I'm Graduated! What now!???

"Finally! I'm Graduated!" This sentence keeps running through my mind as it will take a few months before I will have my Bachelor's degree! But then what? What am I going to do after I'm graduated? Was studying all worth it at the end?

 

 I'm trying to understand why it's hard for students to find a job related to their studies after their graduation. Friends from different countries who are students too told me they are trying to find an internship just to gain work experience. Without work experience, they wouldn't easily succeed in finding a job. They told me the effect of having an internship would lead to a study delay, but they don't mind as long as they have work experience. A bachelors degree in the Netherlands takes four years of studying. Only within the 3rd and 4th year, a student is able to do an internship for 5 months in each year. In the 3rd year, a student has to do an internship where he/she can gain experience. It's basically a 'working' place. In the 4th year, a student needs to do a internship where he/she has to write a research report for the chosen company and some might even have to work for the company next to writing a report. In total, a student will gain 10 months of experience at two different companies. It wouldn't be a big of a deal when this student found two internships that are related to each other in 'work experience'. But what if they aren't related? Then a student would have 5 months experience in this aspect, and 5 months experience in another aspect. That's actually my case. I'm recently doing my last internship where I have to write a research report for the company and also start up something new for this company. The tasks that I had to do at the other internship, is not related to my current internship. The question here is: Would the work experiences be accepted by companies after my graduation? Will I successfully find a job that is related to my studies?

 Nowadays, companies set high standards on vacancies and mostly require a minimum of 2 year work experience in a specific field. How will a graduate ever succeed in finding a job related to his/her studies with only 10 months of work experience?

Since last year, graduates from the Netherlands are able to do an internship at a company where they can gain experience and develop skills. In exchange, graduates get a small financial compensation. However, companies could make use of the graduates and let them do work of a normal employee, because they are simply cheaper than a normal employee. Some graduates find it a nice way to gain more experience, others disagree with it. 

To be honest, most students have to find a job to finance their study, only to get another (better) job. I had to save money before studying, because my mom warned me that it would be hard having a job while studying. She was right. I actually tried working too while studying, but I couldn't deal with it 3 years ago. I was doing too much work. Due to pressure and stress, I got health complains so there was no other option than stop working and take a rest for a few months, which lead to a delay in my study. My life has changed since then and I started to think about why students have to study and why we put so much stress on ourselves? I totally agree that studying gives certain knowledge, basic knowledge, but at the end.. it depends on you, what you will do with the knowledge you have learned. 

There are companies that will hire you not only based on experience, but also skills and grades. For example, South-Korean students are being over pressured by not only their parents, but even the teachers. I've been talking to students when I was studying in Seoul (SK) and I couldn't believe my ears when I heard this. There is a big difference between their mentality and the mentality of Dutch students. We have a '5,5'-mentality, which means that if we pass with a minimum of 5,5 grade, it is fine. But in South-Korea it's not like that. You have to get an A or A+ to be the best, so you will have more chance in getting a job and having a successful life. Still, why is it hard for them to find a job when having great grades? 

Anyway, back to the point why it is hard for graduates to find a job after their graduation: Even though the employment market of the Netherlands is doing a bit better after the recession, I believe companies aren't giving graduates the full chance to prove themselves. They set high standards, while they know that people who are just graduated won't fit these high standards yet. I believe it could be better when students have the possibility to find a side job that is related to their studies, to gain work experience and develop skills, however, companies should give students the chance to gain these experiences. Maybe this will help a student to find a job easily after graduation.

I'm trying to not worry so much about the future as now it is time for me to focus on the present moment: work my ass of to graduate. What comes later, comes later!

Feel free to comment and share your thoughts about this subject. I can write even more about it, but I think it is enough for now :p.

Have a good day! X Kimberley