The Master’s Graduate Delivering Food to Survive
For months, 27-year-old mathematics graduate Onur Alici expected a straightforward transition into the workforce. He had been bolstered by years of reassurances that graduates in mathematics, informatics, natural sciences, and technology—commonly known as STEM fields—enjoy broad demand across the job market. Despite earning a master’s degree with a grade equivalent to 1.4 in late March, Alici has faced a persistent wall of rejections. Now, he delivers food three evenings a week while relying on supplemental assistance from Germany’s Jobcenter.
More Than 200 Applications and Five Final Rounds
Since November, he has dispatched more than 200 job applications to a diverse array of employers, including insurance companies, banks, software developers, and corporate consulting firms.
Out of those submissions, he secured approximately 30 initial interview invitations and advanced to the final round of selection processes five times. Each time, he received standardized rejections after weeks of waiting.
The Trap of Experience Demands in Entry-Level Roles
The Toll of Multi-Stage Selection Processes
Alici noted that progressing through multiple evaluation rounds builds considerable anticipation, making the final rejection letters particularly difficult to accept after investing significant time and emotional energy into preparation.
Juggling Courier Work and Corporate Applications
To sustain himself financially while the search continues, Alici combines gig-economy delivery work with public assistance. Working multiple evenings per week as a courier provides immediate income.
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