Life After Graduation: Joining TMC
Finishing my Psychology degree at the University of Exeter was something I’d pictured for so long, but when it finally came around, the feeling was a mix of excitement and “what now?”. People around me were making big choices, some staying on for a Master’s, some booking their travel plans, and others heading home. I thought about a Master’s too, and for a while it felt like the obvious next step, because that is what the majority seemed to be doing. But deep down, I knew I wanted something different. I was ready to move forward and actually use what I’d learned.
When I got the offer to join The Mind Collective, everything fell into place. I realised how much I enjoy being in a working environment by learning as I go, getting stuck in, building experience, and figuring out who I want to be professionally. Starting alongside the amazing women that I did made the whole thing far less intimidating. It reminded me that there isn’t one set timeline. We all begin in our own way.
At the same time, seeing friends stay in education has shown me how valuable that path can be. They’ve gained specialist knowledge, built networks, and carried on studying subjects they genuinely care about. Friends who went travelling came back with new confidence, new independence, and a completely fresh outlook. Each path has something different to offer.
A snapshot of where graduates end up
To give a bit of perspective, here’s what the picture looked like in 2025:
Around 86 - 88% of graduates in the UK were employed.
For postgraduates, that figure remained slightly higher at around 89-91%.
Approximately 70-72% of graduates were working in high-skilled roles, compared with around 80% of postgraduates.
Among recent graduates (aged 21-30), about 60-61% were in high-skilled jobs, while around 72-73% of postgraduates were in the same bracket.
Fifteen months after finishing their degree, roughly 56-59% of graduates were in full-time work, with around 6-7% continuing their studies and approximately 6% unemployed.
These numbers don’t tell you what to do, but they do show that people take a range of routes, and that each one can lead somewhere worthwhile.
Why Supportive Employers Matter More Than Ever
Something that has become increasingly clear since graduating is how challenging the job market is for young people today. Even friends who have completed a Master’s are finding it difficult to secure a job, not because they lack ability, but because so many entry-level positions now expect candidates to arrive with multiple years of experience already. It is such a difficult cycle of needing experience to get a job, yet you need a job to gain that experience.
This is why I am especially grateful for the opportunity I found with The Mind Collective. TMC recognises the potential in graduates and understands that skills grow through opportunity, not pre-existing perfection. Instead of overlooking early-career applicants, they intentionally invest, offering guidance, trust and room to develop. At a time when many talented graduates are still looking for their first break, joining a team and collective that genuinely backs early-career individuals has made such a difference.
