Leaving university can be an intriguing prospect - no more lie-ins, long nights in the student union bar and no more membership of the drafts and tiddlywinks sport club. It can also mean time to get a job!

In environmental health though, a random search through the jobs pages tells an interesting story. It seems possible to walk into a job that pays above the national average, has generous leave, opportunities for professional development and in some cases a golden handshake. I know IT, history and media graduates that dream of these options.

Once in work, do the professional exams and reap the rewards. It is easier to forget the pain of the logbook and ELP when you get your first paycheque.

Before long the mind can start to wander. Is the grass greener on the other side? Those lunchtime job hunts on the net, the speed read of EHN's back pages - tempting isn't it! Dipping a toe into the recruitment market can be exciting, scary and stressful.

When is the right time to leave? After two years, five years, when made a better offer or never? It's a personal decision. I am no careers adviser, but consider the options. EHPs are in demand. No matter how many years you have worked, work is there, whether public, private or agency. The pay isn't bad either.

Of course you have to be marketable. As a new professional EHP enthusiasm, passion and willingness to learn and develop are all welcome to a potential employer. Add a little spice into the equation and you will stand out in the crowd. Some candidates add videos (tasteful but fun) to their Facebook and Myspace profiles just in case a manager stumbles on it. 

It's hard to leave though. If you have been with your employer for some time, through good times and bad, you will face a tough decision. If your employer has supported your training, it can be even harder. Some people talk about loyalty, some surveys say it's hard to keep graduates for more than two years. But when the time is right, you will know.

Moving to a new job can broaden horizons, provide greater experienced, new networks and a chance to develop personally and professionally. Also, there's the leaving to look forward to.