No idea what to do!

Tiddlywinks

BunnieJ wrote: »

When I gave up uni I was really lucky and landed a job as a support assistant for a statemented child in a secondary school. It was paying £17.5k per year with all the perks of school holidays etc. which kind of spoilt me! I was also living with my parents who asked for rent money (but a fraction of what I was earning). However, it was one of those 'sit at the back of the classroom and do nothing' jobs, so I quit after 6 months. I then moved to another school, doing the same job but with younger children. The pay was alot less, but the work was much more rewarding and I was actually thinking of going into teaching.

After a year I was spotted by another company and they took me on as reception/admin (I took the job as it was more hours and more money than the school...I quickly realised rewarding jobs are often poorly paid and things are expensive!) but it was so boring and no chance of progression to another department in the office, so after 2 years I left.

Then I moved to be with my OH and took my current job.

Now I'm working full-time on reception for £13.5k, living away from home, just making enough money to survive, wondering what on earth I'm doing with my life!

This is going to sound harsh, but you need to get realistic about why you are where you are.

Why did you fail your first year? Why were you essentially thrown out... there is usually more support provided along the way than 'you failed, bye bye'?

You need to identify your priorities from a career- you seem to get easily bored BUT also don't seem to actively do anything practical to address that. For instance, what have you done to try to enhance your current role? Have you talked to anyone about taking on developmental tasks etc?

You need to decide on your priorities, identify your interests and then make it happen... even if that means taking a second job or taking on a bank loan to fund your studies.

If you want it, you should be motivated enough to give it your best shot.

At the moment you are kind of ambling along using a lack of funding as an excuse to not take control... apologies if you find that harsh but I think you need to sit down, cut through all the side issues and just decide what you want from life.... and then do something about it.

GoldenShadow

Why did you fail the first year of your degree, were there extenuating circumstances?

SFE usually allow one 'false start', so providing you only actually used one year of finance they will usually fund an entire course. Its when it is more than one year that you have to self fund ie. my friend did two years, dropped out, then did another three year degree and she had to self fund for year one. See here:

http://www.brightknowledge.org/knowledge-bank/money/student-finance/student-finance-if-youre-going-back-to-uni

I just finished my degree in January. Grad employment is tough to find for a lot of people. I went to a grammar school which performs relatively well and a lot of the people who went onto uni don't yet have a job lined up for after, I am in the minority. Don't think that by going to uni you will definitely have better prospects because not everyone does.

I think you need to really decide what you want. What kind of career, and then work out how to get there, making sure the route you plan is likely to do so. Don't find out you can be funded and go for something to do, because if it isn't something you know you want you will be in the position you are in now again, just with a BA/BSc by your name and a bigger debt to SFE.

Whilst waiting for my grad job to start I will continue working part time in retail and doing volunteer work (done both for almost three years). From my part time work I didn't think I really liked people. Customers give you a lot of stick and it can be quite soul destroying being treated like rubbish all the time. Literally customers will walk past as you kneel down to put something on a shelf and smack you in the head with their basket, look, see what they've done and not bat an eyelid. I've had Mums point at me going this is why you study at school, so you don't end up in here like they are :eek:

My volunteer work introduced me to other people though. People who aren't in a mad dash home and who haven't already had a bad day at work. That helped me realise how passionate I am about making a difference, feeling as though some good comes from what I do. I am incredibly lucky because I have landed my dream grad job which will give me this opportunity, but without both my retail and volunteer work I wouldn't have been enlightened to know what it was I really wanted.

CH27

Why have you used two years of student funding if you failed your first year?

BunnieJ

CH27 wrote: »

Why have you used two years of student funding if you failed your first year?

A few people have asked this/asked a similar question. I don't think I explained myself fully in my OP.

I didn't get my predicted grades at A-Level, had to go through UCAS clearing and went to do a sociology/philosophy degree instead of my first choice.

The degree was awful, I really strugged being away from home and I pretty much f**cked up my first year entirely! (I suffer from anxiety and panic attacks which didn't help). I appealed to my university and they decided to let me retake my first year, but again I just struggled

Only 1 person out of myself and my 4 housemates (we were put together in a house as halls of residence were full) actually graduated! Everybody else either failed or dropped out. They came from a similar background to me, where it was just assumed by their school/families that they would go to uni.

So I've had my first year of SFE and my 'false start' year of money, hence 2 years of loan and debt.

GoldenShadow

BunnieJ wrote: »

A few people have asked this/asked a similar question. I don't think I explained myself fully in my OP.

I didn't get my predicted grades at A-Level, had to go through UCAS clearing and went to do a sociology/philosophy degree instead of my first choice.

The degree was awful, I really strugged being away from home and I pretty much f**cked up my first year entirely! (I suffer from anxiety and panic attacks which didn't help). I appealed to my university and they decided to let me retake my first year, but again I just struggled

Only 1 person out of myself and my 4 housemates (we were put together in a house as halls of residence were full) actually graduated! Everybody else either failed or dropped out. They came from a similar background to me, where it was just assumed by their school/families that they would go to uni.

So I've had my first year of SFE and my 'false start' year of money, hence 2 years of loan and debt.

Do you think you would cope with a degree now? There are lots of peaks and troughs with stress the further you get. I think it's really important to figure out what you want to do, don't do something because you think you should.

BunnieJ

Do you think you would cope with a degree now? There are lots of peaks and troughs with stress the further you get. I think it's really important to figure out what you want to do, don't do something because you think you should.

I know it will still be stressful studying now, but hopefully I would be more able to cope with it.

I think I've grown up/become more mature and know how to handle my anxiety, compared to how I was when I'd just left home at 18.

