He related that he received a practically useless generic art degree and could not find any related employment. So he signed up for a series of temp jobs in offices,
Well this always confused me too. You cannot get a general arts degree in two years in the UK. Diploma, yes. Not a degree. It might be possible these days for foreign students to pay through the nose at some uni's to do a 'speeded up' master's degree, which would include the bachelor's bit in 2 years (which is the usual ploy since you can stay in the UK post).
Anyway even with a general arts bachelors at a good grade you still have quite a lot of options. I don't believe he has a degree.