Your degree, what next?
Getting a job
Choosing and attaining your career once you have completed your undergraduate degree is an essential part of your time at university and beyond...
You should give considerable thought to this as early as possible in your studies.
What job do I want?
- Think about which jobs you will be able to do with your degree subject - your university careers service and options with your subject can help you with this.
- Consider the type of job you wish to do, as well as the type of work that will suit your skills set. To help you decide on the right job role for you, login to what jobs would suit me?
- Research graduate training schemes on public, private and charitable sector websites.
- Attend recruitment fairs to speak to potential employers. This is invaluable, as not only will it help you choose your career but it could lead to valuable contacts for the future.
- Research and contact professional bodies and organisations associated with potential careers, as this might assist you in your decision.
- Investigate work experience or work shadowing opportunities.
How can I increase my chances of getting a job?
Identify your skills and think about what you can offer a potential employer. You already have a unique set of skills and attributes, which are a result of your personality, your studies and your work experience. Don't forget your hobbies, interests and any clubs or organisations you belong to outside your degree.
Consider the transferable skills that you can build on to increase your employability, such as:
- people skills - leadership, teamwork, influencing and negotiating, customer skills and communication;
- self-reliance skills - self-awareness, self-management, initiative and resourcefulness;
- general skills - numeracy, flexibility, adaptability, problem-solving and planning;
- specialist skills - including IT skills and commercial awareness.
Your degree will help you to develop these employability skills, as will work experience and volunteering. More than one-third of jobs for new graduates are taken by individuals who have already undertaken work experience with that employer, according to the Graduate Market in 2012 report from High Fliers Research.
Explore whether your university offers a Skills Certificate, which you could take alongside your degree. Not only will this develop your skills, it will also boost your job applications.
Remember that, while work experience may be hard to find, volunteering work is not. Your careers service can advise you on a range of opportunities that will aid skill development.
For additional help in identifying your skills, ask your careers service, who will have tools, including psychometric tests.
Where can I find a job?
Job hunting can take time and hard work. Don't be surprised if you do not find the perfect job straight away. It may take several months, so you need to be proactive and stay motivated.
You will need to focus your search and consider the sector in which you wish to work (public, private or charitable), the type of employer that will suit you (large organisations, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), self-employment) and your preferred location. Make the most of your time by using job hunting as a guide.
Further study
Further study following an undergraduate degree has several advantages and may even be essential for your chosen career...
It must be carefully considered, as choosing postgraduate study will result in committing more of your time and finances.
Should I consider further study?
When thinking about further study, you should take into account:
- whether further study is essential for your chosen profession or to enable you to enter a new profession, e.g. teaching, law, academia;
- personal interest - the subject area should be of great interest to you, so that you remain focused and motivated;
- whether it will improve your job prospects - further study can increase your earnings in the future, despite costing you in the short term;
- funding - are you able to support a postgraduate qualification?
Advantages to undertaking further study include:
- it will add to your academic achievements (something to consider if you did not achieve your desired grade in your first degree);
- it will develop your knowledge and skills or enable you to focus on a specific part of your undergraduate studies;
- you will meet and network with like-minded individuals, sharing knowledge and ideas, with the possibility of forming future working partnerships.
What are my options for further study?
The options available to graduates who have completed a first degree are:
- second degree - you can study for another degree, e.g. a BA or BSc, to enhance your first degree or simply study a new subject altogether. Remember that a second degree will not have the same funding options as your initial undergraduate degree, so speak to your university's student financial service for advice;
- professional study - certain careers will automatically require you to study beyond a first degree, e.g. medicine, law and teaching. For further information on which professions require further study and what type of qualifications are required, go to postgraduate study in the UK;
- academic postgraduate study - whether you intend to improve on your knowledge of your first degree or study an unrelated subject, you can either study a taught programme with lectures and tutorials, or a research programme such as a PhD.
As with a first degree, the above qualifications will require financial support. Consider funding opportunities carefully before undertaking any further study. You should also consider whether undertaking further study will increase your employability, if you will work at the same time to support yourself financially, and whether you will begin further study immediately after graduation or wait and get some work experience first.