Atm I have a job and am settled, where as before I was kind of chucked into a house with a load of other students who had no clue what they were doing or how to live on their own either!

Some of my shifts are from 7:00-14:30, so I would like to use my afternoons productively. Studying would give me something to do in my spare time...

purcel

Just read your post and wanted to say that I really understand what you are going through, as I am in a similar position.

10 years older than you and stuck in a job which i don't enjoy, but at least it is a busy one, with no possibilities of career progression whatsoever.
I have been applying for other jobs, but as i work Mon-Fri 9am to 6pm is soo hard to be able to make it for any interviews and I had to refuse a couple on those grounds. I cannot take a day holiday for this either as i have put down most of my days so at least me and my husband can have some time together, and the rest of the holidays i have to keep it for the shutdown at xmas time(about 10 days).
With all this I am trying to stay positive and keep going as at least I have a job- but if i cannot find something else in the next couple of months then OU awaits me! At least i can hopefully say i may have another chance in about 6 years time to do something more rewarding!
I keep saying to myself that i can do better that what i am doing at the moment and plan for the future! Good luck, stay positive and keep trying! xx

Any

You've been looking for only couple of months for non specific job and you are already disheartened... It takes a lot longer to find a job that is satisfactory on the career progress/rewarding level!! And that is for people who actually know what they are looking for...
As you don't, keep looking and see what 'talks' to you.. and then tailor your cover letter to the job with the enthusiasm you are showing here about wanting to progress and be busy.
You can use the work downtime to keep looking sites about different jobs and hunting etc..

But really be prepared that it takes time.. especially in this job market.

BunnieJ

Just read your post and wanted to say that I really understand what you are going through, as I am in a similar position.

10 years older than you and stuck in a job which i don't enjoy, but at least it is a busy one, with no possibilities of career progression whatsoever.
I have been applying for other jobs, but as i work Mon-Fri 9am to 6pm is soo hard to be able to make it for any interviews and I had to refuse a couple on those grounds. I cannot take a day holiday for this either as i have put down most of my days so at least me and my husband can have some time together, and the rest of the holidays i have to keep it for the shutdown at xmas time(about 10 days).
With all this I am trying to stay positive and keep going as at least I have a job- but if i cannot find something else in the next couple of months then OU awaits me! At least i can hopefully say i may have another chance in about 6 years time to do something more rewarding!
I keep saying to myself that i can do better that what i am doing at the moment and plan for the future! Good luck, stay positive and keep trying! xx

I've also had to turn down interviews for this reason. I say turn down, I've asked them to reschedule and they've told me if I can't make it then don't bother!

Employers know that thousands of people are desperate for a job, so if one misses a call/e-mail or can't make an interview time, they just move down to the next person on their list!

A couple of weeks ago I was called on my mobile during work and missed the call. The lady left a voicemail to call her back, so I went on my break and called. She was busy so the receptionist took my details. I CALLED A FURTHER 3-4 TIMES AT LEAST during the course of the week and each time was told she was unavailable or busy. I kept leaving messages, but she never ever responded to me! :mad:

Good luck to you too! I'm sure you will find the right path for you

You've been looking for only couple of months for non specific job and you are already disheartened... It takes a lot longer to find a job that is satisfactory on the career progress/rewarding level!! And that is for people who actually know what they are looking for...
As you don't, keep looking and see what 'talks' to you.. and then tailor your cover letter to the job with the enthusiasm you are showing here about wanting to progress and be busy.
You can use the work downtime to keep looking sites about different jobs and hunting etc..

But really be prepared that it takes time.. especially in this job market.

Everytime I send out my CV I attach a covering letter tailored to that specific postition/industry. I've practically written essays about how much I want to work in a certain career or company, but still no joy. Maybe if I'm lucky I get a "We have recieved your application" e-mail, but never any follow up. I've even gone so far as to contact those employers again to ask for feedback as to why I haven't been considered, so I can improve my CV etc, but they never respond!

I have been applying for jobs when it's quiet, but I don't want to make it too obvious to anyone at work that I'm looking elsewhere for employment...I know it's going to take time and I haven't been looking for that long yet

However, yesterday I had a lead on a job within my current company, as one of the secretary's is retiring in the legal dept. I've been told once they have offered it internally (I work for a contractor to a bank) they can offer it to other non-bank staff. Hopefully it's worth keeping my eye on! It seems it's about who you know, rather than what you know when it comes to getting a job nowadays.

It would be great if I could get into the bank as it would mean more hours, more money and a bit more responsibility/not sitting with no work all day But, I'm fed up of moving from job to job and would rather have stability so I can spend my spare time studying, so I don't think I'm going to keep looking for any jobs outside of this.

NoGoodNamesLeft

BunnieJ wrote: »

I know it will still be stressful studying now, but hopefully I would be more able to cope with it.

I think I've grown up/become more mature and know how to handle my anxiety, compared to how I was when I'd just left home at 18.

Atm I have a job and am settled, where as before I was kind of chucked into a house with a load of other students who had no clue what they were doing or how to live on their own either!

Some of my shifts are from 7:00-14:30, so I would like to use my afternoons productively. Studying would give me something to do in my spare time...

I've found it much easier to cope with studying as a mature student. First time at uni I was so stressed I got quite ill and couldn't handle the work even though it was a relatively 'easy' degree.
This time around, I'm doing a much harder science degree, but I'm loving every second of it and doing really well.

Is it not possible to have some of your previous loan removed if you can prove you were unable to finish through no fault of your own (a doctor's note, etc)?

Good luck whatever you decide to do