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Students graduating from university this year are likely to find it difficult to get a job. Not only is the general job market poor because of the recession but places on graduate schemes this year have been slashed. Of course they will get jobs in time, recessions do come to an end and this one is already showing tentative signs of recovery. But how should those appyling to university for the first time react to the slump in graduate jobs?

Broadly speaking university courses can be divided into vocational and non-vocational subjects. Vocational courses include the professions and any course that specifically equips students for a particular job. Many students will in any event opt for a non-vocational course; poor guidance at school means that most students pick courses based on their A-level experiences rather than a true preference for the subject. But should those who would normally opt for a vocational course still do so in this climate, or should they apply for something broader?

As career consultants, my colleagues and I at Career Energy see many people in their mid to late twenties who regret their earlier career choices. This is particularly the case in the professions, notably lawyers, doctors and accountants. Most of those with regrets do leave their careers and take up something new.

This, irrespective of the shortage of vacancies, leads me to believe that the choice of a vocational course at university should not be made on the basis that it will give the student a stable and prestigious career. If they are going to hate it and leave, then what is the point? Far better, in our experience to select a university course that you enjoy. The career will come later, at this stage the priority is education.

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Tags: Career Advice, Career Change, Career Choices, Career Consultant, Career Energy, Career Planning, Graduate Recruitment, graduate training schemes, job hunting, job search, Professional Courses, unemployment, Vocational Courses

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 10th, 2009 at 5:37 am and is filed under Career Advice, Career Change, Career Consultant, Career Energy, Career Planning, Getting A New Job, Uncategorized, graduates, unemployment . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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