Graduating this summer? Your careers support doesn't stop here

24 June 2021

Not found a graduate job yet? Plans changed due to Covid-19? Caroline Egan, Alumni Careers Manager, writes about the careers support that is available to all of our Undergraduate finalists this summer and beyond. 

Finishing your degree is a big step and it’s normal to feel a bit confused, worried or even overwhelmed by the prospect of finding your first proper job, especially in the post Covid-19 graduate job market.

Finding a graduate job that’s right for you - for the foreseeable future - is a process that always takes time, but it’s particularly important this year to make a start and not just hope it will resolve itself without some effort. Remember, in spite of these economically uncertain times, there are still great job and internship opportunities for graduates, and positive steps you can take to build your employability skills to increase your chances of success when applying for future jobs.

Here are some tips to deal with the immediate future post-graduation:

  • Transition: It’s especially important to treat the period ahead as one of transition and manage your expectations of yourself in the current circumstances. Focus on building your transferrable skills: there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer at the moment, which will reflect well on you as well as giving you valuable proof of communication and people skills. Working in hospitality such as bars and restaurants (currently experiencing difficulty in recruiting staff) teaches emotional intelligence. Sales and call centre jobs demonstrate resilience and potential in business development.
  • Timing: Be realistic about the time it may take to get a paid or graduate job. Although the job market is improving, you may find that due to the pandemic it takes longer than normal to find a job.
  • Manage yourself and your expectations: Don’t compare yourself with others – focus on your own career plan and where you want to be. As the saying goes, ‘life is a marathon, not a sprint’ and if you persevere, you will eventually emerge stronger from this period of adversity.
  • Be flexible: It's likely that your plans have changed due to the pandemic. Look for the opportunities arising as a result of Covid-19 and make sure you know which sectors are growing, such as Tech, E-commerce (and associated packaging and delivery companies), Pharma, Food retailing, Telecomms, Media and Home leisure. Explore openings for what you want to do in those sectors.
  • Remember, you’re just deciding on your first step, not committing yourself to one thing for the rest of your life. In fact, it’s becoming the norm for people to change jobs and even careers a number of times during their working life.

Extra careers support this summer

If you don’t have any plans yet for after graduation, or your plans have had to change due to Covid-19, we in Careers are here to support you.

  • Email guidance via wbs.ug.careers@warwick.ac.uk
  • One-to-one online/video career coaching appointments arranged via emailing wbs.ug.careers@warwick.ac.uk
  • Comprehensive online careers resources from CareersPlus, available here
  • A series of webinars and online events (including our summer webinars, see below).

'Step Towards Career Success' summer webinars

Summer is fast approaching but have you made any career plans? If you missed these webinars, focusing on how to make the most of your opportunities from work experience to additional courses alongside how to prepare for the 2021/2022 application season, contact wbs.ug.careers@warwick.ac.uk for recordings. 

Undergraduate Careers Bootcamp

Do you want to improve your chances of being successful for graduate opportunities? Do you want to get ahead of the competition and learn the key skills needed for every stage of the recruitment process?

Join us at the WBS CareersPlus Undergraduate Bootcamp (31 August - 3 September 2021) where we will cover every aspect of the recruitment process, career planning and networking followed by a final stage Assessment Centre. All of our sessions are interactive and will focus on enhancing your employability, and there will be with optional one-to-one coaching sessions in the afternoons.

WBS Undergraduate students and finalists can register here.

WBS also offers lifelong career and professional development support for all of our alumni. Later in the summer, the Alumni Careers team will be in touch about ongoing careers support and how to access it.