Don't know what to do with my life

snowqueen555

I am stuck in a low paid menial job with no prospects, I did do a degree but it is in a "mickey mouse" subject. In retrospect I would've done a different course but its too late now!

The problem is that I don't know what I want to do, and the idea of retraining won't work because I don't have the time or money to fund myself.

Anyone else out there who was, or is in the same situation?

Thanks

t0rt0ise

What would you like to do, given the perfect world? That might help someone think of what you might do in that direction.

There are some careers in the public sector that you can start with little and get on.. things like nursing, police, prison service. But what area would you like to work in?

smileylondongal

Yes me! I did a something that people really didn't understand, a purely academic subject, and now do (or did before I went on mat leave) and purely vocational role. If anything I found it was a talking point and no, it didn't get me on to a grad programme but tbh at the time I didnt think I'd get on one and looking back, I don't think it would have been for me anyway.

The 'selling' part of yourself is what you need - by this I mean
a) I know you say you're in a menial job but is there anyway of making improvements to the way things are done so management sit up and take notice? is there a way you can progress to a route you do want to take?
b) your CV needs to be top notch, ie. setting out what you've done and any achievements in the role, no spelling errors, set out well, etc.
c) go to agencies if you haven't already but have a clear idea of what you want - be realistic, though, as you might find yourself sidelined if you're seen as too unrealistic.
d) are you still entitled to visit your careers service?

At interview, you more than likely will need to qualify why you chose your course and there's nothing wrong with that, just explain why.

HTH

snowqueen555

Thanks for the quick replies.

Ideal job would be helping people.

I looked into working anywhere in the Criminal Justice system frojm the prisos, to probation, but they are not rectuiting, or they mainly use internal recruitment

The NHS, as a dietician, or Occupational Therapist etc... but requires 3-4 years study basic

I really want to do something but I don't know what, I feel like I've wasted too much time already.

-

I thought my most realistic entry is as an intern/trainee, but these roles do not seem to exist in the NHS or CJS.

skattykatty

ooh..re: Occupational Therapy - I've met someone currently studying, at Brunel, I think and she's getting it all funded by NHS. Have a look at our local NHS service and see if you can find details of funding help. Just a thought...

snowqueen555

I know about the funding, which is what makes the NHS attractive. But I don't know if i could do another 3-4 years of studying and living away on a meagre budget, risking the chance that I might once again not like what I am doing.

This indecisiveness.. is it something endemic to todays 20 somethings?

dancingfairy

Not sure if you can get help for either your uni careers service or you could try Next Steps which is a careers service - not sure if you have to be unemployed though to use them.
Have you tried lookng on prospects I think it is - the careers website where you can find out different career paths to a job? it might give you some inspiration?
I don't know whether you have nay spare weekends or evenings - perhaps you could try some voluntary work somewhere - even if it's just generically people related rather than in a specific field it might be good to get contacts, a reference etc? your local volunteer centre shouldhave a list or try do it online to see what is in your area.
df

getmore4less

Some careers don't need particular degrees they are more about experience and being smart.

eg: hospitality pubs, hotels etc, employ a lot of people and the smart hard working people can get on.

I happened to be reading some JDwetherspoon training propeganda and OK it is hard work but on the job training and progress seems to reasonbly quick and a lot of transferable skills.

t0rt0ise

I can understand you not wanting to study again but I did a degree as a mature student and then afterwards did an admin course at college which was supposed to be degree standard but compared with the degree I'd done, it was a doddle, it was so easy I enjoyed it so much. I think anything you might do that is more practical based.. nursing, ot, physio would just be fun.

You could apply for phsyio assistant or OT assistant type jobs to see whether you like it. I recently applied for a job as pharmacy assistant in an NHS hospital where they pay you to work and pay for day release at college. Easy study compared with a degree. I didn't get a look in because they were looking for young people who would make a career of it but I would really have liked it. At the moment I'm doing a radiography assistant sort of job.

http://www.jobs.nhs.uk/

snowqueen555

t0rt0ise wrote: »

I can understand you not wanting to study again but I did a degree as a mature student and then afterwards did an admin course at college which was supposed to be degree standard but compared with the degree I'd done, it was a doddle, it was so easy I enjoyed it so much. I think anything you might do that is more practical based.. nursing, ot, physio would just be fun.

You could apply for phsyio assistant or OT assistant type jobs to see whether you like it. I recently applied for a job as pharmacy assistant in an NHS hospital where they pay you to work and pay for day release at college. Easy study compared with a degree. I didn't get a look in because they were looking for young people who would make a career of it but I would really have liked it. At the moment I'm doing a radiography assistant sort of job.

http://www.jobs.nhs.uk/

I've just done a search and in my area there is only ONE available assistant job, they dont exist very much at all right now

J_i_m

One of the problems with the NHS at the moment is that budgets are getting tighter, jobs are supposedly "frozen" at my unit and to some degree within the trust, so recruitment is low.

Indeed some units/wards are forced to considering reducing their workforce, hence why recruitment is being frozen as priority is given to transferring staff to other workplaces.

Training is still going on however, the amount of student nurses we have is the same as ever, if not more so. And a common way of progressing up in the NHS is to join up as an "assistant" (some roles basically only require your GCSE's) and seek secondment to become a practitioner.

Your degree might be in a "mickey mouse" subject, however having a degree is still an advantage over not having one, UCAS points, showing the ability to learn etc.