|
Listed below are some
commonly expressed misgivings graduates have about careers:
"A degree is
a guarantee of a 'good' job"
No it's not! An ever
increasing number of young people are going into higher education
and there are simply not enough prestigious and well-paid jobs
around. Competition is tough.
However most 'good'
jobs are only open to graduates. It is the added value of experience
and identifiable transferable skills that will get you in the
door ahead of the next graduate.
"Employers are
only interested in academic performance"
Rubbish! Employers
employ people, not degree certificates, and academic qualifications
alone do not tell employers that a person is the right person
for the job in question.
Other criteria which
employers place great importance on are personal skills, qualities
and experience. They are often just as interested in what you
have done during your spare time at University than what grade
you end up with.
That's why it's important
to show you have made good use of the opportunities offered by
showing your involvement in sports, societies and other areas
of student life - and how this has benefited you as an individual.
"Graduate jobs
mean rapid promotion and job for life security"
Unlikely these days.
According to 'Roles
for Graduates in the 21st Century' (AGR), organisations
are becoming flatter and less hierarchical. This means that 'lateral
promotion' is becoming more common, with staff developing their
skills and expertise by gaining experience in different areas
of a company without necessarily climbing the corporate ladder.
"If you have
a degree, you won't need to do any more studying"
Are you joking? According
to the AGR report, 'Skills
For Graduates in the 21st Century', " ... knowledge
rapidly becomes obsolete" and today's world demands "...
lifelong learning ... self development and an overwhelming need
to stay employable."
In short your degree
may only be your starting point.
"Employers always
look for graduates from a specific degree discipline"
False. Although some
jobs demand a particular discipline, over 40% of advertised vacancies
ask for graduates of 'any discipline'.
Employers are more
concerned with you and your ability to contribute than with a
specific academic specialisation.
"If I don't use
my degree directly, my time at University has been wasted"
Those who have studied
vocational subjects like Law, Accountancy or Engineering usually
expect to make direct use of their degree subject in their future
careers.
However even if you
fail to use your degree directly when first employed, the fact
that you have a degree will open doors. Many jobs are open to
graduates of all disciplines, and those which are not can usually
be opened up by conversion courses later on.
If you want to continue
to use your degree directly in terms of employments, careers services
will do their best to help you, but they will also help you appreciate
and realise what you have to offer the outside world more generally.
Most employers see
graduates not just as historians or economists, but as individuals
each with their own skills and strengths, only some of which will
be brought out by the academic discipline studied.
"Your first
job will determine your career direction so be on your guard when
making a career decision"
Don't get too anxious
about choosing the "right" career and put off starting
unnecessarily. You're better off getting stuck into a job and
seeing how you like it - you can always change path if you don't
like it.
No decision is final.
You can almost always change your mind and explore other career
directions once you are employed.
There is no one right
job for each of us - they are all capable of carrying out many
different jobs. Career planning is no longer an irreversible process
and mid-career changes are now increasingly common.
"Graduates only
work for large, blue chip organisations"
Wrong. The
DFES has estimated that 926,000 degree holders work in
the UK for firms with fewer than 250 employees. And although it's
true that large firms are retaining (if not increasing) their
already significant share of the graduate market, more graduates
are starting work with small and medium sized organisations.
"Graduate jobs
are always advertised"
False. Many employers
don't advertise their vacancies publicly. Many graduates find
jobs through networking and speculative enquiries, etc.
"Careers Services
are no good if you want an unconventional career"
Your University Careers
Service can be of real help to almost all students. It is a fact
that the students who have the greatest difficulty finding suitable
employment are those who do not seek their assistance.
Of course it's easier
for Careers Services to help those students looking for the more
typical graduate careers. However, if you are looking at more
unusual careers, then they will usually do their very best to
help you.
You may be surprised
at the wealth of information they have available on all kinds
of careers. All you need to do is be motivated and look for it!
This content
is © The University of Hull.
Edited and reproduced with kind permission from John Franks - Head
of Hull University Careers
Service. All Rights Reserved.
|
