Life After Graduation
Graduating can be both an exciting and a slightly nervous time. In a climate where students are considering their options ever more closely, we want to provide you with additional information about some of the opportunities available.
During your time at the University of Huddersfield you will have acquired many skills that will stand you in good stead for getting a job. An impressive 94% of our undergraduate students are either in employment or go on to further study within six months’ of graduating which is above the national average, and their average starting salary is £18,300. We’re also one of the UK’s top ten providers of sandwich courses.
Graduation opens up a world of possibilities. Your next step may be seeking employment, studying, travelling, volunteering, or just taking a break after all that hard work.
Advice and guidance
There are a number of resources available to help plan your next step:
• University careers service - Offers a range of information, professional advice and guidance services post-graduation helping to access job vacancies and other opportunities at local or national level.
• Direct.gov - Practical advice on creating a great CV, available online at www.careersadvice.direct.gov.uk.
• Prospects.ac.uk - The UK’s official graduate careers website offering graduate jobs, careers advice and guidance and Prospects Planner, a career planning tool to help match your skills and interests to types of jobs, available online at www.prospects.ac.uk.
Finding a job
To stand out above the competition, you will need to research jobs, prepare for interviews thoroughly and take every opportunity to gain experience and build your CV.
The University careers service is the first stop for graduate jobs. National graduate job vacancy websites are another useful source for vacancies. You can register online for job alerts by email with the following websites:
• Prospects: www.prospects.ac.uk
• Milkround: www.milkround.com
• Targetjobs: www.targetjobs.co.uk
• Guardian jobs: http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/jobs/graduate/
Temporary and permanent employment
In a competitive market it is essential to apply widely and consider employment in a variety of sectors. Entry-level positions allow you to develop employability skills and build your CV. Regional recruitment agencies and local and regional press are a useful source of temporary and permanent jobs in offices, call centres and so on. The following national recruitment websites are another useful resource:
• Fish4: www.fish4.co.uk/jobs
• Monster: www.monster.co.uk
• Total Jobs: www.totaljobs.com
Self Employment
Self-employment is a route that many Graduates are choosing to take. You can get advice from the University Careers Service or find out more information at the following websites:
• The National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship (NCGE) - Runs the Flying Start programme that consists of rallies, residential programmes and an online community. www.ncge.com
• Business Link - A range of support and advice online. Including the Grants and Support Directory that allows you to search for potential sources of help with starting up or business development. www.businesslink.gov.uk
Working in the public sector
Many employment opportunities exist within the public sector and this can often be a great starting point when beginning a job search. Job roles within public sector organisations are often diverse and cover many different career paths. Make sure you consider the following organisations when searching for employment:
• Local Government - If you want to investigate a career in Local Government visit www.lgjobs.com or have a look at the opportunities in your area
• Police - You’ll find full details on this website www.policecouldyou.co.uk
• The NHS - Find out how you could put your degree to good use at www.whatcanidowithmydegree.nhs.uk/
• The Armed Forces - Offer a diverse range of careers for graduates. Find out more at: www.armyjobs.mod.uk/education/GraduateOpportunities
www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers
www.raf.mod.uk/careers
Teaching options
PGCE
Your first stop when investigating a career in teaching should be thePostgraduate certificate in education (PGCE). A PGCE course mainly focuses on developing your teaching skills, and not on the subject you intend to teach. For more details visit www.tda.gov.uk
Teach First
Teach First offer a two-year training programme for top graduates who wouldn’t normally enter the teaching profession. This involves a commitment to teach in challenging secondary schools in London, the North West and the Midlands. After two years, you’ll achieve Qualified Teacher Status (same as PGCE) and a Masters. For more information and to complete the application form, go to www.teachfirst.org.uk/.
Other Teaching Options
• For aspiring teachers who don’t want to go back to the university classroom, School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) is a way of achieving Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) via programmes designed and delivered by groups of neighbouring schools and colleges. You can apply through the Graduate Teacher Training Registry at www.gttr.ac.uk
• The Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP) is another on-the-job training programme that allows graduates to qualify as a teacher while they work. On the GTP you will be employed by a school, earn a salary and work towards QTS at the same time. Information on GTP can be found in the Get Into Teaching and Teacher Training sections on the Training and Development Agency (TDA) website at www.tda.gov.uk
Graduate Talent Pool
Graduate Talent Pool is a new service that matches graduates with internship opportunities. On this site you can search and apply for internship vacancies posted by employers.
Getting an internship through Graduate Talent Pool is one way of building on the skills you gained at university. It can also give you real life work experience, let you try your hand at a possible career, and prove yourself to a potential employer. Visit http://graduatetalentpool.direct.gov.uk/ for more information.
Work experience
Work experience, before, during or after graduation, will provide you with evidence of the skills employers look for when recruiting for permanent positions. All forms of work experience, whether short term, long term, paid or unpaid, can demonstrate your commitment to your chosen career. More information about work experience opportunities can be found on the Prospects website
Postgraduate Qualifications
The University of Huddersfield offers a fantastic range of postgraduate qualifications and these can be a perfect way to carry on with your education and build upon the skills you have developed throughout your undergraduate degree course.
A postgraduate degree could:
• Boost your employability
• Provide you with professional accreditation to enter your chosen career
• Enable you to study your degree subject in more depth
• Allow you to study a new subject
• Be a natural step towards an academic career
Find out more about the postgraduate courses we offer at the University of Huddersfield.
Volunteering
Many students go on to volunteer after graduating and this can be either in the UK or overseas. Graduates can often provide much needed skills in areas where you are most required but you can also help by providing an extra pair of hands in an area you may not have worked before. To find out more about volunteering opportunities, visit some of the following websites:
Volunteering England - www.volunteering.org.uk
Vinspired – www.vinspired.com
VSO UK – www.vso.org.uk/volunteer
The Guardian - www.guardian.co.uk/society/volunteering
Do It – www.do-it.org.uk
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