find your perfect postgrad program
Search our Database of 30,000 Courses


Posted July 21, 2014

Career Websites – Graduate Lifesaver or Time Waster?

The steps from higher education to a career are big steps to say the least. The transition is one of many important changes, and there are so many things that can trip you up along the way. You might ask: how do I help to ensure a smooth transition and get a great start to a great career? Some of the answer lies with career websites.

What are Career Websites?

Career websites are exactly what you'd expect them to be. They are websites that offer information and advice on jobs, job markets and careers. Some of these sites are primarily job boards but with extra information to help you out, while other websites are primarily (or completely) focused on giving information and advice about careers. From local volunteer roles to managerial and executive positions, on many of these sites you will find actual job posts either directly on the website or as a link to the source.

Career Sites for Postgrads Good career websites are not only concerned about professional roles and career paths, but careers in academia also, and it is here that postgraduates with an eye on research can benefit from useful information and advice. From such important issues as securing corporate sponsorship to understanding career paths, academic career websites help postgraduates understand the most important issues and prioritise accordingly. Just like regular job seekers, postgrads looking for academic positions often focus on the wrong things - getting information with a good online resource can make all the difference.

Know the Good and the Bad Students and postgrads of the modern generation know very well that the internet can be a minefield of pointless prose and misinformation. At this stage in the game, postgraduates are looking for answers, advice and support. They want to know where they can go next, what opportunities are available and how to manage life and secure a successful future, so the last thing they want is to be fed useless information from websites that have nothing genuinely good to offer. But thankfully it is easy to know the good from the bad. Quality advice websites are often run by charitable or governmental organisations, so this is one thing you should look out for. You will also find excellent information and advice with the larger commercial job websites, because these sites have their reputation to protect.

Make Sure You Work for It!

Ultimately, the usefulness of any career website depends on how much effort you put in. A career website will be of no benefit unless you can actually absorb the information and take on board the advice... and most importantly, translate it into action. Concentrate on the important information provided and think about it carefully. As you navigate career websites, think to yourself "is the information accurate and timely?" and "does this apply to me?" If the answer to these is yes, you should then think "what do I need to do to make this advice work for me?"
 
Related articles

Leave a comment