If you’ve completed or will be finishing your university degree soon, you should be able to embark on the next chapter of your life! You are now a fully qualified postgraduate after years of study and assessment. You may be asking what your next step should be? The career growth opportunities for you now that you are armed with all your learning from your course. Thankfully, you can take a few paths post-university, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be a 9 to 5 job.
The qualifications needed for the specific job you are looking for must be determined. It is best to view job descriptions on workplaces like Indeed, Career Builder, or your local workplace site. These websites will also help you in your career growth planning. Some job posts list certain desired degrees. Others will list the required level of education, whether they are a partner, Bachelor, Master, or another advanced degree. And say you still are a student, you can find internships in connection with your interests that can boost your overall growth.
What do you think of when you listen to the term “career planning?”
Most of us are thinking of young, new-faced 18-year-olds. Choosing undergraduate courses or internships on the way to their college degree. Career planning, however, is not just about picking up a curriculum; it does not end once a student graduates. This cookie-cutter scenario is a tendency of our society when, effectively, the assessment of our work and skills is a lifelong effort. We are always in search of the best career growth options, and planning it could be a task itself.
Planing or choosing a new career can be an entirely personal task. You know you need a career plan, but where are you starting, and how are you implementing it? These fundamentals will assist you in evaluating your choices and determining what you can give your dream work, allowing you to prepare for any career change and increasing your chances of success.
Recognize that you are not alone
Few people are fortunate enough to know exactly what they want to do with their lives before they graduate from high school. The majority of adult students’ career paths are anything but ordinary. In reality, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated in 2015 that between the ages of 18 and 48, Americans born between 1951 and 1964 worked in an average of 12 different occupations. With future generations, the number is only expected to rise.
Finding our “calling” can be a long, winding road full of trials and errors at any age. Some people have spent years in an unfulfilling industry or sector. Only to be dissatisfied in a job that merely meets their family obligations. They lack the confidence to pursue other opportunities. Others are affected by the economic downturn and face job difficulties as a result of layoffs, personal challenges, or a lack of preparation. Then there are others who discover their dream job only after being completely immersed in it.
It’s fine if any of us haven’t yet discovered our calling. Adult students are exceptional in this regard. Owing to a variety of situations, they have a varied range of professions and educational backgrounds. A career change is desired for some purpose, but the means seem to be impossibly difficult.
Do your homework for Career
If you want to start a new career, you should first determine what educational qualifications are needed for the job you want. Viewing job descriptions on job pages like Indeed or Career Builder is the perfect way to do so. Some work listings will specify which degrees are preferred. Others would simply state the required educational level, whether it be an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, or other advanced degrees.
And if you’re starting anything new, that doesn’t mean your previous efforts have been in vain. An academic advisor will show you how your credits relate to different degree programmes, whether you’re looking for the fastest path to a bachelor’s degree or you’ve chosen to pursue a new career path. Then we’ll work with you to devise a strategy for completing a degree that will help you achieve your career goals in a time frame that is convenient for you.
Make the Most of Your Connections
You’ve most likely built a large professional and personal network as an adult, whether through your job, hobbies, group events, or relationships. Make use of the network to make connections with people who work in the area you’re interested in. You’ll actually learn more about everyday tasks, job atmosphere, normal work hours, and growth opportunities from someone in your dream profession than you will find online, and that personal experience can be invaluable to your career decisions.
Make a list of your transferable skills
When it comes to improving your resume, we’ve all heard of hard and soft skills. Hard skills are those that are particular to a job. An aircraft mechanic, for example, has skills that are vastly different from those of an accountant. Attributes and personality traits are referred to as soft skills. Soft skills include communication, flexibility, work ethic, and perseverance, to name a few.
Assess your abilities and assess what skills are transferable, such as hard and soft skills that can be applied to a variety of jobs. Identifying your transferrable skills is a great place to start when creating a detailed plan to help you move into a new profession. Ask yourself the following questions to help you with this:
- In my current job, what skills have I acquired that would be useful in a new career?
- What skills do I believe I am missing?
- How do I acquire the skills I’ll need for my desired career?
Conclusion
Once you’ve completed your overall assessment, you’ll be able to hop into your dream job, which you’ll have for the rest of your life. The point of it all would be to make you deserving of your future life and your family’s future. As a result, any decision you make should be made with extreme caution and precision.
