The final year of your degree goes by so quickly- essays, dissertations, revision, finals, graduation ball and then out into the big bad world. Yet, in a year jam-packed with so much academic study, it can be hard to find the time to devote to job hunting, applications and interviews. As a result, an increasing number of graduates are putting off the job hunt until after they finish their degrees. So, what are your options if you are graduating without a job to go to? The choices can be summed up into three areas: work, travel or study. Many people end up doing a combination of the three.
A post-graduation gap year is an increasingly popular option. Not only can it be a great way to unwind after years of academic study, it can also be an opportunity to improve your employability by learning new skills. Some graduates worry that taking a year out damages their chances of finding a job. However, a well-structured gap year can make you more attractive to employers. But remember, on the other hand, a poorly planned gap year with little evidence of skills gained and lessons learnt can do the opposite. You must make sure you sell your experiences to your potential bosses.
Voluntary work abroad is a great way to make a difference and learn something at the same time. Teaching and conservation work are the most common placements available. However, there is something to suit everyone from coaching football teams to helping produce educational radio programmes. If you want to succeed at your placement you need to be self-reliant, adaptable, creative and determined - all of which are skills that employers are keen to see evidence of.
Learning another language is evidence that you have spent your time off productively. A 2001 European Commission Survey found that the UK had the lowest number of workers who had some knowledge of a second language. Sixty-five point nine percent of British adults have no knowledge of any language other than English. In an increasingly global marketplace, employers are recognising the need for staff that can communicate with colleagues across the globe. If money is tight, combine working abroad with language learning. The JET programme places graduates in paid English assistant roles in Japan. The British Council runs a programme for English language assistants in a huge range of countries from France to China. Living and working in the country means you are fully immersed in a language and consequently learn much faster than would be possible in lessons alone.
To fund your gap year or simply to earn whilst job-hunting in the UK, many graduates take on temporary work. This shouldn’t be seen as just a chore - it is an opportunity to get some real work experience under your belt and learn more about different industries. It can open your eyes to many industries and roles that you may have never considered. It can also be a chance to improve skills such as touch-typing and IT skills, as well as improving soft skills like teamwork, adaptability and communication. These are all attributes that employers want to see in candidates so keep a record of all your temporary placements to demonstrate to potential employers exactly how you’ve improved.
Don’t worry about getting stuck in temporary work. Forty percent of graduates take on non-graduate level work in the first year after graduation, but this falls to about 20% in the second year. Three and a half years after graduation, only 10% of graduates are working in non-graduate level jobs.
Postgraduate study is also another option. Six point four percent of graduates go on to study for a higher degree in the UK, but this varies enormously across degree disciplines. In 2003, 65.6% of law graduates went on to further study, followed by 42.6% of chemistry graduates, but only 2.8% of media studies graduates. Think about what your career aims are and ask yourself how a postgraduate course will help you achieve those goals.
Whatever you choose to do, it pays to keep in touch with your university careers service. If you are planning to apply for graduate training schemes with a yearly application cycle, such as City firms or the Civil Service, you should ensure that you know when the application deadline falls and when interviews are likely to be held; this will allow you to plan your gap year around them.
You have the rest of your life ahead of you to work so don’t feel pressured to join the rat race straight away. Your gap year will fly by as quickly as the final year of your degree did, so make sure you make the most of it!
INFO:
www.gapyear.com
www.jet-uk.org
www.vso.org.uk 
