According to statistics, undergraduate degrees accounted for almost 60% of these, while postgraduate degrees accounted for nearly 40%. The statistics presented above demonstrates how competitive the job market may be for those seeking their first graduate job.
You may have worked hard for years to get high grades. You probably imagined that once you graduated from university, your life would be easier. A substantial percentage of university students choose a non-vocational degree (e.g. Business Management, Politics, History, Literature). Sciences, engineering, computing, and medicine are just a few examples of vocational degrees. Vocational degrees are customized to a specific occupation and are best suited to academic areas with defined career trajectories.
Individuals who finish a non-vocational degree may not necessarily have particular career goals, which may make job searching more difficult. Many people discover that a good degree is no longer sufficient to secure a graduate employment. Companies are increasingly searching for candidates with prior work experience as well as the ability to demonstrate soft skills such as time management, organization, critical thinking, and great communication abilities.
In the post-pandemic era, an increasing number of businesses provide flexible and remote working options. As a result, they are able to recruit from a broader geographical area. As a company can contact more candidates, competition for each job is likely to increase.
Treat it like a project
Consider your job hunt to be a project. You might find it useful to make a spreadsheet and keep track of the specifics of your job applications. You may keep track of where you found the job you’re applying for, the date you submitted your application, the status of your application, when you intend to follow up, and so on. If you locate a relevant vacancy, apply as soon as possible. If recruiters get a significant number of applications, they may close applications sooner than the specified closing date. By applying early, you can avoid missing out on crucial job chances.
You might like to visit the jobs.ac.uk platform to keep informed about professional and support roles within the UK Higher Education sector and globally. According to recent research, the UK Higher Education sector supports more than 815,000 jobs in England. If you would like to work in the sector, there are lots of exciting career options you could choose from.
Quality matters
You may be tempted to submit generic applications in order to save time. A tailored CV and cover letter can take a few hours for most people. Remember that employers can readily detect if you have submitted generic application materials. Make sure you thoroughly read the job description and application criteria, and that you send tailored materials for each job you apply for. You might find it useful to have a buddy proofread your documents and provide ideas for improvements. If you have no significant employment experience, you could consider volunteering. This would allow you to obtain significant work experience, improve your CV, and make professional contacts.
You might end up being offered a job at the place where you are volunteering.
Complete further studies
A Ph.D. could open some ‘doors’ for you: working as a post-doc, a university lecturer, accepting a position in industry, being a business consultant, or becoming an entrepreneur. According to the University of Plymouth, people complete a PhD for a number of reasons: becoming an expert in their chosen field, engaging in research, and expanding their network. Your studies could provide you with the opportunity to become part of a closely-knit academic community and dive deep into your area of interest.
A master’s degree could accelerate your career progress and demonstrate expertise in a chosen field. It could be a stepping stone to doctorate studies. According to the 2018-19 Graduate Outcomes survey carried out by HESA, graduates and postgraduates are likely to be working or completing further study 15 months after leaving university. Postgraduates are 11% more likely to be in full-time employment compared to those with a bachelor’s degree.
Be flexible
Have you submitted a number of applications with no luck? You might be submitting applications to some of the most competitive employers. Well-known private-sector businesses who offer higher graduation wages typically receive a higher volume of applications, and competition for these positions may be tough. It may be beneficial to diversify your applications. Consider some smaller businesses outside of the popular London neighborhood. In terms of pay expectations, try to be as flexible as possible. Put all of your eggs in one basket. Examine a variety of sectors and industries rather than focusing on a single specialized professional specialty.
It may be beneficial to examine your soft skills and determine how you may develop in each area. If you have trouble giving presentations, you could join your local Toastmasters club to become a more confident public speaker. Do you want to enhance your interviewing skills? You might ask a friend or family member to help you practice mock interviews. Do you have any technological talents that could help your applications? You might study new information technology skills from the convenience of your own home.
Network
While looking for jobs online is a fantastic option, you might also attend face-to-face career fairs. There are numerous career fairs and events where you can present yourself to recruiters. Maintain communication with your university’s career services department. They may be able to provide you with career counseling, tips on how to improve your applications, and information on forthcoming job fairs.