Characteristics of interview respondents

All interview participants (see appendix four) were 21-25, and were of UK nationality. These shared characteristics were sought in order to allow for comparison. A balanced group of respondents was sought which reflected the diversity of the original population: ten men and ten women; seven from a BME background and thirteen non- BME. In addition, selection was deliberately skewed to those from a lower social background (fourteen) compared to a higher (six); although within this twenty, there was representation from all six occupational class backgrounds. This choice of sampling

63

was made as existing research tends to suggest that those from a lower social background have greater barriers in entering the job market post-university.

Notably all interview participants had achieved a good degree qualification. This was not something that was asked about in the survey, but the fact that individuals with a good degree are more likely to volunteer to engage with a university research project after they have graduated could be expected. On investigation of the original population, it was discovered that there was a high number of graduates achieving a good degree (i.e., a 1st _{class or 2.1) at the university. In the subject areas of Arts, Creative} Arts and Humanities this was 70.6%, in Business and Law, the figure was slightly lower at 61.2%. It is clear that the majority of completing graduates achieve a good degree classification.

Tables 4.3 and 4.4 provide information to summarise interview respondents’ characteristics and early career trajectories3_{. The activity recorded in these tables for} January 2015 is sourced from responses to the national DLHE survey, not the survey conducted as part of this project which asked them to recollect what they had been doing in January 2015.

64

Table 4.3 Career details of Arts, Creative Arts and Humanities interview participants Name Subject Gender Age Ethnicity Background January 2015

(DLHE) October 2015 (Survey) Dec 2015 – March 2016 (Interview) Pre-HE home location

Location at time of research interview Harry Music M 21-24 White

British Professional Kitchen associate Kitchen team leader and MSc

Management

Kitchen team leader

and MSc Management Midcounty Living in Northcity Alice Media

production F 21-24 White British Skilled manual Catering/hospitality assistant Catering/ hospitality

assistant/box office assistant Catering/ hospitality assistant/box office assistant NEcounty Living at family home

Charlie Performance M 21-24 White

British Unskilled Charity fundraiser Unemployed Retail/Hospitality jobs + misc. creative

projects

Maincity Living at

family home Robert Film M 21-24 White

British Disabled cannot work Hair assistant Bar work Bar work Maincity Living in Canada

Bridget Media

Production F 21-24 White British Skilled manual Post-production runner Freelance TV Production runner Freelance TV Production runner Maincity Living at family home Rosie Media

Production F 21-24 White British Managerial/ technical University Admin. assistant/ misc. creative projects University PA and General Admin./ misc. creative projects University PA and General Admin./ misc. creative projects Maincity Living at family home Joe Computer

Games Design M 21-24 White British Unskilled Design placement Design placement Unemployed Northcity Living at family home

Dylan History M 21-24 White

British Partly skilled PT Market research assistant PT Market research assistant PT Market research assistant/ Volunteer special constable

Nearcounty Living at

65

Name Subject Gender Age Ethnicity Background January 2015

(DLHE) October 2015 (Survey) Dec 2015 – March 2016 (Interview) Pre-HE home location Location at time of research interview Daniel Journalism

and English M 21-24 White British Managerial/ technical PT NCTJ and PT news internship Freelance copywriter and proofreader Freelance copywriter and proofreader. Preparing for overseas volunteer programme Eastcounty Living in Northcity

Anna Fashion F 21-24 Black

Caribbean Skilled non-manual Sales assistant Sales assistant/visual merchandiser

Sales assistant/visual

merchandiser Maincity Living at family home

Ibrahi m

English M 21-24 Asian Skilled non-manual PhD English PhD English/ PT

admin assistant PhD English/PT admin assistant/ teaching

Maincity Living at

family home Ruby Visual Arts F 21-24 White

British Skilled manual Retail Sales assistant Trainee art gallery project manager Retail Sales assistant/Volunteer gallery project leader

Portcity Living at

family home Isabell

e

Graphic

design F 21-24 White British Skilled non-manual Bookmaker/betting shop assistant Bus station assistant Travelling/ Working in New Zealand

Maincity Living in

New Zealand Sophia Performance F 21-24 Mixed

other Skilled manual Unemployed Studying at Specialist Theatre

school in France

Studying at Specialist Theatre school in France

Another

66

Table 4.4 Career details of Business and Law interview participants Name Subject Gender Age Ethnicity Background January 2015

(DLHE) October 2015 (Survey) Dec 2015–March 2016 (Interview) Pre-HE location Location at time of research interview Fouad Business M 25-29 Middle

Eastern Professional MSc (withdrew early)/ PT hospitality jobs Foreign exchange sales/ PT study in Financial advice Foreign exchange sales/ PT study in Financial advice Maincity Living in London Ravi Accounting and Finance

M 21-24 Asian Unskilled Supermarket

assistant/Maths Conversion (for teaching)

Supermarket

assistant Support teacher Maincity Living at family home

Elizabeth Business and Tourism manageme nt F 25-29 Black

African Professional Travel administration assistant Travel administration assistant

Travel administration

assistant Maincity Living in London

Matthew Business M 21-24 White

British Unskilled Self-employed music events promoter Self-employed music events promoter Self-employed music events promoter Maincity Living at family home Farzana Accounting

and Finance

F 21-24 Asian Skilled manual Trainee Financial

Reporting Accountant Trainee Financial Reporting Accountant Trainee Financial Reporting Accountant Maincity Living at family home Rachel Law and

Criminolog y

F 21-24 White

67