PostGraduate Life

The year I graduated from college, I changed jobs to something that was experimental at the time yet in my field of education and was very exciting initially. I made a lot of friends there, but the start-up only lasted a couple of years before it folded and then I branched out and started my own company.

Upon graduation I expected to work in that field the rest of my life, but I'm glad I didn't choose that path. I like the freedom and flexibility that self-employment provides. And, I was just telling a friend the other day that I only use about 5% of my "college learned skills" in my work-a-day world. I was initially surprised by that fact.

Still in grad myself, but recalling my friends’ experiences it mostly looked like finding work in fields that were adjacent to what they actually wanted to be doing. They stayed at each place for a few years to establish a solid résumé, good references, and networking. A lot of getting their foot in the door came about from the volunteer work they did while they were in uni. They regularly put in resumes and kept up with skills trainings. They all developed pet-project, side-hustles related to their interests and skills while establishing their careers.

Those early years the jobs never paid enough for the actual amount of responsibilities on them, they had to deal with a lot of work drama, and they were barely scraping by. They would feel stressed, exhausted, and depressed a lot worried they might get stuck in a job they hate forever just to pay the bills. It didn’t help that so many people thought it was acceptable to dump cynicism on them about how college is a waste of time, and they would eventually realize their degree was pointless.

Eventually, they found work at places that make them happy, feel fulfilled, and make pretty good money with good benefits. Now everyone who gave them shit acts like they were supportive the whole time, but whatever.. 🤷🏻‍♀️🙄 The important thing is that their perseverance and strategizing paid off.


I do know a number of people, though who went to university that are bitter their degree didn’t amount to anything, but I also remember those people partying a lot, doing half ass work on their assignments, not bothering to network, not bothering to do any volunteer work, or look for work experience, not thinking through what it takes to establish a career in the thing they got a degree for, and not thinking at all about their future finances. Ehh.. when they talk about it, it’s as if they believed there would be a row of employers grateful for their existence throwing upper middle class figures at them.

No different really.
Still working for the same company.
Funded the degree course myself so it didn't cost them anything.
More responsibilities for pretty much the same salary.

postgrad corporate life was easier and fr more profitable than postgrad, but still a student life.

Not at all what I expected, but better.

I never ended up graduating. Life kept getting in the way.

It's time to work which is nice.

Better and worse

Tumultuous

Way too adulty.

Wasted 7 years of Uni ( BA in Sports Science & MSc in Equine Studies )

Retrained after Covid killed my Business

Statement of Attainment to Cookery
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RSA Certificate
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