And when I checked with the Pay and Work Rights Helpline, they confirmed that Caan – worth £70m – has done nothing illegal.

Because this internship is within a charity, this person can be classed as a ‘voluntary worker’ – who is not entitled to the National Minimum Wage.

I am flabbergasted.

I would like to be clear that I am not suggesting that Caan has done anything illegal.

He hasn’t.

Nor am I suggesting he has acted maliciously. No doubt he genuinely thinks this internship is an excellent opportunity for somebody.

What I am suggesting is that this ‘voluntary worker’ loophole in the law does not give adequate protection to graduates trying to break into the charity sector.

In effect, I feel this means they are denied the protection that their friends trying to break into private sector industries receive from our National Minimum Wage laws (in theory at least!)

Decide for yourself.

Do you think this role should be paid or unpaid?

James Caan Foundation Internship 2010 Reference:25522
Posted: 23 July 10

working for James Caan, private equity investor and panellist on BBC2′s Dragons’ Den

salary none

details James Caan, private equity investor and panellist on BBC2′s Dragons’ Den is looking to hire a candidate to intern in his direct office, working on a specific 3 month project, working within his Foundation.

The James Caan Foundation (JCF) was set up in 2006 to fundamentally assist with educating some 6 million children in Pakistan currently not enrolled in schools. Furthermore, the JCF continues to support charities in the UK working towards a number of different initiatives ranging from cancer care to providing equal opportunities for youth, but it also seeks to promote greater awareness for the developing world.

One of the key areas on which the successful candidate will be working, will be the British Pakistan Foundation. The BPF is a new initiative set up in the UK to provide a platform from which to engage with Pakistan related issues. The board of the foundation, of which James Caan is the chair, is comprised of exemplary knowledge and experience of the region, including members of British society with strong links to Pakistan. The foundation works towards addressing key areas within Pakistan such as Healthcare, Education, Power Generation, Food Supply, Inward Investment, and water supply on a large scale. It will also strive to improve the perception of Pakistan in Britain and the way in which Pakistanis view Britain. The underlining aim of the foundation is to bridge the gap in perceptions, general sentiment and relations between the two nations.

Objective of the Internship

• Managing the role of the JCF in the BPF

As a new foundation the BPF will need a lot of support. You will play an essential role in the organisation and the coordination of the BPF, and be responsible for the smooth running of the Board and its agenda. This will include:

• Coordinating the very high profile board

Your primary responsibility will be to support the project in its entirety. You will need to coordinate it and maintain delivery.

The Board of The BPF consists of a number of high profile individuals from various professions, all with a high level experience and knowledge, who will all have ideas and input with regards to direction and the projects. In order for the Board to operate successfully it will need a high level of organisation and support. This will involve:

• Action monitoring
• Minute taking
• Organizing meetings
• Setting the agenda

You will be responsible for ensuring the balance, coverage and workability of the agenda. It will be your responsibility to understand the individual members’ contributions and subsequently set the agenda.

• Working with key players to ensure that the BPF achieves its goals

An exciting aspect of this role will be the chance to meet, correspond, and build relationships with a number of high profile individuals from diverse professional backgrounds. This important part of the internship will involve working closely with the Board; with members of the American (APF) and Pakistani counterparts; with key figures in the British Pakistani community; with government officials, in order to foster engagement. It will be your responsibility to develop these relationships and promote the BPF as a forum/platform for the coming together of various stakeholders in The BPF’s mission.

The BPF could be a serious and influential organization. With the ability to use the high profiles of the boards and members, it has the potential to influence UK policy towards Pakistan. One aspect of your role will be involved in these projects and issues.

You will also need to engage with various members of the community from all sectors and professions. This falls under the role of developing the BPF in its functional capacity as a platform for engagement. You will have the responsibility of stimulating and facilitating this engagement, and you will need to be proactive in your approach of

• Raising awareness
• Facilitating interaction between members Philanthropists, business men and woman, social entrepreneurs, civil society activists, and general members of the community.
• The BPF Launch

The Launch event will require a high level of organisation and planning in terms of logistics and PR. You will be responsible for inviting honorary guests and. For this role it is essential that you will be:

• Proactive
• Highly organized
• Able to use initiative
• Creative
• Target-driven

The long term goal of this internship is for you to contribute to the development and success of the BPF in its early stages of operation.

