By Abbie Edwards, NTU Alumni (Marketing)

This time of the year can be especially stressful if you are a final year student. Alongside exams and coursework deadlines, you’ll likely be thinking about life after university.

I graduated in 2018, and I still remember the waves of panic that would wash over me in the final months of student life! I didn’t really know what I was going to do, what kind of job I was looking for, or even where I was going to live. And in hindsight, I know a lot of my peers didn’t either.

6 years later, I wish I would have put less pressure on myself and recognised that most students are in the same boat. Here are a few things that I did to prepare for life after university, as well as things I wish I’d have known.

Work on Your CV

Starting with the obvious, one of the first things to do is to make sure your CV is professional and up to date. Outside of education and relevant work experience, include anything you’ve done during university to build your skills and employability. This could be societies, seminars, or additional courses you’ve taken.

Connect with Recruiters

Recruitment agencies can be so valuable in your graduate job search. They can help match your skills to potential roles and employers without the lengthy application process. Recruiters are also often working with employers who are struggling to fill positions, and they present graduates as an alternative. While I wouldn’t rely solely on recruitment agencies, in my experience, I ended up securing more interviews and job offers through them than through applying to roles directly.

Take Every Interview Opportunity

The best way to improve your success rate when it comes to interviews is to practice. And there’s no better way to practice than in real interviews. Even if you aren’t overly interested in a job and you are offered an interview, I recommend doing it anyway. This way you can build up your interview experience and get a better understanding of the kind of questions you will be asked in the future. There’s also less pressure as you don’t have your heart set on the role.

Interviews are a two-way street, and you should use them to figure out the kind things you are looking for when it comes to an employer (as well as the things you want to avoid).

Avoid Comparison

This is easier said than done, but comparing yourself to others will just add unnecessary stress. I did a placement year as part of my degree, and it was essentially irrelevant to the kind of role I was looking for. However, other people on my course had secured the dream placement roles at Disney and Sky, and I kept thinking I would never find a job when I was up against this kind of competition.

In actual fact, there are so many jobs out there, and you don’t need to work at a household name to be successful. A bit more on this in the next tip…

Don’t Overlook Small Businesses!

Following on from my previous point, only applying at the big brands is a mistake (in my opinion). The competition will always be higher, and the application process is often far more intense. Now I’m certainly not saying don’t apply for these kind of roles, but I am suggesting that you look at all different kinds of opportunities out there.

There are thousands of small and mid-sized businesses across the UK where you can quickly climb the career ladder. My first proper role after graduation was in a junior role in an SMB (less than 250 employees), and this gave me the ability to make an impact quite quickly. You are so much more visible in a small business, and this means if you prove yourself, you can take on more responsibility and progress your career at a faster pace. I went from a Marketing Assistant to managing an entire marketing department within 2 and a half years of graduating this way!

Make the Most of Employability Support

NTU has a great Employability team available to help students get on the career ladder. This ranges from CV support and interview practice to workshops with employers and industry experts. Moreover, employability support doesn’t end after graduation. You can continue to access professional support from NTU for up to 3 years after you graduate, helping you throughout the early stages of your career.

Take a Break

This may sound daunting, but you will most likely be working for a very very long time. If you are able to, the weeks or months after university are a great opportunity to take some time off – to travel, build new skills, or just focus on yourself. You don’t need to jump straight into a career the day after you graduate.

After moving back home in the June, I got a temp job waitressing at weddings, and spent almost all of my income on what I wanted. I went on a couple of holidays and to some festivals, and just made the most of my last summer before I began ‘adult life’. I do appreciate that not everyone has the option to move back home, and not having to pay rent made this more affordable.

Taking this break gave me time to improve my interview skills, find a job I was actually interested in, and spend time with friends and family. I felt refreshed and ready to start my first career job in the September, and those couple of months off had absolutely no negative impact on my career.

Don’t Panic – There Are No Wrong Decisions

Most importantly, try not to panic about life after university. It feels scarier than it is. You can always change your mind when it comes to what you want to do, and no decision you make has to be final. You can start a job and realise it’s not for you. You can put your job search on hold and take up some temporary work while you figure out what to do next. Plans change constantly, and the sooner you embrace that, the less pressure you will feel!

For help, advice and resources whilst studying at NTU, take a look at the following for sources of support.
Support from NTU
Self-Care books in NTU’s libraries
Silvercloud: SilverCloud is our online system designed to help with a range of mental health issues.
Health and Wellbeing resources
NTSU Information and Advice service
Wellness in Mind: Advice and support for anyone in Nottingham experiencing issues with their mental wellbeing
Student Minds or Student Space
10 Keys to happiness
Mind
Papyrus
CALM