Vintage graduate

MadJohannKasparMax

I wonder if I could trouble you all for some honest, practical advice...

I'm looking for better paid employment. The difficulty is that my 'professional' experience extends no further than till work and stacking shelves. I work in retail, but have spurned all opportunities to advance into management because, first, I hoped to pursue personal projects, which my present work situation allowed, and second, I couldn't 'buy into' the culture of the company I work for, or in fact a previous company I worked for, for that matter.

I do have a 2.1 degree, although I graduated 6 years ago. And I am 38 years old. Graduate Training Schemes don't seem realistic. They are intended for fresh graduates, not those bordering on middle age! I understand age discrimination is illegal, but obviously in practice...

It seems that what I need is a job that requires training, and that this training should require a degree. Though there are a variety of options that fit this bill, ultimately securing a position invariably requires some relevant work experience. Having a young family, I am not in a position to invest in an internship or work placement. Getting a job where training is provided would present the same difficulties as Graduate Training Schemes, given my age. Therefore, training that leads directly to relevant employment seems to be what I'm looking at. Aside from teaching, what are my options?

I should clarify that modestly paid positions would still be an improvement on the minimum wage. If there is the realistic prospect of career progression and higher earnings, these offer a viable solution.

Thanking you in advance for your time.

BrassicWoman

1. what is your degree in?
2. stop spurning management experience. Get it under your belt, it opens up more options. You don't have to buy into a culture. You have to fake it and take their money. You are not better than the company.
3. Plumbing, plastering, electrician, vehicle mechanic. Get to your local college and get some night school under your belt.
4. Go self employed window cleaning and gardening. Reliable gardeners are surprisingly rare.



Our oldest apprentice is 48. There are opportunities. You need to be tenacious and you sound like you've given up.


University careers services generally also work for alumni...

bouicca21

So in your late twenties you chucked it all in and went to uni? Or did you do somethng like the Open University? Either way you didn't follow through with steps to a new career but actively spurned opportunities for advancement. That is quite a strange mixture of ambition and complacency.


On the basis of what you have written you could aim to be a plumber or policeman, actor or actuary, teacher or technician. It's a bit difficult to make viable suggestions without knowing what you really want to do or what talents you possess.

John_G_Jones

As above, the first thing to do is to stop spurning advancement and actively seek it. Work out what your management would want from an ideal candidate, and start supplying it. You’ve far more than a foot in the door in your current job so take that and run with it, even if you want to look elsewhere.

Voyager2002

It would help if you told us something about those "personal projects", and obviously about the skills and aptitudes that your degree demonstrated.


Anyway, the Civil Service does not practice age discrimination and has policies that strongly support staff development. If you could join (say) HMRC on the Executive Grade you would have access to a lot of training and plenty of unfilled vacancies in the grades above you.

nicechap

MadJohannKasparMax wrote: »

I wonder if I could trouble you all for some honest, practical advice...

I'm looking for better paid employment. The difficulty is that my 'professional' experience extends no further than till work and stacking shelves. I work in retail, but have spurned all opportunities to advance into management because, first, I hoped to pursue personal projects, which my present work situation allowed, and second, I couldn't 'buy into' the culture of the company I work for, or in fact a previous company I worked for, for that matter.

I do have a 2.1 degree, although I graduated 6 years ago. And I am 38 years old. Graduate Training Schemes don't seem realistic. They are intended for fresh graduates, not those bordering on middle age! I understand age discrimination is illegal, but obviously in practice...

It seems that what I need is a job that requires training, and that this training should require a degree. Though there are a variety of options that fit this bill, ultimately securing a position invariably requires some relevant work experience. Having a young family, I am not in a position to invest in an internship or work placement. Getting a job where training is provided would present the same difficulties as Graduate Training Schemes, given my age. Therefore, training that leads directly to relevant employment seems to be what I'm looking at. Aside from teaching, what are my options?

I should clarify that modestly paid positions would still be an improvement on the minimum wage. If there is the realistic prospect of career progression and higher earnings, these offer a viable solution.

Thanking you in advance for your time.

Why are you dismissing teaching when it fits your requirements?

Try googling National Careers Service.

Mrs_Ryan

I’m in the same position. I’m the same age as you and I’m about to graduate with a Masters degree- I only got my BA in 2017. Im working in a horrible call centre job at which my manager rather patronisingly told me today that ‘if it weren’t for my disability I could be her manager or even her manager’s manager’ I can’t get anywhere- grad schemes only seem to want fit and healthy 21 year olds.

I wanted to teach but due to my severe dyscalculia I cannot pass GCSE Maths. I am trying to get onto a PhD so I can lecture but I’m not getting anywhere and I really need something better. Problem is that the only places that will consider me are entry level type admin jobs. I’m desperate to get into the Civil Service and I’m now on my 4th attempt- however after being reserve listed for an entry level customer service job I’m more than a bit disheartened. I’m under no illusions that if I were able to work full time I would do a lot better but like yourself I have no idea what my options are.

sammyjammy

Civil Service Fast Stream?

https://www.faststream.gov.uk/

Voyager2002

Mrs_Ryan wrote: »

I’m in the same position. I’m the same age as you and I’m about to graduate with a Masters degree- I only got my BA in 2017. Im working in a horrible call centre job at which my manager rather patronisingly told me today that ‘if it weren’t for my disability I could be her manager or even her manager’s manager’ I can’t get anywhere- grad schemes only seem to want fit and healthy 21 year olds.

I wanted to teach but due to my severe dyscalculia I cannot pass GCSE Maths. I am trying to get onto a PhD so I can lecture but I’m not getting anywhere and I really need something better. Problem is that the only places that will consider me are entry level type admin jobs. I’m desperate to get into the Civil Service and I’m now on my 4th attempt- however after being reserve listed for an entry level customer service job I’m more than a bit disheartened. I’m under no illusions that if I were able to work full time I would do a lot better but like yourself I have no idea what my options are.

There are VERY FEW lecturer jobs in your subject area, and lots of unemployed PhDs. Have you looked at FE lecturing: does that also require GCSE Mathematics?

Surely there are things that you can do about your dyscalculia: one of my friends described herself as having dyscalculia yet after several attempts did manage to pass GCSE maths. Overcoming that block would open a number of doors for you.

Voyager2002

sammyjammy wrote: »

Civil Service Fast Stream?

https://www.faststream.gov.uk/

That is really like advising someone to win the lottery.


I looked up some old figures for that: graduates from Oxford and Cambridge who applied had a one in five chance of getting a job offer, but graduates from other universities had a less than one per cent chance. While the 'Oxbridge' bias has probably declined, the competition will have increased considerably.


There are some very interesting jobs with good prospects at the Executive grade (two 'A' levels required but most EOs have a degree).

zagubov

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Have you looked at FE lecturing: does that also require GCSE Mathematics?

Surely there are things that you can do about your dyscalculia: one of my friends described herself as having dyscalculia yet after several attempts did manage to pass GCSE maths. Overcoming that block would open a number of doors for you.

It's worthwhile retaking the GCSE Maths as many people rise by half a grade each time. And it can be taken many times a year. It's a gatekeeper qualification, so just keep hammering at it. Patience is a necessity.

FE lecturing might not need maths. You may be able to use a similar level 2 qual, such as a iGCSE or a functional skills equivalent.