Graduate Advice

AgencyCentral are pleased to be in partnership with The CV Centre, the UK's leading CV consultancy, in bringing you a helpful range of graduate advice articles.

As the immediate sense of relief at having finished your final exams begins to fade, your next challenge is probably going to be managing the transition between full-time study and a full-time job. Life as a student and life in the workplace can certainly be very different experiences, and the change can take some getting used to. However, The CV Centre has put together some hints and tips to make the transition that little bit smoother.

There are many options open to a newly qualified graduate and it can be worth considering whether you are ready to move into the workplace immediately, or whether you would like to take some time out first for one reason or another. Independent travel is of course an option, and the summer after graduation can be a good opportunity to see more of the world before your holiday quota becomes restricted by an employer. There are also numerous research grants and scholarships available for graduates; the embassies of the countries you are interested in should be able to provide further details of what is available in their respective countries. Bear in mind that it is usually a good idea to begin to plan what you would like to do after graduation well in advance in order to make sure you do not miss application deadlines: for some programs you may need to apply well over a year in advance. However, you may decide that the best option for you is to strike whilst the iron is hot and start your first job straight after graduation.

Finding a position which is right for you can be a challenge, and you might find it useful to take a look at further advice pages compiled by The CV Centre, for example The Graduate Job-Seekers Guide and Temping Tips for Graduates. Once you have found a new position it is time to make sure you are equipped to make the very most of it.

After the flexibility of student life it can be difficult to adjust to a 9-5 (or even longer!) day and it can be tempting to treat your new position as an extension of your social life at university - especially if you have a position with lots of other recent graduates. However, an employer is likely to be much less sympathetic if you stroll in late to a meeting than a lecturer would be if you were late for a seminar! So it is probably wise to make sure that you don't overdo your socialising during the week. However it is also usually a good idea to make sure that you do not get too swept up into a culture of overworking. Try to find a balance between business and pleasure which ensures you can work productively and yet allows you to continue leisure pursuits which interest you.

Your new career may very well be slightly daunting at first, but it is also likely to be rewarding, with a host of new skills to learn and an abundance of new people to work with - and socialise with - so take a deep breath and enjoy the ride! And don't forget, if you need help, Click Here to find out how The CV Centre, the UK's leading CV consultancy, can maximise your chances of getting the job you deserve with professionally written CVs, application forms and covering letters.