From your point of view, this is an opportunity where you will work in a formal working environment, with project plans, deadlines, deliverables, reporting to a manager, and having to deliver your best at every opportunity. Working for an HNWI gives you the opportunity to really make a difference as you will be working with James’ immediate projects team.

Job Location: Mayfair, Central London

closes 30 September 2010. Start date ASAP contact Please send CV and covering letter to…

Before I was made aware of the ‘voluntary worker’ loophole, I wrote to Caan’s people to express my concern about the legality of the position.

I wasn’t very nice.

His spokesperson (his daughter Hanah) promptly sent this reply:

“Dear Tanya,

Thank you for taking the time to let me know of your concerns regarding the current situation with internships and the National Minimum Wage.

I should point out that the internship on offer is to work for the James Caan Foundation, registered charity number: 1136671. Under s 44 National Minimum Wage Act 1998, workers employed by charities, voluntary organisations and associated fund-raising bodies are not entitled to the national minimum wage. This exemption is designed to allow people who genuinely wish to work without profit for good causes to do so.

Perhaps this wasn’t made clear in the internship brief posted on the website. I will make this much clearer now so that there is no confusion as to the nature of the internship.

Do let me know if there is anything else with which I can be of assistance.

Warmest wishes.”

Compared with the responses I’ve had from Tesco, Sainsbury’s, etc, this email was delightful.

And it turns out that she’s right.

Because the employer is a charity, this role can be classified ‘voluntary worker’.

It may be legal – but is it fair?

A document by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills makes it clear that calling someone a volunteer doesn’t make them a true volunteer in the eyes of the law – if their responsibilities are that of a ‘worker.’

Private sector employers can be prosecuted for failing to pay their ‘worker’ interns.

Can anybody explain to me why this should be different for interns working for charitable organisations?

Other, more senior people who work within charities get paid, so why not the intern?

From Hanah Caan’s email – and further research online – it seems that this loophole is there to protect the ability for people to do genuinely altruistic volunteering – for their local soup kitchen or church, for example.

Of course we don’t want employment laws so rigid that doing a good deed for your community is made impossible (because the soup kitchen / church is legally obliged to pay you for this).

But it’s my opinion that there is a big difference between a middle-aged housewife who chooses to volunteer one night a week in her local soup kitchen – and a young graduate who takes a full-time, unpaid job with a TV entrepreneur’s charitable foundation because s/he hopes it will lead to paid work in the future.

In my opinion, the first is volunteering.

The second is ‘volunteering’.

Although I would like to say again that James Caan has done nothing illegal (nor malicious) here, Graduate Fog has discovered that this is not the first time he has publicly displayed his difficulty with understanding the many (and sometimes subtle) points of the unpaid internships debate.

In June, Caan penned a piece for the Daily Telegraph entitled Graduates should work for free to get ahead, stating:

“Working for free has its drawbacks, but it will prove to be a great investment in the longrun.”

“…Last week I highlighted the importance of a carefully crafted CV and with work experience the same attention to detail applies.

“You’re not applying for a salaried position, but that shouldn’t stop you using your CV to highlight your achievements, transferrable skills and potential.

“Don’t expect opportunities to come to you on a plate: do some investigative work and contact local companies you’re interested in to see if you can work with them.

“Search for internships online, in the trade press and local listings.”

Like many people in the business world, Caan appears to be unaware that the internships debate has moved on significantly in the last few years. He also seems unaware that hundreds of thousands of young people are now being exploited by companies simply looking for ways to cut staff and training costs – and that (in most cases) this is illegal as well as unethical.

As Kayte Lawton, spokesperson for think tank IPPR said this weekend:

“Employers often mistakenly believe there is a ‘grey area’ around internships in the National Minimum Wage legislation that allows them to take on unpaid interns as long as both sides understand it is a voluntary position – this is simply not the case.

The law is, in fact, very clear and the problem is a failure of enforcement.”

As Caan is a high-profile UK businessman, I think it would be invaluable to persuade him that unpaid internships are not a fair, reasonable or sensible solution for anybody. I would love him to become a champion of this issue, using his profile to raise awareness throughout the business community.

I think Caan could use a cup of tea and a chat with Graduate Fog and my good friends at Intern Aware and Internocracy.

