Kirstie Nicols graduated in 2006 without a career plan. A year of learning As graduation 2007 approaches, and clever people off the telly start talking about the ‘market’ being flooded once again, I took the chance to look back over my first year as graduate cattle.
Having taken an obscure degree (American Studies), battled through it and made it out the other end clutching my 2.1, I assumed, as did most of my drinking partners, that companies would be breaking the wall down in order to get to me. Never mind the fact that I had no idea what I wanted to do, I had that all-hallowed piece of paper stating ‘degree’ in front of me. Strangely, this was not the fact, and the past year has been a real learning U-bend. I joined the list of graduates who did just what everyone tells you not to do, and jumped at the first job I was offered in order to start the payback for my student sins (including the horrendously compulsory six months in the US of A), at an abysmal wage and with no real need for a degree. I worked hard, showed them I hadn’t got a 2.1 for nothing, stayed late and came in early, and even started moaning about students and their lack of respect for us in ‘the real world’. After four months and no real good feedback, I finally realised that this was not my life’s ambition and despite my hard work, my lack of enthusiasm was probably what shone through most. So I quit. No ideaAgain, having not learnt from previous expectations, I spent my last few weeks in full-time employment presuming I would be offered a job at any moment (I still had no idea what I wanted to do) and with it would come the praise and adulation I deserved for being a graduate, that had been missing from making my working life complete. Then my job finished. And I had no money, no job, and still no clue what I wanted to do. While I waited for my offer for the job that was meant for me to come through the post, I spent my time catching up on my daytime TV and student lifestyle. I spent so long waiting in fact, that I decided to register for unemployment benefits just to keep me going. After they had been keeping me going for around two months, I decided I really needed to enter the working lifestyle again, and that was when I stumbled upon the Graduate Shrine…the recruitment agency. Discovering tempingInitially I had the idea that I didn’t need to temp; so originally I went in looking for full time work. I got myself signed up, completed their tests, and waited for My Career to land on my lap. I dutifully went to the interviews, crossed my legs as I was taught, smiled, talked about the positive aspects of having done nothing for two months, was offered the jobs…then turned them down. Although I had no idea what it was I wanted to do; the first thing my new god, the Temping Agency was teaching me, was what I didn’t want to do. So, as the non-existent savings account dwindled back into the overdraft, I started temping. I temped for another four months, at various sites for various lengths of time, with which of course came the various bosses, colleagues, hours, pay, chores, and, surprisingly, skills. It gave me a great opportunity to sample different types of companies, different ways of working and different positions (I’ve done everything from receptionist to financial adviser…and I failed GCSE Maths), and slowly I began to understand that I am not the only graduate in the world, and although I have an unusual degree and I can tell employers how I had to cross the border to buy alcohol in Mexico because I was underage in the USA at the time, it is not my only selling point. The great thing about temping is that they never let you become too comfortable; just as you settle down, work out what it is you’re expected to do, and begin to understand the jokes about Norman in I.T, they kick you out the door. This means many, many ‘first days’. I’m sure you’re wondering why that’s so great, so look at it this way; for me, my confidence soared. I’ve tried out so many ‘first days’ that I’ve learnt that it will always be an excruciating experience. I’m no longer worried or nervous at a new job, and that confidence has also helped out in interviews. I no longer try and over-impress; I’m me, I always will be, take me or leave me (and many do)! Permanent for now I currently have a permanent job working for a medium-size company in an environment I enjoy, doing work that, although hard and nowhere near as good as being on unemployment benefits (job security), keeps me entertained. It is not what I want to do forever and the company know this, but I work hard which keeps them happy, and I’m content to be there which keeps me happy…at least until I’m offered My Career, which will of course happen any day now. I now have more of an idea of what I want to do, and plan to spend the next year working towards this. More importantly, I know what I don’t want; which as I see it, is just as important as what I do. For all new 2007 graduates (including some old American Studies friends who somehow managed to find funds for that compulsory year in California), heed the words of an old graduate hag! If you know what you want; go get it, don’t take any old rubbish and temp while you’re getting there. If you don’t know what you want, take some time to address the problem, and temp while you’re doing so. If you want to travel, temp to earn some money. If you need some experience, find a temp job (it’s like work experience but more likely to be paid). If you think the job of your dreams is going to be offered any day now, go register as a temp while you’re waiting. If you don’t want too much responsibility but need money, go temp. If you don’t want too much responsibility and don’t need money, go temp for the hell of it. Have a think; on my course there were probably 30 others at my university alone who graduated with a 2.1 or above, all looking for jobs. You are not alone! Share your comments and experiences |
