Finishing university is a bittersweet feeling and you may have only thought about life up until your graduation ceremony. Navigating the big wide world is no easy ride and dealing with graduate blues is extremely common and runs much deeper than just missing your friends.

There are so many routes you can take after graduating and you should not be pigeonholed by society and made to feel guilty for which one you choose! Here are some myths about post-university life that we need to bust.

YOU MUST GET ON A GRADUATE SCHEME

The selection process for graduate schemes is known to be pretty demanding so if you’ve landed yourself a spot on one – well done! It’s easy to fall down a rabbit hole full of statistics about which degrees are most employable and higher-paying, but don’t allow anyone to make you feel your degree is not worthy enough.

So many companies look beyond your degree subject when applying for graduate schemes and you don’t necessarily have to begin one the same year you graduated. However, if you were unsuccessful or didn’t apply, that’s totally okay too because they’re not the be-all and end-all. There are plenty of other jobs that look for graduates and can support you with your career development.

You may find your friends are earning more than you but don’t let that stop you from figuring out your own path. Comparing yourself to others can make you feel like you’re climbing a never-ending ladder. It’s important to do your research and find out what works for you. This may be applying to companies directly, finding an internship or pursuing your side hustle.

Your first job may not be your ‘perfect’ job but who knows where it can take you!

JOB FIRST, TRAVELLING SECOND

The idea that you must jump straight into work and halt any travel plans is ridiculous. I guarantee there’ll be plenty of job opportunities waiting for you when you return home and your time away will be a great topic of conversation in interviews.

Aside from modern cliché travel destinations (Bali may or may not be one of them), there are so many places to discover that are budget-friendly and waiting to welcome you regardless of whether you’re travelling solo or in a group.

Who said travelling had to be a giant holiday either? Plenty of organisations offer ethical and meaningful opportunities to volunteer abroad (none of this voluntourism business) and experiencing another culture, meeting new people and picking up new skills are invaluable. You may even find work abroad to keep those travel funds topped up.

There is no guarantee you’re going to ‘find yourself’ either. What does ‘finding yourself’ even mean?’ Travelling is arguably one of life’s greatest experiences but it is not the mechanism by which we are supposed to figure out who we really are. Maybe you just fancy a break. 

YOU SHOULD AT LEAST HAVE A SOLID IDEA ABOUT WHAT FIELD YOU’D LIKE TO WORK IN 

I’m going to have to disagree on this one. There are a bunch of career paths that your degree may have opened up doors for, so trying to figure out which one before having any solid experience is tough.

If you’re finding it difficult to secure a job or simply want to explore different roles, I highly recommend temping. It may lead to a permanent role or you could connect with someone who can steer you in the right direction. Either way, it means you don’t have to commit and there’s more leeway to find your feet.  

It’s easy for someone else to assume what box you should be put into just by looking at the title of your degree. A degree in History, for example, doesn’t mean you have to be a teacher or work in a museum. I think many of us have even tried to pigeon hole ourselves out of fear. 

We must embrace change and be challenged rather than conforming to an ideal. There is no such thing as a perfect graduate. One size does not fit all.

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Written by Ameera Patel

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