Preparing for Life After University
What awaits you in the next chapter in life?
For some, everything works out great. They apply to a few graduate jobs and get the one they want on the first attempt. For the majority, it takes time and patience alongside feelings of worthlessness and despair. Hours and hours spent going through hundreds (yes, hundreds) of applications. I belong to the latter.
I began university with a grand plan of going into my final year with a job already waiting for me at the end. I was naïve. By the time I actually got to my Masters’ year I had no job waiting and no clue about what I wanted to do. I was undecided on whether to pursue a career in my degree subject.
After deliberation, I decided to apply to as many graduate schemes and jobs that my STEM degree would allow. I considered leaving engineering and going into the world of finance and accounting. However, I reminded myself why I chose to become an engineer. To help improve the world and leave it better than I found it. I asked myself the question: “What is my purpose?”.
The answer didn’t come straight away. It's perfectly okay to not know what you want to do immediately after graduating. Your time in education might have disillusioned what you thought was a solid career path.
I would encourage everyone at some point in their 20s to think about what their purpose is. To avoid being overcome by the ambiguity and uncomfortable truths you might find, break it down into more manageable chunks. A few examples are: Why are you doing what you are? Are you contributing to something bigger than yourself? Where do you want to be in 5 or 10 years time?
This is where I’m currently at. Working in a graduate job which I find stimulating, learning something new every day. I’m grateful for every moment as I get to work with a wide range of people. Learning and recognising how different individuals think is something which I’m aiming to improve on.
It’s easy to sink into the trap of thinking you’re done with learning after formal education. In reality, it is just beginning. The professional workplace highlights how much knowledge there is to gain whether that be technical or interpersonal.
Personal Development
This boils down to your mindset. Is it fixed or do you have a growth mindset? If you possess the former then you believe your talents and intelligence are fixed. If you're not great at something, you’ll always believe that to be the case. Conversely, a growth mindset means intelligence, skills and behaviours can be changed over time.
I started my own personal development journey while still at university. I had recently finished the final semester of my penultimate year and summer had begun. The YouTube algorithm decided to pop up a self-help video on my recommended videos. It intrigued me. I watched all the greatest hits of the top self-help and productivity content creators. It aided in reigniting my passion for reading.
From there, I started to notice my own self-awareness. I was starting to think about what was going to happen after university. What skills would I need to succeed in a job? Was I even good enough for a graduate job? Did I have enough experience?
If you’re looking for a job and feeling down about not getting anywhere, here are a few handy tips:
- Practice interview questions to improve confidence. Stand in front of the mirror or ask someone to be the faux interviewer.
- Reach out to employers.
- Use your time to develop soft skills.
Those that are employed can also practice self-development. What personal skills could you look to improve that will give you a competitive edge? In my own role, I am looking to develop empathy. I believe this is a critical skill to understanding others and a vital leadership skill.
Technical Development
This doesn’t need to be strictly related to your degree. I didn’t practice how to design reactor chambers in the time between graduating and starting my job. I looked at what other skills I could learn or build upon to let me be more flexible and creative in the workplace.
Some examples are coding, building a website and even starting a blog. You could also learn a language.
I dabbled in coding for a bit but decided against it. I opted to start a blog. I wanted to be able to articulate my thoughts clearly while improving my creativity.
If you wish to improve an aspect of your degree subject you could attend online training courses or read some books on the subject that can help expand your knowledge.
Conclusion
It’s important to remember why and how you got to where you are. The process and the journey are just as important as the end goal. If you’re still at college/university or searching for a job, be proud of yourself and where you are. The journey isn’t over. It’s only just beginning.
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Josh