So that’s exactly what I offered in this email (sent this morning):

Dear Hanah,

Thank you for your email.

I have now checked my facts and found you are correct in stating that the internship offered at the James Caan Foundation is within the law. I would like to apologise if my earlier email was rude.

However, while I accept that this position is not illegal (because it is within a charity), I remain concerned that it is not fair. I do not believe that this is what the ‘voluntary worker’ exemption was designed to do. I fear that the person who takes this role with the James Caan Foundation is unlikely to be a true ‘volunteer’ – and is more likely to be a young graduate desperate for an opportunity to work alongside Mr Caan, in the hope that it could lead to permanent paid work with him in future – or at the very least add weight to his/her CV.

I am not suggesting that Mr Caan or his organisation have acted maliciously in running this ad – or the internship. No doubt he genuinely thinks that this placement offers an excellent opportunity for somebody. However, I believe Mr Caan maybe unaware of how the unpaid internships culture has escalated in recent years – and is now contributing to a situation where it is only the well-off, London-based graduates who can afford to gain the best experience, as many of these opportunities are unpaid. Poorer (better?) candidates who live outside London and can’t afford to work for free are excluded.

As you may be aware, last week all five candidates for the Labour leadership committed to support Intern Aware’s pledge for fair pay for all interns. This weekend, a report by Internocracy and the IPPR stated that interns are entitled to the minimum wage, prompting universities minister David Willetts to make his strongest statement yet on this subject, saying “The exploitation of interns is unacceptable and the employment legislation must not be breached.”

I would very much like to invite Mr Caan to join me and my friends at interns’ rights groups Intern Aware and Internocracy for a cup of tea. We would welcome the opportunity to bring Mr Caan up-to-date with this issue and would like to invite him to become a business champion for this cause. We could really use someone fighting our corner!

I have just posted this letter to my website, to keep my users up-to-date. We look forward to hearing from you.

With many thanks,

Tanya

So there you have it.

Today has turned out to be the day that I asked James Caan to tea.

It’s a funny old world.

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Dragons’ Den multimillionaire wants you to work for free is a post from: Graduate Fog

A survey of 1,000 university-leavers has revealed that 35% are considering some sort of postgraduate qualification, but a major employer has warned that many bosses prefer grads to gain extra experience, not extra education.

Are you about to make a bad investment?

Sonja Stockton of PriceWaterhouseCoopers said:

“Despite the growing trend of graduates continuing to study after completing their undergraduate degree, further post graduate education isn’t necessarily more valuable in the eyes of employers.

“Work experience and other ways of developing your employability skills, such as through voluntary work, internships and extra curricular activities can prove to employers just as effectively that you have developed desirable skills required for your job and future career.”

“Graduates should reassess their long term career goals and be flexible about the opportunities and employers they consider.

“They should take action to match their experience to employers’ requirements and look for opportunities that offer excellent training.”

Graduate Fog thought Stockton’s comments were interesting – and noted her assumption that graduates should gain training and experience before applying for jobs that previous generations could have walked into straight after uni…

However, PwC’s career tips were less convincing.

They were about as useful as my top five tips for auditing would be.

(Shame on the Daily Telegraph for publishing them).

Just for fun, let’s take a look:

* Set long-term goals. If you don’t know where you are heading to, how are you going to get there?
* Research the market. Be clear about what your potential employer is looking for and work towards meeting those objectives.
* Get out there and network. Build a list of important contacts.
* Get your foot in the door. This can be through internships, summer academies or unpaid work and will show your interest in a company.
* Don’t give up. Everyone faces rejection at some point so keep your long-term goals in mind.

See what I mean?

Sorry guys, but these tips are utter tosh.

In future, how about you stick to auditing – and I’ll handle the careers advice?

; )

*Are you weighing up the pros and cons of postgraduate study?
Read Graduate Fog’s guide to not making a huge mistake!

‘Think twice about doing a postgrad’, warns employer is a post from: Graduate Fog

All the contenders for the leadership of the Labour Party have agreed to back a fair deal for interns.

David and Ed Miliband, Andy Burnham and Ed Balls have all signed Intern Aware‘s pledge to end the current situation in which many interns are denied rights as short-term workers, including being paid the minimum wage.

Diane Abbott has tweeted to say that she too will put her name to the campaign.

