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What To Do After Graduation

Wondering what you'll do with your career once you graduate? You're not alone. Students everywhere are figuring out the same thing - whether that's finding a career in their chosen field or trying something completely different.

For some, university shows them exactly what they like and dislike, creating a clear career path. For others, like Harrison, Lauren, and Kiera (who you'll meet later), it takes time to figure out; and that's completely fine. They're all thriving now.

Whether you fit into one of these categories or somewhere in between, there's a world of opportunities waiting for you. Here are your key options once graduation is over and you're ready to start your career:

Jump To:

Do a postgraduate degree Applying for a Master's Degree Upskill yourself Straight to the world of work Hear from ex-graduates Coping with the pressure

Doing a postgraduate degree

1. Specialise your skills

A postgrad degree is a strong way to kickstart your graduate career and secure a more senior position from the start. The advanced knowledge you'll gain from a Masters goes far beyond your undergrad degree. For specialist roles, the more focused your skillset, the better - and a postgrad course delivers exactly that.

2. Change Direction

Had a change of heart about your degree subject? A Masters is the perfect way to redirect yourself toward the path you actually want.

Maybe you chose business because you weren't sure what else to do, or perhaps three years of numbers and spreadsheets have shown you that finance isn't for you. That's okay. In fact, more than half of graduates in employment aren't working in a field they studied at university.

If your degree and ideal career path are completely different, a Masters degree can help you make that transition.

3. Work Abroad

If your plans involve working or settling abroad, many countries require a postgraduate qualification even for entry-level positions.

Even if working abroad isn't on your radar, consider doing a Master's overseas or even an international internship. Some countries offer postgraduate degrees for free or at minimal cost. Germany, Iceland, the Czech Republic, and Finland are four European countries offering affordable Master's programs with some exceptions.

How to apply for a Master’s

Unlike undergraduate applications, Master's applications go directly to universities. There are a few exceptions where you can use UCAS Postgraduate, so check which universities accept applications through that route.

Here's what you need to know before starting your application:

Choose a Master's course

Research thoroughly before deciding. Some full Master's programs (1 year) include a six-month placement at the same cost as programs without one. Look for the best value.

Contact your potential referees

This could be your seminar tutor, a lecturer, an employer, a mentor, or anyone you have a close professional relationship with.

Write up your personal statement

Draft it, rewrite it, proofread it, and get feedback from your tutor or someone whose opinion you trust. If you need help, there are plenty of resources on writing strong personal statements.

Apply

Submit your application online directly through the university website or through UCAS Postgraduate.

Attach your supporting documents

Aside from your application form, personal statement, and references, you may need:

CV
Research proposal
Proof of English language proficiency (if applicable)
Copies of your degree certificate and academic transcripts

Check your email regularly

Stay on top of communications from universities.

Some companies are open to sponsoring a Master's degree, so it might be worth securing a grad role first and getting your Master's sponsored later. You might even return to a promotion afterwards.

Upskilling yourself

University's finished - time to level up your skills. Here are practical ways to build your expertise and stand out to employers.

Volunteering - Volunteering is a great way to gain new skills and give back to a cause you care about. If you want to travel while developing skills, consider volunteering abroad. You could teach English, work on conservation projects like rescuing endangered sea turtles, or explore opportunities in places like Zimbabwe.
Opportunities abroad - If travelling appeals to you, volunteering is just one option. You could take part in a study abroad program through your university or its partner institutions. Independent travel is also valuable – the independence and new perspectives you gain from travelling are highly desirable in the workplace.
Short courses - Online courses let you learn at your own pace from home. Udemy and LinkedIn Learning offer hundreds of courses across most subjects. For something more formal, consider university-accredited short courses. These courses let you reinforce what you learned at university, explore a niche you enjoy, or investigate another field entirely. Many provide certificates that demonstrate your initiative and improved skillset.
Internships and Insight Schemes - Securing an internship or insight during this time benefits you significantly. It's a practical way to apply classroom knowledge and build real-world experience that employers value. Many schemes allow graduates to apply.
Networking events - Attend networking events and connect with people whose jobs interest you. Ask how they started, what skills they find essential, and any other questions you have. The more you know, the better prepared you'll be. Get their LinkedIn or email - it'll be useful when you're job hunting.
Online Competitions/Getting published - Participating in competitions or getting your work published demonstrates initiative and builds your portfolio. Look for opportunities in your field that let you showcase your skills.

You're building valuable skills, but make sure you know what they are and how to present them effectively.

What skills matter the most?

Straight to the world of work

Leaving university is bittersweet, but the exciting part is the graduate role waiting for you. Here's how to secure it.

Get organised

This is the most important advice we can give you. When you've applied to multiple roles, and your inbox is full of emails, staying organised helps you avoid missing deadlines and letting opportunities slip by.

Graduate schemes work differently depending on the company. Some roles focus on a specific area - a marketing graduate role means you dive straight into marketing. Other companies use rotations, so you experience every department before being placed where your strengths align. What does stay the same is that you can apply for schemes up to 2 years after finishing your university degree!

