Desperate grads are forking out £200 for private interview lessons
Here are the crafty businesses cashing in on them
Harry ShukmanGrads are coughing up nearly £200 an hour for interview practice with private tutors –– because they’re scared they’ll miss out on good positions.
Anxious jobseekers leaving uni are willing to cough up serious cash to hire personal teachers to advise them on how to handle interviews, entrance exams and assessment days.
It’s one of the new lengths desperate grads are willing to go to in the hope of snaring a jammy placement.
Tavistock Tutors, one of the exclusive companies charging grads for interview practice
One of the companies offering their pricey services to City wannabes is London-based firm, Tavistock Tutors.
They say they supply highly experienced teachers tailored to customers and charge up to £200 an hour for exclusive interview preparation.
Boss Luke Shelley, 23, a recent grad from the private Regent’s Uni in West London, explained this is a rising job market trend he’s cashing in on.
He told The Tab: “It’s picking up speed and we’re looking to grow it.
“We have quite a few students working with us while at university and then they move onto graduate levels.
“At that point, they request our services and stick around.
“They come for preparation for graduate programmes in management consultancies, banking and investment funds.
“We teach verbal reasoning, interview practice, assessment days and group activities. Any sort of test that jobs put forward, we will offer.
“We charge anywhere between £60 to £150 or £200, depending on the experience and qualifications of our tutors.”
People will do anything for a grad job these days
Tavistock Tutors’ site explains they source the best teachers “from all around the globe to enable us to serve our many international clients”.
Luke claims interest in his company and other similar ones is growing. He’s also convinced finding a job isn’t harder this year than any other –– despite the spike in “hire me” stunts appearing across the City.
He said: “Everyone thinks their year is the hardest for finding a job but there’s always pressure.
“Students all say the competition is tough. What they want is a way to get the best start to get ahead and beat the application competition.
“A load of services have sprung up in the face of this but the market hasn’t changed, just the services.”
If you’re nervous about how to ace a job interview, read our guide with body language expert, Judi James.