What if your first job didn’t have to be the perfect job?

Posted on by Careers Service

The graduate market is increasingly competitive, so getting that grad scheme is becoming more difficult. 

However, grad schemes aren’t the only route into graduate employment and it’s OK if your career doesn’t have the most conventional beginning, middle, or end.

At the start of October, five Bristol alumni joined Bristol Connects Live: Squiggly Careers Alumni Panel event, to prove that their ‘squiggly’ career paths have been just as valuable, if not more so, to their personal and professional development than a traditional, linear path.

From starting a career with Teach First to now working for Amazon; an English degree to a Senior Data Scientist at Deliveroo; or even a History degree to Editor for the Financial Times, these alumni shared their career journeys to prove that your first job won’t necessarily be your forever job.

Panellists included:

  • Jess Ashworth: Product manager, funkypigeon.com (German graduate)
  • Harri Davies: Associate director, Aspiring Solicitors (Law)
  • Sam Joiner: Visual Stories Editor, The Financial Times (History)
  • Harrison Kirk: Vendor Manager, Amazon Fashion (Modern Languages)
  • Megan Stodel: Senior Data Scientist, Deliveroo (BA English, MSc Gender and International Relations)
A flow diagram of what different graduate career routes can look like

Some of their top tips for career success:

  1. Map out your skills

Write a list of your strengths and try to find your niche. Can you upskill or find experience to highlight the value of that niche in a professional context? Find a way to sell it to employers; tell them why it makes you more valuable to their team than the next candidate. Remember, you are responsible for your learning and development, so be curious and always look to upskill.

Track and develop your skills on the My Skills platform.

  1. Find out which skills are in demand

Technology is a huge area of development but other skills will be needed as businesses move into the future. Keep an eye out for skills that are in demand, especially within areas in growth, and upskill in those areas if they align with your career goals.

  1. Figure out your passions (and find a company that aligns with them)

All panellists said that enjoyment and passion have driven their careers. Look for an aspect of the job that interests you and focus on it– is there a role available in that department or an opportunity to upskill in an interesting area? It’s OK to pivot in your career, so look for what you enjoy and figure out how you can develop your niche to get to where you want to be.

  1. Network

Two of the alumni found jobs through their network. LinkedIn is quickly becoming one of the most powerful tools in the professional world, so take advantage of it! Use it to build your network and make connections. Ask people who have followed routes you might be interested in for a coffee and to chat about their careers, most of the time they will try to help you where they can. Make connections in any job you have throughout your career and nurture them even after you leave, you never know when someone may be able to help you progress in your career.

  1. Strategize (and stick at it)

When you know what you want to do next, plan your way to get there. If there’s no obvious career path, talk to people who are already in the industry and get their advice on your next steps. Once you have a plan, don’t give up on it. Success is perseverance and luck; the more you persevere, the more luck you’ll have. If you’re passionate about something, work out how to get there and make it happen!

6. Take calculated risks

Our speakers also support the idea of taking calculated risks throughout your career. Whether that’s trying something new, thinking about a new area that interests you, taking on more responsibility, or a new role, you will likely accrue important skills that will help your future success. Taking advantage of development opportunities and new experiences will build ‘career capital’ and give you a better sense of what you’re good at or what you want to be really good at. These opportunities will make a real difference to your career progress within any sector.

What you can do now:

Build your network

  • Use LinkedIn to see other people’s squiggly careers and how they progressed from university to their first and future jobs. Use it to make connections with people already in the industry or business you want to work in. Ask them for a chat and find out how you could add value to their team.
  • Use BristolConnects (with the career expert function) to find alumni who may be able to offer advice on how to break into a specific sector.
  • Use Meetup to find and attend sector-specific events – meet people who are in sectors you’re interested in, network and learn more about their careers. Some speakers shared examples of project management and tech-related events that had been beneficial for their professional development. 
  • Make a speculative application to your dream company.

Develop your skills

  • Once you’ve identified your key strengths, find ways to further develop or demonstrate them. Then work out how to sell them to employers.

Speak to a careers adviser

  • If you’re still looking for guidance on different routes into employment or which way to pivot, book an appointment or visit us on campus to discuss your options.

For more information on Squiggly Careers, look at the amazingif website. If you’re interested in the event, access the recording at Zoom on demand.