The candidates’ signed promises read:

“I pledge that if I am elected leader of the Labour Party I will campaign for Labour’s Minimum Wage Act to be fully enforced so that employers must pay their interns what they are due.”

Ben Lyons, Co-Director of Intern Aware told Graduate Fog:

“In this time of high graduate unemployment we risk a lost generation of people who cannot afford to work for free.

“Too often, internships simply amount to graduates doing the same work their elder siblings would have received a salary for as an entry-level job. Unpaid internships are not just unjust; many of them could be illegal.

“Employment law confers rights on employees based on their conditions of work, not the label attached to their work by their employer.  Anyone who contributes to an organisation is entitled to be paid.

“Whoever is the next leader of the opposition, we can expect Labour to campaign for fairer internships. We have reached a milestone in creating an internship system which encourages, rather than hinders, social mobility.”

Graduate Fog is extremely pleased to see the Opposition taking this issue seriously at last – and congratulates Intern Aware on this enormous triumph.

(It’s not easy to get a politician to sign their name to something!)

Of course, I am acutely aware that these five politicians have zero power (!) – but they do have an opportunity to pressure their Coalition counterparts.

Let’s hope they stick to their word and get this issue on the political map.

Come on guys, put the squeeze on Willetts and Cable…

*Are you pleased to see Labour backing interns?
Will it be enough to make the Coalition take the issue seriously? Or do you fear that those in power will continue to prioritise their relationship with businesses above young people’s welfare?

Labour gets tough on exploitative employers is a post from: Graduate Fog

ARE CASH-STRAPPED UNIS PRESSURING CAREERS ADVISERS TO FLOG DODGY POST-GRAD COURSES?

Graduate Fog has heard disturbing rumours that some university careers advisers are being urged to ‘sell’ postgraduate courses that are under-subscribed – regardless of whether doing them is in students’ best interests.

Several careers professionals (who have asked not to be named) have complained that colleagues in their university’s marketing department are using increasingly aggressive tactics to pressure them to urge you to sign up for postgraduate courses they know have dubious value on the jobs market.

Since most students and graduates trust that your university careers adviser is working in your best interests, the idea that some professionals could have a hidden agenda is deeply troubling.

Especially if that agenda involves convincing you to part with thousands of pounds of your money, for what could be a worthless qualification.

I’m not an expert on university funding but it’s my understanding that money worries are at the root of this problem.

As higher education institutions face huge government cuts, they are more reliant on fees from students. They need to keep their application numbers up to make sure every seat in every lecture theatre is ‘sold’.

I first heard this worrying whisper back in June when David Winter, careers adviser at The Careers Group, University of London, wrote on Graduate Fog:

“We often spend time battling against university marketing departments who try to force us into promoting masters courses that we, as careers advisers, know to be of dubious resale value to employers.”

When I said I found this a shocking admission, Winter immediately back-tracked, claiming:

“I overstated the case for dramatic effect.

“We are not being ‘forced’ to recommend inappropriate post-grad courses. As professionals, we do insist on and exercise our freedom to give independent and unbiased advice and guidance to our students.

“But we don’t always get to see the students before they have been convinced by the marketing that a post-grad course is the way forward.”

Did Winter really exaggerate for ‘dramatic effect’?

Or did he just not realise the implications of his statement until after he’d written it?

I don’t know.

And I must stress that I am not accusing ALL university marketing departments of engaging in this sort of behaviour.

Nor am I suggesting that university careers advisers are crooked.

No doubt, the vast majority of university careers advisers remain ‘clean’ – and will be furious that I am bringing this to your attention for fear that it will undermine your trust in them and put you off seeking their advice.

However, I believe this matter is too serious to be ‘hushed up’ – for any reason.

I think it would be deeply patronising to suggest that this subject be kept from you.

You are not children and you have the right to hear about and discuss the issues that could impact the careers advice you assume is independent.

After all, this is your money we’re talking about.

Even if Winter’s statement was exaggerated – and if all my sources are talking rubbish – I still think the need to protect careers advisers’ independence requires urgent discussion.

Why?

Because I fear that universities’ increased desperation to get ‘bums on seats’ could create a situation where an increasing number of university careers advisers feel pressured to ‘do the wrong thing’ in order to keep their jobs.

I have no doubt that they will fight to remain independent.

(Whatever I’ve written about them in the past, ALL careers advisers I have met have been thoroughly decent people, including David Winter, who helped to write Dude?).

