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

oldjagman

Given the parlous state of our education system his degree may not qualify him for anything more complex than shelf stacking.

Get out in the real world Lofty and see what you are really capable of rather than expect the rest of us to keep you.

beccye

This happened to me. I graduated last summer and only managed to secure a job using my degree a couple of weeks ago.

I did have a temporary job but the only contract I could get was a part time one at Iceland, and sometimes I got extra hours when people were on holiday or off sick.

Having a job you dislike is even more incentive to find something.

It works in your favour with prospective employers because you are willing to do something you dislike in the interim. It also helps you build on your basic, transferable skills.

I had to wait 10 months the job I have just started, and I think that had I removed myself from the work environment for this long it would have been even more of a struggle to get back into it.

At no point did it cross my mind to become a benefit bum - there was work available and I was able to do it. And I certainly didn't think that any sort of work was beneath me simply because I had a degree. At the end of the day I had bills to pay and a life to live.

red_bertie

As a potential employer - I would favour someone who was doing any type of work, as opposed to deliberately 'holding out'.

As a tax payer - why should my money go to support someone able and able to work? I'd rather it went to more deserving causes.

johncolescarr

wishface wrote: »

Not really. He has trained and developed his mind so s to contribute to society in a far more meaningful way then 'stacking shelves' which is a menial, meaningless job. Why is he not being fully spported in doing this? The way some people respond you'd think he was a murderer!

If someone aspires to stacking shelves, well that's their choice, but don't pretend that this guy is tearing apart the fabric of society because he doesn't want his talents and his hard earned degree going to waste is just ludicrous.

I agree as a long term career goal of course this (hypothetical) person will want to realise his full potential. However anyone holding the notion that someone is too important to undertake some temporary work whilst pursuing their chosen career I find offensive. I am sure that this is not what you meant.

It is the millions of people working in jobs such as this that supports the infrastructure of this and all other developed countries. Without such work, our economies would not be able to function.

I also agree that this one persons action not to pursue temporary employment before gaining a first graduate job is not going to make a difference to the economy, however this argument is about society and ethics, not an individual case that has been used as an example. If all of the 50% of school leavers that go to university were to decide to take this action, then this would most certainly affect our economy.

I am an experienced, successful professional and I think that I contribute more to society in this role than I would as a shelf stacker, however on graduating, I was merely a graduate looking for my first permanent work in the field I wanted. In the 8 months between Uni and getting that job I worked in many temporary positions as needed. This helps to remind me of my fortunate position and it would do others good to experience the same.

Sorry for the sermon!! But this is a topic close to my heart

wishface

keeleyw24 wrote: »

Wishface-calm down matey , we're all entitled to opinions right? It's all just a bit of fun...and a hypothetical question.

Anyway, my opinion is that Lofty should take the job as he can still hunt for his dream job whilst working as a shelf stacker, which yes might be a bit boring. It's so much easier to look for jobs now though, what with monster etc. It all helps on the old CV doesn't it?

I'm currently studying for a law degree, working 40 hrs a week, and cooking and cleaning for me and my hubby, it CAN be done, I promise, hee hee! When I complete my degree I still intend to work where I am now, which I personally find quite boring, until I find my 'dream job' of becoming a lawyer.

K xx

Why are you assuming that i'm not calm?

pineapple

Of course he should take the flippin job (on the other hand there must be more worthwhile candidates - having a degree doesn't mean he's the best choice). Anyway, I would advise Lofty to take a plumbers course rather than a silly degree. Then I would finally get my boiler fixed and he would be eying up tax havens!

wishface

briz_hatchings wrote: »

The question is the usual Radio 5 dubbing down simply designed to disgust and enrage as many listeners as possible thus flooding the phone lines with as many ignorant left wing Daily Mail readers as possible.

left wing daily mail readers?

wishface

brucie24 wrote: »

I cannot believe some of the comments here.

How grand to be so self important that a TEMPORARY job is beneath them.

Whilst it is good to know Lofty put the work in to acheive his degree, just because he can't obtain his dream job means he should do nothing until he gets one????

Does that mean that anyone not in their "dream job" should just sign on to benefits until they manage to get one? NO!

Lofty should take the job and look for that dream job at the same time. As for working 'unsocial hours' welcome to the real world.....

It has nothing to do with being self important.

MrsBartolozzi

brucie24 wrote: »

I cannot believe some of the comments here.

How grand to be so self important that a TEMPORARY job is beneath them.

Whilst it is good to know Lofty put the work in to acheive his degree, just because he can't obtain his dream job means he should do nothing until he gets one????

Does that mean that anyone not in their "dream job" should just sign on to benefits until they manage to get one? NO!

Lofty should take the job and look for that dream job at the same time. As for working 'unsocial hours' welcome to the real world.....

It is for this reason - considerating a supermarket type job as a temporary stop gap til the right job comes along- that employers are not keen to take on graduates in jobs that don't use the degree/ are considered less aspirational.
I have had prospective employers openly wince, after having a nice positive chat about me applying for the job, when I mention I have degree. They say oh, well, you'll only be wanting the job til you get something better etc.Even when I assure them that's not the case I can tell it's a lost battle, the atmosphere of the conversation has changed. Sure enough on handing in the CV/ application form I don't even get invited for interview.
It's not just me, I know others who are in the same boat, and I've read stories like this online too.
I'm not sure how this applies to the fictional OP, but I do think that the attitude of "take any job and look for better ones in the mean time" is making getting "any" job much harder.

JayWalker

Any job is better than claiming benefits. The antisocial hours can be a good thing, as it frees him up to attend interviews etc during the day (just schedule sleeping to suit - I've done it). It also saves him from getting sucked into the "not-working" mentality.