How to survive life after graduation
Life after graduation can be a daunting time for a lot of people. However, there are plenty of ways to cope and make the most out of your situation as an ex-student. From initially finding your feet to searching for a job, we’re here to help you navigate life as a newly fledged adult. Even if you don’t totally feel like one yet…
Don’t put too much pressure on yourself
Being thrown into the real adult world after years of being a student can feel like jumping in at the deep end. It can be difficult to stay calm and level-headed when thinking about your uncertain future. Moving back into your parent’s home can feel like a massive step back, but you also have the advantage of having a degree on your shoulder in order to move on and create the life you want for yourself. It can be very easy to fall into a feeling of sadness and unproductivity but remember that this is only a temporary situation, you are not less of a person for needing time to figure out your path in life.
Volunteer for local charities or opportunities
There are always opportunities for voluntary work and experience for you to try out. From charity shop work, feeding the homeless or working at your local animal shelter, there’s plenty of chances to get involved in helping out for a worthy cause. Not only is it rewarding to give back to the community, but it also looks great on your CV. Experience in voluntary work displays your commitment to being proactive and shows a level of commitment to productivity and showing initiative. Not to forget, while learning new skills, you also have the perfect opportunity to meet amazing people, make new friends and enjoy the experience! The flexibility of voluntary work also means you have plenty of time to search for a paid job or career in the meantime.
Highlight the things you learned on your degree, not the degree title itself.
It’s all well and good saying the grade and title of your degree, but what employers really want to know is what you actually learned during your time studying. For instance, if you’re applying for a job in Software Design and your course specifically had a module centered around the job description, add this in your CV, Cover letter or application! When writing your CV, it’ll have more of an impact if you highlight the key modules and skills you learned when studying, instead of just listing the overall grade you got. This demonstrates your skillset more accurately and can be tailored to suit whatever job application you are applying for.
Apply for jobs regularly
In essence, the more you give, the more you’ll get back. Set yourself the task of applying to a certain number of jobs per day, this will help to feel more productive and optimistic. By completing the tasks you set yourself on a daily basis, you’ll go to bed each night feeling more accomplished, which will help improve your mood and overall attitude to handling after-graduation existence. Also, don’t be afraid to apply for things you reckon you have no chance of getting! Sometimes a risk is all it takes to change your life.
Save up that mullah!
If you were wise enough to save up while at uni, congratulations. But for a lot of us, trying to set aside some money whilst being deep into your overdraft just wasn’t realistic. When you find employment after graduating it’s a great idea to keep setting aside some money every so often. Even if you’re trying to pay off your overdraft, you can still manage as long as you budget and think realistically. This could mean little sacrifices, like packing your own lunch for work every day or riding a bike instead of catching an Uber as a ‘treat’ twice a week. It may feel like you’re on the breadline but fighting the urge to have that cheeky pint of dark fruits every weekend will really add up in the long run.
With all of this advice in mind, we dare you to go out there and treat this next chapter in your life as a new adventure. Don’t forget, our Careers Zone team are always on hand to provide lifelong, valuable job searching skills and guide you in a range of areas, including CVs, interviews, assessment centres, placements and graduate jobs.