University graduate takes 51 interviews to get a job

An unlucky university graduate has finally secured a job – on her 51st interview.

Holly Stagg left Sussex University with a 2:1 before attending 50 interviews with no success.

The media and culture graduate was turned down for a lengthy succession of media roles before resorting to doing free work experience at the National Magazine Company.

After six months at the firm, she was finally given a permanent role as a syndication management assistant.

Stagg put her bad run down to a lack of interview training at university.

"I wasn't taught anything about getting a job at university," she said. "I ended up going to interview after interview just to be told I didn't have the interview skills.

"It's a shame so many graduates have to undergo what I went through, as it takes a number of knockbacks before people realise they're going to have to get extra training."

A poll by interview training website Interviewgold.com found that 79% of people believe it is more difficult to get a job now than it was a year ago.

Joe McDermott, chief executive at Interviewgold.com, said: "So many graduates are applying for so few jobs these days. And the ones who aren't quite as confident with their answers during an interview are going to find it an absolute nightmare to secure a job."

A separate survey commissioned by Reed.co.uk last week discovered that more than half of the recent class of graduates were 'concerned' about finding a job in the current economic climate.