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09 July
Being a Student in 2009
Take Hold Of Your Future
by
SoftwareGuru
8th July 2009
Back in February this blog discussed the
CAO applications rise and how this would lead to
intense competition in Ireland for places in third level education.
For any student waiting on results, the Summer can be a curse as
much as a blessing after the stress of exams.
At this time in their lives, the focus for many students is
simply the move away from home. The imminent prospect of gaining
their own independence is so great that long-terms issues such
as student debt and the recession-era's lack of
graduate jobs can be temporarily pushed aside.
It is only after the novelty of independence wears off that
students are faced with the reality of responsibility.
As career advisors at secondary level will tell school pupils,
there are many benefits to attending university and these
include:
- Further your skills / academic interest in a subject
- Improve employment prospects
- Personal development
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Great Expectations
Halfway through 2009, the green shoots of economic recovery are
said to be on their way.
For students about to start university life, it is vital that
they pay attention to the bigger picture that exists beyond
their course, their campus and their new social sphere.
Technology is evolving so fast that in many cases, the average 3
or 4 year course could be less relevant upon completion compared
to when it was originally devised.
The very fact that there is said to be "no jobs for life
anymore" would suggest that although it may be beneficial to
specialise in a niche industry rather than have a skill-set
belonging to a 'jack of all trades', there still remains the
possibility of switching between unrelated career paths.
It is vital therefore, that students keep their options open!
For example, students with politics degrees may end up deciding
on a career in social work, others with law degrees could end up
running their own painting and decorating business.
At such a young age in adult life, some students may feel
pressured to do what is expected of them rather than follow
their true career ambitions.
This is why the issue of student debt is so important.
Being forced into making big career decisions so early in their
academic life can easily result in years being spent on courses
which ultimately, will not relate to the career path the student
will eventually follow.
For some it can result in an unnecessary financial burden which
can result in creative ambitions being sacrificed in order to
pay the bills.
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Judgement Day
For anyone in third level education, the ultimate goal is to
develop a CV which prospective employers will value highly.
While it is important that students enjoy the experience
of university, CV development is best done over three or four
years and not during the last three months of the course.
For current students it might be an idea to identify areas you
think you are weak in and focus on the knowledge and skills
needed to boost your employment chances.
Asking yourself regularly, "what else can I learn?" is
more than just a question. It is an ideology that is hampered by
the whole examination system that we all experience from an
early age.
Learning should be a fun, lifelong habit that encourages us to
better ourselves. Through our experiences we can gain wisdom and
insight which, in an age of search engines, will prove more
valuable in the long run that any facts and figures.
If we can visualise our future achievements and successes, and
they are grounded in reality, then there is nothing to stop us
other than ourselves.
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Posted by
admin
at
13:01
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Read more about life after University at Software4Students.