APPRENTICE star and West Ham United vice-chair Karren Brady answers your careers questions.
Here, Karren gives her expert advice to a reader who has a son whose job offer was pulled thanks to AI.
Karren Brady gives you career advice
Q) My son has just graduated from university with a great degree in politics and economics.
He worked so hard and had a job lined up at a consultancy firm to start in September.
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However, he has now received an email from the company retracting the offer.
The explanation they gave was that they are undergoing a restructure due to AI, so taking on fewer graduate trainees.
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He is so disappointed and it’s really taken the shine off his achievements.
I am worried there are hardly any opportunities for graduates wanting entry-level jobs and he’ll struggle to earn a living.
Do you have any advice?
Megan
A) Your son has every right to feel upset.
To work hard at university, earn a strong degree and secure a graduate role, only to have that offer withdrawn before he’s even started, is a hugely disappointing experience.
However, I would encourage him not to see this as a reflection of his ability or future potential.
While AI is undoubtedly changing the workplace and some organisations are rethinking recruitment plans, opportunities for talented graduates have not disappeared.
Many smaller firms, start-ups, specialist consultancies and public-sector organisations continue to recruit throughout the year and can offer excellent experience.
The biggest risk is allowing this setback to damage his confidence.
Encourage him to keep applying, keep networking and consider opportunities he may not have previously looked at.
As parents, it’s hard to see our children struggle, but what he needs most right now is your support, belief and perspective.
Careers rarely follow a perfectly planned route, and many successful people can point to a setback that ultimately led them somewhere better.
Got a careers question for Karren? Email bossingit@fabulousmag.co.uk.
