The prospect of moving from student life to the world of work can be a bit daunting. There may be a number of unknowns ahead – from not knowing what you’re going to do after university to not knowing what to expect of the work environment of a graduate.

Despite the uncertainty though, there are two important things to keep in mind, if this describes how you’re feeling. 

1) you’re not alone! There will be many other students feeling  unsure about life after York

2) there are things you can do now to help you become more certain of your next steps

Here are some typical concerns of final year undergraduates and the help that’s on hand.

Not knowing what graduate job/career to aim for

Good news! If you don’t know what your career options are, Careers and Placements can help you consider possible avenues. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to have all the answers…or any answers! We can help you think through potential careers, job sectors and the steps to take.

Suggested methods of generating career ideas and then researching potential areas of interest are given on the exploring your options page. There’s 1:1 support and events to further support you to learn about your options and plan your progression.

There’s too much to think about

It can seem like career planning, developing your employability, and job hunting are a job in themselves. It’s true that some of the stages can be time-consuming and coupled with considering your options, it can be quite an overwhelming process.

The bad news may be that you can’t put off this stuff indefinitely – it has to be faced at some point. The good news, though, is you don’t have to do all this stuff all at once. Divide it up into manageable chunks. 

For instance, if you’re starting to think about possible careers, don’t immediately jump into thinking about job applications and interviews. Start with using the above tools to look at roles that might appeal to you. The mechanics of job hunting can wait a little longer.

If you’re unsure how to ‘chunk it up’, we can advise you about steps to take. Come to Careers Drop-in (Mon – Fri, 11am – 1pm in term-time) or book a First Steps appointment via Handshake.

I don’t know what to expect from a graduate job

You may have had a part-time job or undertaken some slightly more formal work experience, but are unsure of being in a more permanent job. What’s expected of you? What’s the workplace etiquette and culture? What if I have to balance hybrid working (a mix of on-site and remote working patterns)? What if I’m not good enough for the job?

These are natural concerns and worries. Your employer will be understanding and colleagues will help you settle in. Many graduate-recruiting companies will have a structured induction programme for you when you first start work.

Some of the resources listed below cover some of these issues and anxieties.

• Job hunting toolkit – including when to apply, understanding job adverts and handling rejections and job offers
• Imposter syndrome podcast – University mental health and wellbeing professionals discuss ways to deal with imposter syndrome 
• Myth busting – about career choices, job hunting, postgraduate study, and careers support
• First steps in a grad job (articles taken from TargetJobs.co.uk)
  • How to impress on the first day in a new job
  • How to do well in your first job after university: tips from graduates
  • Hybrid working and your first job: how to manage the split

So, the one thing you can be certain about – even if you’re feeling uncertain – is that there’s help on hand at every stage.