Life Since Your Degree?

Oldernotwiser

jay-chill wrote: »

Studied BA Marketing Management - got a 2:1
Studied MSc International Fashion Marketing

Still not got a job related to Marketing/ Advertising. Want to work within the creative industry but keep getting told I don't have enough experience when sending applications out.

Unpaid work would be the best option for you, if you could afford to do it, of course.

LindaS

I graduated from the University of Warwick with a BSc Hons in Philosophy and Computer Science in June 2007, got a job at a digital media agency in London earning 24k straight after. However I was made redundant along with 17 other people there in October 2008 and have been struggeling to get a job since. I'm paying £200 a month as downpayment on my student loan (overseas student), and it's not easy. =(
Loved doing my degree, but I didn't realise how much I'd be paying a month to pay it back. £200 a month for the next 20 years is quite a lot.

auburnette

Graduated from a good London university with a first in Law in July 08. Temped until September while looking for jobs, then found an editorial position at a major legal publishing company, earning around 27k.

System

I lost hope when my friend, with a 2:1 in English from Oxford University, worked as an assistant in Books Etc. for years after graduating.

To be honest I think the only degrees that are worth your time are medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine, but even these are very competitive.

GrammarGirl

candyflossing wrote: »

I lost hope when my friend, with a 2:1 in English from Oxford University, worked as an assistant in Books Etc. for years after graduating.

To be honest I think the only degrees that are worth your time are medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine, but even these are very competitive.

I don't agree with that. Myself and most of my friends are working in fields where ourdegrees are relevant and useful. None of us did medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine, and none of us went to Oxford!

Rosie75

candyflossing wrote: »

I lost hope when my friend, with a 2:1 in English from Oxford University, worked as an assistant in Books Etc. for years after graduating.

To be honest I think the only degrees that are worth your time are medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine, but even these are very competitive.

I did an English degree, and then PhD and now earn £41k, though this is my fourth year in the job and I obviously went into it rather older than 21. Many people from my cohort have similar professional jobs, some with higher salaries than me, others don't. A degree in itself doesn't land you a great job, it's what you do alongside it (eg. work experience, other university activities) and how you build up experience afterwards. Unfortunately it's often necessary to spend a short period of time working for nothing or very little in order to get that foot on the ladder.
There have been many medical students graduating with no jobs to go to over the last few years.

Oldernotwiser

candyflossing wrote: »

I lost hope when my friend, with a 2:1 in English from Oxford University, worked as an assistant in Books Etc. for years after graduating.

To be honest I think the only degrees that are worth your time are medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine, but even these are very competitive.

I would have given my eye teeth to have studied English at Oxford, even if I'd ended up cleaning toilets afterwards!

lulaloo

People seem to be either arguing for having a degree or having experience. It is possible to have both.
Another major factor which I would say is more important than either is your personality. You can have all the experience in the world and the top marks in your degree from Oxford an still have the personality of an old boot.
Employers are looking for dynamic individuals who they believe will fit in with their existing workforce.

louise3965

I left school with 5 GCSE's and went to work for my local council. Swapped jobs and moved up the *ladder* but always had a bit of a chip on my shoulder about not having a degree. So when earning 18k I decidede to go to Leeds Met (groan) to do a degree - I had no choice as to the degree as I couldnt afford to pay myself and my employer would only fund a Management degree, so I did it alongside working FT, and graduated in 2001. Now earn 34k but its nothing to do with the actual degree and all to do with the confidence it gave me to try for jobs I previously would have thought were out of my reach!

Adasta

I'm surprised that so many people did their degree only to receive a better salary afterwards.

I'm doing English Lit at a good uni, and I'm not too downhearted knowing that I'll probably never make big money. I'm in my final year, and surprisingly, I quite enjoy it. I like reading criticism, looking for articles, and planning out essays.

Frankly, I don't want to get a job. I'd rather be poor and get to learn about lots of different things than have a job and a car and a house. It's a personal decision.

I'd also like to say to those people who say they got a job in a field that has nothing to do with their degree: your degree certainly played a part in getting the job. It doesn't matter what you studied, if you've got a good degree it shows that you're dedicated (3 years + of studying), and that you're going to be quite articulate.