Being a final year student and thinking about what to do after graduating can cause an inner ball of stress to build. It is so important to remember though that post-graduation life is also an exciting time to figure out where you want to be, what you want to do and evaluate what your goals are. It seems to be that the perfect post-grad life is doing a graduate scheme for a year in a big city or going straight into a full-time job, but this is something that I have learnt is not actually that easy and there are many other pathways out there. Having attended several careers sessions centred on exploring these different pathways and speaking to people who have already graduated, I am starting to feel more confident in knowing what opportunities are out there and what I can do if I don’t go down the ‘perfect’ graduate route. If you’re thinking about the future, here are some routes that you could go down:
Graduate schemes
These are a great way of delving into a company’s culture, seeing how they work, and having the opportunity to move around different areas and try out a variety of roles. It’s also a way of working with people at the same stage of life as you and learning alongside them. These tend to be in the big cities due to them mainly being with large, national or worldwide companies. This means the schemes are also very competitive and you may find that you are up against hundreds of other applicants.
Full-time job
It is so important to do what makes you happy and it is especially true when you are looking for a full-time job, which will take up most of your life. Working 5 days a week, around 8 hours a day takes up alot of your time so you want to make sure you enjoy your job, and like the people you work for and with, as this is a big jump from university life.
Masters course
Completing a post-grad course at university is a great way to learn more academically, especially if you are interested in a specific area or would like to try out something different to your undergraduate degree. Some courses also allow you to get industry qualifications alongside your degree. Masters courses also allow you to continue with your society roles and give you more flexibility to take on volunteering or internship roles in the holidays to build up your portfolio and CV.
Working part-time jobs
If you’re still on the hunt to figure out your career plans, working one or more part-time jobs in places like bars, shops or restaurants is a great way to give yourself that time while earning and getting to know more people in your community. You may also figure out that this is what you want to continue doing instead of an office job.
Travelling
Maybe you’ve been saving up and would like to see more of the world. This is a great way to explore different cultures, meet new people and give yourself a break for a bit, as well as a pat on the back for making it through your degree during a pandemic.
Volunteering
This is something you could do while on your travels or in your local area. Helping out at a charity is both rewarding and a way of giving back to the community, helping those in need.
Internships
If you’re looking to develop your skills within a certain field or want to figure out what job is best for you, taking part in short-term internships is a great way to do both. Whether paid or not, this is a valuable opportunity to learn in a working environment alongside industry professionals.
It’s so important to be happy in what you’re doing and feel some sort of self-achievement in your work. Jumping straight into something you’re not sure about but pays well isn’t always the best option, even though it may seem like the easiest. I hope this article helps you to clarify what options are out there.