Graduating this summer? What are you going to do next?

mark1234567890

Hi everyone,

So I will be finishing my degree this summer and haven't a clue what I am going to do next. It would be really good to hear that others are in the same position because I am feeling pretty low at the moment.

I have read loads of posts on here from people who say "apply for jobs during your final year". Is anyone else finding this easier said than done? Taking into consideration my final year uni work (loads of it!!), extra curricular stuff, part time job (which I don't really enjoy) and extra credit Spanish course I just haven't had the time. I can't see myself having the time until May either, by which time most of the graduate jobs will have gone.

I have been thinking about travelling but don't have the cash to go. The same applies for a Masters degree. Plus I don't know if either of those are for me. From reading the posts in the employment boards it seems that I am also going to struggle to find even a McJob.


I read the graduate section of the Guardian every week (they give it away free at my uni lol) and I am not a scratch on any of "case studies" in there. I'm just a very average student doing a very average degree at a very average uni (ex Poly).

I have no direction and no clue. I haven't got anything to look forward to this summer and for the rest of the year.


Surely there must be others out there?





Mark

456789

I graduated last year and am still looking for a job

It is the uncertainty that hurts the most - if I knew I would have a job starting on xx date I could have gone travelling or something

What subject are you doing?

dieselhead

Well I am quite fortunate as I have a profession to go into, I have spent the last 6 years studying architecture. Whether I will find a job is another matter, however despite a degree and a masters in architecture I am willing to anything in the meantime until I get a job. I am going to start applying at easter, this is the norm for my profession however for most this is very late for most graduate positions within large companies I believe the applications start around Christmas with all the assessment centres taking place around this time of year.

Have you spoken to you university careers service they should be able to help you, it is in their interest to help you find work as the more graduates they get into work the better the university looks!!

Oldernotwiser

mark1234567890 wrote: »

Hi everyone,

So I will be finishing my degree this summer and haven't a clue what I am going to do next. It would be really good to hear that others are in the same position because I am feeling pretty low at the moment.

I have read loads of posts on here from people who say "apply for jobs during your final year". Is anyone else finding this easier said than done? Taking into consideration my final year uni work (loads of it!!), extra curricular stuff, part time job (which I don't really enjoy) and extra credit Spanish course I just haven't had the time. I can't see myself having the time until May either, by which time most of the graduate jobs will have gone.

I have been thinking about travelling but don't have the cash to go. The same applies for a Masters degree. Plus I don't know if either of those are for me. From reading the posts in the employment boards it seems that I am also going to struggle to find even a McJob.


I read the graduate section of the Guardian every week (they give it away free at my uni lol) and I am not a scratch on any of "case studies" in there. I'm just a very average student doing a very average degree at a very average uni (ex Poly).

I have no direction and no clue. I haven't got anything to look forward to this summer and for the rest of the year.


Surely there must be others out there?





Mark

Why don't you make an appointment with your university Careers Service? That's what they're there for!

blue_ashleigh

Some of the local schools near me are doing a teacher helping thing (where you go into schools and basically help C/D GSCE level kids with their work) paying £600 for 3wks work, maybe schools in your area are doing something similar?

I have a few months worth of rent saved up so am just going to get job seekers as soon as uni finishes and hunt for any sort of job. The uncertainty's bad, but I hold no illusions that I'll walk into a job that I want right away!

horrorhag

i recieved a letter today from a grad training scheme that i was certain i was going to get but didnt. there is always the dole!

jskcv1

My Advice would be take whatever you can get, regardless of pay. Unless you've been really diligent and taken internships during your studies, what differentiates you from the other 1000's applying for the same job?

I took a low paid job "gap year/student placement" job when I graduated with a 2.1 from a top 10 University, as trying to fight in the graduate job market was fruitless.

I took this 10k a year position and stayed in it for 18 months, struggled like hell for cash, was at the bottom of a 2k overdraft when I took the job too. But managed to survive on it. With the experienced gained I moved to another company and more than doubled my salary, and now 4 years on its grown another 80%. Sometimes a more unconventional approach will be more fruitful then applying for the over advertised Graduate jobs, which are going to be more and more scarce. Consider taking an administration position somewhere. take an interest in what’s going on around you and you'll be surprised of what opportunities may arise from it.....

Just staying on the dole and bleating that my graduate applications aren’t going anywhere is a surefire route to nowhere.

As I was told once, its a lot easier to get a job, if you already have one....

Good luck with it all.

[Deleted User]

I too am graduating this summer. I have to do my essays, my dissertation, revise, I have a voluntary job and I help to run a society. On top of all this I have to try to find a job in time for the summer and house hunt as the house I currently rent is being sold during the summer. I want to get into social care but most positions I have seen want you to have a lvl 2 nvq in care and experience, I do have lots of call centre experience but I really don't want to have to do that long term.

Oldernotwiser

drinkupretty wrote: »

I want to get into social care but most positions I have seen want you to have a lvl 2 nvq in care and experience, I do have lots of call centre experience but I really don't want to have to do that long term.

Many companies that offer care services will put you through the NVQ2, particularly as they often have difficulties getting staff.

FreheitOverture

Personally, I've started to think about this already and I'm only in my third year as a web developer. I know competition is going to be high as you don't need a qualification to do web development jobs. So I have to make the best portfolio website I can in order to impress people and get a job. Yes its a worry, but I think I have enough experience to get a Junior position in a company.

I'm also probably going to go traveling for three months

mizzy2

Im graduating this year. Im going to work for eurocamp for the summer. have you tried applying to them?its called holidaybreak just search on the internet, they might give you a job until late oct if you dont mind working abroad.

after that iv got a month at home and then going travelling for just over a year. have saved up for it but still will need to earn money whilst away so am working in OZ.

i will have a degree in music and want to be a self employed flute teacher eventually.