Graduating this year and don’t know what you want to do? Don’t be scared to say yes to opportunities; they’ll help you find your way.
So, you’ve just finished university and are thinking ‘now what?’ First of all – don’t panic. Thousands of others are in that same rickety boat with no map to guide them. Take a well-earned rest for a few days, a week or two even; you may find that a little time away from career-searching realigns your priorities.
My Experience
I, for one, was deadset on doing a postgraduate course once I graduated. I wanted the security of education and thought it would be the only way to get the job of my dreams. Life happened, and I wasn’t able to do it, but actually, it was for the best. The fact I couldn’t do what I wanted made me hunt for something else, something better. I applied for internships, freelance positions, and went for a promotion at my part-time job. When they all came back asking if I wanted in, my first thought was ‘crap, there aren’t enough hours in the day.’ And then I said yes to every single one.
Sometimes, I think myself a madman. I speedwalk from one job to the next, blinking at the clock as I realise its midnight already, with every other sentence ‘I need a holiday’. But I wouldn’t change it for the world.
The above is an accurate representation of my desk 24/7, but I love it. Graduating is incredibly daunting, but it’s also equally as exciting. Never in your life will you have an opportunity like this to taste all the pies, to find out what you’re really passionate about. I still don’t really know, but I love the variety of my life, always being busy and learning new skills on a daily.
Why You Should Give It A Go
Even if you come across something that you’re not 100% about, or you didn’t see yourself going into. I implore you to give it a go. Not only do these things look good a C.V, but I guarantee you learn something about yourself too. There’s no need to get a ‘career’ now, only to hate it a few years down the line where you might be really stuck.
Test the water a little and start saying yes to the opportunities that come your way. Yes, you’ll be crazy busy and yes, you probably won’t be making the best money – but the experience goes a long way.
Before long, you’ll have a C.V as long as you’re arm, with skills and references you’d never thought of before graduating. Of course, watch out for burnout – there’s no point running yourself into the ground after the most knackering three years (or more!) at university. But keep your options open, look out for those opportunities, and don’t be afraid to say ‘yes’.
