A sparse job market is leading frustrated graduates to resort to door-to-door selling as many give up on starting their careers, it has emerged.
Amid one of the more difficult job markets in decades, some direct selling companies have reported a 200% increase in applicants from students and graduates.
Cosmetics firm Avon has even begun a massive campaign to bring in "Avon ladies" from frustrated ex-students unable to find help starting their careers off.
The company's president, Anna Segatti, described the situation as a "huge opportunity to promote direct selling to graduates and indeed other people".
Meanwhile, support for beleaguered graduates has also come from the Federation of Small Businesses, which has called for 5,000 internship placements to be made available by the government after it found that one in five small companies would hire a graduate.
Federation chairman John Wright said: "In a graduate internship scheme graduates can offer key skills to help businesses move forward, while at the same time ensuring they are learning new skills and not unemployed at a crucial time in their careers."
