Graduates and work
by paula.fox@haymarket.com, Brand Republic, 19/6/2008
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Leaving college and entering the world of work is a massive change. At this time graduates may be worrying about paying off student loans, overdrafts and feeling pressure to get paid work, yet feeling a need for time and space to adjust to the change.
It is common at this time to take a year to go travelling or return home to live with parents to keep costs down. Returning home to live with parents can be difficult having been independent at college, and subtly increase the pressure to get work under the verbal or silent gaze of parents who come from a different generation with more rigid career paths and perhaps stronger work ethic and loyalty to employers.
It can be easier for graduates who have known what they want to do since being a child, did a specialist course with a clear career path, or a college course which included a work placement and so already have work experience under their belt. Don't worry if you don't know what you want to do yet, it's a big decision that's worth spending time getting right.
Careers advice at school and college can be patchy, very broad rather than focused on your course/need and may come at a time when the pressure is on to study for and pass exams. Just when graduates are ready to think about their career, it's the end of the final year and it's too late.
