University of Manchester Careers Blog

If you’re feeling anxious and worried about how the EU referendum might affect your future plans and dreams, here are three things you can do:

Look after yourself
It’s been a shock for almost everyone and you may find yourself going through some of the classic emotions associated with loss – denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Be kind to yourself – it’s OK to cut yourself some slack and seek out activities to give yourself a boost.

If you’re still around campus:

• Treat yourself to some cake at the café in the Ali G. (Haven’t been there? Get down there whenever it’s open – best cake on campus!)
• Try out the Wellbeing Rooms in the Simon Building. There are a range of classes and activities but there’s also the most amazing chill-out room with the biggest comfiest bean bag loungers you’ve ever seen.
• Find a dry day and wander round The Whitworth, inside and out. Experiencing green spaces, flowers and beautiful/thought-provoking art works are ways to restore your faith in the world beyond politics.

Start to prepare for a Plan B (and C)
If your Plan A might be under threat, it’s smart to start investigating the scenic route to wherever you want to go ultimately. It might take you longer or mean you have to consider a sideways move – or even a step back – initially, but don’t give up on your dreams just yet.

The joy of trying the longer or more meandering route is that you never know what gems you might uncover, which might suit you even better than your original Plan A.

What if you’re drawing a blank when it comes to thinking of alternative pathways? Try our next suggestion.

Talk to people
We’ve found that the graduates who were successful in moving quickly and smoothly into their ideal job commonly talked about their career plans and dreams with their friends. It turns out that testing out your ideas, getting feedback from people you trust and who care about you, especially those who understand just what you’re going through, actually helps you achieve what you want.

Don’t want to unload all your career & future worries on to your friends or family? That’s where we come in.

We can’t tell you what’s going to happen (this isn’t Hogwarts and I’m not Professor Trelawny). We will however listen to your concerns, we won’t judge you (even if you’re just about to graduate and have never thought about careers until now). We’re here to help you work out your own way to the future you want, even in these uncertain times.

If you’re a University of Manchester student (undergrad or postgrad, or graduate from up to 2 years ago) you can contact us by phone, by email, by online chat, by Skype, by Twitter, by Facebook – or by simply coming into the Atrium in Uni Place and having a face-to-face chat. We’re here all year round, Monday to Friday (other than Bank/Uni holidays), 10-4 all through the summer, and longer hours during term time.

We can’t tell you where we’re all going in these uncertain times, but we’ve got your back and we’re here to help you find your way through it all.