how important is a university degree in the job market these days?

fitnessguy1

xapprenticex wrote: »

What are you actually good at or able to do? Thats what you need to focus on, you cant just say "I want more money". And dont fall for the silly emails saying do this qual and earn £50k as a project manager and if you get a phone call by people offering a silly course and will help look for a job for you, ask them why they haven't done it themselves.

As for degrees, they are okay, everyone has them nowadays so they are the new A Levels. you may notice that everyone and their dog are doing masters degrees now because its the only way to stand out and that doesnt even guarantee anything.

experience and/or knowing the right people matters the most (imo)

i know you say what am i good at doing, but i find most people these days go to university and don't really go for a career in mind and gain a degree.

i am in that bracket that i don't really know what i am good at. it's a hard question to answer because nothing stands out that i am good at.

my interests vary. if i was good at english i would do something english related, maybe teaching, or if i was good at maths maybe a engineer, or if i had a scientific mind then possibly doctor or similar.

notanewuser

Bit of a leap from fitness instructor to doctor!

missbiggles1

missbiggles1 wrote: »

What qualifications do you have already?

????......

xapprenticex

Exactly, everyone gets a degree to get a degree, and now everyone has a degree and its no longer a sign of above average intelligence (IMO).

When I say what you are good at, im talking about the type of work to go for, you wont be making that money doing fitness stuff imo.

I also understand that not everyone is the academic type, some people just want to get on a construction site and graft like mad, thats something I cant do myself, im a sit at a desk on a computer and get paid more than the guy who is actually doing physically hard work but hey ho. I do admire those people.

Where there's a will there is a way, you need to make a plan of action, but decide what you really want, you're too old to not be sure now.

SeduLOUs

It sounds to me like the problem isn't your qualifications (or lack of) but the fact you don't have the faintest idea what you actually want to do.

Once you figure out where you want to head, you can then figure out what qualifications (if any) are necessary to enter the career path, and to progress to the level you'd like to achieve in the long run.

Saying that I'm the opposite. I didn't finish my degree first time around and a currently working in management accounts with no room to progress unless I qualify. I know I like numbers, but I'm not particularly in love with finance, so accountancy qualifications don't really appeal. I'm currently doing a maths degree and figuring out exactly what I like (i.e. pure or mechanics), and in my final 2-3 years of study I'll be taking a long hard look at my options with a view to trying something new.

fitnessguy1

tomtontom wrote: »

You can study and work at the same time, that's how many of us got our degrees. Why do you feel you are no good at that studying malarky?

i have dyslexia and struggle to retain information. it frustrates me so much i am not book smart. i have no idea how i improve on these things though.

fitnessguy1

notanewuser wrote: »

Bit of a leap from fitness instructor to doctor!

i didn't say i wanted to be a doctor. i said if hypothetically i had a pro science and maths brain then a career like a doctor would be a good option. i don't. i wish i did lol. actually i would enjoy being a doctor, but unfortunately i've never had that kind of academic brain. it interests me a lot.

[Deleted User]

fitnessguy1 wrote: »

i didn't say i wanted to be a doctor. i said if hypothetically i had a pro science and maths brain then a career like a doctor would be a good option. i don't. i wish i did lol. actually i would enjoy being a doctor, but unfortunately i've never had that kind of academic brain. it interests me a lot.

More than an academic ability, most people that wants to be doctors also have drive. They *want* to be a doctor, and do the things that you need to do in order to become one.

Choose what you want to do, ideally something you like or enjoy, then go for it.

SeduLOUs

fitnessguy1 wrote: »

i didn't say i wanted to be a doctor. i said if hypothetically i had a pro science and maths brain then a career like a doctor would be a good option. i don't. i wish i did lol. actually i would enjoy being a doctor, but unfortunately i've never had that kind of academic brain. it interests me a lot.

What would you 'enjoy' about being a doctor?

If you like the idea of care but don't have the academic ability and/or drive for 7 years of hard study then there's definitely some options there - health care assistant, social worker, etc and quite a few options that often don't require any prior experience or qualifications.

OK, you'll start at the bottom of the pile salary wise as you would in any career, but there will usually be on the job training to get NVQ qualifications, and the career paths have longer term potential avenues into nursing, assistant practitioner, qualified social care and a multitude of other things so there's plenty of wiggle room to progress up the ladder in the long term if that's what you want.

fitnessguy1

xapprenticex wrote: »

Exactly, everyone gets a degree to get a degree, and now everyone has a degree and its no longer a sign of above average intelligence (IMO).

When I say what you are good at, im talking about the type of work to go for, you wont be making that money doing fitness stuff imo.

I also understand that not everyone is the academic type, some people just want to get on a construction site and graft like mad, thats something I cant do myself, im a sit at a desk on a computer and get paid more than the guy who is actually doing physically hard work but hey ho. I do admire those people.

Where there's a will there is a way, you need to make a plan of action, but decide what you really want, you're too old to not be sure now.

i am like you. i have done manual work before and it's physically demanding and the pay is poor in comparison to pay for whatever work i could get in an office/inside.

the dilemma i have is pursuing something for the money or for the love of it. i would ideally like to work something i have an interest in as well as the possibility of being paid well for the job.

i have always struggled with academics, but if i need to do it for a job then what other choice do i have? i feel i am too old to work my way up the ladder in a job which doesn't require a degree.