However, anybody working in higher education knows that things are about to get very ugly – as the funding cuts begin to bite.

Let’s say that there are redundancies planned in a university’s careers department.

One adviser is happy to ‘play the game’, subtly promoting the institution’s postgraduate offerings, regardless of whether the course is suitable for that student or graduate.

Another adviser isn’t.

Which one do you think is more likely to get the chop?

I know I’m about to get hate mail from those in the industry who are convinced I’m just rattling their cage for the sake of it – or to drum up publicity for Graduate Fog.

But I genuinely think that if there is even the slightest threat that this practice could become widespread, we need to start talking about it NOW, before any (more?) students sign up to expensive postgraduate courses that are not as beneficial as they were led to believe by those who they trusted to give impartial advice.

And by the way, none of these stories are run to ‘drum up publicity’ for Graduate Fog.

They ARE Graduate Fog!

Not writing about this story would mean failing Graduate Fog’s users – and that bothers me far more than a few ranty emails from the careers community.

So bring it on.

*Are careers advisers really being asked to flog dodgy courses?
Students and graduates – have you ever felt a uni careers adviser was ‘selling’ you a postgrad course at your institution? Do you find this idea troubling? Careers advisers – have you ever felt pressure from your university’s marketing department to boost the number of applicants to certain under-subscribed postgraduate courses? If this isn’t happening at your uni yet, do you worry it could happen in the future?

Can you trust your uni careers adviser? is a post from: Graduate Fog

CONFUSED EMAIL INSISTS ILLEGAL ROLE WAS OFFERED “WITH THE BEST INTENTION”

Morrisons has finally responded to my query about their ad for an intern to work on their magazine for ‘approx 4 weeks’, being paid travel expenses only.

Unfortunately, it’s written in a language called ‘PR guff’, which I’m afraid I don’t speak.

Can you help me translate it into English?

Here’s a reminder of the original ad…

(posted on Gorkana by their contract publisher – Result Customer Communications – on 1 July 2010):

Morrisons magazine, Intern

Morrisons magazine are seeking an editorial intern to assist on a health and beauty project and the main magazine. Tasks will include organising samples, contacting PRs and readers and general magazine admin.

Please note that this is an administration based role not feature writing. Superb organisation skills are a must and some magazine experience is preferable.

The candidate will need to be available immediately for approx 4 weeks. Offices are based near Liverpool Street and travel expenses will be paid. Working hours: 9-5.30.

Okay, now concentrate. Here comes Morrisons’ response….

“A Morrisons spokesperson said:

“We have spoken to our publishing company and appreciate that this was intended as a work experience placement and not advertised as an employed role.

“We believe the role was offered by our publishing company with the best intention of providing a valuable work experience opportunity.

“We will continue to monitor the type of placements offered by our suppliers to ensure they are fair and transparent to all involved.”

See what I mean??

Let’s take it bit by bit:

“We have spoken to our publishing company and appreciate that this was intended as a work experience placement and not advertised as an employed role.”

Eh? What you do mean you ‘appreciate’ this? Are you saying that your publishing company messed up in placing this ad – or running the unpaid placement at all? Or that I’m being stupid in thinking that this ad amounts to a proper role, when it is in fact – according to you – merely a ‘work experience placement’? If it’s the latter, then you might like to know that actually, the law states that is isn’t what you call it that matters. Whether you advertise for an ‘intern,’ ‘work experience candidate’ or a ‘slave’ makes no odds. The role that you have just described – with set hours and responsibilities – is highly likely to be legally classed as that of a ‘worker.’ Which means that person must be paid the minimum wage. They don’t have the right to waive it, and you could be prosecuted for failing to pay them. End of.

“We believe the role was offered by our publishing company with the best intention of providing a valuable work experience opportunity.”

If you’re suggesting that this placement was offered purely out of the goodness of Morrisons’ / Result’s heart, I’m afraid I just don’t buy it. The ad actually states that have a new project you need a junior assistant for – and the quality of their work clearly matters. (You say their organisational skills must be ‘superb’ and some magazine experience is ‘preferable’). This is not just a work-shadowing or tea-making role. Look, I’m not saying that the person who placed the ad has devil horns. They probably do genuinely think that this internship will be good ‘experience’ for someone – which it might be. But that doesn’t matter – because what I’m saying is that getting people to do proper work for you, unpaid, is nearly always ILLEGAL. The ‘intention’ of the person who posted the ad – and whether the intern will benefit from it – is simply not relevant.

