ADD ADVICE TO FAVWhat are my options?
You may have absolutely no idea what you want to do after you graduate. The range of careers open to you may seem too limited or too vast. Don’t worry, you simply need help in narrowing down your choices...
Improve your careers knowledge
The first thing to do is research the range of graduate jobs available. You should consider what your interests are and where your talents lie. Also, explore different types of graduate careers to ensure you’re not missing out on any possible options.
The GET website offers information and advice on 20 graduate career areas, ranging from Administration & management to Transport & logistics.
Consider other options
Launching into a career immediately after graduation isn’t for everyone. There are many other valuable experiences you can have before settling into working life.
Further study
As more people have the opportunity to study for a degree, so competition for jobs becomes fiercer. To get an edge over the competition many graduates undertake a relevant postgraduate course. Colleges and universities offer an enormous variety of taught and research-based postgraduate certificates, diplomas and Master’s degrees to choose from.
For some careers, such as teaching, postgraduate study is the main route in. Find out more at Postgrad.com.
Gap years
Many students choose to take time out from their studies to get things into perspective, earning some money while gaining experience for the workplace, or building up knowledge and career skills through more practical courses.
You may wish to experience more of the world, working or volunteering abroad, or simply build your skills while remaining in the UK.
As taking a year out is now quite common, however, you need to make a concerted effort to do something worthwhile; most employers are looking for evidence of well-spent time out. Find out how to choose gap-year activities that will help you get a graduate job.
If you decide to undertake further study or take a gap year, you will need funding. The sooner you decide what you want to do after graduation, the sooner you can start saving!
