Rachel
What should I be doing right now in order to ensure I get a job when I graduate?
I'm an education major and I'm not sure what to do! #education
2 answers
Whitney Vincenti
Whitney’s Answer
Hi Rachel! During college is when you should be really starting to get involved in your career path rather than once you already graduated. The activities, internships, and jobs you participate in during this time are important to your future.
Depending on what you want to do with education, start working with that age group now. If you want to teach you could work as a tutor or in an after-school program. Really decide and concentrate on specifically what you want to do with your degree. Many universities offer student positions to anyone enrolled in the college at the time so you could also look into these options. If not, colleges sometimes have a job board where students can search and apply for jobs. A LinkedIn profile would help you with applying and finding jobs or people in your industry.
You can also get involved in a lot of various clubs and activities that have to do with your industry. Consider becoming an officer in a club, take on different roles, and/or create a new event for your club. Also, look into job fairs at your college or nearby colleges. I know my university had a career fair specifically for education and networking could help tremendously to ensure a job after college. Talk with as many people you can for what you specifically want to do.
Whitney recommends the following next steps:
Raashid Ahmed
Raashid’s Answer
1. Get a graduate job
The majority of graduates look for a job. In this instance your first port of call should be your university careers service. 'Most services offer continued support after graduation,' explains Diane Appleton, head of careers and employability at the University of Chester. 'At Chester we offer support to students two years post graduation.'
Diane also offers the following advice when searching for vacancies. 'Make sure you know what the best vacancy sources are for the type of role you are looking for. There are thousands of recruitment websites and agencies and some specialise in particular sectors.
Also consider small and medium sized employers (SMEs), as well as well-known graduate recruiters. Being a small fish in a big pond isn't right for everyone and you can still get good training, development and prospects in smaller companies.'
2. Become self-employed
Sometimes you need to think outside the box. If you can't find your dream job, why not create it by setting up your own company? Perhaps you have a great business idea or believe that your final-year project has commercial potential. If so putting your entrepreneurial skills to the test could be a smart move.
3. Pursue postgraduate study
An alternative is to return to university to study at postgraduate level, a route that many find rewarding. However, studying for a Masters takes time and money so make sure you're entering into it for the right reasons.
4. Take a gap year
If you want to see more of the world, learn languages, experience different cultures and meet new people before settling down to work you could take a gap year. Travel experience makes you an interesting job candidate and can make improve employability in the long run. Taking time out to go back-packing demonstrates maturity, good organisation and planning skills and self-sufficiency.
Working while travelling is also a great way to boost your CV and develop a range of skills. Taking a year out to weigh up your options, decide where your professional interests lie, travel and gain life experience also helps you to make more informed career decisions.
If this sounds like something you'd like to do you’ll need to have an action plan in place for when you return. Don't expect a job to be waiting for you when you get back to reality. To find out what it's like to get a job in another country, explore working abroad.
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