Getting a Job After Graduation*
As this is the time where many of you lucky people are finally graduating from university, I thought I'd team up with Spotlight Recruitment to give you some idea of what it is like to get a job after university!
As I am only going into my second year of uni, I decided to interview my sister as she graduated from university last year and has been in employment ever since! I hope this post helps some of you get an idea of what to do with the next stages of your life... and I can also look back on this in a few years time :)
These are Hannah's answers to my questions:
What were your initial thoughts after graduating? Did you feel lost, scared, prepared?
I obviously felt very scared that i was about to go out into the big wide world and make new friends but overall i would say my course and uni experience prepared me for what was ahead! What advice would you give to graduates?
Firstly, I would say take a break. You've just completed a 3-4 (or longer) course your brain needs a bit of a rest. You don't want to end up putting too much pressure on yourself to find a job straight away as it will just stress you out. I'd say now is a good time to travel and see the world before you get tied down in a job. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough funds to do this but it's something I always wished I had done. When it comes to applying for jobs, only apply for jobs you can really see yourself enjoying. You don't want to start out in a job and suddenly think "what the hell am I doing here" take the time to really work out what you want to do. How long did it take you to find a job after graduating?
I have to say I was quite lucky when it came to finding a job. I found my first full time job about a month after graduating. I was so eager to get out into the big wide world that I started applying for jobs a few weeks after my final exam in may. I had a few rejections but was happy to find out that I had got a job only a month after graduating. What requirements did some employers ask for that you did not have? What should current students have alongside their degree to help them once they graduate?
I would strongly advise anyone who is at uni to make sure they get some work experience. Interview questions always tend to be about your previous experience and the skills you have. I didn't have any admin skills at all when I went for my first job however they were confident that I will work well within the company and that this was something which I could pick up on the job. I wouldn't say you have to have all the necessary skills they ask for in a job spec. We're not all born with IT, admin and analytical skills, we have to develop them and the only way to do this is through part time or full time work experience. Did you use any recruitment agencies? If so, which ones?
I did sign up for a recruitment agency when I left uni and I would definitely recommend doing so. It's good because its like having a second pair of eyes to look out for jobs for you. They put a lot of time and effort in getting to know you personally and the sort of job you are looking for. If you're not sure what you want to do, this is a great opportunity to be given job specs of jobs you didn't even consider or knew were out there.
There are also specialist recruitment agencies so if you wanted a career in a specific industry it would be worth researching recruitment agencies that specialised in the area of work you are interested in. Take Spotlight Recruitment for example, they're a great recruitment agency who specialise in finding their candidates jobs within..... if this sounds like an area you're interested in I'd definitely sign up to them. Lastly, how are you feeling now you've gone into employment after graduating? Are you settled in a job, or do you still feel like you need to do something else?
I've had 2 jobs since graduating. I'd say that I have definitely settled in and I'm loving learning new skills every day. I don't feel like I need to do anything else. I suppose it's now just a case of when I feel that I have learnt all I can and done all I can, I'll then start to look for a new opportunity that will provide me with new skills and experience but at the moment I'm definitely happy where I am.
These are Hannah's answers to my questions:
What were your initial thoughts after graduating? Did you feel lost, scared, prepared?
I obviously felt very scared that i was about to go out into the big wide world and make new friends but overall i would say my course and uni experience prepared me for what was ahead! What advice would you give to graduates?
Firstly, I would say take a break. You've just completed a 3-4 (or longer) course your brain needs a bit of a rest. You don't want to end up putting too much pressure on yourself to find a job straight away as it will just stress you out. I'd say now is a good time to travel and see the world before you get tied down in a job. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough funds to do this but it's something I always wished I had done. When it comes to applying for jobs, only apply for jobs you can really see yourself enjoying. You don't want to start out in a job and suddenly think "what the hell am I doing here" take the time to really work out what you want to do. How long did it take you to find a job after graduating?
I have to say I was quite lucky when it came to finding a job. I found my first full time job about a month after graduating. I was so eager to get out into the big wide world that I started applying for jobs a few weeks after my final exam in may. I had a few rejections but was happy to find out that I had got a job only a month after graduating. What requirements did some employers ask for that you did not have? What should current students have alongside their degree to help them once they graduate?
I would strongly advise anyone who is at uni to make sure they get some work experience. Interview questions always tend to be about your previous experience and the skills you have. I didn't have any admin skills at all when I went for my first job however they were confident that I will work well within the company and that this was something which I could pick up on the job. I wouldn't say you have to have all the necessary skills they ask for in a job spec. We're not all born with IT, admin and analytical skills, we have to develop them and the only way to do this is through part time or full time work experience. Did you use any recruitment agencies? If so, which ones?
I did sign up for a recruitment agency when I left uni and I would definitely recommend doing so. It's good because its like having a second pair of eyes to look out for jobs for you. They put a lot of time and effort in getting to know you personally and the sort of job you are looking for. If you're not sure what you want to do, this is a great opportunity to be given job specs of jobs you didn't even consider or knew were out there.
There are also specialist recruitment agencies so if you wanted a career in a specific industry it would be worth researching recruitment agencies that specialised in the area of work you are interested in. Take Spotlight Recruitment for example, they're a great recruitment agency who specialise in finding their candidates jobs within..... if this sounds like an area you're interested in I'd definitely sign up to them. Lastly, how are you feeling now you've gone into employment after graduating? Are you settled in a job, or do you still feel like you need to do something else?
I've had 2 jobs since graduating. I'd say that I have definitely settled in and I'm loving learning new skills every day. I don't feel like I need to do anything else. I suppose it's now just a case of when I feel that I have learnt all I can and done all I can, I'll then start to look for a new opportunity that will provide me with new skills and experience but at the moment I'm definitely happy where I am.
I hope this post gives some of you graduates/students the reassurance and guidance you need when going into the big wide world!
I'd like to say a massive thank you to my sister, Hannah for letting me interview her... she is 100000000% the best role model!
Make sure to check out Spotlight Recruitment if you feel you need the extra guidance, advice and support! I know that I will need something like that when I graduate in the next few years!
Good luck to all you graduates (and well done for surviving uni hahah)
:)
Disclaimer: *This is in collaboration with Spotlight Recruitment however all views expressed are my own and have not been influenced by the brand*
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