Is there any truth to this?

MrsManda

OohSoHolly wrote: »

Im worried slightly:o. Im hoping to start a Maths degree next september in the hopes of either doing teaching in secondary schools or becoming a Actuary once ive finished.
I have to say im not a big fan of University but find if i want to do these jobs its the only way.

As ive already done 1 year at Uni on another course im even more worried im wasting my money and time, if its proving difficult to get a job with this type of degree.:(

The education system will snap your hand off if you do a Maths degree then a PGCE to teach maths in secondary schools - there's a HUGE shortage of maths teachers and an even greater shortage of GOOD math tutors

MrsManda

tiamaria wrote: »

My son is in the same position, he graduated in July 2007(2:1 Maths) and still can't get a relevant post.

He's only managed to get 1 interview in all this time despite applying for jobs countrywide (accountancy/banking field).

Feels like a waste of 3 years and lots of cash really:mad:

ok gripe over now;)

A degree isn't about getting the skills you need, it's simply about getting the knowledge (unless it's a science degree in which case you're expected to get the techniques you'll need which I guess counts as skills). That's why universities actively encourage you to do other things during your time at uni. Oldernotwiser is correct - you need to identify your skill gap and work out how to fill it. Another degree isn't going to help you, but volunteer work, OU. courses etc... possibly will.
Also please remember you don't have to get on a graduate training scheme or a 'graduate job'. You can just get a job. This doesn't mean you'll have to settle for packing boxes, its more simply that not all graduates can get on a graduate scheme.

tiamaria

Thanks for the comments, he does have a job, when he was studying he worked at MaccyDs & is now a manager. Nothing to be ashamed of but he didn't need to go to Uni to achieve that or be stuck with a student loan:rolleyes:. It would be nice if he had a job where he could use the skills relevant to his degree.

As for the poster thinking of taking a Maths degree - if you want to teach then do it, DS had the opportunity to try teaching and it wasn't for him - I wish it was as there are many more opportunities in that field for Maths grads. However, teaching is a real vocation & not something to go into half heartedly so I haven't pushed him to do it.

As for actuarial jobs, he has been looking for them since graduation & has got nowhere with his Maths degree.

The problem with my DS was that he didn't know what he wanted to do only that he was very good at Maths

3plus1

Some degrees are free, but they're few and far between.

I'm from Scotland, but went to uni in England (full tuition fees pre top up fees).

I have the option of doing a PGDE in Foreign Languages for free here in Scotland, because my university degree is now a shortage teaching subject. It's my plan B for if my graduate job doesn't work out so well.

cadair

Torby wrote: »

Cadair....yet another hit and run spoof poster....probably not unlike the poster who enquired about his £16000 course fees....never heard from them again either....

Sorry, my life doesn't revolve around the internet and its many forums.

I did think that the info i had been given was too good to be true to be honest. But i thought it was worth a punt.

I did a design degree course, and decided during my final two years that i wanted to concentrate on furniture design. So i developed the skills required (i thought) to get into the industry. I even went to an evening school course to further develop the skills i was learning in uni. Since leaving uni i've done voluntary work, got work experience (albeit with a product design consultancy and a workshop) gone on another evening course to try and keep my manufacturing skills current.

I've had about 8 interviews for jobs in the field since i left uni so i guess i must be doing something right.

It's just that final push to get the job. Im enthusiastic in interviews, friendly, i've been told my portfolio is solid etc. but i just can't seem to get my foot in the door. It's really disheartening. I didn't expect to be handed a job, but i can't really think of anything else to do to actually get the job.

Its got to the point now where im thinking, screw it, i'm going to start my own business. I'll probably enjoy it more. And be poorer.

Emily_Hall08 wrote: »

I struggle to understand when people claim they can't get a job (related job)
I feel they aren't trying/passionate enough
tiamarie- maybe he needs to figure out exactly what he wants to do if he's still not sure. I think your passion for the prospective job is one of the key things to show in an interview that can get you a job.

I struggle to understand how you can be so ignorant. You assume (wrongly) that people have no passion for what they do and want to do simply because they cannot get a job in their related field. Consider this - at nearly every interview i manage to get they tell me that i am one of between 60 and 80. Do you think its a lack of passion which means 99% of the applicants won't get a job? Believe me when i say, I try really hard to get a job. Im enthusiastic, well presented, knowledgeable, friendly, passionate. Yet i still can't get a job. And please dont say that maybe i try to hard. I toe a fine line between enthusiastic/passionate and crazy wild eyed...

Voyager2002

cadair wrote: »

I struggle to understand how you can be so ignorant. You assume (wrongly) that people have no passion for what they do and want to do simply because they cannot get a job in their related field. Consider this - at nearly every interview i manage to get they tell me that i am one of between 60 and 80. Do you think its a lack of passion which means 99% of the applicants won't get a job? Believe me when i say, I try really hard to get a job. Im enthusiastic, well presented, knowledgeable, friendly, passionate. Yet i still can't get a job. And please dont say that maybe i try to hard. I toe a fine line between enthusiastic/passionate and crazy wild eyed...

