Job Prospects For Those Not Attending Grad School

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As a senior or new grad, you and your classmates may be considering going to grad school. While there are many pros to going through grad school, you may opt not to, especially if your field does not require it. However, you may be questioning your career prospects if you decide to not go to grad school. There are plenty of job prospects available, even if you choose against grad school.

According to a 2017 study by the National Center for Education Statistics, college graduates between the ages of 25 and 34 had an employment rate of 86%. While things may have changed over the past few years, even having a bachelor’s degree can increase your chances of employment without the need for an advanced degree.

Internships

As a recent grad, you may not have as much experience in the field, especially if you did not do an internship or hold a job during school. When you graduate, it is a good idea to do an internship. Even if it is not directly tied in with your field, having the experience of an internship can help you learn about the responsibilities of having a job. This is great if you did not have to work throughout your school career. Internships can help you stand out to future employers. Many are unpaid, especially if you do not have as much experience, but there are some that offer compensation and benefits.

Entry-level

If you had a job or internship during your schooling, especially in your field, you are likely prepared for a full-time entry-level position. Entry-level jobs do not require as much experience as other higher jobs and they may not be your dream job, but they will help get your foot in the door of your industry and help you gain experience that will help you throughout your career. Even if the job is not in your field, you can still learn a lot and transfer the skills to the dream job you want. These jobs are basic and allow you to work up to the job and pay you are wanting in your career.

Part-time job

Today’s job market is more competitive than ever before, and certain fields are harder to break into than others. You may feel pressure from others to get a full-time job right out of college, but depending on your field and experience, this may not be feasible. You may have to settle for a part-time job to be able to save up some money and gain job experience. You may even choose to have a schedule where you do a part-time internship alongside your part-time job in order to maximize your time. This may not be ideal, but it can help you stand out and will teach you time management skills.

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Know your field

Depending on what you studied as an undergrad, you may not need a grad school degree to have a satisfying career. In fact, in some cases, having a grad school degree might not make a difference at all. Fields such as selling trades, graphics, financial services, government jobs, and several others do not require advanced degrees and offer a satisfying workplace with good compensation and benefits. Also, knowing how competitive your field is will help you decide what kinds of experience you will need to have when you graduate so you can ensure success.

Increase your chances of employment

Even if you have a degree, it does not guarantee you will get a job right away. It can take months or years to find a job, especially one that is in your field. You will have to work hard to find a job, but there are steps you can take to increase your chances. Choose your major wisely based on competition and future job prospects. Network early on in order to meet people in your industry who may be able to mentor you or even offer you job recommendations down the line. Do internships in school, if possible, in order to boost your resume. Get involved on campus in student organizations and learn as many specialized skills as you can. Increasing your chances of employment early on will help you out when you graduate.

Intermediate jobs

Some students worked extra hard while they were in school and are able to start off post-graduation with a higher position and pay. These are usually people who networked, held jobs and internships, and were involved on campus. They took their academic careers seriously and did well to perfect their resumes. This is difficult to do, but it can be done and it is well worth the work. Again, this depends on how competitive your field is and the jobs available.

There is a lot of pressure on new graduates to find a job right away, and while many think that grad school will increase these chances, that is not always the case. Those who graduate with a bachelor’s degree have good prospects overall as well.

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