It is more than likely that you already have a range of skills that are considered essential requirements by most employers. These skills may have been developed as a result of a period of employment, or managing a home, or bringing up a family, or a combination of all three. You will also have proved to the world that you have the intelligence and personal tenacity to meet the demanding academic standards required at UEA.

Despite obvious strengths, mature graduates may face a different set of constraints which sometimes complicate the job search and make finding employment more of a challenge (compared with students who come straight from school):

• There may sometimes be a mismatch between career aspirations and readily available job opportunities and hence you may have to spend a little more time before finding what you are looking for.
• Many mature graduates need to find employment in the locality and this may mean being a little more flexible when considering the options.

Research has shown that the best age to graduate, for employment prospects, is between 25 and 30.

So, what can you do, if you are a mature student, to build on your existing strengths?

• Start your job search and planning early (even though you probably have far greater demands on your time than many younger students).
• The Careers Centre provides a wide range of services and advice if you can get here, all of which are suitable for mature students. However some, including self-presentation training sessions which aid creative job hunting, are tailored specifically to your needs.
• If you want to work locally take a look at our working locally pages.

Useful Links

• Graduate Prospects 
• Opportunity Links is a voluntary organisation in Cambridgeshire providing information about jobs, training and childcare facilities.
• Child Care Finder for national and local childcare information.
• www.maturityworks.co.uk site dedicated to the over-35 worker.
• The Age & Employment Network representing the interests of mature workers.
• Employers Forum on Age addressing age-related issues in the workplace for both employers and employees.
• Campaign Against Age Discrimination in Employment 

Age Diversity 

The Department for Work & Pensions has useful information for mature students Age Positive.