As a third-year Geography student, the world of work is on the horizon, and one of the greatest benefits of studying Geography is that the opportunities open to you are endless. The subject sits at the intersection of social, economic, and environmental issues, meaning that as graduates, we are not confined to a single career path. However, while this flexibility is a privilege, it can also make deciding what to do next feel overwhelming. As someone who has yo-yoed from one career plan to another over the last few years, I know first-hand that choosing what you want to do for (not the rest of your life but) the next few years can be quite daunting to think about.

But what’s helped me navigate this uncertainty is reframing how I view these decisions. Rather than seeing each experience as something that must lead directly to my long-term career, I have come to understand that every experience points me in a clearer direction. So, whether you enjoy that internship or not…it will help you narrow your focus and show you where your interests really lie. This mindset has really allowed me to enjoy the process of trial and error rather than feel pressured to have everything figured out so quickly – especially since Gen Z is expected to job-hop every 1.1 years in our first five years of our careers.

I now aspire to be an urban planner, with a particular focus on ongoing developments in Manchester, especially now that it’s the fastest-growing city in Europe. Sustainability is central to my ambitions, since I’m keen to explore how cities can grow in ways that are environmentally responsible, socially inclusive, and economically viable. Manchester is not just a university to me; it’s also home, having spent my entire education here, so I have witnessed its rapid transformation first-hand. From large-scale regeneration projects to changes within our local neighbourhoods, the city’s evolution has been shocking to say the least.

My interest in urban planning began before university, when I took part in an educational programme designed to introduce young people to the world of planning and urban development. This experience exposed me to how cities are designed and managed, and how decisions around land use, housing, and infrastructure directly impact people’s daily lives. Although my career aspirations shifted on and off over the following years (e.g. events, to sales, to real estate analyst etc.), this initial interest remained dormant and continued to resurface as I progressed through my degree. It just took me a while to realise that this is what I wanted to do – for now at least!

Looking back, my second-year summer internship was where everything became clear, which is why I cannot recommend reaching out and applying to companies to gain experience enough. Although my role was focused on event management and recruitment for a large-scale event catered to real estate professionals, rather than being within real estate itself, it provided me with valuable, practical, transferable skills that I will carry forward into my next job. It actually turned out to be the best experience I could have had. At this stage of your early career, the most valuable experiences are those that will push you into greater responsibility and challenge you to see what you are capable of accomplishing.

Photo from Internship

More than anything, this experience reassured me that it is okay to try things that do not fit neatly into one job title. I do not have everything figured out (which is completely normal by the way), but I now feel more confident about the direction I am heading in. For me, that clarity has come not from one “perfect” plan, but from being open to trying, changing my mind, and being open to learning along the way.

Written by Lilia Hakem.

Related