Adulting 101: Preparing for Life After University

Going to university is an exciting time in your life that is full of new experiences and opportunities. For most students, the three years fly by, and you might be facing graduation sooner than you expected! 

Graduating and moving into the next stage of your life can be daunting and it is normal to feel unsure about what you want to do after uni. The good news is, there are plenty of ways to prepare for the transition to post-uni life. Here are our top tips on preparing for life after university:

Explore different career paths 

You likely chose your uni programme with a specific career path in mind, but most degrees are suited to a wide variety of roles and industries. You should start exploring different career paths early on and find a role that will suit your skills, interests, and work preferences. If you’re unsure what you want to do when you graduate, then build work experience to gain insight into different job roles and sectors. 

Build work experience 

Building relevant work experience is one of the most important ways to prepare for life after uni. Internships and placements will give you hands-on experience and help you decide what career you want to pursue after uni. Building work experience will also give you an advantage in the competitive job market and help you impress hiring managers. 

Another great benefit of work experience is that it will allow you to make valuable connections and expand your professional network. Networking can open doors and boost your future career prospects. Building work experience while you study will help you get ahead of your peers and put you in a stronger position when you graduate. You can visit websites like UCAS for tips on how to get the most out of work experience. 

Ask for careers advice 

While you’re at uni, you should try and get as much advice as you can from your careers department. Take advantage of this free service and visit the careers department regularly for guidance, especially as you approach graduation.  

Your uni’s careers advisor will be able to offer you valuable guidance on what you will need to do to pursue different career paths and how to boost your chances of securing employment after uni. They will also be able to help you write a standout CV that will impress prospective employers and hiring manager. 

Volunteer in your free time

If you have some free time available, then why not pick up some volunteer work? Volunteering will allow you to explore your passions and interests, give back to your local community, and enhance your CV. Volunteering can teach you a wide range of skills that are sought after by employers such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. 

A recent survey by Deloitte found that 82% of hiring managers are more likely to choose a candidate with volunteering experience. Displaying volunteer work and projects on your CV will help you stand out from your peers and land a top job when you graduate. 

According to Glide: “Volunteer work is an easy way to bag experience and learn a new set of skills. You never know, you may love it so much that you decide you want to work for a charity after uni.” Volunteering looks great on your CV, but make sure that you pick something that you’re passionate about. 

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Create a LinkedIn account 

If you don’t already have a LinkedIn account, then it’s time to make one! LinkedIn is a powerful networking site with more than 500 million users across the world. It can open up new career opportunities that you would not know about without the help of social media. 

Create a professional LinkedIn account that showcases your skills, qualifications, and expertise. Build your professional network on the platform and share interesting content to help you gain exposure to hiring managers and recruiters. You can also use LinkedIn to research prospective employers and roles that you are interested in after graduation. 

It is normal to feel anxious about graduating and transitioning into post-uni life. Moving away from your friends and leaving the place that you have called home for the past three years can seem daunting, but graduating should be something that you look forward to. 

Once you graduate, you will have the opportunity to go out into the big world and start building your career and working towards your life goals. The above tips will help you prepare for life after uni and thrive in this exciting new chapter of your life. 

Sources:

UCAS, https://www.ucas.com/careers/getting-job/10-ways-get-most-out-work-experience 

Deloitte, https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/us/Documents/us-deloitte-impact-survey.pdf 

Glide, https://glide.co.uk/ 

LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/7-benefits-using-linkedin-sarah-rycraft 

Meghan James in an emerging freelance writer who's passionate about entrepreneurship and making the most of student life.

Her goal is to help students get through the tough few years they've had recently, and prepare for post-grad life.

When she isn't writing, she can be found either scrolling through Pinterest or binging the latest period drama.