Apprenticeship/University/New Job HELP!!!

Dunroamin

There are many worst things in life than being asked to punch holes in paper when you're still 19 and only left school a year or so ago.

pinkshoes

Have you actually spoken to your boss and asked to do some other stuff as well as punching holes in paper?

No offence, but you do come across as a bit arrogant, and think you're too good for punching holes! SOMEONE has to punch the holes in the paper, so why not you!? Just try and make the job more exciting and set yourself mini challenges i.e. how many holes can you punch in a minute?

At 20 I worked night shift picking plastic components out of an injection moulding machine. At 30, I designed the plastic components.

Stick with it, change your attitude, and accept that you have to start at the bottom and work your way up.

heretolearn_2

True, at 19 I spent most of my time stuffing envelopes with mailshots, that's boring (and tiring) but it's what you do. Mind, I'm still the fastest envelope stuffer in my whole firm by far when we are doing a mailout, if I need to lend a hand. Just find the most efficient way of doing these horrible jobs, and get them done as quickly as possible.

tygr

mizzbiz19 wrote: »

Hi heretolearn

I found it incredibly easy and constantly questioned whether they seriously thought I was that thick.

You're doing what I said not to do and I know from bitter experience that it's a painful path to depression. Do not equate what you're being asked to do with your own abilities or your own worth. Most people at the bottom of the pile in a company are capable of much more but you have to bide your time and work up as and when the opportunities arise. Part of gaining more work experience is learning to deal with the frustration of having to do menial tasks. Just because you're being asked to do hole punching doesn't mean that's all people think you're capable of. If they did, you wouldn't have done the HR cover.

gibson123

tygr wrote: »

You're doing what I said not to do and I know from bitter experience that it's a painful path to depression. Do not equate what you're being asked to do with your own abilities or your own worth. Most people at the bottom of the pile in a company are capable of much more but you have to bide your time and work up as and when the opportunities arise. Part of gaining more work experience is learning to deal with the frustration of having to do menial tasks. Just because you're being asked to do hole punching doesn't mean that's all people think you're capable of. If they did, you wouldn't have done the HR cover.

This is good advice and also I have a varied and interesting job, I have a Masters degree and I still occasionally have to do mundane tasks - if I got my self worth from the jobs I do on a daily basis, I would be in deep trouble.

You need to stop thinking this is it for you, this is the first step, you have completed an NVQ at level 2, you are doing level 3 and your employer has agreed to give you to do a degree. OK it's low paid but most young people are having to pay to get these qualifications and getting into debt doing so.

My advice is stick in and get on with it, keep asking for more interesting tasks, and working your a**e of is the best way to learn.

hcb42

I have an MBA (OU), and a BSc, am 44, am in a senior role, well paid, and still have to answer the phone and do mundane tasks, it's just work unfortunately, if you are having your education paid for you, you need to find a new coping mechanism!

saintjammyswine

mizzbiz19 wrote: »

hey saintjammyswine

thanks for your response. it is my understanding that i will have nvq 2,3 & 4, completed apprenticeship (so 4 yrs experience) and a degree if i carry on.

If you complete your degree before your apprenticeship it will prevent any funding for further apprenticeship levels.


Your apprenticeship is split into the levels
Apprenticeship - Level 2
Advanced Apprenticeship - Level 3
Higher Apprenticeship - Level 4


For each one, depending on the industry, you will have
NVQ (or equivalent) - Workplace Assessed Element
Diploma (or equivalent) - Tought Element in the classroom/workshop
Literacy, Numeracy & ICT - Where required
Employee Rights & Responsibilities - now on all programmes.


Each one is a seperate qualification and funded seperately.


You are going to be well qualified and experienced for someone in their mid 20s. Seriously, it will fly by and you will look back in 10 years and thank whoever is funding/helping/mentoring you in this for the position you will be in then.

mizzbiz19

Hi guys thanks for all your responses. I'd just like to point out i'm not 19 i'm 20 not that this really makes that much difference! I understand there are mundane jobs in every job but as the office monkey some days it seems endless! I am doing business administration apprenticeship - 4 years seems too long for this but that is the agreement. My degree is in business studies. I chose it with the hope of becoming a high flying business woman one day! Will try to keep this in mind as my motivation. Someone said I sound arrogant - really? I genuinely don't mean to be, I'm simply miserable doing what i'm doing and thought i'd seek some outside advice! Sorry anyway if it came across that way, I'm really not an arrogant person, furthest thing from!

Acc72

mizzbiz19 wrote: »

. I'd just like to point out i'm not 19 i'm 20 not that this really makes that much difference!

Maybe people came to that conclusion because in your first post you said "All of the work given is monotonous stuff a 12 year old could do let alone a 20 year old with good gcse's a levels and studying a uni degree!".

What tasks do you feel a 20 (or 19) year old with good GCSE's, A levels and studying for a degree should be doing ?

red_eye

mizzbiz19 wrote: »

Hi all, Thanks for clicking my thread.

So i'm currently 10 months into a 4 year apprenticeship. Obviously it being an apprenticeship means the money is shocking and i'm constantly struggling to get by each month. I am also studying with the Open University for a degree which my employer has agreed to pay for. I had to sign an agreement to say I will pay back the money paid for my course should i leave prior to 2 years after the completion of my course.

Anyway, the issue is i'm feeling that i am completely wasted doing this job. All of the work given is monotonous stuff a 12 year old could do let alone a 20 year old with good gcse's a levels and studying a uni degree! Today i felt like i was going to break down in tears when i was told to hole punch a massive pile of paper and then put it into a folder. Its really starting to get me down, I have a history of psychotic depression and have noticed the symptoms coming back (not so much the psychosis but more the depression). When my alarm goes off each morning i dread going into work as i am so bored of it all, i go over loads of excuses in my head to try to get out of going before i drag myself out of bed and reluctantly go to work. I then spend the day doing monotonous tasks wondering why i even bothered to get out of bed for the sake of 40 quid.

With the job market as it is and with little experience i'm not really sure what to do. I've been applying for jobs for the last month (not particularly made much effort - submitted 4-5 a week) and had no response as of yet.

Can someone please advise whether its worth biting my lip and continuing this mind-numbing job for an additional 5 yrs 2 mths in order to complete my uni without any debt... or if i should find something which challenges me and pays better?

been there done that, it gets better after the first year as you gain more knowledge and experience the jobs you are given get more challenging.
if its a job you want to do then stick at it it will be worth it when your qualified