Graduates: how to avoid being unemployed after University

Graduates are finding that the job opportunities they expected to be waiting for them after years of study are not as plentiful as they had hoped.

The feeling of graduating and not having a job or getting that email from the company you went to for an interview saying "sorry you are not successful this time around" is somthing I'm very familiar with. 

I graduated in 2014 and was jobless for months. It can be really depressing and frustrating but I didn't give up. I kept on applying till I eventually got my long awaited response. 

It’s important to remember that you have to keep going, don't take job rejections personally, keep applying and applying till you succeed. 

To avoid months of unemployment after graduating, here are 4 useful tips:

1. Focus

Most graduate jobs now ask for people with a first class or minimum of 2:1. This requirement alone prevents a lot of graduates from applying for jobs because they have a 2:2 which isn't good enough for most companies. 

So please guys in your final year, forget about the house parties, clubbing, travelling etc. You need to focus, the library should be your best friend. Don't miss any lectures, get your coursework/dissertation checked and build a relationship with your lecturers in order to achieve tje required grade.

2. Networking

Do a lot of research about the industry you're looking to go into after university. I'm not talking about the stuff you read in textbook, I mean real life research. Speak to people who are already in the industry. 

Invest a considerable amount of time in networking. Some examples of networking include using professional social networks like LinkedIn, BeKnown in addition to joining and becoming an active member of relevant professional associations. 

The aim of networking is to develop contacts, put yourself on the radar of potential employers and participate in professional development activities.

3. Experience

Graduates with little or no experience in their new field of qualification often find it difficult to secure an entry level position

If you're in your second year, you should definitely consider getting a year(of relevant) experience before completing your final year. I know some university courses offer this and it's called a sandwich course. 

A company will consider someone who has experience first before they even look at what degree you have. It shows them that you have taken the initiative and therefore know what you are doing. The degree is good but they prefer someone with practical experience over theory. 

I have a friend who studied Construction management but could not find a job. He decided to start learning about Computer systems. He then volunteered to work for an IT company and after a year he decided he was ready to apply for a proper graduate IT position. Now bear in mind, he has a degree in construction engineering and not computer science. He applied for the job and off course there were other computer science graduates also at the interview. Fortunately a day after the interview the company offered him the job. 

Don't get me wrong your acquiring a degree is good but getting a practical experience is just as important.

4. CV Check

Get your CV checked by career advisers, most universities now have this service available. Start your

job search as early as possible. Don't wait till you finish your last exam before you start looking. Do a lot of research, apply for as many graduate schemes as possible.

Remember the competition will be higher when you finish exams because national and international students will be finishing exams at the same time and will be applying for the same jobs. In some cases, graduates from the previous year will also be trying to apply for the same jobs. Applying early means less competition.

Good luck guys! If this helped you or you have any questions, let me know in the comment box below or send me an email. My email address is Bimtoria@gmail.com

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