Master's Graduate Labels UK Job Market 'Broken' After 500 Rejections
A 23-year-old university graduate with a first-class master's degree in computer science has revealed he has been rejected from over 500 job applications and is now relying on benefits, describing the UK job market as "demoralising" and "broken". Theo dal Pozzo, who specialises in machine learning, graduated from the University of Exeter in 2024 and has faced relentless rejection since May 2025, despite his qualifications.
From High Hopes to Universal Credit
Theo dal Pozzo moved to London from Brazil at age two and holds British citizenship. After a brief period working at his family's hotel in Brazil, he returned to the UK to pursue a career in software engineering. However, his job search has been fraught with disappointment. "It's very demoralising, because every time that you get a rejection it's back to square one with the next company," he stated. He has since exhausted his savings and now depends on Universal Credit to survive.
In a desperate bid to find work, Theo has taken to handing out his CV in person at local businesses, visiting over 50 places in a single day, including pubs and restaurants. Yet, he has received no responses, highlighting the challenges even highly educated graduates face in securing entry-level positions.
The AI Factor in Job Hunting
Theo partly attributes his struggles to the rise of artificial intelligence and large language models in the hiring process. As a machine learning specialist, he notes that both candidates and companies are increasingly using AI, which he believes creates an impersonal and competitive environment. "There's AI vs AI – candidates are using it in their applications, and companies use it for screening," he explained.
He added that some companies receive over 1,000 applications for a single role and use AI to filter CVs, making it harder for applicants to stand out. Theo has used AI in his own applications but stopped, feeling it undermines personal differentiation. "It feels like for some people, the only way to combat companies using it for screening is to use it in applications, which I have done, but I don't any more, because it feels impersonal," he said.
Wider Youth Unemployment Crisis
Theo's experience reflects broader trends in the UK. According to the Office for National Statistics, from November 2025 to January 2026, 16 percent of economically active young people aged 16 to 24 were unemployed, equating to 600,000 individuals. This marks an increase of 99,000, or 14.5 percent, from the previous year. The unemployment rate is higher for men, with 18.4 percent (436,000) unemployed compared to 13.4 percent (295,000) for women.
Theo expressed concern about the long-term implications for British industry, warning that a lack of investment in junior roles could lead to a shortage of trained professionals in the future. "This leads the country into a very difficult situation of not having trained professionals, because there wasn't investment in them when they were young," he cautioned.
Qualifications vs. Experience Dilemma
Despite his impressive credentials—including fluency in four languages (English, Portuguese, French, and Spanish) and a master's degree—Theo has found it challenging to compete with more experienced candidates. He recalled making it to the final interview stage with a major tech firm only to lose out to someone with eight years of experience. "With my master's degree and specialisation, it feels kind of alien to me that I haven't been able to get a job yet," he remarked.
Theo's story underscores a growing issue in the tech sector and beyond, where entry-level positions are scarce, and AI is reshaping hiring practices. His warnings about the future of UK industry serve as a stark reminder of the need for adaptive strategies in education and employment to support the next generation of professionals.
