MONEY MORAL DILEMMA. Should Lofty hold out for his dream job?

BobbinAlong

Definitely take the job. As many have said, employers prefer people in work - they've proved they can follow the work ethic and procedures.
My own son has just got a shelf stacking job after failing first year at uni - lazy and wrong course. Now he wants to go back and do a more vocational degree.

I walked out of uni straight into a good degree-related job gained from the "milk round" of employer visits in the final year. I'm still in that career thirty years later - but it was a computer science degree.

leathersofa

Of course Lofty should take whatever job he can get, given the present circumstances. But that doesn't mean that non-vocational university courses are a waste of time or money, nor that the accumulated wisdom of the last 10,000 years can be dismissed as 'school subjects that ought to be left behind in school'. What should adults be interested in, if what was good enough for the greatest minds of Eastern and Western civilisation is now, apparently, only good enough for kids while adults are far too busy making money? Not every student goes to university purely as a way of either wasting 3/4 years as a layabout or else imagining that they'll waltz straight into a highly-paid job the day after graduation. Some still study out of genuine academic motives and what's wrong with that? I would never grudge a penny of the money put into my offspring's education and I've got two of them at university, neither doing a vocational course. As long as they can support themselves when they graduate, and I see no reason why they shouldn't, as they are both well-educated, literate, intelligent and quick learners, that's fine. And if they have to start on the ground floor, that's also fine.

Bambi234

How would being on being on unemployment increase your employment prospects? How would being able to say you've seen all the episodes of Jeremy Kyle in the past year give you skills for your dream job.

Ive been holding out for my dream job as a playboy bunny but the Job center say im being unrealistic due to the fact im a 38 yr old fat bloke but we all have to have dreams.

calmgreen

I studied Physics for five semesters (out of eight) at university before finally withdrawing. I long ago discovered that I had no passion for the subject, nor any aspirations in the field, and it got to a point where the end didn't justify the means. From the second year I was pretty much forcing myself along, but finally decided to take my own responsibility for my life and made the fearless decision.

One should only go to university if they have a burning passion for the subject they wish to study and/or know where it is leading. They should research their course syllabus in as much detail as possible. When you enter into a three/four year contract, and one that costs you £9000+, you have to be very careful, indeed. One should not go to university because it is the norm, because they are too lazy to think of other options, because they are impatient to make the next step, or to use it to get into a high salary graduate job so they can live a hedonistic lifestyle on weekends, or work their way up to a prestigious title. If you work for a company you should know what service exactly it is providing, and why it is valuable to the customer, and in what way you are contributing by becoming an employee.

I am now, relevantly to the thread topic, a CSA at a Sainsbury's Local part-time (at more than NMW). I am much happier now than I was. I don't regret anything. I learnt a lot at university, not just subject transferrable skills, but life lessons, too, and it brought me to a city I fell in love with and now plan to live in permanently. Furthermore, I can get credit transfer for the years I did if I decide to continue study with the OU, which is an option I am considering, but have plenty of time to think about, because the deadline for applications is September for an October start.

Due to the ease of getting extra shifts at my job, I am able to support myself, and have plenty of free time. I am currently volunteering at an Oxfam shop and on an allotment for the BTCV, and will start at a Day Centre for Age Concern tomorrow. These are all rewarding oppurtunities, and will give me experience and knowledge in different areas.

Those who know what they want to do are rewarded most, because that is what provides motivation and inspiration to succeed. I'm still working on that, but at least now I can think about it without stress, rather than under the burdens of exam preparation and the despair of having to spend the majority of my time on something too far down my list of interests.

Over and out

A_fiend_for_life

He graduated last July and has a checkered employment history that could look dubious unless it was temporary employment. Nine months without securing his preferred post. He should sign on if he is eligible, apply for the shelf stacker role and check out volunteering opportunities in his chosen field.

KT1985

leathersofa wrote: »

I would also add that someone with an OU degree *should*, rightly, be in huge demand, because getting one while simultaneously working is about the hardest thing you can do. I have huge respect for anyone who does that.

In my case at least, this is true- I have been offered an interview for every post I have applied for in the past year.

I think that this kind of part time flexi study is the way to go. I love it and it is so respected by employers in the field I am working in.