“We will continue to monitor the type of placements offered by our suppliers to ensure they are fair and transparent to all involved.”

Okay, I think you’ve missed the point here – or are you trying to say that I’VE missed the point? It doesn’t matter how ‘transparent’ you make it that you consider a role to be ‘work experience’, an ‘internship’, a ‘paid role’ or ‘slave labour’. If you don’t PAY a person to do what amounts to a PROPER JOB, then it can never be ‘fair.’

Enough of this nonsense.

I’m sick of being fobbed off by press offices who refuse to answer our complaints with proper replies. We are drawing their attention to a very serious matter – that their company, or one of their suppliers – is doing something that is extremely likely to be ILLEGAL. Yet they don’t even have the courtesy to respond in plain English, let alone show us that they are taking this seriously.

I’m going to get back to Morrisons – because this PR rubbish is getting right on my nerves.

But before I do, does anyone want to add any points I’ve missed?

Morrisons’ response to unpaid intern scandal? Gobbledegook is a post from: Graduate Fog

Graduate Fog has caught high street fashion retailer Urban Outfitters recruiting for a NINE MONTH internship in the planning and allocation department at their London head office, paying travel expenses-only.

The ad appeared on the chain’s own website, alongside an ad for another unpaid internship – this time in their ‘Women’s shoes buying department’, again at their London head office. That placement is for six months and also only pays travel expenses.

And Urban Outfitters isn’t the only big fashion store to do this – swanky department store Selfridges has also posted an ad for an unpaid intern on their website.

Their ‘three month contract’ is for an ‘On-line Editorial / Content Intern’ – and pays travel expenses only.

All three roles are clearly proper jobs. The Urban Outfitters ads include long lists of ‘duties’ and ‘skills required’, while the Selfridges ad specifies that ‘Experience on a website is a must.’

Here is the nine month Urban Outfitters job spec:

Internship – Planning and Allocation Department

Are you looking for an opportunity to enter into a career in Allocation and Merchandising? Are you analytical, enthusiastic and hard working? If so this is an exciting opportunity to join our Planning department.

Candidate Skills:

* Hard working
* Organised
* Good time management>/li>
* Able to multitask
* Strong attention to detail
* Good communication skills

What you will Gain from the placement?

* There is nowhere faster paced than a retail head office environment and you will gain insight into and work alongside all functions of the business from Operations and Store Managers to Buying teams
* You will gain experience in a key Allocation role as part of a busy Planning team
* We will give you training and development on all key skills needed to support a future entry level career within Allocation or Merchandising

Duties Include

* Collating and circulating important weekly analysis
* Allocating stock to stores and reviewing performance by style
* Analysing and controlling replenishment
* Identifying opportunities and risks and helping to maximise sales
* Liaising with the DC re intake and with the stores re deliveries and stock issues
* Communicating regularly with the buying teams to ensure the right product is in the right stores at the right time

Desired Skills

* Strong knowledge of Excel

This is an unpaid placement.

Duration – 9 months.

Travel – Expenses paid for zones 1 and 2.

Location – Head Office, Oxford Street, London.

Please specify the position for which you are applying in the subject line and attach your CV.

We look forward to hearing from you.

And here is the Selfridges ad:

On-line Editorial / Content Intern – three month – contract – Unpaid

Travel expenses only

London

Selfridges new website has been one of the most exciting developments in the business this year. This is a great opportunity for you to get involved with the on-line team in one of world’s best stores.

About the role

Providing our style editor and content assistant with support, you will help us with a wide range of activities from collecting information from the business, creating copy for the website, cropping images, and innovating new ways to talk to our customers online.

About you

We’re looking for someone who’s upbeat, energetic and highly articulate. Full of initiative, you’ll be happy to work independently and your excellent organisational and admin skills mean you’ll rise to the challenges of this deadline driven role. Attention to detail and good written skills are important. Experience on a website is a must, experience in the fashion industry is beneficial.

About us

We’re a world-famous retailer and the definitive shopping destination – one that’s all about entertainment, inspiration and above all, fun. From designer fashion to luxurious homewares and everything in between, we offer our customers only the very best.

