After what feels like a lifetime in education, it can be so difficult to know where to start. Job searching process? Knowing how to structure your life? There are an endless amount of things to think about. Here are some tips and tricks, to know where to start and make life after university as seamless as possible.
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Find A Career Path
The best part about a degree is that you get to spend 3/4 years experimenting in your field. You find out what elements on that you enjoy. Narrow down your interests and get to know the career paths available and feasible for you. What will earn you enough money? Will it be something you enjoy?
Get to know recruitment sites and the sort of roles available and see what graduate jobs are available. Depending on your way of learning, build a spreadsheet or diagram of sectors and industries and go from there. Simply knowing the market and where you can slot in will be very beneficial when it comes to applying.
Know What Tools Recruiters Use
There are so many ways to start job hunting – it is ridiculous. Gone are the days of simply looking in the papers, but the internet will be the most popular place to look. Here are some of the key recruitment sites:
Using a range of sites helps to find a wider range of jobs. Many of these sites allow you to find out more about the companies behind these applications, and whether they offer fair salaries and interview processes. Do your research and consider whether these companies are worth applying for, for example, check if staff turnover is so high it is disheartening. Also, upload your CV to all of these sites when creating an account. Many have onsite recruiters that will do the job searching for you, and call you if they find anything relevant. Not only will it give you one foot in the door, but it will help to make the job searching process 10x easier.
You could also consider different types of graduate roles. Beyond Academy focuses on Internships, specifically in London, offering a rundown of what the Intern life would look like. Guiding you through the process, and even helping with organising accommodation – this is a great way to enter the world of work!
Plan For Your Graduation Ceremony
With a couple of years like this, it can be difficult to get excited about a graduation ceremony. So much uncertainty has led us to cancellations and virtual events. Luckily, however, a lot of the events are still going ahead (albeit delayed). Get excited about the fact that you have completed a degree and enjoy it! See whether anything needs to be planned in advance (guest tickets/gown hire), and get to planning your trip and of course, your outfit!
Related: How To Cope When Struggling To Find A Job After University
See What Careers Advice Your University Offers
You have to remember, university is a paid for service. We should utilise and maximise every thing our universities offer. See if there is anything available for undergraduate careers advice or an alumni portal and take the university up on it. They may have exclusive jobs available, usually with bigger companies – so it is worth seeing whether they can provide anything.
Know Where You Want To Live
Life after university is usually the time where we have to decide what we want to do with our lives. Some love the freedom of being away, while others want nothing more to be on home turf. It sounds odd, but many people feel a bit “done” with uni after three years. The feeling of everything being new, including so many new people, and having complete freedom wears off, especially when finances become strained from all the drinking trips and fast food (trust me it happens).
Set your feet somewhere and know where you want to live your life, or whether you want to be a free spirit. Just knowing where you want to live the next stage of your life helps when knowing where to look for a job.
Related: Unsure on How to Protect Your Stuff? Explaining Student Insurance at College and University
Do You Want To Move Out?
On that note, life after university also means no more student accommodation. That will either be a blessing or a curse for some. Once you know where you are planning to live, determine whether you want to rent, or save for a mortgage, and whether that means living with you parents or on your own. After years away from home, it can be difficult to insert yourself back into a life of being at home and under your parents rules. However, in most cases, it is the most financially viable thing to do. Once you graduate, determine whether it is better to save at home, or move away. Chances are (as most universities are in cities) that you may have a wage increase if you work in your university city (as living costs are higher).
Do You Want A Job Straightaway?
University can get very expensive. It is very easy to come out of studying with debt, in some form or another. However, after years of studying, and more workload as every year went on, it can be difficult to be in the work mindset. It is normal to feel completely exhausted after university is over, and desperate to take a break. When picturing your life after university, work out how much time you need. Are 2 weeks enough? Do you need a holiday? Or do you not want anything for 6 months? The market is competitive for sure, but if you are not mentally ready to work, then it becomes a real effort. Wait until you are ready to start looking, and take your time.
Related: £6,000+ pp A Year For Accommodation? Third Year University House Tour
Know When To Start Looking
Looking for a job can be tough if your heart is not in it. Some people want money as soon as they leave uni, others want a super long break. You need to find what is right for you. Searching for a job, and getting declined can be so disheartening, so only start looking when you are mentally prepared. Whatever you do also, do not get disheartened by unemployment rates, there will be something out there for you!
Related: 11+ Things To Do Before University: Studying Away From Home
Adjustment
Life after university is tough. You have spent so long away, you can create a whole new life. When you move back home, it is no longer normal, because you have created a new normal. What so many people take for granted is how much you change at university. You leave home at 18, right after school and leave all for the structure you know behind. When you leave at 21, you have had years of fending for yourself, you have even written your own project for crying out loud! The person you have become has changed, so it is tough to expect things will be easy when you move back home.
I struggled with not being in control of my household. At uni, I was cooking every day, responsible for keeping it clean and planning my own day based on others’ workloads. At home, my parents have adjusted to me not being around, so they have taken the responsibility of cooking and cleaning themselves, without having to worry about a third person. Re-inserting yourself into their life is not always the easiest, and one that usually takes some form of transition. Understand that it may take time, and re-work a routine that suits everyone – playing upon your new skillsets too.
Related: How I Picked The Right University
Know Which Friends Are Worth Keeping
Friends at university is an odd one because some people have completely different experiences. Some friends are a means to end, some people stick around because of physical proximity to you, and others are around because they are keepers. Know that some friends will go, especially when back home with other friends. Also note, making the effort with the keepers has to happen, otherwise it won’t. With friends all over the country – if you want them still around, maintain that relationship. It can be difficult if you do not see them every day now but plan things in the future to keep your calendar busy and full.
Life Won’t Be The Same Again
Everything changes after you go to university. After the point of adjustment, you do form a character of the person you thought you were / or not. You may love the person you have become, or hate it. However, at some point, there will come a time of self-reflection, where you really do analyse your experience. Maybe you would have done things differently another time around, maybe not. No doubt, however, you will change after university, and that it not just down to age. The independence, change of routine, trust to work, eat and budget and having to form relationships out of your comfort zone are signs that you are different. After you graduate, reflect over your time away and see whether it was for you – if anything it is a life experience when moving forward.
Related: How To Save Money as a Student: 5+ Habits To Save £1000 Per Term
Life after university is the next stage of your life, and the real introduction into adulthood. Knowing your 5-10 year plan and your goals helps to set an idea of the route you want to take – as well as allowing you to take unexpected turns too.
