Exploring your career options while studying

Finding your way around the job market as a new graduate can be confusing. Many are unsure about which direction to choose. And what a dream job actually entails.

There is no one right path, rather several directions.

At IDA, we talk about five general career paths: specialist, generalist, project manager, manager and self-employed. They should not be understood as steps on a career ladder, but as different directions that you can move between throughout your life.

• Specialist: Professional immersion and use of what you learn during your studies
• Generalist: Broader roles with interdisciplinary tasks
• Project manager: Planning, structure and coordination
• Manager: Strategy, people and direction
• Independent: Freedom, responsibility and your own framework

As a student, it can be helpful to use career paths as a reflection tool:

• Which tasks motivate you?
• Do you like to immerse yourself – or coordinate and create an overview?
• Do you thrive with responsibility for subjects, people or processes?

Many end up combining several tracks over time. And your choices during your studies can help open or close doors later.

The most important thing about seeking relevant job experience while studying is not to find an exciting company you want to work for, but to clarify which skills you have and which ones you want to work on.

Student jobs, internships and project collaborations are not just something you do for the sake of your CV. They help you to:

• Test your professionalism in practice
• Find out what you are good at – and what you are not passionate about
• Become more confident in your choices
• Sparring with experienced advisors

At the same time, you build skills that are difficult to learn in higher education alone: ​​collaboration, prioritization, responsibility, and professional communication.

There is an important perspective to consider
There is no one “right” amount of experience. It’s about finding a balance that suits your studies and your strengths.

Job searching starts long before you send your first application.

As early as ½–1 year before you graduate, you can start working on:

• Competence clarification
• Prioritised needs for working life and everyday life
• Understanding what companies are looking for

This will not only make you sharper when you eventually have to apply for a job – but also more confident in your choices.

The skills can be extensive, and not all of them make sense. But once you have mapped out the skills, the overview gives you a foundation for the next step.

Now you can match the things you find fun and motivating with the job areas that allow you to use those skills.

Many students believe that the union only becomes relevant once they have graduated. But did you know that you can use us as a sparring partner to get clarification on which direction your studies should take to get where you want to go?

IDA’s advisors have specialist knowledge of labor market developments and in-depth knowledge of various industries, where you as a member can benefit from this knowledge.

You can get help with, among other things:

• CV and competency sparring
• Feedback on application materials
• Overview of typical job profiles for your education

The advisors not only look at current needs, but also guide you in getting an overview of the different options your choices give you.

LinkedIn is your best reality check. Not to compare yourself to others, but to discover opportunities you may not have known existed.

You can use LinkedIn to:

• See what others with your education end up working for
• Discover patterns in career paths
• Find companies and roles you don’t see in job ads
• Reach out and network with those you find most interesting

See profiles as inspiration, not a definitive answer. There are many paths to a great working life.