Life after University: One Recruiter’s Journey

After working nearly four years in the recruitment industry and having a passion for the graduate market, I am delighted for Gleeson to be attending the Internships and Work Experience Fair 2022 with the University of Birmingham. This is an event which enables graduates to learn more about a range of professions and speak to people currently working in various roles, in order to help them figure out their future career plans.

This event has made me reflect on the challenges I’ve faced within my own professional life, some of which I would like to share with you today. It’s not an easy story to tell, but I feel there’s real value in being candid about my struggles, to let other graduates who may be in the same position know that they are not alone.

My story

There comes a time when all good things come to an end, and that includes finishing university. In 2017, after an incredible three years living in Liverpool with my girls, I graduated with a 2.1 in Dance Practices. My experience of finishing university can only be described as a rollercoaster of emotions. It was a time of great uncertainty, and a period in which my own mental health began to really deteriorate. ?

Completing my formal education and being let loose in the adult world was daunting to say the least. At family parties, I would always be asked, ‘So what are you going to do next?’ It was something I absolutely dreaded, and quite honestly made me feel hopeless.

After several dance auditions and rejections, I slowly started to come to the realisation that I wasn’t going to succeed in the dance industry and I accepted it. So, what was I going to do next? I was clueless. Being surrounded by friends who were all securing employment straight out of university made everything feel ten times worse. The truth is, I wasn’t an academic at school, I always struggled with exams and people didn’t take me seriously because I studied dance at university.

After six months of unemployment, I reached out to the job centre in order to apply for universal credit. I vividly remember being told by the staff to take my dance degree off my CV entirely, because it was seen as “useless” and wouldn’t secure me employment. Naturally, this was a huge knock to my confidence, and it was heartbreaking to hear that they considered the passion I’d poured the last few years of my life into worthless.

My turning point

Finally in 2018, things started to turn around. I reached out to a recruitment agency, and I began to start my next chapter. It was the best decision I could have made.

It was the first time I sat down with someone and reflected at what I’m good at, and what my strengths are. Writing this today, I am totally shocked at how little I knew about the support that recruitment agencies can offer, which is just one of the many reasons I find my role so fulfilling.

Before reaching out, I was very narrow-minded in my job search. I’d been trying to secure a role in the performing arts industry simply because that’s what I had studied, as I didn’t want my degree to go to waste. I was ignoring all the transferable skills I’d accumulated along the way, as well as the talents I had that I’d never explored before.

So, for anyone who can relate to my story, I want to reassure you of a few things:

Your degree will not go to waste. Three years of training in a dance studio gave me dedication, discipline, teamwork, competitiveness, resilience, self-belief, adaptability, energy, enthusiasm and creativity. These skills are vital in pretty much every role you can think of, and qualities that employers value highly. Every day, I’m drawing on things I learned in the studio.

Embrace uncertainty. Yes, it can be scary, but not knowing what you are going to do next can be exciting, if you let it. It leaves a lot of room for new opportunities, and can take you down new and unexpected paths. Believe in yourself, and trust the process.

Develop a positive mindset. Life after university isn’t easy. You will face challenges and obstacles that are totally out of your control. But one thing you can control is your mindset, so do everything you can to stay positive and optimistic. Everything changed for me when I began gratitude practice daily (something I still do today). It was a self-care tool that helped me shift my mindset, and allowed me to embrace each day no matter what challenges awaited me.

Adjust your expectations. If your desired field is competitive, accept that it will likely take some time to build your career. If you’re find that it’s too competitive, take a step back and consider which other fields you might be interested on, or what other skills you have that you can build upon.

Keep busy. When I was searching for a job, one of the things I struggled with the most was how to fill my free time, and I discovered I would feel very down if I wasn’t keeping my mind occupied. Consider taking a part-time role while you find your real passion, continue to learn new things, and enjoy your hobbies.

Stay connected. It’s really easy to shut yourself off from the world when things aren’t going your way, however, this is the worst thing you can do for your mental health. Ensure you stay connected with friends and family members, and open up about your troubles – you’ll probably be surprised how many of them can relate.

Despite how difficult my journey was, I’m grateful that I went through this experience, because it’s turned me into the confident, resilient recruiter I am today which has allowed me to emotionally connect with others. Outside of work, I stay connected to my creative skills by running my own blog page I created during the lockdown and now dance every now and again.

Life is starting to feel a little bit like a book to me now, all books are different like people and the chapters within each book, are only part of the story. I’m a big believer that in order for us to appreciate all the brilliant things life has on offer, we must also experience the low points. To all graduates out there who can relate to my story, I just want to say: don’t panic, believe in yourself, and stay positive. Oh, and don’t be afraid of working with recruiters – they may just turn everything around for you, as they did for me!