My top tips for graduates out of work – Ellie Colton

If, like me, you had your post-uni life planned out meticulously, you might now find yourself in a weird phase similar to the limbo transition we feel between Christmas and New Year, but a lot less exciting.

When the UK-wide lockdown was imposed in March 2020, millions of students were forced to finish their final year of their degree online. Not only that but graduation was cancelled, and future plans were called into question.

Now let’s flip the narrative that it’s all doom and gloom. How else will we turn our misfortune into our biggest success story?

The main thing for you right now is to not panic. Easier said than done – obviously. Appreciate that most people are in the same boat, feeling how you’re feeling, confused, unmotivated, pressured by peers posting their own progress on social media.

The biggest thing to remember about social media is it’s a platform which exists to post the ‘best of’ people’s lives. When they get jobs, when they get commissions, when they post their dreams and the steps 
they are actively taking to get there.

A cliché, I know, but the only person who can make you happy, get you dressed, motivated, driven, is you. So, if, like me, you finished uni, your graduation was postponed, re-booked and is now postponed again indefinitely due to the surge in new Covid cases, do not despair.

Take this ‘limbo’ period as a time to re-brand. Here is how you can pick yourself up in this time:

Ignore your self-doubt: Many people are feeling stuck in the mud, you are not alone. If you’ve been thinking about doing something, but not had the confidence to do it yet, let this be the push you needed.

Apply for that job, reach out to that person, start that website, ask for help and believe you can get through this time in your life.

Develop a routine: Rule 101 of how to pick yourself up: make a routine and stick with it, but don’t beat yourself up if you go outside of it.

Routine is there to structure parts of your life, it makes you more likely to reach your goals, and hold yourself accountable.

Even something as simple as getting up at 8.30am every day, having breakfast, eating lunch and spending the afternoon as ‘thinking/planning/applying’ time is a step in the right direction.

Build on your small successes: Something that might seem minor to other people might be major to you. If filling out a job application was your goal for the week, you should be so proud of yourself when you get it done.

Build on those small successes, and don’t feel disheartened if you don’t hear back. There will always be other jobs, other opportunities, everything happens for a reason. We move!

Set realistic goals: Don’t aim too high too soon, otherwise you’ll feel like you’re constantly not doing enough – the perfect way to demotivate yourself. Be clear in your goals as it makes them much easier to reach.

People make the mistake of setting ‘end’ goal as their ‘immediate goal’ – there is nothing wrong with starting small.

Make a to-do list: There is no better feeling than plonking a big fat tick on your to-do list. Plan a few days of your week to give you mini bursts of motivation, reward yourself for reaching your goals. It works!

Know when to give yourself a break: Maybe one of the most important points of all – know when to stop. Don’t overwork yourself, give yourself breaks, don’t get too hung up on things that don’t matter.

If you have a ‘lazy’ day – and you feel like you’ve wasted precious time, you haven’t, you just needed a day of rest. Pick yourself back up tomorrow.

Get creative: Start a website, write a blog, create a YouTube Channel, open your diary – document your life! If nothing else, a portfolio of what you got up to in 2021 will be a great way to look back in years to come to see what you achieved.

Create a brand for yourself: Is this not the perfect time to grow yourself as an individual? Whether that be creating a brand for yourself whatever your industry, growing your social media following, or going public with your work.

As soon as you start putting yourself out there online, people will start to notice your achievements, and they will enjoy feeling part of your success story.

Good luck – and let’s hear how you get on and your own tips for the future.

Ellie Colton is a BBC Radio Sheffield presenter, podcaster, platform co-founder and music journalist.

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