About the rewards

We’ll cover your travel expenses and offer you the chance to work with some of the best talent in retail. And if you make and impression, who knows where this could take you?

Graduate Fog contacted Urban Outfitters and Selfridges last night.

I will let you know as soon as I receive a response. In the meantime…

Graduate Fog would like to remind ALL private sector employers that ALL unpaid work (where someone has set hours and responsibilities) is likely to be illegal in the UK.

That’s why we have the minimum wage laws – which cover ALL workers.

Yes, even those just starting their careers and desperate to gain experience in competitive industries like yours.

An intern does not have the right to waive this wage by claiming they are happy to work for free in order to gain experience. And you can be prosecuted for breaking the law.

Are we clear?

At the time of publishing this post, the Selfridges ad and the six-month Urban Outfitters ad had been removed.

But the nine-month urban outfitters ad was still up.

No matter, here are screen shots I took of all three ; )

*Will you still shop at these stores?
Are you disappointed to find that ‘young’ brands like these should treat their junior employees so poorly?

*Spotted other companies doing something dodgy?
The Urban Outfitters and Selfridges ads were brought to my attention by hawk-eyed Fogger Lynsey Barber – thanks Lynsey! If you’ve seen anything similar – particularly by a big-name company who should know better – just email me and I’ll look into it.

Urban Outfitters recruits NINE MONTH unpaid intern is a post from: Graduate Fog

CABLE’S IDEA ‘UNLIKELY’ TO BE PURSUED, INSISTS TORY SOURCE

Vince Cable’s suggestion to replace up-front student tuition fees with a variable graduate tax may already have been squashed – before it’s even been properly discussed.

Last week, the Lib Dem business secretary proposed a system where the sum each graduate paid for their degree would be based on the salary they earned later in life.

Although many people had questions about the fine print, Vince’s plan was widely considered to provide a promising alternative to the current system, with NUS President Aaron Porter declaring:

“Vince Cable’s support for the principle of a graduate tax is to be welcomed as is his recognition that those who earn most after university should contribute more back as and when they do so.

“He is right to ask why, under the current unpopular and regressive top-up fee system, a care worker or teacher is expected to pay as much as a corporate lawyer or banker.

“The fair solution is to abolish tuition fees and ensure that graduate contributions are based on actual earnings in the real world, rather than sticker prices in prospectuses, which are based on guesswork.”

However, the BBC has since reported that a senior Conservative has said Cable’s plans are an ‘unlikely’ option.

Why? Because his new system would break the link between students and their universities (the tax would go to the Treasury).

The Tory source said:

“It is important that the money goes to the institutions. They have to have an incentive for student recruitment or a penalty if the numbers are falling.”

Today, the argument rumbled on. A spokesperson for Cable hit back this morning, insisting:

“All the ideas are being looked at Vince was clear that he wanted it to be looked at. He hadn’t thought of all the variables. This isn’t a refinement.”

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills said:

“Last week Vince Cable outlined his interest in a system of variable graduate contributions that could replace the current system of fees.

“Lord  Browne confirmed that he was looking seriously at this option as part of his wideranging review into university funding and this has not changed.

“The Independent Review of Higher Education Funding and Student finance led by Lord Browne will report in the autumn… We cannot pre-empt its recommendations.”

This sounds like a right muddle to me.

Look, Graduate Fog is not an expert on university funding.

In fact, until now it’s an issue I’ve largely kept my sticky beak out of, since my real interest is in what happens to graduates after you leave university.

(Plus the NUS already does a fantastic job of covering this issue!)

However, now that this debate is straying into post-graduation waters, I have been giving it more serious thought.

I have been mulling over Vince’s suggestions – and here are my thoughts:

- All discussion of new ways to tackle the university funding problem is a good thing. The ‘value’ of a degree is a tricky thing to pin down – but it’s clear to me that the current system is leaving hundreds of thousands of you with huge debt that is unrelated to your ability to pay it back. In my view, all ideas are welcome. If the NUS thinks a graduate tax could be a good idea, that’s good enough for me. Let’s at least have the chance to discuss the idea properly.

- Would this tax affect those who have already graduated? I’m one of the people who has questions about the small print here. Could those of you who don’t manage to make your degree ‘pay’, claim money back? And could graduates who go on to lucrative careers be asked to pay more for your university education, on top of what you’ve already paid? This seems unlikely, but some clarification would be good. The NUS have outlined how they would like to see a graduate tax system work.

