This is the question that final-year students around the country will be hearing time and time again from their families and friends. The answers “um, er, er”, “I’m going to work in a bar”, or “I’m still undecided” are code for “I just don’t know, please stop asking”.
What’s the next step?
However, a recent study by 1PGR has found that more graduates than you’d expect go into university knowing where their career path is headed. Contrary to the dishevelled and carefree impression that people have of students, 55 percent of graduates choose a degree that is relevant to their career. University is a serious commitment, particularly when you consider that the decision has to be made when you’re just a teenager. The prospect of three years of further education, hard work and the financial demands of university can be incredibly daunting.
The commitment that university demands has been questioned, with people assuming that some students are merely prolonging the decision of “what to do next”. This misconception is unfair as graduates often go into university with a clear idea of the type of work they would like to do following their degree. Now that fees are three times what they used to be, it’s not a decision that is made lightly by students.
Where are graduates headed?
From the graduates surveyed, the most popular career destinations were marketing, PR, recruitment and sales. Although there was less interest in energy and languages, students have selected areas of study that will lead them to these careers. 1PGR found that 92 percent of undergraduates surveyed could name at least two companies that they would like to work for showing that even in their first year they have thought about where they see themselves in the future.
Don’t worry if you are unsure exactly where your career is headed. In sales, recruitment, marketing and PR, the job descriptions normally specify that a degree is more important than a specific subject because the transferable skills you gain will prove invaluable at work. Indeed, relevant work experience or skills from societies and sporting activities at university can make your CV stand out and increase your chances of being hired.
Evaluate and consider
Whether you know which industry you want to end up in or are still deciding which area is the best fit, you should take the time to evaluate what is most important to you. Unsurprisingly, the most influential factor for choosing a postgraduate position is the salary (28 percent) and the opportunities for career progression (27 percent), according to the study. The location, social responsibility and company profile all factor into a graduate’s decision of which business they choose. Even if graduates do not have a specific industry they are destined for, they have a clear picture of the culture that they want to be a part of.
Fundamentally, with so many graduates knowing what they want to do after university and where they want to be, it is time people stopped asking the question and trusted that students know what direction their life should follow.
Do you have any clue about your future after you graduate? Or just not want to talk about it? Tell us in the comments below.
Photo: Dave Herholz / Flickr
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