While graduation signifies the end of an era many students can be left wondering, ‘what’s next?’. There are a number of routes you can take after university – and everyone’s journey will be different. Search for a graduate job, enrol on a postgraduate course or set up your own business. If you’d like to gain more experience before making a decision you could volunteer, intern or travel the world on a gap year.
One of the most obvious options is to return to university to study at the postgraduate level, a route that many find rewarding. ‘People opt to do a postgraduate course for different reasons but it is important to understand why you’re doing it,’ explains Laura. A Master’s takes time and money, so ensure you’re entering it for the right reasons.
Some careers, such as law and psychology, require further study at the postgraduate level in order to qualify. For others, it’s not a requirement but if you have a real desire to study a particular aspect of your undergraduate course in more depth, then you should consider postgraduate study. In some cases, it can boost both your employment and promotion prospects as well as your salary. To broaden your experience and cultural horizons you may also want to consider studying abroad.
However, returning to study requires some serious thought. This option demands a time commitment and there are obviously things like tuition fees and funding to consider. Don’t take on a Master’s degree to stall for time or to boost general employability. Speak to your careers service to weigh your postgraduate options and talk to family members, postgraduate course leaders and people already in the jobs you’d like to do to ask if a Master’s is worthwhile.
Consider asking yourself the following questions: What is my reason for studying this chosen course? Why is doing this course important to me? What skills/knowledge will this course give you that I don’t have already? How will it make me more employable?
Another alternative is to look for a job after graduation. In this instance, your first port of call should be your university careers service.
While the pandemic may have changed the face of the job market you were intending to join, there are still opportunities and other options available. Those ‘other options’ may include small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – while they might not have been your first choice, they shouldn’t be discounted. Being a small fish in a big pond isn’t right for everyone and you can still get good training, development and prospects in smaller companies.
It is also important to remember that your first job doesn’t tie you to a particular career forever, so think about widening your search for graduate jobs. Work on building contacts with industry professionals. This can be done through work experience, attending networking events such as career fairs and social media. If you’re struggling to find a job straight after graduation, fill your time with internships, volunteering, part-time work or a stint of work shadowing.
Make an effort to improve your CV and cover letters so that they show off your qualities and experience. And then, when your applications begin to pay off, ensure that you’re prepared for interviews.
If this is something that doesn’t work for you, you can think outside the box. If you can’t find your dream job, why not create it by setting up your own company? Perhaps you have a great business idea or believe that your final-year project has commercial potential. If so, putting your entrepreneurial skills to the test could be a smart move.
Many universities offer help to get you started. If you have the confidence, tenacity and business acumen to get your organization off the ground the advantages of self-employment include having independence and autonomy, control, freedom, flexibility, opportunities, and recognition.
By the time you graduate, you should have some idea of how you intend to transition into self-employment; whether you’re considering operating as a sole trader, freelancer or as a more formal entity such as a limited company.
However, you need to be sure that self-employment is right for you. While being your own boss might sound fun, as the owner of a business you’ll juggle a number of responsibilities such as providing a service, marketing the business and financial and staff management. Self-employment can also affect your home life when the boundaries between work and leisure become blurred.
Last but not least, taking a gap year is also a viable option after graduation. Gap years offer a brilliant opportunity, not only to see the world but also to experience different cultures, ways of working and understanding. Employers really value this experience and the understanding of diversity that you can bring to the workplace. Taking time out to go backpacking demonstrates maturity, good organization and planning skills and self-sufficiency.
Working while travelling is also a great way to boost your CV and develop a range of skills. Taking a year out to weigh up your options, decide where your professional interests lie, travel and gain life experience also helps you to make more informed career decisions.
If this sounds like something you’d like to do, you’ll need to have an action plan in place for when you return. Don’t expect a job to be waiting for you when you get back to reality. To find out what it’s like to get a job in another country, you can also explore working abroad.
These are only some of the many options that are open for students after graduation. It is important to find what is right for you and work towards it with full honesty.
