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Graduate Careers Advice

The Graduate Job-Seekers Guide

Managing The Study-to-Workplace Transition

Temping Tips for Graduates

Graduate Study Abroad

Careers in the Arts

Graduands

Personality Profiles

Professional Qualifications

Working Abroad

Going Freelance

The Study to Workplace Transition

There is an enormous difference between life at university and life in the workplace, and this can cause problems for some graduates as they struggle to settle into the routine of work. Indeed, it may be beneficial to take some time out before embarking upon full-time employment so that you can carefully consider your options and decide on where your future lies.

Consider your options

Upon graduation, you could consider taking a well-earned holiday – remember that when you start working, you will be far more restricted in your holiday entitlement and when you can take time off.

Universities overseas offer scholarships to graduates, which could enable you to broaden your cultural horizons and participate in interesting and valuable research projects. Information on such schemes is available from the Embassy of the country you wish to travel to, and it is important to plan ahead so that you ensure that you do not to miss any application deadlines.

However, you may decide that you are in fact ready to enter the world of work, and The CV Centre has further information on job hunting for graduates in other articles on this website.

Top tips

Once you have been accepted for a position, you then have to make sure that you are fully prepared to start your new job.

The position you have accepted may require you to relocate so before you start you need to find somewhere to live. Bearing in mind that you may have been used to the support of living in university accommodation, you may want to consider the possibility of house sharing with other recent graduates to help make the transition from student life to work life a smoother process. Alternatively, if you want your independence, it is important that you carefully consider your budget before choosing accommodation. Remember to ensure your safety when either viewing properties or meeting potential flatmates – you could consider taking someone with you or at least making sure that people know where you are going.

If possible, avoid finding a first job that involves a long commute to work. This can be exhausting, can add a considerable amount of time to your working day and can also be costly. Walking to work can give you valuable exercise while also allowing you to unwind before and after work.

Effectively managing your workload

Consider taking notes when you first start your job so that you can record all the important details of your role, which will help you to organise and prioritise your daily workload. Make sure that you take the breaks that you are entitled to as this can help you to remain productive and ensure that you produce high-quality work at all times.

The work-life balance

There is a more detailed article on achieving the ideal work-life balance available on The CV Centre website but this can be a particularly important consideration for graduates. Often, you will have been used to the flexibility of student life and may have trouble integrating into a formal, more structured working environment where it is much less acceptable to be late for meetings and appointments than it may have been at university. So it may be useful to curb your socialising a little and perhaps restrict heavy nights out to the weekends. Although you will be really keen to make a positive first impression, you will not do yourself any favours if you try to push yourself too hard – maintaining a healthy balance between working and the pursuit of leisure activities is the best way of ensuring that you are able to work productively.

The prospect of entering the work place is daunting for everybody and can seem especially so for graduates. Just remember the invaluable skills and knowledge you acquired at university and do your best to transfer these into the workplace while also remembering that all work and no play is not always the best way to succeed.