1. Making choices: your degree and your future
Pippa Waller
Careers Adviser

2. Making choices: your degree and your future
Claire Guy
Careers Adviser

3. Why people choose University
Spurred on by previous study experiences.
Stimulated by world or life events.
To study a subject they love
Inspired by people or own experiences
Want to make a difference in a particular area
To qualify for a graduate profession
May or may not know what they want to study
Seeking to open doors with a higher education qualification
To enhance career opportunities

4. Today’s talk Address some of the media’s favourite graduate headlines
Explore some approaches to identifying career pathways
Provide you with some resources to help navigate your career pathway
We will be exploring some of the common concerns that prevail due to mixed media messages
Identify some approaches to career decision-making whether you know exactly what you want to do, have no idea or find out how you can use a subject that you love to progress your careers
Identify some reliable sources of information to help with the planning process.

5. Head of HE Intelligence
First some myths…
With special thanks to:
Dr Charlie Ball
Head of HE Intelligence
Graduate Prospects
@lmicharlie

6. Everyone has a degree these days
36.9% of UK adult population had a degree at the end of 2015.
42.4% of UK workforce has a degree or equivalent.
Fewer than 50% of students aged now will ever go to university.
A situation where half of a given age group goes to university is unlikely.
Everyone has a degree these days
Q 2 is here

7. Graduates need to work in big business or on large training schemes.
In 2015, 35% joined companies with fewer than 250 employees; 20% joined companies with fewer than 50 employees.
Large businesses may offer higher pay, formal training and greater promotion opportunities.
Small businesses may give more say in the business, more responsibility, greater variety and wider skills development.
Graduates need to work in big business or on large training schemes.
Proportion at SMEs is falling though

8. All the graduate opportunities are in London
15% of UK population lives in London
One in five graduates starts in London - in relatively small area...
London top UK city for private job creation and creation of start-ups
22% of the country’s businesses are in London
48% of London’s population are graduates – compared with 35% nationally
Average weekly earnings in London are £675, compared to £508 nationally
All the graduate opportunities are in London
Data comes from Centre for Cities Cities Outlook 2016

9. There aren’t any jobs for graduates
189,245 of 2014/15 graduates employed after six months; 71% in jobs classified as ‘professional’
In total, 12,705,800 graduates or equivalent were working in the UK at the end of 2015
In total there were 13,730,800 people working in jobs classified as ‘professional level’ in the UK at the end of 2015
Yes, more ‘professionals’ than there are graduates.
There aren’t any jobs for graduates
Prof level - that’s up 3 percentage points in 1 year

10. Finding out about your course

11. A bright future; but how do you decide what it contains?

12. Traditional or rational approaches
Match personal characteristics to occupations
Logical but only part of the picture!
Useful starting point but ignores other influences.
While this is a nice, comfortable and logical approach it doesn’t factor in your development or a fluctuating labour market.
This approach was developed at the turn of the 20th Century (and underwent development) when the requirements of the labour market were very different.
Other influences could be significant people in your life, your community background, your geography and opportunities there and a changing labour market.
People’s careers are becoming increasingly “boundaryless” and people are more likely to use their skills in different occupations, organisations and sectors. Sometimes stepping sideways, sometimes moving up. The linear trajectory is in decline.
So we need another approach that factors in rational approaches as well as influences and the fluctuating labour market.

13. Following your degree path

14. Or not! Graduate employers recruiting from any discipline
It’s all about the skills
Use time at University to develop
Consider all career routes – postgraduate conversion.
Source. Inside Careers
This often has less to do with graduates struggling to attain their dream job, and more to do with an initial lack of awareness about the abundance of career possibilities that their degree opens up. In fact, roughly 60% of graduate employers will recruit graduates from any degree discipline. Naturally, the more technical a profession is, the more likely it is that you’ll need a specific degree for entry. It is often still possible to enter these areas by converting through postgraduate studies or training for professional qualifications.

15. The three P’s approach to career decisions

16. Problem People Prowess Place
What issues in the world do you want to tackle/contribute to?
Environment, human rights, technology, infrastructure, education, health?
Problem
Who do you admire? World stage to local community/family
What was their journey?
People
What do you want to be known for? What does successful you look like?
Expertise? Strategist? Contribution to community? Dedication to cause?
Prowess
Where do you want or need to be?
What type of working environment?
Place

17. Planning your route
Prospects is aimed at graduates. National Careers Service will show other routes to your career goal.
Both sites also have links to professional bodies which will also have really helpful information to inform your career choice (and enhance your application) For example the Royal College of Midwives – a popular choice for applicants!
It can be helpful to look at job advertisements on professional body websites and in the press – know what you are working towards. It may not simply be a case of do the qualification and progress, may need work experience and to network. And we can help

18. How we help our students
One-to-one guidance with decision-making
Help building employer networks
Help with identifying and securing quality work experience
Developing skills for applications and interviews
Lectures within the curriculum

19. Thank you for listening!

20. Useful links nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/Pages/Home.aspx
Prospects
Targetjobs
Unistats

21. Making choices: your degree and your future
Pippa Waller
Careers Adviser

22. Making choices: your degree and your future
Claire Guy
Careers Adviser