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Tips on university and beyond
20 August 2009
University students
- Your child is likely to be far more interested in socialising and having fun, especially in the first year or two, than considering what they are going to do after university. Appreciate that they need to enjoy their experience but also encourage them to actively consider their career, making the most of all the opportunities they can
- Most universities have very helpful careers services. Even if they’re only in their first year its worth them looking at the information for career ideas or chatting through some options with an advisor
- Encourage your child to involve themselves in as many extra-curricular activities as possible. Whether its joining a society or sports team or mentoring other students, these will look great on their CV as well as being opportunities for fun and new friends
- Work experience placements are a great way for students to gain the skills and experience that employers value. Suggest to your child that they contact local companies about a placement. Even if its just a couple of weeks in the summer holidays this shows them to be proactive and motivated as well as giving them a chance to test out possible careers
- Graduate schemes in top companies fill up fast- some start recruiting as early as September. Make sure your child realises that they need to be looking throughout their final year, if not before, if they want to secure a place- especially since they are increasingly limited and competitive in the current climate
Graduates
- Leaving university can be a difficult time, for both graduates and their families. Your child may be unhappy that university is over and be missing their friends and independence if they’ve moved home. This can lead to tensions so take time to talk to them about their feelings as well as establishing ‘ground rules’ such as how they are expected to contribute to the household
- When jobs are in short supply and options appear limited, many graduates will benefit from discussions with you or another friend or family member where they can talk through their strengths and interests and together think of areas they can apply them to
- Most university career services remain open over summer and continue to offer support to graduates. Make sure your child knows they can still use this service for advice and help with crucial areas such as CV writing
- Help them in their job hunt by offering to read over their CVs and covering letters for spelling and grammar errors
- When applying for a job, researching the company you are applying to is crucial. Encourage your child to do this and demonstrate their knowledge in your application and interview. This will show that they are serious about their application, understand the role and are willing to make an effort
- If they are struggling to find a job encourage them to at least be doing something with their time. Whether its working at their old university summer job or offering their services as a volunteer, employers will look more favourably upon graduates who don’t have a large gap on their CV
- Internships and work experience placements are a great way to gain valuable experience. They are also an opportunity to test out an area of interest, make contacts and increase confidence
- Many graduates are seeing post-graduate study as a more attractive option than the challenging job market. Post-graduate courses are expensive however and not funded in the same way as an undergraduate degree so you need to make clear how much financial support you are prepared to give and ensure your child has considered how they will support themselves
- Don’t give up! It’s easy with all the gloomy headlines in the news for young people to feel that it is not worth even bothering to look for a job. There are jobs out there though. The internet is an excellent place to search for ideas and vacancies and they can also try signing up to recruitment agencies and contacting companies directly. Encourage them to have a positive outlook and keep trying, they’ll get there eventually!
Useful Websites
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/index.htm
Information about options for 14-19-year-olds, university, graduate careers and postgraduate study as well as explanations of different qualifications
http://www.prospects.ac.uk
Search graduate jobs and post-graduate study options, find information on possible careers, match your interests and strengths to jobs and get tips on CV writing, applications and interviews
http://www.milkround.com
Search site for graduate jobs with articles and advice
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