Unfortunately, I appear to have just had my first experience of the differences between how men and women are viewed in the workplace. I have never considered myself to be a staunch feminist, and have laughed off claims from both my university colleagues and various articles about the gap between male and female recruitment. Until today....I have just returned from an assessment centre, whereby 300 applicants were telephone interviewed to choose attendees. Out of these 300, 6 whom attended were female. I got into the last eight with one other female (we were the only two attending who had Masters degree - mine a distinction), and you'll never guess which two out of the eight finalists were dropped at the last minute!! I sincerely hope this is not replicated everywhere, as the thought of being jobless after 5 years of degrees leaves me despondent to say the least. I'll just wear a beard to the next interview...........

Alexandra, Sheffield, S Yorkshire

I agree that the value of a degree has fallen in the eyes of employers now that everyone seems to go on to further study but, as a female Oxford graduate in a junior clerical post, I can't honestly agree with Laura's claim that 'it is the quality of the degree and the quality of the university attended that attract top employers.' Most of my male friends who graduated from Oxford are earning at least one payscale above what I earn and none are in administrative jobs. I am a top graduate with good experience in parliamentary research, excellent interview skills and and a long CV, and out of over 20 job applications to various companies/employers, only 2 offered me an interview let alone a job. Both interviews were for the position of Administrative Assistant.

I'm afraid I remain to be convinced that employers do not favour men over women for higher paid jobs.

Jen, Oxford,

It may not be politically correct to say so, but this article misses a major point. Over the past decade many more people have become university educated, often at new universities studying subjects which are not seen by employers as sufficiently academic. Therefore as a percentage of the now much larger total, it is not surprising that many people are unable to find high paid graduate work. Those that got C and D A-level grades are not going to end up as company directors or doctors. This may be harsh, but it is the reality.

It is an unpopular fact, but in an age where many more people study at university, a degree in itself does not mean anything - it is the quality of the degree and the quality of the university attended that attract top employers.

Laura, St. Albans, UK