“Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?”
– a question that, whilst commonly asked in interviews, is not often broached to graduates once they have their degree certificate in hand.
It is, however, often at the forefront of many graduates’ minds towards the completion of their degree (if not before). It’s also understandable that many would answer with something along the lines of: “Thriving in my dream career as [insert role here].”
While landing your perfect job straight after uni isn’t impossible (it certainly does happen every now and again!), the most likely scenario you will find yourself in as a graduate in today’s world is gaining experience in several different roles or taking on additional further education opportunities before embarking upon your dream career.
As an example, many of the graduates we’ve worked with here at i2i Recruitment have worked in customer service jobs in Gloucestershire and similar roles before advancing up the career ladder, usually within these organisations.
The great news however is that with patience, persistence, dedication and hard work, it is entirely possible to find yourself at the start of your dream career five years or so after graduating!
Here’s how to go about it:
5 ways to land your dream career just 5 years after graduating:
1. Find a graduate job that will allow you to develop the skills and resources you need
It might seem counterintuitive to take on a role that doesn’t relate to your dream career; but unless your career plans require you to take a specific route – as would be the case with working in medicine, teaching or veterinary science, for example – there is very rarely only one true path to your dream career.
In fact, you’d be amazed at the plethora of skills you can build up in post-graduate jobs that you can transfer to your dream role later on.
For example, we’ve helped graduates here at i2i Recruitment land customer service jobs in Gloucestershire and other similar positions, who have then gone on to become successful entrepreneurs because the role boosted their communication, sales and interpersonal skills.
And you never know, you might even discover a passion you didn’t expect and take your dream career in a whole new direction!
At the same time, your first role (or few roles) will enable you to save some money for the things you need to embark upon your career. For example, saving up for a car so you can drive to the office, or so that you can take on more relevant education and training opportunities (more on that below).
Most importantly, it’s essential that you work hard and try to make an impact in these roles. The harder you work, the better opportunities you will be granted, and the greater the experience you will get in preparation for your dream role.
Not quite sure where to begin looking for your first graduate job? Be sure to register with us and our i2i Recruitment consultants can help you get started!
2. Take on further education or training opportunities
As we mentioned in a previous blog, there are a ton of educational and training opportunities out there that you can take on. Whilst many of these are paid for, you can find a lot of different courses online for free.
This won’t simply give you the knowledge and skills you need, but will look amazing on your CV, as it will demonstrate your passion for the sector you’re hoping to work in, and your willingness to go above and beyond to flourish in your dream career.
3. Do volunteer work related to your dream career
It can be tricky to find paid work related to your dream job straight after graduating; however, there are nearly always opportunities available to volunteer!
For example, if you have completed a history degree in the hopes of becoming a museum curator, see if you can volunteer at your local museum in some shape or form. Even if you simply end up arranging the museum’s archives on Saturday mornings, it’s a great way to get your foot in the door!
This will also give you a taster of what working in your dream role will be like in a full time scenario, and give you real-life insight into where a career there could take you and whether this is right for you.
What’s more, volunteering will help you build connections with other key players in the industry; which means that if they have a full time vacancy in the future, you could well be at the top of their candidates to hire list!
Plus, as with further training and education, employers will be significantly more drawn to you and your CV if you take on volunteer work, as it will evidence your desire to progress in your chosen field.
4. Network, network, network!
The previous three points all have one thing in common: they can grant you opportunities to network.
From fellow course mates and tutors on your training courses to colleagues in your paid and volunteer placements, everyone you meet will help you to establish and grow your roots in your chosen industry. The more connections you create, the more likely you’ll be to hear about job opportunities that will lead to your dream career!
Another way to do this is by attending relevant talks and events in your chosen industry; for example, if you want to work in IT, there are a number of different tech conferences that take place across the globe and online where you can meet others and learn from their experience in the field.
We have our own amazing network of employers here at i2i Recruitment, the most relevant of whom we can help you to build your connections with when you register with us!
5. Take all the above and draft it into a step-by-step plan
As the saying goes; fail to plan, plan to fail!
With all the above established – your ideal first graduate job, plus any additional education/training and volunteering pursuits confirmed – ensure you write them down and give yourself target dates in which to achieve them.
Make sure you have back-ups in place as well. For example, if your chosen online training course becomes unavailable, have another on standby so that you can still gather some experience under your belt.
In summary…
Landing your dream career in just five years is all about having a clear plan in place, working hard, taking on new opportunities and building up both your skillset and your professional network.
How i2i Recruitment can help
Whatever your current situation – whether you know exactly where you want to be in the next five years, or you don’t have a plan at all – our team at i2i Recruitment will help you step onto the path towards your ideal role.
Simply register with us today for an in-depth consutation with one of our experienced team; during this face-to-face meeting (whether online or in person), they’ll talk honestly with you about the current job market and how your skills and strengths fit within it, establish a workable plan, and subsequently help you kick-start your career journey.
In the meantime, be sure to take a look at the roles we currently have available on our website, which include administration, sales, support and customer service jobs in Gloucestershire and many more…
