If you’ve just graduated from uni chances are right now you’re at a cross-roads in your life where you’re not really sure where to go next. I guess it’s kind of like one of those ridiculous quizzes found in women’s magazines; “You’ve just graduated from University, do you a) apply for a post-graduate course? b) start applying for jobs? or c) travel?
The trouble with those quizzes though is that sometimes they don’t even give you another option like d) All of the above. I think I’m probably a bit biased, but before you start scouring the Seek website for the post-grad job you’ve always wanted, think again.
You’ve probably got people telling you that if you don’t do something with your degree now then it all will have been a massive waste; all that money blown, look at the debt it’s got you in, 3 years down the drain blah blah blah.
At this point my advice to you would be to turn around to all of those people bringing you down and shout, extremely loudly; “My degree isn’t going to expire!!!” because the way some people talk it’s almost like if you don’t use your degree right NOW then somehow it’s going to lose it’s value. I mean, have these people SEEN antiques roadshow?! Things get better with age?!
You’ll always have your education. You’ll always have that degree under your belt and even though that amazing post-grad job on Seek probably won’t be there for ever, there will be other jobs in the future.
And despite what other people would have you believe, travel can actually broaden your mind, educate you and prepare you for your chosen career in more ways than you could ever imagine. Don’t worry that travel will look bad on your C.V because it wont:
When you travel you’re constantly planning your life, constantly dealing with changes in situation. You’re constantly learning new things and experiencing different cultures. You’re socialising with people you wouldn’t normally talk to and improving your communication skills.
You might not have been sitting at a desk for the best part of your twenties but that doesn’t make you unemployable. In fact, I think it makes you even more of a catch.
Do you really want to be sat at your desk in twenty years time, only to suddenly be hit with the realisation that maybe you made the wrong decision? I mean yes you have a gorgeous house, a great job, a nice car and maybe if you’ve been exceptionally silly you’ve gone and grown yourself a couple of babies. These are all good things. Great things!
But that’s what they are; things.
Things will be around forever, but your life experiences are something that you have to find for yourself. That’s not to say you have to start backpack hunting, like NOW; I worked for 2 years after graduating not even realising that at aged 24 I would be jetting off to Australia and I’m really glad that I gained some experience in a working environment, but give yourself the option at least.
At least consider experiencing something out of your comfort zone. At 26, I am still learning so much about the world and about myself, and I honestly don’t think that that would have been the case had I stayed at home.
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