Will I get funding for further study?
Postgraduate study is a financial commitment. There are some funding options available to potential postgraduate students, but the opportunities will vary depending on your subject choice. Explore your options at:
If you are studying for a research Masters or PhD, contact your sector-specific Research Council to see if you may be eligible for a grant.
Action plan
Focus your ideas, goals, skills and next steps in a personal plan...
Knowing yourself and what you want
This is an important first step in attaining your chosen career. To get it right:
- start with your degree - list the skills and attributes you have learned and the professions that would suit these strengths. For a helpful starting point, see options with your subject;
- research careers of interest for suitability, taking into account your academic and personal profile. See what jobs would suit me?;
- discuss your options and choices with those you trust, such as friends, family and tutors;
- seek advice from your university careers service, who are trained and, most importantly, impartial;
- use online tools to identify skills, strengths and areas for improvement. Consider psychometric tests and a personal SWOT analysis to help discover your attributes.
Researching your career options
Once you have an idea of your skills, you can begin to match them to a career. You should consider:
- professions that are associated with your degree subject;
- careers that are open to graduates of any discipline;
- careers that match your skills and personality;
- the rewards that you are looking for in your profession, e.g. high wages, career progression;
- the likelihood of being able to enter and sustain your chosen career;
- whether the job requires further study.
There are many ways of researching careers, such as:
- online resources - begin your research by looking at types of jobs;
- your careers service will house a range of literature, which they can guide you through;
- graduate fairs, employer talks, networking opportunities - see your careers service web pages. For further information, see job sectors.
If you are not a recent graduate, contact your previous university to see what help they can offer.
Making a decision
Take on board advice and do as much research as you can, but ultimately it is up to you to choose your next step. Before doing so:
- try to volunteer or gain work experience in your selected profession. It could be the way into your chosen job role;
- request an informal discussion with an individual already in that profession. Look to family, friends and other contacts first. This could lead to a work shadowing or work experience placement;
- your university careers service will always discuss your final decision with you.
Developing your skills
When you have decided on your career, look at ways in which you could develop the skills required for your job:
- Explore the possibility of work experience placements to enhance your CV and application forms. This experience will also give you more background knowledge and examples of work to draw on at interview stage.
- Consider working or volunteering in your chosen sector on a part-time basis alongside your studies (if your time allows), as this will impress employers.
- Networking is important. Explore professional bodies associated with your career and see if there are any events you can attend to make valuable contacts and learn more about the profession.
Making applications
The average number of graduates applying for each graduate vacancy is now 83, the highest number on record (AGR Graduate Recruitment Survey, 2011). It is therefore vital that your application stands out from the rest.
- Target and update your CV for every application by thoroughly researching the company, its mission, core values, and size. The company's website is the best place to start.
- Ensure you understand the organisation's recruitment process.
- Research CV, application form and covering letter examples - see CVs and covering letters.
- Ask your careers service to check your CV and visit job application advice.
- Sign up to relevant jobsites, both in your chosen sector and desired location. Check regularly for new vacancies to ensure you have enough time to prepare an application before the submission deadline. For more advice, see job hunting.
Reviewing your progress
Ensure that you revisit your action plan as you may wish to amend it for a number of reasons, including:
- your chosen employment might be difficult to get into, have taken a downturn in the current economic climate, or there may be too few positions available;
- your personal circumstances might have changed;
- you have reconsidered your skill set and qualifications and found possible new opportunities.
Updating your plan is easy. Do not stick to a path you no longer feel is right for you. Remember that it may take months to secure your career, so stay motivated by:
- staying in touch with your university careers service for advice and opportunities;
- using your support network of friends and family;
- attending networking events to maximise your opportunities;
- setting new goals - aim to complete a number of applications/interviews per week. A challenge will help you to stay focused;
- asking for feedback from employer interviews - this will help you improve for the next one. Ensure that you listen to the positives as well as things to improve on;
- researching potential employers so you are always prepared for new and unexpected opportunities;
- taking regular breaks and enjoying your time off so that you remain positive.
AGCAS
Written by Claire Roby, Canterbury Christ Church University