How to Prepare forWork Finding After Graduating

It's a tough old world out there. Getting a job isn't easy as the rest of the population scrambles over every going vacancy. As much as you'd hoped your degree does not guarantee a flush job with plenty of pay and prospects. This exceptionally jarring due to everyone's parents and schools saying otherwise. It will soon become apparent that even getting a job in a call centre will not be easy. There's no way round it. Employers are constantly having to decide between qualifications and experience. To combat this you need to use your time at university to prepare.

The first suggestion is a fairly obvious one. Employers want work experience so it would be great if you could have some along with your degree. Many students put this off and suggest that their grades will drop if they take on a part-time job. This is of course a valid concern as it can be hard to find a part-time job that is suitable for your studies.

This doesn't mean you should just write off the idea completely. Searching out a job for the first month of the year and then giving up is just foolish. Always keep an eye out in local papers, websites and the university vacancies page. There will often be little posts popping up aimed specifically for students. Any job will do. Even working at McDonalds is going to help.

There are a wealth of clubs and societies offered at universities. You should take advantage of this. They don't usually take up much of your time and they can be great fun. There is usually something for everyone. You'll also be able to meet like-minded people to make your time at uni a little more bearable.

If, by some chance, there is nothing that takes your fancy then you can always setup up your own club or society. This will be a great example to use an interview to show off your ingenuity, organisational skills problem solving abilities.

It is also a good idea to keep your ear to the ground for local events that may need volunteers. This can range from marathons to concerts. You'll be able to learn some very valuable skills that will do wonders for the CV in the future.

Finally, volunteering for charity is always going to look good. You can organise your own charitable event, collect donations or work in a shop. These types of things can often be quite flexible so you won't have to worry too much about disrupting your studies.

At the end of it all though, your degree obviously comes first. If it starts to suffer then consider cutting down on your extra activities. Just think about what is going to look better on your CV. A 2;1 with five extra-curricular things or a first with 4 extras? The choice shouldn't be hard.