So, after some gruelling all-nighters, tight deadlines and difficult exams, you finally finished your degree. Graduation is in a few months, so you have some time to relax.
But the time to find a job is slowly approaching. After all, it might not be ideal for you to rely on loans your whole life, right?
Once the graduation celebrations are over, the feeling of freedom will start to fade away quite quickly. It’s time to start thinking about plans for your career, but where should you start?
There are a variety of options you can do after graduation, although it can be easy to feel lost. Most graduates go straight for employment, but it can be difficult to find one fresh out of university.
There’s a consistent dilemma of companies wanting “entry-level” jobs, yet look for vast amounts of experience. A problem that consistently decreases some graduate’s confidence. Not all companies present this requirement, but enough to make a difference.
Here are some options that you can do after university that can help you find your next job.
1: Travelling
Every student has thought about travelling away from their home country to visit other places they have never been to. Exploring is a thrilling experience, and what better way to do it when you don’t have the pressure of work to keep you bogged down.
How does this help me with getting a job?
Travelling the world is a fun way to experience a diverse range of cultures and traditions. But aside from the “fun” factor of travelling, it can also bring a whole host of invaluable experience that allows you to stand out from other candidates when applying for jobs.
According to a study conducted in 2020 by Teaching Abroad Direct, over 140,000 young people use a gap year to travel, and in the same study, they found that 96% of those who travelled abroad improved their self-confidence, in addition to 84% acquired skills they believed will help them with future careers.
The Biggest Pro and Con of Travelling
There are a lot of pros and cons regarding travelling, especially after university.
PRO: It is time that you can use to figure out your future.
In addition to the lengthened experience you acquire from travelling, it is also a time where you can reflect on your passion. A long and valuable break from your studies via travelling can be used to think hard about what you want to do in life, as well as a time to relax and unwind from university.
CON: It will be expensive.
There is no doubt that wherever you plan to go, expenses will need to be paid indefinitely. This will be dependent on where you want to go and how long you want to travel for, but the likelihood of high costs will always remain relatively high too.
2: Apprenticeship
There is a common misconception that doing an apprenticeship after university is “taking a step backwards”, simply due to the low pay you often get from this type of employment.
This is simply not the case, apprenticeships are an exciting option to get hands-on training on a field you want to get into. The practical skills you learn will no doubt become valuable for future employers.
How does this help me with getting a job?
Apprenticeships, as mentioned above, provide practical training in a specific field of work. It is ideal to allow newly graduated students to combine work with study, gaining skills often wanted by employers in their chosen line of work.
In short, the practicality and education provided by apprenticeships allow students to get into work much easier. According to GOV, 90% of apprentices go straight to work or further training, and higher apprentices could earn over £100,000 more on average over their lifetime, boosting earnings by 11% – 16% compared to those with vocational qualifications.
The Biggest Pro and Con of Apprenticeships
PRO: A great confidence booster for new graduates. For most students, there is always a chance that their experience with interviews or in the workplace is below average due to their lack of experience in the workplace. With apprenticeships, you can gather this type of experience and implement what you learn into real-life work, boosting your confidence in the long run.
CON: Your options will be limited. Taking an apprenticeship post-university can limit your prospects, making you stick to one industry. This would be an even bigger disadvantage if you are simply searching for what you would like to do as a career, and once you decide that the apprenticeship you are doing is not what you want to do, it will be difficult to get into a different industry altogether.
3: Volunteering
The unique thing about volunteering is that you acquire benefits outside of simple skills beneficial for the workplace. A sense of accomplishment, gaining a fresh perspective and the opportunity to meet new people are also benefits that come with volunteering. But can these additional skills be helpful in future work?
How does this help me get a job?
Similar to travelling, volunteering allows you to stand out from other applicants by acquiring skills that apply to a variety of industries. Whether that is communication, organisation or social/people skills, volunteering can help you advance your capabilities.
What is great about volunteering is that those who participate have a higher likelihood of getting a job when you are out of work, have low education or live in rural areas. The chance of getting a job rises by 37% on average when volunteering, according to a study by CNCS.
The Biggest Pro And Con of Volunteering
PRO: Opportunities present themselves when volunteering. Various opportunities such as work abroad or joining a strong and passionate community is always something you can get when volunteering.
CON: Volunteering is real work that does not pay. You are volunteering your time to help a local community, organization or charity, so monetary pay does not often come with the job. In short, it’s a place where you can get some rich experience, but without pay at the end.
4: Entrepreneurship
Being an entrepreneur means creating your own business to thrive and be your own boss. Which, as you may have guessed, will have benefits for those who want to be ambitious.
How does this help me get a job?
To put it simply, being an entrepreneur means creating a job for yourself. Where you will be in charge of your own services, your own payroll and your own hours.
Plus, it gives you ample time to build strong skills and relationships that may not even be available when you work a regular job. In short, it not only helps you acquire a job further down the line (if necessary), but it can also benefit your development.
PRO: Be your own boss. Entrepreneurship means owning your own business, which provides the flexibility of working hours, responsibility for what you do for your budget, and what types of services you can do. On top of this, the payoff will be worth the effort, as 91% of UK entrepreneurs succeed after the first year – considering the amount of work going into your business.
CON: The risk is immense. While it may be ideal for some to start a business, the cost and effort will need to be high. Just from starting alone, on average, UK startups spend around £22,500 in their first year, meaning that the cost will be very high. So, if your business fails to succeed, it will be difficult to accumulate your money back.
5: Get a Graduate Coach
Career coaches aren’t just for senior exectives. As a graduate, you’ll benefit immensly from getting a coach. Graduate Coach can help you to:
- Work out what job is right for you
- Write strong graduate CVs
- Become great at interviews
- Send high-quality job applications
And more
Find out about one-to-one coachng for graduates
Conclusion
There are a variety of options you can choose to help you acquire a job after university, outside of conventional options such as internships or work placements. All it comes down to is whatever you can do at this time, depending on your financial and mental situation.
Getting a job right after university is often not an easy task, but knowing your options can open a lot of doors after graduation.
Are you going to graduate soon? It’s important to think about jobs, sure. But don’t forget one of the most momentous days you’ll experience for your graduation! If you want to look good, take a look at Armstrong & Oxford’s gown hire services.
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