More and more graduates are facing a confusing time when they leave university and have to start searching for a job. Careers advisers are calling it the quarter-life crisis; symptoms include a deep feeling of uncertainty about what to do with your life and slight resentment towards the people who convinced you that university was the only way to guarantee getting a decent job. These graduates are realising that a degree alone is not a passport to the best jobs and, what's more, they have thousands of pounds of debt to think about. However, graduates do still earn more than employees without a degree (see our recent news article here), and are more likely to be promoted to higher-paid positions, but the real challenge is in securing the first entry-level graduate role.
If you are feeling like a victim of this condition, then, as we always suggest, your careers advice service should be the first point of call. Even if you have graduated, most will still see you for a year or so after you've finished. They can help you to assess your skills and weigh up what sort of work you might find enjoyable - this is essential before you even begin your job hunt. If you start applying for the wrong kinds of posts, you are more likely to face rejection.
Does this sound all sound familiar to you? If you are reading this and feeling entirely de-motivated about your career progress, then express it here! You can share your opinion with the other thousands of students and graduates that visit us by leaving a comment below. You are not alone - the graduate job market is tough, but with the right advice and some persistence you will soon see the rewards.
