What should i do with the next 42 years?

misssarahleigh

Hi, i was hoping some kind person on here could provide me with some inspiration.

I graduated in Applied Criminology June 07 but have spent the last 8 months as an administrator after being unemployed.

I have realised my degree qualifies me to do nothing, so pretty much ignor the fact i have one.

I enjoy law, psychology and consumer rights i'm just struggling to find what i want to do. I'm 23 now so have another 42 ish year till retirement

Can anybody suggest anything for me? or do you have a job you love?

Any responces welcome

mrcow

So what did "applied criminology" involve?

What do most people who do to go on to do? Is it an honours degree? If so, what class did you get?

misssarahleigh

Applied criminology was a general kinda thing. Research methods, drugs, crime, youth crime, victims etc etc it was an honours degree and i got a 2:2 (i hated doing it, was not at all what i expected)

Most people in my class i don't stay in touch with but, if i recall. Two are police officers, 1 works for a bank, 2 further studies. Most of them have gone in different directions not really relevant to the degree.

vicshippers

A degree isn't all about the subject that you read - by having a degree you are proving that you can apply yourself, research, work in teams, carry individual responsibility and learn. All these things are valuable assets that not everyone has. Think about the skills that you were best at during your degree, if not the information that you learned.

I learned from my economics degree that I am analytical, good with numbers and patterns so I found a job where I could use these skills. Although not economics based, I used the skills I picked up EVERY DAY.

misssarahleigh

true, i know my good points. I'm highly organised, analytical, well co-ordinated, confident to speak my mind. I enjoy the topic of crime, was just dissapointed with the content of my degree.

I want something where i can use my skills at being diplomatic and getting things solved. I enjoy the rush of winning the battle (normally in the form of ringing conpanies and tell them how their illegal behaviour means i don't have to pay a pennie lol)

I like sticking up for other people and helping them out. i'm a little wounder to all friends and family who have a difficult consumer issue so this i may take further, but there would be a lot of study involved.

I'm unsure about going back and doing other courses as my experience at uni wasn't a good one and don't really have the money to do so.

Welshwoofs

Hang on... I must be missing something here.

Surely a degree in Applied Criminology would be something one undertook if one wanted to go into the police? Once in you'd be fast-tracked.

Did you apply for the police?

misssarahleigh

You do get fast tracked for the police but this is something i really don't want to do.

The main problem being i have a pretty good moral compas and the majority of what i would do in the police would go against that. i couldn't arrest people for throwing crisp packets while watching rapists walk out of court with a slap on the wrists.

I have given this considerable thought and i could not deal with the looney rules and regulations. it would fustrate me.

I took the subject because i like crime. I like profilling, victims rights, psychology etc i never had a career in mind.

Welshwoofs

misssarahleigh wrote: »

I took the subject because i like crime. I like profilling, victims rights, psychology etc i never had a career in mind.

Ahh. I'm afraid that's where you went wrong. To be blunt, these days degrees are 10 a penny due to this Govt's insistence that everyone should go to university after school. In this climate it's far better to have a specific career in mind when you embark on a degree which targets that work.

Unfortunately, whilst you may have done that degree because it interested you, if you weren't actually going to follow a career in that field it was a waste of time.

So to concentrate on the positives, you have some choices to make:

1. Apply to graduate programs with some big companies that take your fancy.
2. Look to doing a PGCE and go into teaching
3. Look to doing a GDL and then LPC/BPTC and go into law
4. Look to join the military as an officer
5. Think about what you actually want to do and take on some extra training or higher degree in that area

A talk with a careers advisor may be a good idea.

I think you should give the police another thought. You'd do 2 years general and then would probably fly into a detective position with your qualifications. Watching rapists walk out of court is nothing to do with policework...that's down to the legal representation. It just seems a massive waste to me to have such a perfect degree for this line of work and not even be prepared to give it a try.

elsietanner71

Hi misssarahleigh

There are a few things I'd like to recommend to you:

- click on www.prospects.ac.uk There is a tool on there which allows you to search for careers you can use your degree in. Some are obvious but there may be some you haven't considered.

- visit www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice and have a go on the Assess Your Skills and interests tool. This asks you questions about yourself and from that it will generate career ideas. You can then use the job profiles on the website to read more about them.

- This is a good life coaching / careers website: http://www.windmillsonline.co.uk/interactive/intro1.html

- Finally, if you want to talk things over with a qualified careers adviser call the Careers Advice Service on 08080 100 333. More info about them on theire website mentioned above. It's a free service.

Good luck

misssarahleigh

i know.I managed to pick the worst year for 20 years to graduate in as well.

I very much appreciate your suggestions. I think i shall rule number 4 out. Never been one for obeying orders. i have a tendancy to do the opposite

I'm not against extra training i just want to be sure it will get me somewhere this time lol

The issue is i don't know what i would like to do. And what i find is that there are so many jobs out there that are unknown because untill you get into the field you don't realise whats on offer.

I spoke to an advisor at and and looking back they were useless lol

misssarahleigh

elsietanner71 wrote: »

Hi misssarahleigh

There are a few things I'd like to recommend to you:

- click on www.prospects.ac.uk There is a tool on there which allows you to search for careers you can use your degree in. Some are obvious but there may be some you haven't considered.

- visit www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice and have a go on the Assess Your Skills and interests tool. This asks you questions about yourself and from that it will generate career ideas. You can then use the job profiles on the website to read more about them.

- This is a good life coaching / careers website: http://www.windmillsonline.co.uk/interactive/intro1.html

- Finally, if you want to talk things over with a qualified careers adviser call the Careers Advice Service on 08080 100 333. More info about them on theire website mentioned above. It's a free service.

Good luck

This is certainly going to keep me busy this afternoon. Much appreciated. Shall let you know how it goes.