- The relationship between your qualification and your salary is far more complex than Vince seems to realise. Okay, so presumably on average graduates with business-related degrees are likely to earn more than arts-related degrees – but the subject you study is only part of the story. There are all sorts of reasons one degree may be more ‘lucrative’ than another. It could be the institution (any Oxbridge degree is likely to ‘earn’ more than a degree in the same subject from a less prestigious uni, I’d have thought?). Or sheer competition for jobs could play a large part. For example, those of you with media qualifications are finding that it’s hard to make your degree ‘pay’ simply because there aren’t enough jobs in this (relatively) small and struggling industry. Could students from the best universities end up propping up those from the less good ones? Could grads who chose less competitive industries end up subsidising those who choose industries where competition is stiffer? Does this really seem like a sensible solution? Or should we look at sending fewer people to university? Or finding a way to better match the number of students studying a subject (like media) with the number of jobs that there are likely to be available in that industry?

- Sometimes career success has little to do with qualifications. Often sheer hard work, determination, persistence, personality and guts play a far larger role in determining who does well and who doesn’t. If I graduated with an OK degree and slogged my guts out to build a career, I think I’d feel resentful at having to pay more for my qualification than someone with the same degree who simply failed to really apply themselves to their career. And what about those who choose not to make their degree pay? What if I toil for years, building my business empire (!) while my classmates marry rich men, settle down and have children? Remind me again why I should pay for their university education? ; )

- Could variable contributions stoke resentment between students of different faculties? Might some students be irritated by the idea that they should ‘carry’ their friends studying less financially valuable subjects? This isn’t just about bankers paying for teachers’ degrees – which seems more clear-cut (?). What about entrepreneurs and doctors – should they have to pay for their friends’ history of art / philosophy degrees, if those qualifications don’t help them find well-paid work? Could we end up with a situation where determined, business-minded students feel angry that they are being asked to subsidise their less money-driven friends’ education? Would they have a point?

- Is a graduate tax system open to abuse? What if someone wants to spend three years at uni but doesn’t fancy working that hard – or pursuing a particularly lucrative career afterwards? Or what if they want to study an ‘ivory tower’ subject for the sheer love of learning? Is it possible that hard-working students who are serious about their studies – and their financial future – could be asked to stump up for less serious or hard-working students’ university bills?

- Funding isn’t the only major problem with university. To Graduate Fog, the massive attention given to the question ‘Who should pay for university?’ is misplaced. This is not the first question we should be asking. The first question is “What university is actually for?” I just can’t see how we can work out who should pay for university when we can’t even reach a consensus on who university is really benefiting (or supposed to be benefiting). For example, if employers want universities to be primarily for training people for the workplace (which they do) shouldn’t employers make a sizeable contribution towards student’s education, since they will benefit from it?

- The politicians’ obsession with the future means they’re blind to the present. This is what really gets my goat. Yes, we need to think about the future – but we also urgently need more help for those of you who have already graduated. All the recent stats suggest we have too many grads chasing too few well-paid, graduate jobs. (I know you don’t all agree with me on this, but in my view this is something the politicians should have anticipated – and in failing to do so they have let you down). Instead, the only idea David Willetts, the universities minister, has had is that you should all go off and start your own business (yes, with no experience or funding – brilliant). We also have the shameful problem with unlawful unpaid internships, which the government has so far failed to condemn publicly, which I think is disgraceful.

Of course the matter of university funding needs attention.

(Graduates’ enormous debt is a big part of the reason your situation feels so uncomfortable right now).

But to my mind, ignoring the other crucial issues which are affecting graduates NOW – in favour of lengthy discussions about how to take students’ money in future – gives a clear indication that the Coalition does not understand this issue any better than the previous government.

Or perhaps it’s just that they don’t care?

Read more on this story

What do you think?
Is Vince Cable’s graduate tax a good idea – or do you have concerns about how it would work in practice? Or, now that you’ve got your degree, don’t you care? Do you think the government should be doing more to help those of you who have already paid thousands of pounds for a qualification – and now can’t find a decent-paid job?

Tories squash Vince’s ‘graduate tax’ plan is a post from: Graduate Fog