Work

15 Honest Regrets S’poreans Have After They’ve Just Graduated

2016-03-30 , 8:54 am

Last Updated on 2020-03-15 , 11:59 pm

Are you a university student now? Are you worried that you are doing everything all wrong and you will regret it once you graduate?

Most graduates’ main regrets after the school door closes behind them have something to do with how they spent their time during their university days.

Read on to find out what these regrets are and avoid making them yourself!

Choosing the wrong major

Taking the wrong major during your university day means doomsday after graduation.

Once you have taken the wrong major, you will likely be stuck with a job that you hate. This is detrimental to your career and it can cause major issues in your future life if you are not able to get out of the industry.

Think real hard what you really want to do in future, and take a suitable course. Change your major now if it needs to be changed. Do the right thing for yourself and save on further regrets.

Not taking relevant courses besides your major

Employers nowadays will look for all-rounders and not doing any other courses besides your major is a killer blow for your job search.

It is always wise to do a few courses in different fields to ensure that your resume looks professional. Marketing, business management, human resource, financial or IT courses are often popular amongst those who wish to expand their scope of influence in order to stand a better chance of landing a job fast.

Not joining career-related activities outside of school

Joining activities that are related to your chosen career expose you to the industry and help you to know the people in the industry. It is a good place for you to get to understand how the industry works and if you would really love to work in the chosen industry.

It is also a good place to talk to higher management of certain companies and share your aspiring dreams.

Failing to focus on learning relevant skills

This is similar to point 3. Not learning the needed skills for your chosen career will become a stumbling block for you after graduation. Someone who has the relevant skills will have an advantage over you when it comes to job hunting.

Getting too much student loan

If your parents are not sponsoring your studies, it is always tempting to take the maximum loan out from financial institutions. Please do not do that. It hurts your financial standing the moment you graduate when you look at the debts you now owe.

The best way to counter this is to work part time jobs in a capacity that you can manage both work and studies. It is best to find a part time job that is in the industry you wanted to go into after graduation but if it is not possible, find something as close as possible.

No work experience

For those who are lucky enough to have parents sponsoring them, it is still advisable for you to start doing holiday jobs during your vacations.

The reason is simple: once you have relevant work experience while you are in school, the chance of you landing a job after graduation is a lot higher. Besides, earning your own keep is something that you should be proud of.

Not networking

University days are the best time for you to network. Do not wait till you come out to work, for that will be too late.

Try to network with people from different majors and faculties, for these people can become a lifeline to you in future when you need advice from their expertise.

Not keeping track of your achievement

Employers are always keen to look at track records. If you fail to keep track of your achievements during your school days, you will have nothing for show when you go for interviews later on after graduation.

Not to mention that if you have keep track of your achievements, you should have quite a few major ones to showcase your capabilities to your potential employers.

Failing to set career goals

It is difficult for us to know what we want in life at a young age, but try your best to do so. Not setting career goals earlier on in your life will result in you not knowing what is best for you later on in life.

You will find it very hard to switch to what you are really good at once you graduate and starts on the wrong foot out into society.

Not learning how to think professionally

Being professional is often valued in the workplace. Hence, you score a plus point if you behave in a professional manner from the first day you step out into society.

It will also help you to react in the correct manner when you meet certain awkward situations later on in your life.

Not grooming your professional looks

Looks are everything when it comes to first impression. Looks means not only how handsome/pretty you are, but also includes the manner you dress, your body language and how mature you speak.

Learn to put on a professional front when you need to and you will be good to go. Remember, there is a big difference between a professional look and a casual look.

Not taking advantage of career centre provided by your university

These centres are there to guide you and help you find a suitable job to match your interest and passion. Use them to find out what is the next best step for you to move forward and then move forward in the intended path that you have chosen.

They will save you a lot of heartache in future by guiding you to the right paths from the start.

Not making use of social media the right way

In today’s connected world, you should not be surprised if your potential employer will look at your Facebook profile or your Instagram account.

Do not put up comments that you will regret later on. Always remember that someone is reading what you post and be careful not to post hateful message in a fit of anger.

Instead, work on your LinkedIn profile and make it professional. It helps as head-hunters and recruitment consultants often make use of LinkedIn to look for suitable candidates.

Waiting too long to start job-hunting

Being lazy and waiting until the day you graduate to hunt for a job is not a wise choice. Job search takes time, and unless you wish to take a break after university, it is advisable to start your job hunting when you are still about 3 months away from graduation.

Applying to too few jobs.

Remember this rule – every 100 jobs you apply for, you get 1 interview. Hence, it is important to keep applying all the jobs that you think is suitable for you.

Besides, you might get lucky and land yourself a few interviews. These interviews, even if not successful in getting you a job, will help you to hone your interview skills and help you become more confident during an interview.

All these are useful in finding yourself that job you dream of. We hope that these tips have been useful to you and help you to move forward to a great and bright future.