Surviving final year! – 4 top tips!

What drew me in about university (as well as the increased job prospects) was knowing that I would come out with a solid foundation about the career that I was going into – to be able to work with people and develop their skills and talents.

Like lots of other students across the world, were coming to a time of decision making which can be incredibly stressful! And so over the course of my 4 year degree, I have come up with methods that have helped me to stay positive in such uncertain environments.

The hints and tips below are things that I have done and currently do, to make sure that I stay sane, and I would love to be able to share that with other students who might be in my situation too – whether that be looking for graduate jobs, deciding whether to move home, or even deciding whether the course studied is right for them.

Final year – even the word is daunting. The increased workload, and the stressing about writing a dissertation is the least of our worries!

Now as final year students, we have to think about jobs, and where we actually want to go with our lives. We have to make… decisions… about our future! And as much as this is one of the most emotional, stressful and uncertain part of our lives so far, it also one of the most exciting. And I really believe that the more we keep enjoying the excitement of it all and keeping positive the more likely we are to get the “job of our dreams” or at least out foot in the door to start that process.

I want you to finish reading this and be INSPIRED to achieve your goals. We live in a world where we are constantly being told were not good enough – by people who assess us from a piece of paper! Rather than finding ways to improve ourselves in this whole job application process, and giving ‘advice’ on how to improve our CVs and applications forms, I want to write about ways we can keep ourselves sane whilst applying for jobs.

Believe you can do it!

You are a future graduate. You’re working towards a degree that you’ve worked the last 3-4 years for. You have to be your biggest fan because potential employers won’t be! Even if you have to say “I BELIEVE IN ME” every day until you get that job – then do it! Positive thinking + positive actions = positive outcomes.

Embrace your strengths & weaknesses!

As desperate students, we sometimes hold to the bad things potential employers say about us – but really it’s YOU and your trusted people that know you better than anyone. So get someone you trust to give you an ego boost every once in a while. When you’ve made a list of things you’re good at, work on ways to showcase this in your personal life – if that’s through volunteering, or working on an art project, or joining a swim team! –You can highlight these in interviews and assessment centres. Equally, ask these same people to give you constructive criticism on what you need to work on. This doesn’t have to be just friends and family, but lecturers you trust as well. That way if potential employers bring up these weaknesses, you can shrug them off, leave it in the past and move on to the next one.

Rest & relaxation!

I can’t stress how important it is that sometimes we just have a break. Recently I haven’t been sleeping well. I am working 3 jobs, studying full time, volunteering twice a month, trying to find time to socialise AND looking for jobs. I am WORN OUT! I know I can’t do anything productive when I’m tired. I just end up spending a few days doing nothing because I’m trying to catch up on sleep! Why should we let these potential employers take our precious sleep away for jobs we may not even get?! I don’t know about you, but I am taking a stand! From now on; regular sleep, regular meals and appropriate social time.

Make time for leisure!

One of my housemates goes to the gym, the other goes on spontaneous trips across the country; And I have ‘Me’ time – painting my nails, getting my hair done anything to take my mind away from thinking about jobs. And I promise you, the applications we complete when were fresh and awake will be much better than the ones we have all tried to write at 2am to get it in on the deadline date! This is not rocket science or some kind of new stress management theory. And I am not saying not to be committed to the cause, or not to push ourselves to reach our dreams, but we need to find a way to look after ourselves – both physically and mentally as well.

Without our health, or sanity, we really have no hope of achieving our goal (although I’m sure someone once said there is a fine line between insanity and being a genius). This is just that small (but sometimes loud) voice in your head that is crying out for some attention. And even in the midst of uncertainty about our futures, we really need to start thinking about how we can help ourselves on the graduate road to employment.

Shona Okeke is Birmingham City University alumni,  pursuing a career In Management and Human Resources.