Final Year Undergraduates

The academic year is coming to an end.  

  • You may have graduated or will soon be graduating.
  • You are starting to make plans and consider your career options.

You may have successfully completed the first and second years of your degree programme..

Whatever stage you are at it is important to start thinking about the plans for your career.

These could be:

  • Careers related to your degree
  • Exploring your career ideas in more detail
  • Careers related to the part-time working that you have undertaken whilst at school or university
  • Careers related to your hobbies and interests.

It is important to undertake research through visiting the careers library in the university and talking to a careers adviser at the university.

Consider

  • What are you good at?
  • What do you enjoy?
  • What do you believe in / what are your values and how do they fit in with your career plans?

For those who are unsure, we have access to computer aided programmes which can suggest possible suitable careers.

Approaching the job market.

Take a targeted approach to your job search.

Some of the options are:

Time Out (by choice)

This could be:

  • To travel
  • Work Abroad
  • Voluntary Work / Work Shadowing
  • Time thinking about your next move.
  • Getting any kind of  job to earn some money while you are looking for your ideal job.

Postgraduate Study

  • Many jobs such as teaching, law, librarianship, human resources need postgraduate study
  • You may like to continue studying because you enjoy studying for its own sake
  • Or it may give you further time to consider what career paths is right for you. 

A Graduate Entry Job.

This is a job which needs a degree and will include a Graduate Training Scheme. Be prepared to be flexible as there is often a lot of competition for these jobs. Alternatively, keep applying, however, give it a period of time and then review your job search and consider a backup plan.  

A Direct Entry Job  

This role does not need a degree but having a degree will speed your progression through the organisation. Years ago, many people starting out at the bottom of an organisation and then worked their way up to the top. This will also give you a really good grounding in the organisation and perhaps more acceptance by your peers? They can see that you know what the organisation is all about.

Who will your competition be – those just leaving school?

A direct entry job could also be your fall-back plan. You may have tried really hard to get a graduate entry job but unfortunately you have not succeeded. (Perhaps your sector is not recruiting at the moment,  alternatively, there is too much competition or too few jobs around). 

Think about your transferable skills.

Self-employment

Starting up your own business

You may see:

  • A gap in the market or
  • The degree course you are about to graduate in has inspired you to set up in business
  • Want to turn a hobby into your career.

Often people who talk to a Careers Adviser may say that they do not have any career ideas but after more discussion they then realise that they do have ideas but that they are not sure whether these ideas are right for them.

Remember that this is an exciting and challenging part of your life.

Don’t be afraid to try out a few jobs.

This is your life and you want to be sure that you find a satisfying and enjoyable career. 

This could be the best decision you ever made.

For a Free informal chat please call Alistair Stirling on 0790 461 4946 or Email us at info@stirlingcareersconsultancy.co.uk or contact us via our contact form on our website: http://stirlingcareersconsultancy.co.uk/contact-us.html

We look forward to hearing from you.

Bromley Careers Consultant Alistair Stirling offering careers advice in & around Kent, London

Alistair Stirling is a registered careers adviser with over 20 years’ experience of supporting people back into employment.

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