A 21-year-old graduate who invested nearly £100,000 (approximately Rs 1 crore) in his UK education has described the job market as 'broken' after submitting 500 job applications without securing a single offer.
Khaled Sharif, who graduated top of his class in digital media technology from Kingston University near London in 2025, has received fewer than 20 interview calls and remains unemployed despite his academic performance, according to a report by the New York Post.
'I got top of my class, but I can't find anything,' Sharif said, calling the experience 'really stressful'.
Born in Egypt and raised in Qatar before moving to the UK at 18, Sharif had hoped that studying in Britain would open global career opportunities. Instead, he says he has been forced to expand his job search beyond his field into sales and other roles that do not interest him.
'Flooded' Job Market, Fewer Openings
Sharif believes the graduate job market is oversaturated. 'The system is flooded with applicants,' he said, adding that companies are hiring less due to cost pressures, post-pandemic uncertainty, and the growing use of artificial intelligence tools.
While he acknowledges he could easily take a supermarket job, Sharif wants to work in the field he studied. Despite securing some interviews, the outcomes have been disappointing. 'They say I passed the first round, but after the second, I get a rejection,' he said. In one instance, he cleared multiple rounds at a multinational tech firm only to be told later that the graduate program itself had been scrapped.
Visa Confusion Adds to Struggles
Sharif also believes his international background may be working against him. Although he holds UK residency through his mother and does not require work sponsorship, he says recruiters may assume otherwise due to his education history in Qatar. 'They probably think I need sponsorship and don't read the full application,' he said.
Freelancing and Startup Route After Job Hunt Struggles
With full-time opportunities not materializing, Sharif has continued working as a freelance videographer and photographer, skills he developed during college. Reflecting on his education, he admitted that much of his practical knowledge came from real-world experience rather than classroom learning. 'Honestly, I didn't learn much at university. Most of it was YouTube and volunteering,' he said.
He now regrets not choosing filmmaking earlier but says he avoided it due to fears of limited job prospects. 'I wish I did filmmaking, but I thought there would be fewer opportunities,' he said.
Launches Clothing Brand
Sharif has now started his own clothing label, Zoqué, meaning 'my style' in Arabic, combining his interests in fashion and photography. He says the experience has been demoralizing but not discouraging enough to give up entirely. 'More opportunities have to be made,' he said, adding that many other graduates are facing similar struggles in the UK job market.
