Emerging into the real world of careers, bills and adulting after university is certainly an intimidating prospect. With more and more people doing panic masters and feeling lost in the job market, I breakdown what you should do if you are unsure what route to take after graduation.
Speak to a careers advisor
This may seem obvious, but most universities have great careers services that students often ignore. Whether you want to chat through your options, strengths and weaknesses or receive mentoring from alumni in your field there is often plenty of overlooked advice available on campus. Speaking to your personal tutor can also help you find relevant experience and to network.
Gain experience and explore
Even if you think you have a strong idea of what you want to do post graduation, it’s worth exploring different options before committing to one pathway. Gaining experience through volunteering and internships, is the best way to not only consolidate employable skills and strengthen your CV, but to network and see if you actually enjoy the industry.
Experience is not only about making yourself a good fit for the job field, but about ensuring the field is the best fit for you. Internships are undoubtedly difficult to secure especially if taking an unpaid position isn’t feasible for you, but even joining relevant university societies can help you meet people and gain experience.
Don’t worry
While it can feel like everybody else has their life perfectly mapped out, remember this isn’t the case. Most people are figuring it out as they go along and that is okay. Life isn’t all about securing a well paid career, and considering time for travel and hobbies is equally important. If you go with the flow a little, and say yes often, opportunities will likely present themselves to you.