Whats the best graduate job

Whats the best graduate job Ive had several conversations this week with students wanting to find the best job with the best employer. Thats quite a quest! How  do  you  find the best employer in any given sector? Lots come onto campus and give presentations. Many  explain why theyre best. Perhaps they pay more than anyone else, or offer the most interesting work, or do the most good in society. Maybe they have the biggest or the most international business but they cant all be the best. So what does best mean? The best job isnt defined by any of the above ideas. Its the one which is right for you! You need to work out what you want and to organise your priorities. What might those priorities be? Here are some of the things which you  say matter to you. Prestige Some of youll be motivated by a need to work for an organisation which has a reputation for  excellence in a particular area. If accountancy is your thing youll want  the Big Four, lawyers might fancy the Magic Circle, but perhaps it gets a bit more complicated in other occupational areas. What about a retail career? Tesco might not be riding high right now, but is Aldi as prestigious as John Lewis? Aldi will pay you more, does that equal prestige? Would your mother rather tell her friends that you work for John Lewis? Theres no straightforward answer to which is the most prestigious job. Remuneration Surely pay is a clearer measure. Some organisations pay more than others. Most students are keen to earn as much as possible. Arent we all? But, if your high paying job involves working long hours without overtime, might your hourly rate actually be less than that of someone who earns less, but works in a post where theres no expectation of working longer than contracted hours? What about how far your money goes? If youre on a grad scheme in London your rent will cost a fortune and buying yourself a little flat will probably be a long term aspiration. However, if you decide to stick around in the West Midlands your rent will be more affordable and you might soon be  able to buy  a property. You could find you have more of the all important disposable income. International Travel That sounds fun! Youve always enjoyed travel so business trips to far flung destinations might be  a real pull. Or are they? If a business trip just means exhausting long haul travel, the inside of hotels and offices and no free time to explore, the glamour might start to pall. Perhaps the lower paid job with no travel but generous holiday arrangements will actually give you more chance to travel and see the world. Intellectual Challenge This ought to be clear cut. As a graduate youre going to want to be challenged. But different people enjoy different challenges! While some will want the adrenalin rush associated with making high pressure, complex decisions, where millions of pounds are at stake, others will enjoy trying to work out how to engage the disruptive child in the classroom. Theres no objective way to say which poses the greater overall challenge or even which affords the greater responsibility. Is the loss to a bank of a few million pounds  as important as a whole class of children missing out on an hours education because someone  wont behave? Work Life balance This is all looking rather complicated! Perhaps it is easier to figure out what work life balance means to you. If youre going to work to live and sport, music, theatre or just spending time with friends or family is what makes you happiest, then youll be clear that you need a job which allows you to enjoy free time. If you live to work then youll not be bothered by long hours. Just one thing, when youre thinking through all this dont just think about now, try to project yourself forward ten years. If your dream is to settle down with a partner, should you factor into your planning the thought that your attitude to work might change in the future? Working environment Who wouldnt want to work in the really smart offices with the lovely restaurant and gym? Well,  perhaps the person who would like to have the flexibility to work from home, or who wants to be running his or her own business, or who craves the early responsibility  which can often come from working for a small or medium sized enterprise.  If having a say in the running of a business is important to you, then  early responsibility could well make up for a less palatial office. Some people love the buzz of City life, for others its anathema, they just want to get back to breathe country air. So, what does all this mean? Theres no definitive best job! We cant set up a competition to find the winner. The best job is the one thats right for you and for how you want to lead your life when you leave university. Dont let anyone tell you otherwise! Think through your priorities and consider making an appointment to talk things through with your career advisor. Do the job which is going to make you happy!