Martin Edmondson, CEO of AGCAS, on supporting those graduates who explore lateral moves, sector switches, and startups within just a few years of leaving university
For many graduates, the first job after university is less a final destination and more a launchpad - sometimes into the right career, sometimes into a realisation that it’s time to change direction. The ability to pivot early in a career is increasingly recognised not as a sign of indecision, but of adaptability and growth.
The University of Bristol’s Benefits of Hindsight report, delivered in partnership with the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) and Advance HE, offers a valuable lens into this experience.1 While it highlights that some graduates would make different choices if given the chance, the deeper insight is this: career development is not a straight line. It’s a process of discovery, and sometimes, redirection.
Accessing support
Graduates today are navigating a complex landscape. The rise of portfolio careers, the gig economy, and shifting employer expectations mean that the traditional ‘graduate scheme to promotion’ model is far from the only route. Instead, many graduates are exploring lateral moves, sector switches, and startups within just a few years of leaving university.
What makes these pivots successful isn’t just personal resilience - it’s access to the right support. Career services, alumni networks, mentoring programmes, and online platforms are all playing a growing role in helping graduates reassess and reorient. At the heart of higher education careers, AGCAS members offer tailored guidance to help graduates reframe their experience and explore new directions with confidence. Some 80% of our member services offer three or more years of support post-graduation, recognising that graduate need for information, advice and guidance is ongoing and evolving.2
Universities are also evolving their approach. Increasingly, careers education and support is being embedded much earlier in the student journey and throughout the curriculum, incorporating much more deliberate skills recognition and articulation. This includes conscious skills development in teaching and assessment, encouraging reflection on values and motivations, and providing opportunities to test different sectors through internships and placements.
The key message for graduates is this: your degree is a foundation, not a fence. The first job is a starting point, not a verdict.
A flexible approach
Employers, too, recognise the value of flexibility. More than 60% of large employers are degree agnostic, understanding that many of their best hires don’t necessarily go in a straight line from subject to role. Many now offer rotational programmes, internal mobility options, and structured career conversations that allow graduates to explore different roles before settling into a long-term path. These initiatives don’t just retain talent, they nurture it.
The key message for graduates is this: your degree is a foundation, not a fence. The first job is a starting point, not a verdict. Whether you’re feeling uncertain, curious, or simply ready for something new, there is support available, and there is no shame in changing direction. Employability is not about ticking boxes, it’s about building momentum. Helping graduates pivot isn’t about correcting mistakes; it’s about empowering choice, fostering self-awareness, and creating space for growth.
In a world where careers are increasingly fluid, second thoughts are not a setback. They’re a sign that graduates are thinking critically, acting courageously, and shaping careers that truly fit.
Notes
- 'The Benefits of Hindsight': Reconsidering Higher Education Choices, University of Bristol, 2025.
- AGCAS Member Services 2024/25 Resources Report, AGCAS.
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