Uni or not?

SuzyZ

I am in a slight dilemma at the moment.

About to put in a grievance for harassment but in a very small firm (6 people including me and 2 outside workers, eg temp/contract).

This grievance will most likely stop some of my harassment but I will be stuck working as a secretary in a law firm.

I do not want to train further (legal executive etc).

My OH has said I can study full time if I want and has even said we could move as the one Uni I want to go to is a few hundred miles away. We were planning to move anyway and as long as there's working from home options and commute to London he's happy to move. I could also get a job as live out au pair/nanny for *pin money*.

It'd be a 3 year creative writing course, would have to go through UCAS clearing etc to get in now. Is what I really want to do, creative writing and journalism maybe in future.

I am wondering when I finish the course, will work situation be better? I'm sure I can get work again.

I am just sick of (since 17) being in dead end PA/secretary jobs which though some have been great some of them have *problems* and mean staff.

Advice/ideas please?

National_Careers_Service

I’m really sorry to hear that you’re going through such a tough time at work, SuzyZ. Have you got any support in place to help you with what’s going on?

On a positive note, it does sound as though you might be considering some changes on the back of this which would enable you to build up skills that you sound pretty passionate about.

Have you started to think yet about what you might like to do after completing the degree course? I can see that you’ve been considering journalism, have you had any other ideas? I wonder if the university have any information about what their previous students have gone on to do after the course.


If you’re thinking about doing some research into potential future work options, you might find the Options with your subject page of the Prospects website a useful starting point. The information can help you to begin to think about the skills, knowledge and experience that you’re likely to build up during the degree course and also help you to think about roles which could make use of these.

You could also have a go at using the National Careers Service’s Job Profiles to carry out some research. From what you say, you might be particularly interested inthe Publishing and journalismsection. You can also use the search facility on the page to search for key words, such as ‘writing’, which is another way of brainstorming ideas. The job profiles will hopefully help you to kick off your research – what the jobs involve, where to look for vacancies (to find out about the current job market) etc. A lot of the profiles also include a ‘Related industry information’ section. These could shed some light on labour market information for the areas of work that you’re interested in.

Hopefully these pages will help you to make a start with weighing up what your options might look like after completing a degree in something related to creative writing.

Best of luck in whatever you choose!

Emma

ditzyat50

SuzyZ wrote: »

I am in a slight dilemma at the moment.


My OH has said I can study full time if I want and has even said we could move as the one Uni I want to go to is a few hundred miles away. We were planning to move anyway and as long as there's working from home options and commute to London he's happy to move. I could also get a job as live out au pair/nanny for *pin money*.

I am wondering when I finish the course, will work situation be better? I'm sure I can get work again.

Advice/ideas please?

What a wonderful supportive partner you have. I would advise to go for it because if you don't then you could end up being 60 and looking back on your life and wondering "what if". Maybe the work situation will be better, maybe it will be worse. Who knows? My advice is to broaden your horizons and do the course. Good luck either way.

Racheldevon

I would consider your options carefully - I certainly wouldn't stay in a role I don't enjoy - you're in employment for a long time. I would however research fully your options should you go for the creative writing degree. Have you explored current vacancies wihin journalism for example - when they recruit will they accept a creative writing degree? I don't have the answers as to what a potential employer in this field might be looking for, but just ensure you're ont he right course prior to making a significant financial commitment and potential life style change if you move away.

joolsybools

I think you should go for it it too.

But one question you need to think about is whether it is likely to give you a job at the end (or enable you to become self-employed). I am sure the job market will be better in a few years but really make sure you have researched all the relevant potential courses before you apply as you can only put in one UCAS application per year which cannot be added to.