Monday 26-04-2021 - 16:51

Written by Awo Abdi, BAME Ambassador.

 

Job hunting is a struggle we’ve heard enough about, but what if you’re unsure on what you even want to go into? Being uncertain about your next steps after graduating is a feeling many students are all too familiar with. Whether you initially had an idea during your studies and are now having doubts or you’ve never been quite certain on any specific path – it’s bound to be something of concern to you but remember this is normal and more common than not.

So, what can you do to ensure you’re not limiting yourself and making use of all your possible options?

Here are some things to consider when making these decisions:

 

1. Consider which spaces you would best fit in to:

It’s important to not focus on passion only but to consider where your intrinsic strengths lie, and which fields best suit your personality? It’s easy to overlook certain roles due to lack of exposure however personality tests can direct you.
When you discover which traits of yours are most prominent, you can use them to research which roles you’d excel the most in. For example, if you’re an inquisitive, creative and structured person - marketing could be well suited to you amongst other things.

 

2. Don’t assume your degree limits you to one field:

Studies show half of UK graduates enter fields that are unrelated to their degree. More than half change their path before the age of 24. This shows how your degree can be valuable beyond what you’ve learnt. In many industries transferable skills are deemed attractive as you will eventually be trained anyway. So, look at the options your degree directly provides, but don’t be afraid to cast your net wide too.

 

3. Research the skills and requirements needed:

Don’t underestimate the power of networking and asking people in fields of interest to you for some tips. You’ll discover things that are much more valuable than what you’d find online. Ask for the main skills that are needed, what the job structure is like, how to make yourself look good on application, etc. When you know what these things are you can work on building yourself to be fit for several roles.

 

4. Don’t neglect your ‘why’:

Although following passions alone isn’t always feasible, be sure to ask yourself what drives you, as a career is far more important than financial stability alone. You may not start out in the perfect position for you but by knowing what you enjoy will mean you’re more inclined to succeed and strive for better.

Check out this quick Ted Talks by Simon Sinek to further understand your ‘why’.

 

5. Consider which downsides you can handle:

“The quality of your life is not determined by the quality of your positive experiences but the quality of your negative experiences.” — Mark Manson.
No job is a perfect fit regardless of how much you love what you do. In fact, choosing a role where you can overcome the obstacles due to the positive elements outweighing them is how you know you chose the right path for you. Therefore, it’s important to list the parts of a role you know you absolutely require to thrive and then weigh out whether the sacrifices needed are worth it. Will you be happy doing it if it means your day to day life won’t have structure? Are team-based tasks how you work best? Ask yourself these types of questions to ensure you’re as realistic as possible with your future.

 

6. Believe in yourself:

This one sounds obvious however a lack of self-assuredness can greatly limit you in career prospects. This especially applies if you’ve imagined yourself in a position that you’d like but thought that you weren’t good or capable enough for it. No role is inaccessible with hard work, but the first step is to genuinely believe it’s a possibility for you. Find out the steps needed and get them done.

 

Hopefully if you’ve made it this far there is a thing or two you can take from this. Overall, it’s important to remember that this is natural part of life and there’s no one set way of progressing through life. You have your own unique timeline of how and when things happen for you. Be bold with your choices and don’t be afraid of being met with hardships.

 

Find out more about the amazing work being done by the BAME Ambassadors and for regular updates and exclusive content, make sure to follow @mmubame on Instagram.