A devoted student with a passion for the law, Tia Mitsis looked forward to the day when her studies would come to end and she would enter the workforce.
However, her reality, like many other graduates around the country, panned out a little differently to what she had expected.

“In my first year of study I was positive I was going to be a lawyer … but by the fifth year, when I started to look for work placements and internships, that’s when I realised it wasn’t going to be as easy as ‘get a degree, get a job’.”

Feeling as though she was alone in her battle, it didn’t take long for Tia to realise that her case was not the exception.

So why is it that so many students feel they are being promised the world by their careers counsellors and tertiary institutions, after which they are left confused and without work in their field?

This is what the first-time author explores in her book When Study Goes Wrong.

In short, the 33-year-old puts it down to a simple formula, which can only mean an oversaturation of the job market.

“The situation for graduates in Australia is declining, and many graduates now find themselves unable to use the degree that they studied so hard for. I think it’s a sign of the current economic climate, but it’s also a sign of oversaturation of graduates into the market,” she says.

“There’s an oversupply and lots of places available at universities which don’t match the demand for jobs. So it’s like the economic concept of ‘supply and demand’. I think it’s just off kilter at the moment.”

After completing a combined Arts and Law degree, majoring in journalism and with no job prospects in sight, Tia decided to get a part-time job and go back to university, enrolling in a graduate diploma in Media and Law, all the while thinking further study would help her prospects.

Once that didn’t seem to open up any new doors, she went back to university for a third time.

“I actually made another mistake and went back again and did a Masters Degree in Law!” she says with a laugh.

“I think I had a belief in my head that the higher educated I was the more chance I’d have of getting a job. But the thing is, after you have done that much study, you start to become overqualified,” she says.

However, it appears many graduates are finding it increasingly difficult to strike the balance between having the required qualifications and the opportunity for practical experience.

“I spoke to quite a few graduates who were becoming frustrated with the number of entry level jobs requiring more experience that they had. And they were asking, ‘well, what are they after? I’ve got a degree, I’ve got a little bit of experience in the field, what more for an entry level role?’,” Tia explains.

So how does one avoid finding themselves in such a situation?

Although there are a number of factors, the writer believes that tertiary institutions and careers counsellors need to step up and play a bigger role in informing students of the realities of the job market.

“I think there needs to be some sort of mechanism in place to match university places with the jobs available,” she says.

The writer also suggests more open communication, where alternative options are discussed with students in the instance that getting a job in a desired field doesn’t work out.

“I had one lawyer, she actually retained at TAFE and became a hairdresser,” she explains of a case study featuring in her book.

“Another lawyer I interviewed ended up in the field eventually, but it took her about a decade. She was talking about how she had to rely on her husband a lot to do extended volunteer work experience. But some people don’t have the financial ability, and I certainly didn’t at the time,” she reflects.

Not only does financial status play a role, but landing the job of your dreams and committing to a particular career path can also mean forfeiting other plans in life, particularly, it seems, for women.

Tracey, another case study, was faced with big questions about starting a family after eventually landing a job in her field after years of hard work and dedication.
“After it took her that long to get into the field, she and her husband had a frank discussion about it and decided not to have a family so that she could stay in the field and not take any further time out,” Tia says.

The issues that can arise in these situations are numerous, with both emotional and physical complications for the individual.

According to Tia, many of her case studies reported a loss of self-confidence, feelings of isolation and dissatisfaction, in addition to instances of anxiety and depression.

“Some of the graduates I interviewed talked to me about depression and how they didn’t have anyone to speak to about the situation. So I thought it was important to share the story and keep the lines of communication open, so that other graduates would then know they’re not alone,” she explains.

When Study Goes Wrong features graduates from various fields, including law, business, IT, communications, nursing and engineering, and is a helpful resource for high school students currently looking into their options for higher education, while also proving to be a valuable source of information for current university students and graduates.

By giving voice to people’s experiences along with her own, Tia provides tips on how to keep your motivation up when times are tough and the importance of networking in today’s economic climate.

“I found that it [networking] was something I didn’t realise was so important at first, to really network with people in the field, because it allows you to meet people who may be able to help you in the future, even if they can’t right now.”

However, with a continuing oversupply of graduates in various fields, to Tia it seems things can only get worse before they get better.

All you can do is make informed decisions.

When Study Goes Wrong (paperback $11.50, kindle $3.87) by Tia Mitsis is now available for purchase at www.amazon.com/When-Study-Goes-Wrong-Mitsis/dp/1494862875