From one grad to another – words of advice from the alumni community
This year's graduation ceremonies are soon to be in full swing as more graduates become part of the Portsmouth alumni community.
Former students have been in touch to share what they wish they'd known when they graduated and what advice they'd offer those starting the next part of their journey.
Do as many extra-curricular things as possible to make you stand out from the crowd, getting a good degree is great but getting into the top employers requires you to stand out.
Every job you take is good experience. The people you meet along the way and the small lessons you learn are invaluable. Even if the first job you take after university isn’t your dream job or the job you really want, it’s a small step to that bigger goal. Take it, learn from it and move on when new opportunities and development arise.
That the future might lead me to places unexpected; that my occupation might not be directly connected with the course that I finished. It's for the best though. It can be even better than your wildest dreams.
The Careers team at University of Portsmouth are absolutely amazing and will help you every step of the way to get your job prospects starting.
Don’t settle! Use this time to explore and figure out what it is you really want. Try not to let other people's opinions stop you doing what you want to do. If you want to take a break, take a break! And don’t be afraid to take chances.
Networking is so important, reach out to as many relevant companies as possible, seek advice and experience wherever you can to get your first step on the ladder. Even getting small, temporary experience, is a great opportunity to build your portfolio.
I wish I'd known how useful LinkedIn is as a tool for finding a job, and networking. It’s never too early to start trying to network.
You might not do everything at the same speed as everyone else. Try not to panic - if you work hard it WILL pay off, even if it doesn’t happen as fast as others. Also, huge firms are not the only option available…and that doesn’t mean that your achievements aren’t just as exciting.
Don’t worry if it takes you a while get your career going once you leave - I had multiple rejections for about 6 months once I graduated, don’t get disheartened. The role meant for you will come along!
That there is no pressure to get an industry job immediately. You need to find what suits you, there is no race in when you have to have a job by. Doing volunteer work and experiences is not a step backward, it will help you in the long run.