Seriously worried about next year ...

bec54

hi

I think the other thingh to bear in mind is that most people don't know what they want to do when they leave uni, or even after they've started their career.

I know for example, that I started in retail management then by fluke got a job in HR. I really love my job now but I would never have thought about it when I was doing my undergrad degree, or even when I was working in my first job after uni.

Only now have I gone back to uni, with sponsorship from my employer, to work towards my professional qualifications & MA.

The way I look at it is that I never would have got my first job out of uni had I not got my degree, and I wouldn't have got my job now without that role.

I think you're too close to the end now to even consider giving it all up - I'd keep my options open for the time being, and visiting a careers advisor would be an excellent idea to discuss other ideas. Another option could be to seek work experience in an environment using your degree. you might find that the real life role is very different to the working environment you expect from your course (I know it was for me).

Best of luck x

melancholly

elsien wrote: »

Or if you like working with people, how about a psychology assistant position while you work out whether you like it enough to do further training

again, i'd only stress that you need to know what area of psychology you want to do to chose an assistant position that might be interesting.

there is a whole world out there related to a psychology degree that isn't clinical psychology and i think a lot of psychology graduates have a very blinkered view of it...

http://www.bps.org.uk/careers/what-do-psychologists-do/areas/areas_home.cfm


the only other thing is that the way the economy is atm, getting a job in an office/shop would be no bad thing - jobs will be thin on the ground for graduates this year so it's not really a time to be especially picky......

MrsManda

You could look at TeachFirst. You sign up for two years in a 'challenging' school, get full training, you can either continue teaching or go somewhere else afterwards.
You can teach any subject which you either have a degree in or an A or B at A-level.

Have a look at Civil Service Careers - there are loads of options through them.

There are plenty of options but you need to apply as soon as possible. Good Luck x

top_drawer_2

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

You really should be applying for positions now, rather than just thinking about it. Have you discussed things with your Careers Service?

I went to see them in the second year before I chose my optional modules so that I could be sure that I wasnt making any boo boo's. They were a complete waste if time - everything I said he repeated back at me, he stated the blatently obvious and .... There's was NOTHING he told me that I didnt already know by using general search on Google. I also attended a lecture yesterday - good god, how do they get funding to stand up and state common sense rubbish!!

I am not sure about applying for jobs now as I cant start until after my exams ... I doubt that a lot of the jobs I am going for are going to be requiring the degree so they probably wont wait.

Voyager2002

top_drawer wrote: »

I went to see them in the second year before I chose my optional modules so that I could be sure that I wasnt making any boo boo's. They were a complete waste if time - everything I said he repeated back at me, he stated the blatently obvious and .... There's was NOTHING he told me that I didnt already know by using general search on Google. I also attended a lecture yesterday - good god, how do they get funding to stand up and state common sense rubbish!!

I am not sure about applying for jobs now as I cant start until after my exams ... I doubt that a lot of the jobs I am going for are going to be requiring the degree so they probably wont wait.

There are many graduate opportunities: applications open in October (some will already have closed) and of course they expect you to start after your exams.

By the sound of things, you weren't listening to the careers advice you received. I suggest you try again.

Fire_Fox

What about the National Health Service? I don't mean in your field necessarily, but there are a broad range of jobs available where people skills and some element of psychology (tact!) is required. Level 4 are usually graduate positions, but you might also look at level 3 with a view to progressing with experience. Supposedly the NHS supports any further study/ experience which fits in with your career goals - not just in line with your job role.

For example you might be interested in the Health Trainer roles: lots of one-to-one interaction, on the job training in the health aspects, a coaching rather than a medical role so your psychology might come in very handy. Direct progression is available to Senior HT.

Oldernotwiser

top_drawer wrote: »

I went to see them in the second year before I chose my optional modules so that I could be sure that I wasnt making any boo boo's. They were a complete waste if time - everything I said he repeated back at me, he stated the blatently obvious and .... There's was NOTHING he told me that I didnt already know by using general search on Google. I also attended a lecture yesterday - good god, how do they get funding to stand up and state common sense rubbish!!

I am not sure about applying for jobs now as I cant start until after my exams ... I doubt that a lot of the jobs I am going for are going to be requiring the degree so they probably wont wait.

Firstly, as in counselling, repeating back someone's statement is a guidance technique; I'm surprised you haven't come across it in your degree. Much information is common sense but it doesn't mean that it's not new to many people.

I doubt that you'll get a job very quickly in this climate and employers naturally expect a candidate not to be able to start for a month because of giving notice; it may well take you several months to get a job offer.

mark1234567890

top_drawer wrote: »

hi,

As the title says basically ....

Im in my 3rd year of a psychology degree and I am worried sick about what I am going to do once I finish. I came to uni because I was finding it impossible to land a decent job with progression so thought some FE would help with a view that I would have the motivation for it and something would happen to enable me to study further to become a full blown psychologist. In fact Ive found a career in psychology is just not for me, I just dont "fit in" somehow in the dept with my opinions/arguements (I like working with people yes, using psychology based stuff maybe but the faffing around/pc-ness kills it for me).

I am sick of studying so dont really want to go on and do a MSc, although may in the future if I can find something I enjoy (No way I'm doing it for the sake of it!!) although I must admit I enjoy other aspects of being a student (flexibility to work when you like, social parts etc) but from what I am hearing/seeing is that unless I can get yet more professional quals then I'm stuck and will quite likely end up in a job in a office/shop (thats if I can get anything at all). Prospects/careers service have suggested more education!! even though I specifically said this was not what I wanted - complete waste of time :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

I have been unemployed before and found it the most depressing demoralising position to be in but then working f/t in a position with no progression for peanuts also got me down and I felt like my life was worthless and couldn't see a way out.

I quite fancy applying for a student lasison position at the university but I guess that will have loads of applications and I dont know whether they will let me as I am going to have deferral exams. On one hand getting out completely might be best for me, on the other a jobs a job ..... even a pointless made-up one :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Thanks - I feel better for just saying it

Jen

Please don't feel as if you are alone. I am in exactly the same position as you (appart from the opposite sex and studying a different subject).

Whats worse is that people on my course keep saying "Only 6 weeks to go" :mad:

top_drawer_2

yes and I've just sat through a 3 hour presentation by the careers service telling me how I should present my cv/covering letters - lots more common sense advice, the good thing was that they put food on so its been a cheap day today (eeekking out my student loan at the moment).

I'm really grateful for the advice on here, I've not really considered the health service nor the civil service. I wish people would stop hyping up the careers service/prospects - they are a waste of space!

Jen

Oldernotwiser

top_drawer wrote: »

yes and I've just sat through a 3 hour presentation by the careers service telling me how I should present my cv/covering letters - lots more common sense advice, the good thing was that they put food on so its been a cheap day today (eeekking out my student loan at the moment).

I'm really grateful for the advice on here, I've not really considered the health service nor the civil service. I wish people would stop hyping up the careers service/prospects - they are a waste of space!

Jen

As a Careers Adviser I naturally feel that careers guidance is a useful process but it is one in which the client has to engage positively rather than always look at the negatives.

I remember previous threads of yours where you always reject people's advice on here and always give reasons why you can't do things differently. Perhaps you could try being more positive; after all, it is your future!