Missing out on a first or 2.1 degree can sometimes mean that a more qualified graduate will take your dream job from right under your nose.
It is hardly surprising; therefore, that exam pressure is the biggest cause of stress for 65% of students at university.
This statistic could probably be dramatically reduced if students swapped post-lecture pints for the library more often during term time. However, it does go to show that a huge percentage of forward-thinking students are concerned about their career from an early stage. In fact, just under half (48%) say that getting a job post-graduation – or not – is their biggest worry.
And with an average of 52 applications per graduate job, it is definitely worth getting a head start as early as possible – have a look
here for the how-to.
The research, which was conducted by Gocompare.com, also found that a similar percentage of students were worried about money. The new £9,000 tuition fee cap means that the typical student will graduate with £53,000 worth of debt in addition to their degree. It is little wonder, then, that 61% of students put money at the top of their university worries list.
Over half (53%) of students were most concerned about their capacity to juggle university work with other commitments, while 26% of students said that meeting new people was the most stress-inducing aspect of university life.
These causes of stress might have been categorised in the research as university-related anxieties, but many of the top ten can also be applied to
jobs for graduates.
Exam stress
Far from leaving them in your dust as you speed from graduation into your first job (glass half full!), some jobs, such as marketing and accounting, actually require you to sit more exams. You are most likely already exam-savvy from your university days, but a few top tips: NEVER revise in bed (you will wake up three hours later none the wiser), take regular breaks and snack on fruit rather than junk so you feel refreshed rather than sluggish.
Work-play balance
This can prove a tricky one to get right: you want to do well at work and impress employers but you don’t want to neglect your social life. While bedtime may have been moved a few hours forward since university, there is still time to squeeze in a meal out or a catch-up with a pal during the week. Making time for yourself and pursuing interests outside of work can actually improve your performance, as you’ll be happier and more relaxed.