I
heard it again today, that unsettling question that keeps popping up “so what
are you going to do when you finish university?” It’s unsettling because when I
think back to almost three years ago when I started university, I had an answer
to that question. My answer was “I don’t know yet but I’ll know in three years
when I graduate” after all that’s how it works, right?
One
of the reasons I came to university was because I didn’t know what I wanted to
do as a career aged 18. I didn’t want to get a job in my small hometown of
Penrith, Cumbria and end up doing it for the rest of my life. I realise now I
was painting myself an unrealistic and drastic picture of what reality might
have looked like had I chosen not to go to university, but at the time this is
what I thought.
The
next step was to choose a degree subject and place to study. I’ve always been
interested in fashion but it soon became apparent that without an Art or Design
A-level there was next to no chance of getting onto a reputable fashion course.
This
left me with little clue as to what I wanted to do. Careers advisors and
teachers steered me in the direction of Psychology assuring me a lot of different
industries consider it a valuable degree. After some individual research it
looked like a subject that would interest me so I went for it, I started at
Northumbria University in September 2009.
Before
starting my degree I was under the impression that once you graduate,
employment would be a breeze and fatter-than-average pay cheques would be guaranteed
as a result. I was either given the wrong impression or a lot has changed in
last three years.
In
this day and age, life is lived in the fast-forward. Graduates are more often
being advised against taking gap years. Employees used to look fondly upon a
graduate who had been on a gap year – they had a high level of education, they
had life experience both at home and living in another culture, they had got
the travelling ‘bug’ out of their system and might even have some interesting
stories to tell on their lunch break as a result – now competition for graduate
jobs in fierce, employment prospects are much more uncertain and it seems the pressure
is on to get on the career ladder immediately.
My
inbox is inundated with e-mails with subject titles reading along the lines of
‘Want to get on a graduate scheme this year? Apply NOW!’ and ‘Make your gap
year count, earn while you learn’. I’m starting to feel the pressure but
finding the time to apply for graduate jobs isn’t an easy juggling act to
balance along with final year deadlines and dissertations.
So
where to start? I’d suggest writing out your interests and options as a
starting point. Do you want to go travelling? If so, do you want tie it in with
some ‘learning’ experience? Or just take a break for reality for a while, if
your anything like me I’m sure you’ll feel you’ve earned it! Maybe you’re eager
to start earning, if this is the case use your university’s careers services
and graduates careers websites as much as possible. A one-to-one meeting with a
careers advisor really helped me to see how my investing some more time and
effort in my personal interests of writing and fashion could lead to a career.
If
you’re like me, maybe your degree subject doesn’t lend itself perfectly to your
dream career. This doesn’t mean you have to settle for doing a job you don’t
want, it just means you have to work that bit harder to get it. In attempt to
get a bit more experience with writing I have started my own blog and write feature
articles the fashion section of my University’s online newspaper, and because
its something I enjoy doing, I find the time to do it.
So
don’t panic if you don’t know exactly what you want do just yet. As long as you
try to do something you enjoy, I think that’s the most important thing…
Follow Nichola on Twitter: @NikiForNow
TARGETjobs offers the largest choice of graduate jobs, internships and
placements. Independent reviews on top graduate employers and career
planning tools and expert guidance. Become a TARGETjobs blogger by getting in
touch with me at jackie.balchin2@targetjobs.co.uk
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