Taffybiker

glitterjunkie wrote: »

I have to admit I walked out of uni thinking I'd get a job straightaway, just because of the piece of paper I had. This past year has been a huge wake-up call for me, believe me!

The best qualification any job seeker can have is a driving license! This one will open more doors than any other single piece of paper.

Bpbill

what wrote: »

:T:T
By mid 20's you should be well into a career a house and a lifestyle, not on your way to becoming a 30 y/o teenager.

I don't think I've heard such Thatcherite nonsense since, well the 1990's also there is certainly a place for your so-called "ridiculous courses". The world needs more than economists and teachers,actually teachers is not a good example there as I wouldn't want to blame them for the troubles of the world. After all teaching these days is not in the hand of teachers.

However as for the dilemma, I can't remember after 100+ posts if the actual degree was mentioned and remember that this is a mature student. I'm not sure if he should take the shelf stacking job but if he does then all he is really doing is removing that vacancy from the market. If he hadn't filled it someone else would have and they are still left looking for work and probably in receipt of JSA. Therefore we are no better of as taxpayers anyway. However he doesn't want to get into the trap of sitting at home and stagnating.

Some others have mentioned the idea of doing voluntary work, personally I feel this could well be a good idea, many different charities/organisations out there that could make good use of his skills and if he is really lucky can end up making a difference to people or even contributing something much more to society than he ever could by paying tax. His dream job could well end up being something he hasn't yet dreamed of.

chriswatts

leathersofa wrote: »

Not every student goes to university purely as a way of either wasting 3/4 years as a layabout or else imagining that they'll waltz straight into a highly-paid job the day after graduation. Some still study out of genuine academic motives and what's wrong with that?

If the person studying pure traditional subjects like maths and English likes them, why don't they choose a career that uses them at the level taught? For a lot of jobs the educational requirement for some subjects taught will only be GCSE, so really a three year degree in maths and English really is a waste of 3/4 years. It really is a becoming a 30 y/o teenager (more like 24 y/o unless you assume they won't get a job for 6 years) it makes it seem like they are just deferring their career choice till after university.

There is also the possibility of being too academic! It says Lofty is a mature student and that there is a shelf stacking job at the local supermarket, but it doesn't say what experience Lofty has. It could be that Lofty before becoming a mature student has been previously been unemployed and hoped that the degree would actually open up doors for him. In that case the shelf stacking job could actually prove that Lofty can actually do a hands on job and not just theoretical tasks. We've got someone who's too academic where I work, he doesn't understand when a simple job just needs initial investigation or when it requires further research and even job for him is a research project. He's completely useless, he thinks quite a few jobs are beneath him and stubbles when practical work is involved!

wishface

Bpbill wrote: »

I don't think I've heard such Thatcherite nonsense since, well the 1990's also there is certainly a place for your so-called "ridiculous courses". The world needs more than economists and teachers,actually teachers is not a good example there as I wouldn't want to blame them for the troubles of the world. After all teaching these days is not in the hand of teachers.

However as for the dilemma, I can't remember after 100+ posts if the actual degree was mentioned and remember that this is a mature student. I'm not sure if he should take the shelf stacking job but if he does then all he is really doing is removing that vacancy from the market. If he hadn't filled it someone else would have and they are still left looking for work and probably in receipt of JSA. Therefore we are no better of as taxpayers anyway. However he doesn't want to get into the trap of sitting at home and stagnating.

Some others have mentioned the idea of doing voluntary work, personally I feel this could well be a good idea, many different charities/organisations out there that could make good use of his skills and if he is really lucky can end up making a difference to people or even contributing something much more to society than he ever could by paying tax. His dream job could well end up being something he hasn't yet dreamed of.

good points, well made.

People are talking as if these beliefs (30yo teenagers or whatever) are cast in stone laws of nature. They aren't. All this 'arbeit mach frei' nonsense is just a symptom of the industrialist/capitalist ethic that has proven to fail.

Times, things, people and societies change. Unfortunately the people in charge are too scared of losing their power and their wealth to accept this so they would rather scare people into believing that those university graduates who don't take jobs stacking shelves are stealing the pensions of old soldiers, or taking money from hard working white folk, or whatever!

I don't think the degree was actually mentioned.