So UNI’S OvER ANd YoU’RE BROkE...

By Caitlin Holroyd

Reminiscing on the start of first year and the large sum of money that landed into your account seems like a lifetime ago, and it’s hard to pinpoint exactly how the student loan diminished so quickly. I can assure you that although this feeling may be daunting and as the end of final year approaches, you begin to regret all the Friday pints and latenight takeaways, there are a multitude of ways to quickly build your bank account back up. There is a pressure to stumble across the job of your dreams immediately after leaving university, and unfortunately this only happens to a very small percentage of us. The reality is that returning to hospitality and retail is completely normal and entirely okay, allowing time to earn back a bit of cash whilst considering the next step. It may seem disheartening after acquiring so many new skills from your course, however sitting back and waiting for the dream job to miraculously appear will only waste your time and set you back to square one.

Considering the recent soar in online marketplaces such as Vinted and Depop, selling your unused stuff has recently become one of the most effective ways to rapidly earn some money. If you are approaching the end of university, this can be particularly helpful, providing an opportunity to sell any home décor or utensils that you may no longer require if moving back home. It can be difficult to part with possessions, although payment for taking a trip to the post office is much more gratifying. Comparable to the simplicity of online selling, offering ‘cash in hand’ services can also prove a quick and easy way to earn some money. Whether this is offering childcare for the neighbours or advertising a dog-walking regime, locals almost always require these forms of aid.

Freelancing and promoting your skills are other excellent ways to kickstart your career, focusing in on your expertise, whilst earning a bit of money and ultimately, doing what you enjoy the most. This doesn’t have to be specific to the field of which you studied in, but instead could extend to experimenting in other sectors, such as a fine art student writing short stories or an English student dabbling in film. Creating a portfolio and showcasing your talent is the first step, making this apparent on social medias to gain some publicity. You can start at low prices and although it may be difficult to see the profitability, once the ball gets rolling and you gain more customers, there is higher potential for a price increase. There will be a multitude of alumni students that have gained experience establishing their own businesses through self-employment and ultimately, they may be the most knowledgeable on the best ways to go about this.

Another tip to keep your skills fresh, whilst acquiring some money, is to offer tutoring services to cohorts under you, helping them with their assessments and supplying them with advice gained from your own experience, particularly as a recent graduate. In exchange for this, asking for a small fee would be more than reasonable, particularly as the student will now have made a connection for when they graduate, supplying the opportunity for business partnerships or just general aid. A great way to advertise this would be in the major student areas, such as pinning up posters in the libraries, student unions and most importantly, adding a post to the MSG (Manchester Student Group) Facebook page.

The major life lesson here is that the job hunt takes time, and there so many people in a similar situation that will be feeling equally as nervous and ambiguous. Take some time to reflect and keep calm, because money can always be recouped!