The Experience of a Black Female Graduate

I am sure that if you are a graduate you will relate to most of the things I am about to point out in this blog: the constant worry, the never ending “hustle” that is the job application process, and the fear of rejection that seems to keep manifesting during that awkward period of being a freshly new graduate.

For some of us, this moment isn’t awkward at all. Some of us have the connections, the opportunities handed out to us which can come with the privilege of our social class. However for most of us this isn’t only awkward…it is a nightmare.

Class barriers

Social class might be a reason for this privilege, but we know that other factors such as gender and race are major components of the harsh reality of the life of a graduate.

There is a preference for most corporate companies for elite universities, which places students from less privileged background at disadvantage from the get-go, as they do not have that privilege to attend such institutions.

Lack of clarity

Being a graduate is one of the most complicated, confusing and frustrating periods of an individual’s life: you ask yourself; do I study further? how will I repay this loan? when will I get a job? This process isn’t made any easier by some universities who offered little to no help during the undergraduate process leaving students more confused when they are done, than when they began.

Unconscious bias

The biggest barrier which is the unconscious bias from most corporations during their recruiting process, towards graduates, is the shadow lingering in the background following you around which you just can’t shake! “Get a first class” they say, but that first class holds no weight when they see that you are a “Miss” or when they see you are BAME.

Lack of support

It is bad enough to get rejected, but on top of that you just don’t know why, because companies fail to give you any feedback on what you should have improved on. To make matters worse, graduates are highly underpaid: the minimum wage is literally the bare minimum for an individual with such high set of skills to offer to society.

The system doesn’t support graduates enough: starting from institutions down to the government.

The truth is that being a graduate is tough enough on its own, but being a black female graduate is an experience that very few will be able to ever comprehend.

This is the experience of graduates.

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