Graduate

Look Back, Look Forward: Part 5 – 14 steps to a stress-free future

In the final part of this series of posts on the future after your degree, let’s look at taking the stress out of your plans.

The future is uncertain, mainly because it hasn’t happened yet. Invariably, this can lead to worry. Or panic. Or full-blown hysteria.

If only you could get the future to play by the rules you set. I know that’s never going to happen, but you can use the present to nudge the future into dealing with you more reasonably.

photo by Ranoush.

14 steps to a stress-free future

Plan what can be planned – Just because you don’t have all the information doesn’t mean you can’t start making a rough sketch of the future. You don’t get anywhere fast without a sense of where you are going.
Don’t leave it for later – The more you sit on things, the more you have to do later on.
Expect possibilities, not guarantees – Confidence is good, absolute certainty is not. Expecting the worst isn’t necessary, but it’s wise to be aware that events don’t always go the way you want. Expect nothing in particular, but hope for the best outcome and be prepared for the worst.
Deal with common needs beforehand – Get what you can out of the way. Many matters are best dealt with as you go along. Your CV, where you’ll live, summer plans, and so on, are pretty standard. Very little will surprise you. Get on with these necessary tasks as soon as they arise to keep disruption down to a minimum.
Look at the blank canvas with hope, not fear – I’m still surprised at how people greet creative uncertainty with dread. You have responsibility for what you do with your life and you’re being handed a free shot at what you want. It gets better, because any time you mess up, it’s easy enough to start on another blank canvas. You’re luckier than you think. Stuff like money gets in the way, but a lot of what really blocks us are our own mental blocks.
Consider what you’d like to do and where you want to branch out – Before you get too serious (or before time starts making decisions for you), make an effort to hone in on the life you’d most like to lead. Small steps in the first place can become large strides, so don’t knock them. When you don’t spend enough time on the initial steps, you knock your dreams off course.
Look at job adverts, consult agencies, forums, conferences, job fairs, specific companies – You’ve probably been told this a lot already, but it’s worth mentioning. The more preparation you do, the more you’re prepared…good, huh? Study the jobs and opportunities currently out there, check jobs ads and appointments, view promotional docs from companies in the field you’re looking into. Fairs and events allow for networking, further questions, more ways in, new thoughts that you hadn’t yet considered. If you’re already doing this, keep it up. Don’t give up.
Whatever you feel in the dark about, make it your aim to shed light on the subject.
Work out budgeting needs for the year ahead – You need money. Whether it comes from you, the bank of mum and dad, or a lottery win(!), be sure to budget regardless.
Start a blog and join conversations online – This is especially important if you have a clear career in mind. Start a blog about your chosen field, even if it’s just about finding a job in the first place. It all helps. I know loads of graduates who set up their own website like a CV, but it goes stale and doesn’t mean anything. A blog lets you update, explain, entertain, converse, stay relevant, and stay visible.
Find people associated with the work you want to do on social networks and online forums. There are so many wonderful, helpful, accessible, kind people out there. In time, you can be one of those very people. Get involved and start spreading the love further!
Talk to parents and loved ones about future living arrangements if you’re not renting yourself – Some people are surprised at how much their parents want them to move out quickly, or start paying rent, or make massive change to living arrangements. Get it sorted in advance so you’re not surprised.
Keep scheduling, even when you don’t have a lot going on – Practice your time management by keeping a schedule or diary or to-do list or anything that lets you keep an eye on the day. It not only opens your eyes to the amount you can do when you put your mind to it, but also gives you momentum to achieve more. A lot can be said for the humble to-do list.
Have some down time – Already scheduling like crazy? Have a lot on? Avoid the stress of burnout by scheduling time for yourself too.
Regulate your sleep – Student days are behind you. If you enjoyed the prospect of a day-long lie-in, you need to train yourself out of it. Try waking up at the same time every day. Having no clear sleep pattern can be stressful. The occasional lie-in is fine, so long as it is only occasional!
Don’t waste time doing nothing at all – Losing momentum is a big problem here. From the moment your study comes to an end, start working on the next stage.

Enjoy your life as a graduate. I hope you get the degree result you want and I wish you the best of luck for the future.

TheUniversityBlog isn’t disappearing over the summer months. The focus may not be so much on writing essays and dealing with campus life, but there’s still plenty to deal with, including more on life after uni.

Remember, if there’s anything you’d like to see covered on this site, get in touch!

20/20 – Day 15: 20 considerations for the future before you leave university

It’s impossible to plan the future perfectly. No matter. The more you do to provide for your future, the greater scope you’ll have with each new day.

