Making the right decision
The idea of having one career or profession that you choose at graduation and stay with for life is increasingly rare. You will come back and review your choice many times during your life. You may come to different conclusions and take new directions as your career unfolds. In order to make a good career choice, you need:
- A clear understanding of your self: skills, hopes, ambitions, personality and limitations.
- A good understanding of the range of careers/occupations available, the work done, prospects, etc.
- The ability to match your skills with the opportunities out there
- To take account of the unique factors and circumstances that affect you individually such as debt, family pressures, and other influences.
Most people find choosing the right career direction hard. There are so many options and inside knowledge of the real nature of many jobs is limited. Accurate self-assessment is essential in order to create a convincing CV, handle job applications and to interview well.
The information and activities in the Graduate Career Handbook are designed to help you through this process.
These were some of the answers to a research project based at UMIST, University of Manchester, University of Salford and Manchester Metropolitan University.
Q: When and how did you decide what type of occupation you want?
Mark: BSc (Hons) Mathematics: Final year
I have not fully decided exactly what career I want. I would like a job that involves computers and my mathematical knowledge. As yet, I have not applied for any jobs . I am really keen to get a 2:1 or even a first. So, I don't want to spend my time filling out application forms, researching the companies and going for interviews. I want to get the best degree I can because this will give me more chance to get the job I want.
Rebecca: BSc (Hons) Biology
I wrote to a local NHS Trust asking if I could work shadow someone as I was thinking of a career in Healthcare Management having read about it in Prospects HE. I spent several days following a NHS Trust Manager at her work: I went to meetings, observed her interviewing and helped in a small research project. This certainly gave me a flavour of the work - and something to talk about at interviews!
Lucy: BA (Hons) Modern Languages
I took a Management option in my second year, which led me to thinking about a commercial role, perhaps in marketing. I got a place on the Guinness Marketing Placement for my summer vacation. This was useful in that it showed me that I was not at all suited to marketing. Contact with recent graduates in finance and some further research has now helped to decide on accountancy.
Sona: BA (Hons) History: Graduate Trainee Scheme
I was thrilled to get a job with a well-known international company with a blue chip reputation. I joined a graduate-training programme in the purchasing function and was thrown in at the deep end. I had a real job and real responsibility from day one, which was challenging and at times very stressful. My manager has a key role in helping me to learn which has had its ups and downs, given he is often away form the office or very busy. I gained a great deal from a three-month secondment 'on the road' with a sales team. Exposure to other functions has only helped to confirm that I made a good choice of career with plenty of scope to specialise later on.
Gary: MSc Human Resource Management
I deliberately chose to study to MSc level to raise my chances of getting a job with one of the best known management consultant firms. I was successful and started work in August 1999. I can't describe the pressure and responsibility I have been given. Everyone works endless hours, very few leave before 9 p.m. at night and I often worked through the weekends. My boss is hardly as boss at all…at least not what I expected. We are on first name terms, I am left to plan my own work schedule and have control of budgets worth over £250,000. This is a real test, I am learning a lot and at times the adrenaline buzz is amazing. It won't last though. I'll give myself two years then I'll need to get out - if you don't you burn out. Still I'm glad I've done it - now I know what I'm made of!
Some career guidance information for undergraduates/recent graduates:
Self assessment/careers guidance/online career-path tests: Saville Holdsworth site, leading test publisher: www.shldirect.com
Your local HE Careers Advisory Service can provide:
- Help in self-evaluation career tests such as Prospects HE
- Prospects Focus series
- Occupational advice booklets
- Specialist professional information booklets
- Higher Education CAS publications
- Careers advice: some offer psychometric testing, interviews, workshops
This material has been taken from the Graduate Career Handbook, published under the FTPH imprint © Pearson Education Ltd