I agree with your comment. The simple fact is, there are far more graduates seeking career openings related to their courses than there are suitable vacancies. So many good people get left out in the cold. Perhaps the poster to whom you are responding was talking about jobs in supermarkets?

In your situation, self-employment would be a good idea. Whether or not you were commercially successful, you would be maintaining your skills and producing work that should be of sufficient quality to impress an employer.

Voyager2002

OohSoHolly wrote: »

Im worried slightly:o. Im hoping to start a Maths degree next september in the hopes of either doing teaching in secondary schools or becoming a Actuary once ive finished.
I have to say im not a big fan of University but find if i want to do these jobs its the only way.

As ive already done 1 year at Uni on another course im even more worried im wasting my money and time, if its proving difficult to get a job with this type of degree.:(

Speak to a careers adviser, but I don't think you need to worry (apart from the work involved in completing a demanding degree, plus professional training afterwards). While no degree comes with a job guarantee, Mathematics is highly regarded and is entirely appropriate for the careers you mention. (You might also look at degree courses in Actuarial Science, which are few and far between but would also enable you to become a maths teacher).

Be aware that the process of training to be an actuary is very hard work, and goes on for a long time (five years?). So by the time you graduate you need to be able to demonstrate to a potential employer that you have the stamina and determination required for a very long, hard slog. The plus side is that for those who make it, salaries are among the highest offered for any of the professions.

Voyager2002

tiamaria wrote: »

Thanks for the comments, he does have a job, when he was studying he worked at MaccyDs & is now a manager. Nothing to be ashamed of but he didn't need to go to Uni to achieve that or be stuck with a student loan:rolleyes:. It would be nice if he had a job where he could use the skills relevant to his degree.

As for the poster thinking of taking a Maths degree - if you want to teach then do it, DS had the opportunity to try teaching and it wasn't for him - I wish it was as there are many more opportunities in that field for Maths grads. However, teaching is a real vocation & not something to go into half heartedly so I haven't pushed him to do it.

As for actuarial jobs, he has been looking for them since graduation & has got nowhere with his Maths degree.

The problem with my DS was that he didn't know what he wanted to do only that he was very good at Maths

I think you posted about him some months ago: did he follow any of the advice given then?

The reality is: his qualifications are impressive, and entirely appropriate for his career choices. And he is targeting sectors in which the number of places available is usually greater than the number of suitable applicants. So he is clearly doing something wrong: looking for vacancies in the wrong places; applying for inappropriate vacancies; presenting himself unfavourably on the forms or at interview. Or perhaps he is in reality keen on Mathematics, rather than keen on the drudgery that many of these professions involve, particularly in the early years.

A detailed discussion with a good careers adviser would enable him to resolve all of these problems, but perhaps he is happy with his present job. Either way, I hope he enjoyed his time at university and regards the experience as worth the time and money that it cost him.

melancholly

Emily_Hall08 wrote: »

I struggle to understand when people claim they can't get a job (related job)
I feel they aren't trying/passionate enough
tiamarie- maybe he needs to figure out exactly what he wants to do if he's still not sure. I think your passion for the prospective job is one of the key things to show in an interview that can get you a job.

i think that's a really really silly response that is not only insensitive but just plain wrong - most people will not walk into the job they want on graduation. now granted, some of this is down to their unrealistic expectations, but it's mainly because there is an oversupply of candidates. there are ways of improving chances, but this year and especially for those graduating next summer, things will be tough because of the current economic climate.

morg_monster

Voyager2002 wrote: »

I think you posted about him some months ago: did he follow any of the advice given then?

The reality is: his qualifications are impressive, and entirely appropriate for his career choices. And he is targeting sectors in which the number of places available is usually greater than the number of suitable applicants. So he is clearly doing something wrong: looking for vacancies in the wrong places; applying for inappropriate vacancies; presenting himself unfavourably on the forms or at interview. Or perhaps he is in reality keen on Mathematics, rather than keen on the drudgery that many of these professions involve, particularly in the early years.

A detailed discussion with a good careers adviser would enable him to resolve all of these problems, but perhaps he is happy with his present job. Either way, I hope he enjoyed his time at university and regards the experience as worth the time and money that it cost him.

If he is really good at Maths and enjoys it - has he thought about doing a PhD? Or if he is into statistics at all - this is one area where there are still plenty of jobs about. Generally to be a statistician you need an MSc in statistics, but they have lots of full studentships available from research councils and various companies, and with a 2:1 he would be eligible. But I'm biased, since I'm a statistician, also coming from a Maths background.