So you’ve graduated. What now?
It’s over. Three years of study, parties, friends, laughter and tears. When the mortar-boards fall to the floor and the gowns go back to the shop, what next?
Uni Graduate, Matthew tells us his journey from graduation. So, sit back, relax and read on…
Most people go home, their days of freedom over as quickly as they began. Back to living with your parents, the humdrum of the hometown which has hardly changed. You’ll likely want to get out, to find a job which kick starts your career and moves you out into the big wide world. Your life then becomes a whirlwind of applications, rejections and interviews, looking and searching for something, normally anything, that will help you get started with your life.
Under-appreciated and overtired…welcome to the “real world.”
I graduated in 2015 and did basically that, taking a job on a graduate scheme, close to where I lived, with good pay, good progression and an awful atmosphere. I left a short while later, not at all good for my CV. In hindsight this was a mistake and I should have taken it slower, considered my options and done a bit more research. There are a number of things you can do when you graduate instead of jumping straight in at the deep end, so here are a few tips so that when you do dive in, its a pool party, not a damp splash…
Internships and Work Experience
If, like me, your degree is in something “cool and deep” which is, strictly speaking, not at all vocational, then the work experience and internships that you have done will likely shape the way your career goes, at least initially. A couple of weeks in a couple of places will not only firm up your CV, but it’ll give you an idea of the things you might want, or not want to do. I worked in a newspaper office, a marketing company and a finance department, two of which put me off, one of which inspired me. It’s also a good break from the form filling and constant rejections, and allows you to feel like you’re accomplishing something each day.
I worked in a newspaper office, a marketing company and a finance department, two of which put me off, one of which inspired me.
Travel / Holiday
If you didn’t take a gap year, you may have missed out on the wondrous journey of finding yourself in the wilds of somewhere, basking in the glow of self-fulfillment on the plains of middle somewhere else. Travel can be a great way of finding out about your character, and even taking a few weeks away can be great fun and a useful experience. Plus who knows, you might find yourself somewhere that you want to stay for longer.
Further Study
If you haven’t had enough of it, going onto further study can boost your career prospects and and set you on the right path for life. A Masters or similar isn’t for everyone, but if you do put in the extra time and money commitment you will get a lot from it. Northampton students even get a discount on postgrad fees.
Research
It’s OK to not know exactly what you want to do coming out of uni. I certainly didn’t. There’s also no shame in taking a job just to pay the bills. The days of taking one job and keeping with it all the way up the pay ladder until you retire are gone, and most of us will have a multitude of jobs in our lives in different fields and areas, so it’s OK to just do something because you need to whilst taking your time to figure out the best next step. In my experience it definitely pays to do your research and take your time.
Help
There’s help out there. the Alumni Association brings together graduates for reunions, events and to give back to the uni. You also have access to the University’s careers service for some time after you graduate, so if you do need assistance, help is at hand.
So relax, everything will be fine. At the end of the day, you’ve got your whole life to sort your life out.
