10 tips for the Class of 2022
1. Take time to relax and celebrate
Graduation is a time to celebrate your achievements, and completing a degree is a massive achievement! It’s important to take time to relax, enjoy your celebrations, and if you haven’t gone straight into further study, find time to do the things you might have neglected during dissertation stress.
2. Don’t forget to access your career support
Whether you’re looking for your first job or you’ve got a CV as long as your arm, asking for expert career advice is never a bad idea. As one of our graduates, you have lifelong career support, including one-to-one career appointments.
You can:
- Browse exclusive jobs on LaunchPad Online
- Book a career appointment via email or LaunchPad Online
- Discover industry tips and events on LaunchPad Online
Find out more about your graduate careers support on our website.
3. Connect with others on LinkedIn
LinkedIn is the place to network, discover industry information and even find out useful tips and tricks! You can also join our alumni group where we post jobs, advice, alumni benefits and invite alumni contributions too.
Not sure where to start?
- Not sure what LinkedIn is all about, or its benefits? The National Careers Service has advice.
- Here are some tips on setting up the perfect LinkedIn profile
- Not sure what to use LinkedIn for? Be inspired with these tips and tricks
- Don’t know who to connect with? Start with key industry leaders and go from there!
4. Have confidence and dream bigger
Alumnus Neil studied with us before embarking on a career he hadn’t planned for!
Not all of us are lucky enough to have a clear vision of what we want to do. So be prepared to research options and see where your interests and skills can be applied. Make use of the specialist careers advice services that are open to you as a graduate. You don’t have to do this on your own. You may find out the advice you receive sends you off on a career path you may never have thought about.
Neil Allen, from our September 2022 blog.
5. Don’t compare yourself to others
It can be so easy to see friends, influencers or just people you see online thriving in their chosen careers. But that doesn’t mean that the same won’t happen for you too. Remember to work at your own pace, realise that the grass isn’t always greener, and that for everyone you envy, there’s probably someone doing the same about your life too!
6. Be prepared to adapt to change, and enjoy it!
Alumnus Andrew saw his career change a lot from what he originally intended:
Pay attention to the development of your generic/transferable skills and maintain a summary of your progress in them. Many employers seek those skills. Don’t underestimate yourself and be prepared to cast your net fairly widely.
Andrew McLean, from our October 2022 blog.
7. Anything is possible.
Alumna Eleanor gave this advice for anyone looking to start their own business, but we think it applies for most things post graduation.
Anything is possible. But make a start now and don’t put it off. You’ll be amazed at the amount of experience and important business-related skills you learn simply from trial and error by yourself. It’s really not as scary or as complicated as you may think. Just break things down into a step-by-step action plan and make a start on that journey today.
Eleanor Tomlinson, from her March 2022 blog.
8. Don’t forget about your alumni discount
Learning is a lifelong journey. That’s why all of our alumni get 10% off most postgraduate courses, no matter how long it’s been since you last studied with us.
Since you’re a new graduate, you could be eligible for up to 50% off your next degree with us, depending on what you last achieved with us and what you want to study. This includes eligible courses at our London campus too.
Whether you decide to return next year or next decade, if you’re thinking about postgraduate study, make sure to check out our course pages.
9. Never stop learning
You might have sworn of further study (for now) or already have started a postgraduate course, but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn things for fun, or for your career.
- FutureLearn is a platform with a range of free courses. From the history of royal fashion to marketing essentials, if you’d like to learn something on your own terms, FutureLearn might have the answer!
- The Open University also has a range of free courses, including the MoneySavingExpert’s Academy of Money course.
- Don’t be scared to try out new things, like art classes or BSL. You can find out more about our short courses on our website.
10. Remember your career is a journey, not a destination.
When you graduate, it can feel like there’s a lot of pressure to secure your dream job with your dream salary. But life doesn’t always pan out like that. Besides, if you secure your dream job, what next? If you can’t secure it straight away, that doesn’t mean you can’t and shouldn’t celebrate the jobs you have along the way.
Just remember to enjoy the journey you’re on, even when it’s unexpected!
If you need help accessing your alumni benefits, please email alumni@yorksj.ac.uk. If you need to update your details with us, please complete this short form.
