Graduated, now what?

Graduated, now what?

Congratulations! You’re a new graduate and you might be asking yourself, ‘Now what?’. Graduation can be very disorientating. From a young age, all you’ve known is an academic system. You’re now having to adjust and explore life without that structure. This can leave you with a set of expectations of what you’d like to happen and some uncertainty about how things will go.

Here are a few reminders to encourage you that you have what it takes to succeed already:

Carry on learning

Knowing how to learn will aid you in all professions and paths. You’ve already gained skills such as how to listen to others, understanding goals, analyzing problems and so on. The agility you gained and ability to go through different situations and see multiple perspectives will support you and help you succeed in your future endeavors.

Keep up with your network

You already have connections in the real world- your fellow graduates! More so, in our digital society, using platforms like LinkedIn and The Dots has made making new connections or learning from the journeys of others much easier. You can reach out to those who have already walked the path you want to follow. Also, asking questions on the post of someone you admire or would like to work with can create a new connection. You can also network with other UAL graduates on our private channel on The Dots.

Your ‘You’ Is now more solidified

We always keep learning and growing, that’s true. However, by graduation, you’ve already experienced a lot and hopefully understand yourself more than when you were younger. Higher education can place more responsibilities on you and can teach you self-reliance. Although job hunts and starting businesses can be a scary experience, remember to try and do the right thing for yourself.

Always remember that life is all about learning. If you want to move forward, you have to make mistakes and learn from them. Expecting perfection of yourself will only make you let yourself down. Part of life and the real world is to make mistakes and improve yourself and most importantly, remain open to what could happen.

If you need help on your career journey, our team is here to support you. Find out more about the opportunities open to you on our webpages.