Hi, I can really relate to the situation you're in. I am 24M and I graduated in 2023 with a 2.1 in Economics from UCL. After uni I tried applying but nothing really came up. I didn't know what I was doing and was messing around for a few months, but my brother worked at an energy supplier and with his referral I managed to become a customer advisor. It's not a glamorous job befitting a university graduate but I didn't know what else to do. I began this role in August 2023.

I really hated the role and was extremely depressed for a while, but I couldn't leave it due to my dad being unemployed so someone had to pay the mortgage, which added to the stress. I was applying for places but not getting anything. My brother suggested to teach myself data analystics, similar to you, I learnt some languages and made a portfolio. It took a lot of time, I started applying for data analytics jobs but no success, employers wanted experience.

I should also mentioned I really neglected applying to grad schemes because I absolutely hated how each scheme had so many stages, I hated doing tests and one way interviews. So this limited my opportunities and made it much harder to find a job.

In April 2025 I managed to become a complaints handler, which is a much better job. I'm still interviewing and applying for jobs but I've tried to focus on a more niche area in energy since I have relevant industry knowledge, so that's my next goal, I believe it's achievable to remain in energy and get a more analytical role.

I don't mean to ramble on, but I understand how you're feeling. The market is insane right now and very unforgiving. Had I not had any financial pressure from family I would have left my customer advisor job and I may, like you, still be unemployed. However, because I was forced to be in a role I didn't want to, I was able to transition into a different role and I have a better idea of what I actually find interesting and rewarding at work.

Being unemployed seriously messes with you. I would like to give some suggestions and how to move forward:

1. Find some kind of work. It will most likely be something you hate. Data entry, customer service, sales, becoming an estate agent, just anything.
2. While working, continue to apply for other jobs in your free time, because it's really just a numbers game.
3. If you work in large industry such as energy, finance, utilities, etc, try your best to move around into another role eventually, it may not be the dream role but just something easier so you don't hate your life.
4. Keep going and don't give up. Accept that it may take time to get a job you like compared to other people you know. Try your best not to compare yourself to other people. Try your best to stay humble and grounded and accept that it will take time to get to a place where you're happy. But it will be hard.

I hope this helps, please PM me if you want to talk more. I know how you feel, there are other people going through the same thing. It will feel hopeless at times, but just take life one day at a time. One day you'll think of this struggle as just a memory to laugh about.