Discussion Overview
This thread explores the employment experiences of STEM graduates from 2008 to the present, particularly focusing on the time taken to secure jobs after graduation. The discussion considers various factors influencing employment outcomes, including the impact of the Great Recession and the relevance of degrees to job placements.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Debate/contested
- Meta-discussion
Main Points Raised
- Some participants suggest that the term 'STEM' is too broad, indicating that experiences may vary significantly between fields such as engineering (TE) and science/mathematics (SM).
- Others share anecdotal evidence that engineering graduates have also faced challenges in finding relevant employment, depending on geographic location.
- One participant emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between general employment and employment specifically related to one's degree, questioning whether the recession affected graduates' ability to find jobs in their field.
- Another participant notes that many STEM graduates may end up in unrelated fields due to a lack of available positions in their area of study, citing personal experiences of shifting career paths.
- A participant with a background in statistics discusses their varied job experiences across different sectors, expressing a sense of continuity in the nature of the work despite differing titles.
- Some participants share personal timelines regarding their job searches, with one noting over two years to find full-time work unrelated to their physics degrees, while another mentions part-time work in a restaurant during that period.
- Questions arise about the classification of computer science within the STEM fields, with participants confirming its inclusion.
- Links to recent career statistics for physics graduates are provided, although the relevance of these statistics to the broader discussion remains unclear.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express differing views on the impact of the Great Recession on employment outcomes for STEM graduates, with no consensus on whether graduates from all STEM fields experienced similar challenges. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the extent to which degree relevance affects job placement.
Contextual Notes
Limitations include the broad categorization of 'STEM' and the varying definitions of relevant employment, as well as the anecdotal nature of many contributions which may not represent the wider population of STEM graduates.