What to do once you've graduated
Page 3 of 5
Azure blue sea lapping gently at your feet under a hazy tropical sky. Who could resist the idea of relaxing after finals?
Taking time out for a holiday or to travel the world can be an excellent idea, but make sure you have thought about:
- What you want to do, achieve, learn
- What your resources are, what the financial implications will be for you
- What happens next, think about what you will do when you get back, before you go!
Employers vary enormously in their attitudes to time out. Some will allow you to defer a job for a year if you can demonstrate that it will add value, for example, by learning a language or developing other skills. Some employers will also accept recent graduates who have taken a year out to travel/work if it can be seen as relevant. Usually, the more graduates a company employs each year, the more likely it is to allow a deferment.
Time now for a reality check. Most surveys indicate that graduates are leaving university with heavy debts. Only one in ten new graduates left university without owing money borrowed during their period of study with the average debt rising almost year on year.
