For many students, pursuing a graduate degree is a means to access better job opportunities, higher wages, and greater control over their career trajectory.
While having an advanced degree can be helpful, it does not guarantee a job offer. The options as a graduate student are tied to the actions you take to land the job you desire.
This article explores career opportunities for recent college graduates with a graduate degree.
It provides advice on navigating the job market, considering career options, researching pathways to finding a job, and gaining work experience.
It also lists the best paying jobs and growth prospects for recent graduates in various fields.
Navigating the Job Market After Graduation
As a student wondering about your graduate career opportunities, it is essential to consider all career options available to you now, which can help create career options when you graduate.
What Are Your Career Options After Graduation?
One way to open up your employment options is to explore career opportunities outside of academia.
Research how your skills and credentials can translate to the corporate arena and pursue this path to obtain a paycheck and benefits while continuing to pursue the academic position you desire.
Opportunity #1 Consider All Career Options Now
Some graduate students may wish to secure an academic position, but it is crucial to consider other career options that may be available.
Pursuing opportunities outside of academia can help create job options while not preventing the pursuit of the desired academic position. Exploring different career paths is an excellent way to open up employment options and obtain a paycheck and benefits.
Opportunity #2 Research Pathways to Finding a Job
Before beginning the job search, consider how you will go about finding a job after graduation.
Networking is essential, and connecting with other graduate students in your field, professors, professional organizations, and working part-time or volunteering in your field are all great ways to create VIP passes for future job opportunities.
The university’s career center, job boards, family, and friends can also be valuable resources for connecting with career opportunities.
Opportunity #3 Start Your Career, Graduate Later
Getting some solid experience on your resume before graduation is a great way to increase the chances of landing a job, especially if you have little or no experience.
Graduate students can often temporarily delay graduation while gaining work experience, helping to make them more competitive in the job market.
Recent Graduates – Careers Are Out There!
the job market as a recent graduate may be challenging, with seasoned professionals competing for the same opportunities.
However, remember that a graduate degree is a valuable achievement that cannot be taken away and will support you throughout your career.
Your first job opportunity may not be all you had hoped for, but it is essential to make the most of your job experiences and focus on career planning and development strategies to steer your life in the direction you choose.
With a graduate degree, you qualify for opportunities that are beyond the reach of many others.
As you gain experience in your field, you will continue to learn more about the direction you want to take.
It is necessary to focus on career planning and development strategies to steer your life in the direction you choose, and to make the most of your job experiences.
The Best Jobs and Growth Opportunities for Recent Graduates
Job searching after graduating from college opens many possibilities.
Recent college graduates may not know how to follow their dreams and enjoy good pay.
The more money you make the more free time you will have and the more freedom you will have to do as you want.
Today’s economy is uncertain and rapidly changing so finding the jobs for recent college graduates can use a little guidance.
Best Paying Jobs
A recent report released by CNN listed the average level entry salary for some positions.
Most positions have seen a 4% increase from 2008. Let’s have a look at some of the best paying jobs.
- Those graduating with technical degrees saw almost an 8% increase.
- Marketing graduates saw approx. a 5% increase.
- Engineering grads saw a 6% increase while those who specialized saw a 6.2% increase.
- Civil engineering graduates saw a 5% increase.
- Finance and Accounting grads saw only a 2% increase.
- Business Administration graduates saw only a 1% increase.
10 Jobs for Recent Graduates
Here are a few of the average salaries associated with 10 of the most common career choices from highest starting salary to lowest.
- Economics – $53,000 – Careers range from working for government agencies to private business consulting.
- Nursing – $53,000 – Nursing majors can find work in clinics, hospitals, doctor offices, etc.
- Chemistry – $52,000 – Chemists can find work in the pharmaceutical industry, laboratories government, and private, research and development, and chemical manufacturing.
- Political science – $43,600 – Work available in the private sector as well as in all levels of government, and in non-profit organizations.
- Human resources – $40,250 – Human resources majors can find work in payroll, as HR assistants, as benefits coordinators, etc.
- Communications – $35,200 – For those with communications degrees the job opportunities include those in public relations, marketing, journalism, business management, and advertising.
- English literature – $34 800 – English majors find work in education, as well as writing and editing for newspapers, or broadcasting.
- Journalism – $32,250 – Journalism majors will find s careers in media relations, broadcasting, print, or radio journalism.
- Psychology – $31,000 – Psychology graduates can find work in mental health or the social services sectors.
Best Growth Prospects and Jobs for Recent College Graduates
Start salary is defiantly one aspect you’ll want to consider in choosing an opportunity as a recent college graduate, especially if you post-secondary education has left you with a large amount of debt.
You’ll want to consider how the salary will grow as you gain more experience, and whether you will have the opportunity to advance into significant career opportunities. Finally, consider what you can expect from your career over the next 25 to 30 years.
Salary vs. Opportunity
For example, those entering nursing careers can expect higher salaries at the start but have fewer opportunities to move into positions that pay more.
Whereas those who enter fields in business are likely to start with a lower salary but can expect more opportunities for significant increases in salary as they are promoted into managerial positions.
Internships for Recent Graduates
Many opportunities exist to begin in lower paying positions as interns but with the opportunity to enjoy significant salary increases as the internship is completed and you move up the career ladder.
Getting an internship after graduating gives you opportunities to gain skills that will make you more marketable.