Career Issues for Adult Returners
Many adult returners are at least partly motivated by the hope of a degree improving their career prospects. The university Careers S ervice aims to help you address any possible barriers to your future career development by providing advice to help you improve your career planning, develop your confidence and identify opportunities for employment.
It can never be too early to start thinking about your future as a graduate and about how to enhance your career prospects. Why not take a look at the section for prospective students on the Careers Service website, www.strath.ac.uk/careers and also keep in mind the following advice:
- Find out as much as you can about the careers or broad categories of work which appeal to you. Assess them against what you know of yourself - your skills and interests - and enquire about the degree discipline which is most advantageous for entry to your chosen field. Your local Careers Service or the Adult Information Service at the University of Strathclyde can help you with this investigation.
- If you have clear ideas about your career after graduation, choose your degree in the light of your intended career. Have a look at www.prospects.ac.uk/links/25 to see a range of careers that relate to the subjects you are interested in studying If your career aim is broad rather than specific, try to take a range of subjects in first year until your thoughts become more clearly focused. Avoid taking subjects which you dislike. However good the job prospects may be in that field, you are unlikely to perform well in a subject in which you have no interest.
- Consider trying to find voluntary or paid work experience during your degree course. The Careers Service vacancy list at www.strath.ac.uk/careers/vacancies can help you find part-time and vacation work.
- Further information about careers issues specific to adult returners can be found at www.strath.ac.uk/careers/studgrad/maturestudents
- Once you have started your course you can visit the Careers Service, who offer help with all aspects of career choice and job search. They offer great advice and information throughout your university course and beyond graduation.