Page 22
Training and Personal Development
All the skills require in the modern workplace – and how to get them.
After Graduation – What Next?
As graduation fast approaches and your bank manager kindly reminds you of the debt that resembles the GDP of a small country which you have accrued over the last few years of study, you may feel panicked into taking the first job that comes your way.
But, what do you do if you have no idea what career you want or what you want to do with your life?
The first thing is not to worry because you are not alone.
Last year, only 31 per cent of newly qualified graduates started work immediately after graduation in jobs that were related to their degrees. According to the Association of Graduate Careers:
“A significant proportion of finalists haven’t made up their minds by their final year. Some, because they haven’t thought about it, others because they have and are still confused. It can be a nerve-wracking time and panic can set in, so it’s important to realise you’re not a freak. Lots of people are in the same boat, and being obsessive can be counter-productive.”
And, out of the 31 per cent who started work last year after graduation, almost half took temporary jobs, according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel’s Graduates in the Workplace survey.
“The good news is that the more time you think about what you really want to do, the more likely you are to find the job you love.”
John Lees, author of the bestseller, How to Get a Job You Love, says: “Most people spend more time planning a car purchase or an annual holiday than they do thinking about their career.
“How do people choose the work they do? For many, work chooses them. Careers are often formed by the first job that happens to come along after graduation. It’s staggering how many people drift from one job to another with no clear idea,” he adds.
Indeed, the average person will change jobs at least 8 times during their working life and will spend more than one third of their waking hours at work. So, it is important to get your choices right as early as possible. And that means approaching your job hunt in the right way.
You have two choices.
You can either just look for a job by trawling through the newspaper ads or on the internet for a job that suits and is available in the Now.
Or, you can master your job-hunt by undergoing a true-to-yourself jobhunt that involves a certain amount of homework on yourself - to define exactly what occupation you really want, in what field - and then go and find it.
In its simplest form, the latter (and strongly recommended) approach forces you to consider the varying aspects that will affect you daily in your new career:
Work experience to date
Most graduates have some form of work experience whether it be a year placement or a seasonal job. Identify the skills that you developed e.g. customer service, problem solving or operational.
What are your environmental preferences?
What type of working environment do you think you will thrive in? Are you an outdoors person or would you prefer the comforts of a plush modern office or the quirkiness of the Innocent Drinks office with green shag-pile carpet?
What makes you tick?
What are your key motivating factors – financial reward, the kudos associated with working for a large prestigious company like BP or the personal reward of knowing that your work will have a benefi cial impact on others?
Define your degree
When my parents went to university they could study straightforward subjects like History. By the time I went, History had diversed into History, International Relations, International Policy etc etc.
The point is that most employers will not really understand the nature of your degree. So it’s up to you to translate how certain facets of your course can be adapted to the workplace.
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32