• I am not sure what I want to do. Is there a computer programme that can give me ideas?
• Where can I get help and advice in deciding what careers might be suitable for me?
• Can I get ideas of jobs that I can do with my degree?
• I don't want to use my degree subject. What jobs are open to graduates from any subject?
• I've done some careers research and I still can't decide. What advice can you give me?

I am not sure what I want to do. Is there a computer programme that can give me ideas?

Yes. Prospects Planner can help you look at your career plans online. Prospects Planner will help you by identifying careers that you may be suited to by asking you questions about your strengths, weaknesses, interests and values. Make sure you have about 45 minutes or so to spare before undertaking it.

Where can I get help and advice in deciding what careers might be suitable for me?

Once you get some ideas you are probably best advised doing some preliminary research into the occupations yourself to compare and contrast them. Information Staff will be pleased to discuss where the information is.

In addition, visit the Occupational information, and course options sections, job sectors and the explore types of job sections of the Prospects website to explore various occupational profiles.

At the end of the day the decision is yours about what career(s) you apply for and only you can say what you are suited to. When you have done some research about your options, this would be a good time to book an appointment to talk to a careers adviser. You might want to talk about routes into occupations you are now seriously interested in or conversely you might want to seek advice on how to make progress if you are still undecided about what to do.

Can I get ideas for jobs that I can do with my degree?

Yes. Visit the Careers Service for the following information:

'Your Degree in...What next?'
Information on how best to use your degree and jobs directly related to your degree and also jobs where your degree would be helpful. These are available to download from Prospects.

Relevant Department Files/Graduation Destination information for your subject
These hold careers information for your degree subject including the Graduate Destinations Survey information is also available on our website for University students and staff.

'What Do Graduates Do?' gives details of destinations of graduates nationally by subject, six months after graduation.

The 'Prospects Employer Directory' is an annual publication that lists employers recruiting final year students and it lists employers recruiting graduates from particular subjects. You will find a reference copy in the Student Development Zone. You also may be able to get your own copy (subject to availability).

I don't want to use my degree subject. What jobs are open to graduates from any subject?

There are many 'general' graduate jobs that you can do that are not specifically linked to any subject - many careers are open to graduates of any discipline. Over 40% of the vacancies state the positions are open to any subject.

Examples include: finance (banking, insurance, accountancy etc), Civil Service, and a variety of graduate trainee management schemes both in the private (eg. manufacturers and retailers) and the public sectors (eg. NHS, Police, and Prison Service).

It can still be useful to view the subject-specific destination information mentioned in the response to the previous question to find out about alternative careers. You will find the 'Options with...' series on the Prospects website.

Another area of interest may be the 'Use your qualification' section, also on the Prospects website.

I've done some careers research and I still can't decide. What advice can you give me?

If none of the resources mentioned in the previous questions help then it is probably best to talk to a careers adviser. If you used the 'Prospects Planner' it would be useful to bring your print-outs with you.

If you are not sure of your future career, remember that sometimes a good plan can be to postpone making a decision on this for a little while longer. Spending a productive 'year out' or doing a postgraduate course can be excellent options. These both allow you to develop more skills and experience and also give you time to formulate and consolidate career plans. Do bear in mind, however, that postgraduate study is expensive and careful thought needs to go into your choice of subject.

Another plan could be to take a year off doing temporary and/or voluntary employment with the same purpose in mind. There are books and files of information on both postgraduate study and on 'year out' options in the Careers Service.

A final thought about being in the position of not being able to decide what to do is to consider whether you are being too fussy. Have you perhaps dismissed some careers too easily on face value, perhaps, or because of stereotypical images that you may have? Have you really researched some of the occupations thoroughly enough? If you are nervous of decision-making do bear in mind that whatever you go into is not a lifetime commitment! You can move on at a later stage and the evidence is that very many graduates do so.

Our career planning pages will give you more guidance on what to take into consideration when planning your career. Visit our postgraduate and further study pages for more information on postgraduate study and funding. Visit our resource on taking time out if you are interested in taking a 'year out' before deciding on a career.