Illustration: Jonathan Gartmark
Life after university: How do I find my purpose?
By: Charline Wolf
16/04/2022
You are probably familiar with the question: So, what do you want to do after university? As students, our job description reads somewhere along the lines of “I am on my way to working in a field I like.” After all, the purpose of studying at university is to gain access to a wider range of future career opportunities. But with so many options available, it can be difficult to pin down the right one for you.
Karin Fälth and My Lindau are study and career advisers for Malmö University’s career services, and they have some tips on how to find what you want to do with your life and how to get there.
1. Know that others are in the same boat
If it stresses you out not knowing where you’re headed, it might help to know that others are struggling with the same issues. It is quite common not to know what you want to do, and it’s okay, as long as you’re trying to figure it out.
A lot of students choose to study something that they might find interesting without actually reflecting on the job market or the job opportunities afterwards, or where they would like to work with the competence that they will gain during their studies,” says My.
She goes on to say that we all feel pressure to know where we’re headed. This may be comforting to you, but it should definitely not keep you from going forward and making decisions.
2. There is room to wiggle
Keep in mind that career paths are often not a straightforward line but rather a series of wiggles and sideways moves. This means that sometimes, you get to where you wanted to be by exploring another path, or you may decide to change your goals by exploring something new. Unforeseen events can happen, and you may not always be able to influence every factor in your life.
Since the pandemic, we all learned that life is uncertain, so it may be more feasible to plan for the near future rather than the far future. Having several options is also a good idea. Don’t plan for only plan A, but also consider plans B and C. In the end, it may be worth not only looking straight ahead, but also to the sides.
3. Know your values
Karin and My suggest making a value proposition for yourself. Sit down and take some time to reflect on your own values: What do I find important in the world? Which issues would I like to see tackled? Which work environments can I see myself in? What kinds of people would I like to be around? These are important questions if you want to end up in a workplace where you align with your organisation’s values and your coworkers’.
4. Information
Information is the most important part in making decisions. Seek out information about possible jobs in your field, find alumni, go to career fairs, and see which jobs are out there, what you need to get in, and how you can use the competencies you gain from your studies.
Websites like LinkedIn can be a source of inspiration: you can look at the profiles of alumni of your degree or other people in the industry you want to get into, and find companies through them.
5. Talk to people
This point goes hand in hand with the previous one. Build on your research and ask people with interesting career paths for a fika at a café or online. This way, you can gather new information on jobs in your field and even make first connections to the industry you want to work in.
Reaching out to people also makes a good first impression. It may be scary, but people will see you as outgoing and ambitious, and it can help you get into the recruitment process if people at an organisation remember you.
Usually, people are very friendly,” says Karin, and highlights that 70-80% of jobs in Sweden are gained through networking. People know that it can be hard to get in and are usually happy to help.
But also use other chances to talk to people: Go to career fairs and talk to organisations, even when they don’t seem to be suited for your field of study. You might be able to work at Ikea even if you study criminology, but you’ll never know unless you talk to them to see what they are looking for.
And of course, talk to your friends and family about what you are doing and what you want to do. Talk about your goals and values, and get their opinions on you. The people who know you can probably give you the best advice and talk through your concerns with you.
6. Start now
Yes, you might have no idea where you’re going – it’s okay. But the ideas will not come on their own. If you have not thought about your career plans until now, then now is the moment to start. If you feel lost, there are resources available to help you:
- Your faculty’s career counsellor – you can book individual study and career guidance with them.
- Futurefinder – this is the university’s career portal, where you can browse through and apply for internships and jobs (futurefinder.mau.se).
- Career workshops and events – you can also find these on FutureFinder, and it might be worth keeping your eyes open for announcements on Canvas.
- Mentorship programmes – the university has a mentorship scheme, but you can also research programmes outside the university by yourself. A mentor can be a source of information and support.
- Drivhuset – if you are interested in entrepreneurship, Drivhuset can give you valuable information and support your plans.
7. Alleviate the pressure
Whatever decision you might take today, it doesn’t have to be a decision forever. People are changing career paths more than ever. Whatever you choose to do now does not mean you will never do anything else.
Even if you don’t choose this career path now, you might choose it later on,” says Karin.
After all, your career doesn’t have to equal your purpose in life, so keep reflecting on your decisions, and keep your network broad. That way, you might come across an interesting career change in a couple of years, if that is what you want.
