After A Bachelor’s Degree: The Pathways Towards Your Blue Career 🌊

So, you just graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in marine sciences or related studies after 3-4 years – congratulations! This is a significant milestone that represents the closing of one chapter and the opening of many possibilities before you.

The Blue Economy definition is very broad, so working in this sector can cover everything from policy and governance to sustainable fisheries to blue carbon research and the health of coastal and marine ecosystems.

Forging your dream career in such a diverse and expanding field can, therefore, be daunting! How do you know which route to take? In this blog post, we’ll explore the different post-bachelor pathways that can improve your skillset and put you on the first stepping stone towards your Blue career!

Pathway 1: Employment 💼

For those craving stability, routine, more income, and direct real-world experience, an entry-level job can be a good place to start. Even if not in the blue sector, working gives you transferable and soft skills to apply for the next one (and yes, you can change your mind!).

Apprenticeships, internships, and recent graduate jobs are real-world experiences that can give you first contacts and on-the-job training. This can be useful if you want to jump right into a slightly different career field. In addition, short-term internships in various fields can help you discover your true interests and build practical skills.

• If you are looking for an internship, sign up at Blue-jobs, sort jobs by ‘internship’ and ‘junior’, and upload your CV to maximise the visibility among recruiters!

Pathway 2: Further education 🎓

Taking higher education courses—master’s / PhD / Professional certificates—can be a good option if you want to pursue a research topic more in-depth, find a doctoral partnership with integrated industry/policy options, specialise in one of the blue economy sectors, or simply prolong student life and that structured routine!

Pursuing a master's degree after a bachelor's can provide specialized knowledge and expertise, enhance career prospects with better job opportunities and higher earning potential, and facilitate professional networking.

It offers opportunities for conducting research, developing advanced skills, and achieving personal growth. A master's degree can also aid in career changes, provide international recognition, and expose students to diverse cultures, making it a valuable investment for those aiming to advance their careers and personal development.

• Are you looking for top master's degrees in blue economy and marine sciences? Get inspired here and here.

Pathway 3: Gap year or time out 🌍

Taking time out to maybe travel and explore a new culture is not just about ‘taking a break’ – it can be very important to you to let your mind and body recover from an intense few years, and gives you the time and clarity to decide on the next steps.

Travelling also brings many transferable skills to whatever path you choose next: such as adaptability / problem-solving / global awareness and independence. You can also use the time to volunteer or gain an internship broad; something that is both fulfilling and adds a unique dimension to your resume.

For the Blue Economy, why not learn to scuba dive and volunteer in an NGO overseas, or gain an internship working with sustainable livelihood teams or coastal clean-ups?

• Good places to start are the marine biology and conservation organisation Opwall, and volunteer sites such as Workaway, VolunteerForever, the Great Projects, GoAbroad, and more.

Pathway 4: Entrepreneurship

The entrepreneurial pathway is the choice for innovators, problem solvers, and self-motivated individuals with innovative ideas who want to contribute to a sustainable blue economy.

Choosing entrepreneurship offers significant advantages such as autonomy and independence in decision-making, the freedom to express creativity, and the potential for substantial financial rewards.

It provides personal satisfaction from building a business, a flexible lifestyle, and the ability to see direct impacts. Entrepreneurs develop diverse skills, expand their professional networks, create jobs, and drive innovation. Additionally, entrepreneurship fosters resilience and adaptability, crucial for navigating challenges and achieving growth in blue economy.

• You can find here the best entrepreneurship programmes on the the blue economy: https://www.blue-jobs.com/blog/best-blue-economy-entrepreneurship-programmes/

Pathway 5: Learning horizontally 🤿

Feeling like you missed out on some key skills during your degree and want to study them at your own pace? Software such as GIS, R, MATLAB, Python, Metashape, and more can have very useful applications in your economic career, such as modeling, mapping, statistical analysis, and more! However, becoming fluent in different codes or getting to grips with a mapping program can sometimes not and finappear until graduate courses!

And finally, what about other transferable skills that can make you employable and transferable in multiple sectors? Consider public speaking and effective communication, boat skippering, illustration, project management,  and financial literacy courses… the possibilities are endless.

• Check out the latest training on transversal skills at: https://www.blue-jobs.com/training/

Navigating the transition is tricky – but we are here to help!

As you can see, there is not one ‘right’ pathway, and no right thing to do immediately after graduation. There are plenty of careers advice services in each university, so the best thing to do would be to seek advice and support if you are super unsure about the future.

Remember – trying one path and then realising you want to pursue a different path, is just as valuable (if not more than) sticking to something as it is ‘safer’. Flexibility and motivation are key here!

Author: Jennifer Thomson | Revision: Blue-jobs Team