The excitement of graduation and the world of fulltime employment with benefits, and a fantastic social life is immense during the final academic semester, writes Mercy Kaggwa.
Many do not have a clue about what they are going to do with their first year away from the academic world, and those that do, have either enrolled on internships or work placements or travel. And the unlucky few wind up as a statistic in the queue for job seekers allowance.
When I found myself in this position I was indeed mortified at the prospect of being there for the rest of my life.
Hunting for employment is a difficult task and some will feel down trodden at the prospect of not getting what they want.
To combat this feeling I found that volunteering was the best way to utilise my skills, meet new people and learn along the way. I read an article about volunteering and looked on the Timebank website which led me to an array of charitable organisations of which I found several wanting someone of my background.
Volunteering is worthwhile and very productive. You can work at your own pace whilst using your own initiative, all things that prospective employers would appreciate. And if you like you can take a part time job, even one not of your choice as well as volunteering until the right position comes along. I would recommend this activity to anyone.
I have enjoyed every minute and have also been successful in the meantime. See what interests you in your area and take it from there. You never know where you might end up.
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