Some graduate schemes are training-heavy, others are work-heavy, and some split it evenly. Think about how you like to work and learn, then look for programs that match your style.

For WHO you want to work for, check out the 100 Best Student Employers as voted by students like you.

FIND A GRADUATE ROLE

Advice from ex-graduates

Harrison

Current Role: Systems Engineering. Degree: Mathematics

What made you change what you wanted to do, and how did you get there?

“I think that maths as a degree didn’t really have any truly good options for a career other than research, which I knew I didn’t want to do as I wanted out of academia.

I started looking at software engineering and other forms of engineering because I knew that I had good logical thinking skills, and they would open my options up so much more than if I just tried looking for “maths” jobs.

I found the job with Ultra Cyber online and applied, and found myself in the job a few months later.”

Do you have any regrets about your career path?

“With 20/20 hindsight, I think I’d be a much better engineer now if I’d done an engineering degree, but I don’t think I regret doing maths in the end.

I was lucky and did a lot of summer internships and a year in industry - both of which prepared me massively for the world of work. I think if I’d been offered those opportunities and declined, I would regret it hugely now.”

What piece of advice would you give to upcoming graduates?

“Don’t limit yourself, especially if you’re a STEM student. We all learn to think in such a logical way when we’re at university, and it’s those skills that make you so valuable to companies when you graduate.

Mathematicians can end up in electronics and physicists can end up in maths and engineers can end up in physics because whilst we vary in specialisations, we’re all the same in terms of thought processes.

So when you finish your degree, apply for jobs in your field, but don’t rule yourself out of anything similar!”

Lauren

Current Role: SEO marketing. Degree: MA English Literature & History of Art

What made you change what you wanted to do and how did you get there?

“I never really made a conscious decision to strive to work in Marketing, I sort of fell into it.

After uni, I had my lifestyle blog and social media channels alongside working in retail. I then landed an admin role at a university and just said yes to working on the website and some print and social campaigns for new students.

From there I went on to work in a few different marketing roles and built my knowledge across lots of different areas, but I always had a love for reading and writing so wanted to keep that at the heart of any role I had.

I took a lot of online courses, said yes to as many opportunities as I could and really learned from those around me - I think that’s what helped me get to where I am now.

While I think picking up the right skills and experience was really useful, the main thing was having an eagerness to learn and just get stuck in, which helped push me in the right direction.”

Do you have any regrets about your career path?

“I do wish I’d either done a placement or more work experience at university. It wasn’t really something people did on my degree when I was at university. And living in the North East of Scotland, there weren’t really any paid opportunities.

So getting the experience much earlier could have helped me get to where I am quicker. But I don’t regret any of the jobs I did, they all helped me learn new skills, figure out what I didn’t enjoy and mold my career from there.”

Kiera

Current Role: PR Account Manager. Degree: Business Management

What made you change what you wanted to do and how did you get there?

“I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I finished university, and I still don’t know exactly what I want to do now. I enjoy PR, but it’s not my career dream; I’m still trying to work out what my dream is.

When I finished my degree, I had a nine-month-old and was struggling to find a part-time job that fit in around family life, as my husband is a head chef so works unsociable hours. There were very few part-time jobs on offer and all “entry-level jobs” needed one year+ experience.

I started at Prominent in the summer doing unpaid work experience one day a week to get some office experience under my belt. After about 2 months, I was offered an office admin role at their sister company, which was an advertising agency.

I did that for a year and an opportunity came up to do media buying. I did that for a year and then an opportunity came up for Prominent doing PR and I have been doing that since March 2020.”

Do you have any regrets about your career path?

“I wish I didn’t do a degree at all! I now have around £50,000 in debt and I use very little from my degree as the whole course was very generic.

I have learnt a lot more at work in each of the roles I have had. I also wish apprenticeships were promoted more at school and weren’t viewed as negative or ‘less than’ a degree, but more a different path to your career.”

Ways to cope with the pressure of graduation

If you've gone from having no options to too many, it can be very overwhelming. Here are a few ways to manage the pressure of figuring out what to do after graduating.

Don’t Rush Into a Decision

Time isn't running out - it just feels that way. Take a breath, step back, and avoid making rushed decisions about your future. The right opportunity will still be there when you're ready.

Make a Plan (But Stay Flexible)

Our case studies show that even the best-laid plans don't always work out exactly as expected. Having an idea and direction is valuable, but life requires flexibility. Be prepared to adapt and accept that things might unfold differently than you imagined. That's okay.

Try Before You Commit

Placements, internships, and volunteer work are excellent ways to explore different careers. Give things a go, and if they're not for you, move on to the next opportunity. Consider it another option explored, not a failure.

Take Time for Yourself

You've worked hard to reach this point. Let yourself enjoy the results and take some time out. Catch up with yourself, recharge, and get ready for whatever you choose next. Your well-being matters as much as your career path.

Whatever path you choose after university, remember that it's your journey. There's no single right answer, no perfect timeline, and no one-size-fits-all approach. Take what resonates with you from these options, trust yourself to make the decision that feels right, and know that you can always change direction as you grow. You've got this.