What happens when politics and career dreams collide? Considering the impact of Brexit on graduate career aspirations

Thomson, Theresa

Abstract

The EU Referendum revealed a deeply divided society, with 18-24 year olds voting overwhelmingly for Remain (Moore, 2016). For those students who started their university education within the EU and find themselves graduating in a country that is perceived as increasingly isolationist and politically divided, what impact is Brexit having as they consider their futures in a post-Brexit world? Findings from a small qualitative research study, conducted one year after the EU Referendum result, reveal a strong desire to create a more tolerant country and a determination to find a way through an uncertain jobs market. Although nothing conclusive can be drawn from this study, these findings show the impact of the wider context of the world we live in, including the impact of political events, on potential career choice. Furthermore, the study provides a deeper understanding of the concerns and barriers facing a group of final year students in a post-1992 university. A progressive shift in career guidance practice is needed, which acknowledges the importance of social, economic and political context as the meaningful background for any conversation about career choice.

• Acceptance Date: Oct 6, 2018
• Deposit Date: Aug 15, 2019
• Publisher: Springer
• Book Title: Employability via Higher Education: sustainability as scholarship
• Chapter Number: 15
• ISBN: 978-3-030-26341-6
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26342-3_15
• Keywords: Brexit social justice career planning graduate careers career resilience career choice
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/2256470
• Publisher URL: https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030263416
• Contract Date: Aug 15, 2019