The world is your Oyster!

Lipsticklady

Is it?

To me it is an oyster past its sell by date! You see, i graduated 2 years ago with a good degree in Psychology. It was the moment that encompassed years of hard work from school and college. The moment i thought, anything was possible.

At 24 i find myself working in a job that doesnt stimulate my brain with people who have never done a days work in their lives. At times, i wonder 'What is the point?'!

The thing is, i always wanted to work in the criminal justice service. I dreamt of becoming a prison psychologist in a stimulating and rewarding enviroment. Numerous jobs came and went in this area, some asked for more experience, whilst others were pulled due to 'funding shortages'!

I feel so disheartned and dont know where to turn. The problem is, i know i am a good worker and that i give 100% to any job that i am in. I was thinking of going into Marketing or Public relations.

What i need is some advice from people who have suceeded in their ambitions or are making a good living from their life decisions.

Please take time to answer to this post, i really need to feel like there is some hope and that my education isnt wasted.

May thanks to all you MSE.

Zziggi

I know how you feel. I worked hard at A-levels and then at university thinking i'd have a bright future after getting a degree. I studied for a modern languages degree after repeatedly being told after 1992 and closer ties within the EU that linguists would be in demand! OK i started with health problems whilst at uni but struggled on for the coverted degree. At the end of 4 years slog i went to see the uni careers advisor. I left the careers interview with handful of IS forms, DLA forms and details of employment law for people with disabilities for ''just in case i was able to get a job" You can't understand how depressing that was. Sadly i am like those you work with who can't boast having ever doing a day's (paid) work but with me it's not due to lack of the work ethic.

P.S. i then went on to do a psychology degree.

The problem is there are too many psychology graduates chasing too few assistantships, post-grad clinical course places etc etc. My brother also thought the world was his oyster if he had a degree. He's a hard worker, gives 100% but yet he's now doing the same job as 3 of his friends who stopped after A-levels. The only difference between them and him is they've had 3 extra years of earning a wage and he's also got a mountain of student loans and study-related debts behind him. He equally wonders why he bothered.

This might not be relavent for PR/marketing but...Do you want to do further study or "work experience"? Is there anyway you could get relavent work experience in the voluntary sector? Are there any post-grad courses you could do part-time (whilst in your current job) that would interest you or give you an edge above other psychology graduates? Try https://www.open.ac.uk as they do short post-grad psychology courses you may be interested in. I've done a few of these, if you would like mroe info then you get on their website, PM me and i'll try and let you know it froma student persepctive.

Lipsticklady

Hello,
Originally i wanted to complete a Masters. After a chat with the careers advisor he wisely informed me that if jobs were not available now.......then it is unlikely more would appear just because i had gained a Masters degree!

Lipsticklady

I would be interested in doing some more courses primarily because i feel like i am becoming brain numb!!! I am really reluctant to throw money in a direction that is quite simply hitting a 'dead end'!
It would be just the ticket to be in a career that enabled me to study and progress!!

starlite_2

Have yopu considered teaching? you get pretty fair funding to do a pgce and i imagine teaching in an aadult college would be fun.
It would also open options for you to teach in a uni, where you could be involved in research.
it's also possible to become a research assistant in a uni, and they will subsidize any post grad qualifications you take..though I imagine yet again, demand and competition for this sort of thing is high.
My boyfriend was similarly disheartened, as he did a degree then an m.a and wanted to work in publishing. he found that almost every company required you to do a voluntary placement..some expected you to work for as long as a year with only expenses paid, and no guarantee of a job at the end,. it often seems like only the wealthy can get into the more interesting industries.
In the end he broadened his horizons and he ended up in a trainee position dealing with shares, which is very far from what he originally wanted but he really enjoys it.
Good luck!..it's sad that therse days a great education is often not enough to get a rewarding carerr.

Milky_Mocha

I wouldn't be disheartened if I were you because 2 years is not too bad, really. I did find a good job (one of the big four firms) after 1 and a half years of uni but I know of a new joiner who started the year after me and had graduated 3 years prior. She did things like travelling, estate agency work and admin council work to fill in the gap.

Have you ever considered jobs that are not directly in the psychology field? Nowadays there are people with degrees in music, English and indeed psychology working as consultants in banking, insurance and other unrelated fields. Jobs like that can also be very rewarding not just financially but generally making you feel like you've accomplished something.

You mention that you had a good degree. Is that a 2:1 and above? If so go to this site: www.freshminds.co.uk. They give temporary projects (and also permanent roles sometimes) which are useful for adding value to your CV and also provide you with a 'side' job whilst still doing your regular job or even something just to keep your brain stimulated whilst you jobhunt. These are paid projects and usually involve working from home and mailing your results in. It could range from business analysis to market research to recruitment.

Since you are a hard worker and are enthusiastic with whatever task you are given why not try council work? You will stand out quickly and there is usually quite a clear chain of progression for hard workers. A friend of my ibro-n-law did this. She had a 2:2 from I think Westminster Uni (dont know what subject) but moved up fairly quickly. Within 5 years she was on 52k in a council job that allowed her regular working hours with enough flexi to look after her son. Not bad, considering that a 2:2 although is a good degree usually requires a bit more luck and effort in securing an 'ideal' job in this day and age.

I myself worked for a council during my uni holidays as an admin assistant and I could see the potential as there were lots of job vacancies with decent wages advertised internally. I decided that if I didn't secure a job with a bank or other financial institution then that would be the route I'd take.

Take heart. The options are there. Its just about researching them and doing what you would be happy doing. I suppose it depends on how flexible you are and how much you want to broaden your career horizon.

Lipsticklady

Thank you so much. My heart really lifted when i read your post.
In regards to teaching, it was a career route suggested to me by the careers advisor. However, working in a company that employs many temporary members of staff, it is surprising how many are actually PGCE graduates unable to get placements in schools.
Plus, my desire was never really to teach.....i dont know why but, it is one area that i have never really felt drawn too.

Thank you Milky_Mocha for the web address....i shall look into it. Recently, i have been considering joining a big company (i.e Loreal) and perhaps trying to do advertising /PR work. However, like always it seems to be a competitive route.

It just feels like the volunteer work and skills i have developed are wasted. Although, they enhance my C.V, if i change track, they lose their significance.

I was considering perhaps working within the council but, dont want to be stuck n yeat another clerical role in the hope of promotion!!

Midas

http://www.ngdp.co.uk/gradopps/natTraining.htm

This site may be of interest - graduate training programme for local government.

starlite_2

have you looked into becoming a youth worker? my friend works in a centre for young offenders, and she started after a levels as a basic support worker, and got a lot of on the job training, which led to promotion.
I imagine this type of experience could be taken into other areas of criminal justice too.

Lipsticklady

Hello,

Yeah, i did consider staying in that field. Presently, i do volunteer work at a Drud and Alcohol centre. However, i dont know if its for me. Jobs helping others are often underpaid and are difficult.
On several occasions i have left the centre in tears. The reality of some people with addicts is horrendous. It is very difficult to try and convince someone there is hope when there are so few opportunities available to them.

starlite_2

thats understandable..I think it takes a certain type of personality to be able to do such a job.
My aunt works as a councillor with the nspcc and finds it very hard to not let her work affect her home life.