5 Potential Next Steps After College Graduation
With the summer graduations having commenced, many graduates and their families will be starting to think about the next steps. While college may have seemed like it would send you straight into the job of your dreams, this is not always the case, and it is important that you decide on which pathway you take after college to secure your dream job. Whether you are a young millennial fresh from their college degree or are in the middle of a career change, this guide will help you to realize the number of options there is for graduates looking to find a job after college.
1. Take an Online Master Degree
Master’s degrees are the next step up from Bachelor degrees and can allow you to progress and refine your knowledge even farther, helping to distinguish you from other candidates in many of the most competitive industries. Master’s degrees can also allow you to specialize in certain areas of your industry that you are particularly interested in, meaning that you can gain the specific knowledge that you need to succeed. What’s more, many Master’s degrees are practical-based, allowing you to gain real-world experience as you learn. If you want to obtain a Master’s degree but you are still interested in getting your career off to a head start, many universities, such as Florida State, offer flexible online LSCW programs to students. These come in a range of subjects such as social work, and allow you to complete your work without the need to move away from home or invest in accommodation. Most importantly, their online-based learning means that you can practice these qualifications around a graduate job, meaning that you can learn while you work, which is particularly important for mature students.
2. Apply for Graduate Programs
If you want to head straight into the world of work or try a new career path altogether, you should try applying for graduate programs and internships. Graduate schemes are paid positions that allow you to learn on the job in a role with minor responsibilities, with the aim to progress through the company as your skills develop. There are many graduate posting listings available online to help you find these, with many colleges providing you with free online portals from which to find a graduate job. If you have a specific company in mind, many big businesses do not advertise on job listings, and you will have to search the job postings on their business website to find graduate schemes. However, graduate schemes can be incredibly competitive, and their application processes extremely rigorous.
3. Apply for Degree-related Jobs
However, if you are unable to find a graduate position, this should not be cause for distress, as there are many other ways that you can find graduate jobs. To find a degree-related position, you should look at industry job listings websites rather than general job websites such as Indeed. These job listings are catered toward specific industries such as film and engineering and are usually looking for graduates or skilled employees, which can help you to find higher paid and more skilled work of the type that you are looking for. To apply for these positions, you should make sure that you have a good resume, portfolio, and cover letter, with all of your relevant experience and job roles placed at the top of your work information. You should also try to write or personalize a cover letter for every position that you are applying for to showcase that you are right for the job.
4. Find Good Career Advice
If you are struggling to find a job role, colleges and universities usually have large careers departments which can help you to find the job that you are looking for. By attending a one-to-one meeting or a workshop in this department, they will be able to help you to perfect your CV and portfolio, help you to find a job that matches your CV, and discuss your potential job options with you if you are uncertain as to what area you want to work within.
5. Go on a Gap Year
Sometimes, it is important to have a break from work and education. If you need some time in deciding what you are going to do, a gap year might be the best option. However, you can make this gap year productive for you and your CV by finding the necessary work experience that you need in order to secure a graduate job, volunteering to earn the transferrable skills that you need, and even traveling, which can help to show your independence to employers and enable you to see the world before settling down into a new job.