Changing jobs or going back to education as a mature student in your late twenties can be a huge challenge and worry for a lot of people contemplating it. In summer 2019 I did both of those things, joining the Bord Bia International Graduate Programme, undertaking an MSc in Global Business Practice in UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School alongside getting hands-on experience of working in the Irish food, drink and horticulture industry. In the following blog I have set out my experience so far – from money to work and education – and why I am delighted with my decision to take that step.

You are probably just about to finish college and are starting to look for the right post graduate opportunity. You are also probably finding that it can be quite daunting and difficult. Trust me, I know the struggle, I was in your shoes this time last year. You might find yourself not completely sure what you would like to do. Do you want to go traveling for a year? Do you want to go straight into a job or do you want to complete a masters or further education? This was the exact position I found myself in.

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Choosing a graduate programme can be daunting. The application process can be extremely time consuming and can also require a lot of effort. Because of this, it is important to be strategic in your approach and to apply only to those which you would be happy to accept an offer from.

That’s great, but what if you are not exactly sure of what it is you want to do once you have walked across the stage and collected that coveted piece of paper? I was in the exact same position last year, and it was not easy.