Whether you’re still in your first year or you’re soon to graduate, start thinking about a life after your degree. Nobody knows where you’re headed, no even yourself, but there’s plenty you can do to help the process. Get the dice working in your favour.

Why did you choose to study your subject? If you were asked this question, would you have a reasonable answer ready?
Is your degree relevant to the field you want to go into? If not, pay attention to what you can bring to a job or career and what experience you have gained from your study. Many core qualities and skills can be developed from a university education, so be prepared to explain and sell yourself over these transferable skills, no matter what your degree is.
Work experience. Whether paid, voluntary or otherwise, any stints working are good to show off. Not so much a paper round when you were younger, but anything more substantial than that could play a part in strengthening your case. Bar work, SU work, shop work, office work, placements, charity work, student work…jobs may not be directly relevant to those you apply for in the future, but many of the roles will have given you transferable skills.
Societies/activities to mention, or join. Playing a role within a club or society brings many transferable skills. I don’t advise joining a vast number of clubs and societies for the sake of it. Join one or two societies that you have most interest in so you develop contacts, experience, confidence, and much more.
Professional associations. Most associations have cheap membership options for students. This is a great opportunity to find valuable information and join with people who already work in the areas of work you’re interested in.
Create a great CV. Don’t rush a document off a couple days before you need one, spend some quality time crafting something good now. Check my series of posts on Employment Nirvanafor more information.
You can’t control the future, but it does need your help.
Tweak your CV and update it if you already have one. Perhaps you made a pretty good CV in the past. If so, keep going! Make sure it’s kept relevant to your needs, as well as adding your experience and achievements as you go along. Don’t leave it to chance.
Look at jobs currently on offer for ideas. You may not be applying right now, but do you know what type of jobs are available? If you don’t take a look, you won’t know how feasible your plans really are.
Look at jobs currently on offer to see what they’re looking for. Another benefit of browsing jobs you’re not about to apply for is so that you know what skills and qualities employers are looking for. If you see a common trait that you haven’t yet mastered or experienced yet, you’ve got time to bring things up to speed.
Check graduate schemes as soon as you can. There’s no point in waiting. The jobs won’t wait…
If you know what your dream job/career is, pursue it NOW! Don’t wait, get involved. Just because you’re not getting paid to learn about your chosen line of work doesn’t mean you shouldn’t bother putting the effort in. The moment you start chasing for leads and opportunities is the moment you step closer to what you want.
Go to careers office and use them.
Check careers & graduate sites for information, help and leads.
Consider transferable skills in everything you do. A small feat for you may be just what an employer wants. Don’t overlook your talents!
Clean up your online profiles. And if you don’t want to remove the gory details, at least protect yourself by updating your privacy settings so you’re…well, private.
Clean up your offline profiles. You don’t live in an online-only world, unless you believe we’re all in the Matrix or something. Real-world issues need just as much consideration as those online.
What do you *want* to do when it’s all over? Ask yourself this question and give a genuine answer. Don’t kid yourself with ideas of what you’ll probably end up doing and what would roughly satisfy you. Be bold by deciding what you’d choose if you had every option freely available to you.
How will you achieve this? You’ve been bold in your answer to the above question. Now have a plan to make this happen, no matter how outlandish it seems.
Personality. What would you change and what would you keep the same?
What do you seek beyond career, money and fame? We all crave different things in life. Those cravings change as we change. Before you graduate, what matters to you beyond money and the usual ‘big dreams’?

Title image: original by tiffa130 (cc) / Bottom image: quinn.anya (cc)

5 Qualities to Successful Leadership Through NOT Leading

I’m sure by now you’ve noticed those people in life who seem to achieve whatever they like with total ease and confidence. It’s as if they were born leaders.

When you watch someone like this in action, it’s clear that they don’t need to boss people around, they don’t need to labour the point, and they don’t show desperation in trying to persuade others. It just comes naturally.

What’s so striking about these individuals, however, is their approach to leadership. A successful leader DOES NOT act like a leader. Their success can be attributed to an open and friendly approach.

Others feel truly valued and respected, which encourages them to follow. Leading is not about managing others; instead, leading opens up the possibilities for all involved.

Five common qualities of leaders stand out in particular. As you’ll see, they look outward to the wants and needs of others, rather than inwardly to their own, private goals. Yet through this approach, a leader can achieve their private goals with an enviable ease.

With these five qualities, you could be on the way to greater achievement too. They are:

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