I wish I did better at school

lincroft1710

I only got mediocre A level results, didn't go to uni, yet still ended up in a job where I was a in a higher grade (and paid more) than several graduates.

szam_

Bunch of sub par GCSE's personally, yet I was determined to have a career and not just a job, it's working pretty well so far, I'm far exceeding where I thought I'd be by my age, I'm not rushing, just learning new skills, when a chance comes along, I take it.

I will admit, I was one of those that was told uni is the be all and end all if you want a career, and I often believed it, truth hit home when I got lined up in a team of graduates. The real reward is knowing I'm at the same level as them by the same age. At least, that's how it seems to work in IT anyway. I may do an open Uni degree in the next couple years, either in IT and business or software development.

RobotsinDisguse

I got great A Levels, a BA(hons), an MA and 7 years of ongoing on the job training. Shame my industry is on it's knees due to the government cutbacks.

Was it a waste of time? No, I got invaluable experience and had 7 years doing what I loved.

It it helping me right now? No. The job centre man said I'd be better off ending my CV at college and just saying 'council worker' after that!! So I'm updating the transferable skills I have and am starting again.

The moral of this story? The grass is always greener, but life really is what you make it.

bylromarha

I went to a Russell Group uni in the 90s.

It made a difference for a few of my friends. For the majority of us, it made little difference whatsoever. The lazy ones at uni got dead end jobs/went travelling. The proactive ones at uni are now on high flying salaries. The majority of us are doing okay in our chosen professions.

The attitude to work is by far the biggest determiner in your future prospects.

morganedge

I'm in my late 20's.
Always just worked in warehouses or temping in office jobs for minimum wage all my life since school
.
Only have GCSE's B's and C's, mainly.