'What can I do with my degree?' (Part II)

By Jess Henderson, Careers Manager

'I've got absolutely no idea what to do with my degree. Where do I go from here?'

If you're in this (very common) position, focus on identifying ideas to explore rather than planning a precise career path. There are a few approaches to consider.

Look at what other graduates did.

Looking at what other graduates of your discipline have gone on to do can be helpful. This is a way to generate ideas to explore and consider for yourself.

However, you should not restrict yourself only to career opportunities that others have pursued. You have a unique blend of skills, experiences, interests, values and motivations, so what someone else has done may not be the most suitable option for you to pursue, but it can give you ideas.

You can see what graduates have done by checking out Prospects' 'Options with your Degree' series which contains common destinations of UK graduates. Remember that these are common destinations, not the only options of what to do with a particular degree.

If you'd like to see what UofG graduates of your subject have done and/or do, use LinkedIn's alumni tool. See LinkedIn's short video guide on this if you're not familiar.

You can also engage with professional bodies or learned societies as these can be great sources of information on careers common in related fields. See our recent article '9 reasons to engage with proessional bodies and learned societies' about this.

Take a 'matching' test.

I hesitate to recommend such 'tests' as they can perpetuate the myth that there is 'one' thing we should do. They can also offer ideas that seem random, irrelevant and uninteresting which can put people off. Additionally, such tools are limited in the range of careers they can cover.

However, these tests and assessments can be useful when used as part of the broader exploratory process. They provide a framework for you to reflect on your skills, values and motivations which can be difficult to do in isolation. They provide an external reflection of how you have responded. Treat them as another ideas generator, not as an exhaustive list of 'shoulds'.

Pay attention to your response to the results they generate. If a result makes you go, 'Absolutely not', then consider why not? Read the job profile. Is it something in there? Something about your assumptions about the career? Something else? Note these down. This will help you identify and refine what is important to you.

Take advantage of opportunities at university.

You can get ideas about your future career path by attending careers events like fairs, talks from alumni, guest lectures or club or society events. Absorb insight from recruiters, industry professionals and career and employability experts whenever possible and reflect on what you learn. Based on what you hear, what roles interest you? Which career stories inspire you and why?

You can also get involved in a club or society around something in which you’re interested. There are plenty of employability benefits for doing so which you can read about in our post '5 ways joining a club or society will help your career'.

Attending events and getting involved can give you new ideas, allow you to meet new people and expand your awareness of different occupations and what’s possible.

Browse careers events on our website.

So, don't worry if you don't have an exact plan for your future career. You don't need to. Just listen, engage and reflect. This will guide you towards your next step, whatever that may be.

Good luck!