The world is your Oyster!

Lipsticklady

Its so disheartening discovering the work you thought you would be capable of is not within your capability!!

All the studying in the world doesnt provide you with the neccessary skills to deal with actual work!

starlite_2

It's so true..this is why I think univesities should change their course content, to step in line with the realities of what employers want these days.
you are expected to have the qualifications, but also work experience which is all but impossible if no one will employ you in order to gain the experience in the first place.
there should be much more of 'sandwich' type courses, with a one year placement.
it's sad how many people graduate with high expectations and end up in a call centre or something working alongside school leavers.

Lipsticklady

The place i work at currently has school leavers and graduates in the same posts/pay scale. The problem is, i am becoming increasingly anxious that i am not good enough to work elsewhere. Deep in my heart, i know i am a hard worker but, i am feeling so low in confidence.
I desperately need to find a career in a company that will encourage me to progress. I would commit my whole life to that and would work all the hours god sent to be the best i could be.

I just need the opportunity and the guts to put myself 'out there'. The situation just feels to be closing in on me!

starlite_2

Sorry you feel so down about this.... it really is hard!
Have you thought about working in human resources? A lot of the big companies will appreciate psychology skills in such a role, and there is lots of opportunity to move up the ladder so to speak.
I did admin temping in an hr department and the majority were psychology gradautes. The ones in the higher positions got to set psychological tests for potential employees, and dealt with difficult issues regarding current staff, such as bereavement, sexual harrasment etc.
I think the best way into such a job would be to work in a recruitment agency, which for new starters is basically a glorified sales job, but they all offer fairly good graduate schemes with a decent starting wage and intensive training., From there you could apply to work within another company.

purple12

I know everyone has been offering different points of view and of course, choice of career is a very individual thing. I did a degree in Philosophy (!!) and couldn't find a job when I graduated so I did voluntary work, then got a job based on the voluntary work I did and ended up taking an MA in Social Work.

The social work qualification (at a postgraduate level) is funded by the GSCC who provide a bursary and the shortage of social workers is massive to an extent that people are begging for you to work for them well before you finish the course. There is also a great career structure within the local authorities and my salary and rocketed since I started. You also get lots of assistance with housing etc, in the south-east anyway. (However, saying that it isn't worth doing if you are only after the money - it is the kind of thing you have to enjoy doing!).

Most people have little idea on a day to day basis what social workers do but the work is as varied as you want it to be and there is such a variety of things you can do with the qualification - voluntary or statutory sector, even some private sector (care homes etc ). I work for a local authority with older people and although it is stressful at times, I wouldn't want to do anything else and the variety of jobs (if you like working with people - and the psychology would be a help for this!) that you can do is
incredible.

And if you look at any local authority site, you'll always find some social work vacancies (often surprisingly well-paid (due to the shortage)).

Just a thought!

Anyway, if you are interested you can check out https://www.gscc.org.uk (they provide the bursaries) or https://www.socialworkcareers.co.uk

Honestly, wandering onto the social work course was easily the best thing I ever did.

And good luck (I know it's probably not the area you were thinking of but you will never ever want for a secure job and it is very interesting work!!).

Eliza252

Hi just wanted to lend my support! I also graduated with a good degree in a similar subject and have ended up in a bit of a dead end job which is driving me insane!! My ambition is to eventually work for an international charity in public health which everyone keeps telling me is impossible, massively competitive blah blah blah and one of the biggest barriers for me has been my complete lack of any form of funding for further training.
I've just been trying to take small steps towards my chosen career - doing the right voluntary work is the first step, finding a job with a charity even if its not relevant work, taking a language course, doing an OU course and trying not to spend any money!
I guess the point I wanted to make is that I totally sympathise with the problem you have with your current employment, it is SO disheartening when you feel like your day is drifting by banging aimlessly on a keyboard - but if you take little steps towards something better, do something every day, even if it is a tiny thing, like looking at a relevant website, at least you can tap away with a small smug smile that you'll be leaving it all behind sometime soon!!!
nothing is impossible! just imagine your ultimate dream job and start a plan of attack!
ps. Its true about degree programmes, they definately dont drum it in enough at uni that you need to have a real strategy concerning what you want to do before you leave, but then again there are so many opportunities I missed out on at uni, which would have been invaluable, but i was too busy waiting tables so I could pay my fees!

nb, one thing that helps is to make a list of the experience that you already have, not just your degree programme but that fab voluntary work you've done - then make a list of your aims, and the experience that you need to get in order to get your job. I know it sounds cheesy but there are some really good career development books out there, which are quite good motivators and help you work out a good plan of action (check out amazon or library if you want to be MSE) apparently 'What colour is my parachute' is quite a good book although i havent read it myself.

if you really want to be a prison psychologist - maybe you could try and contact someone who works in that area, ask them how they got the job and why they think there are few jobs, find out what it is about a career in prison psychology that you particularly like and look for careers with similar aspects to the job - dont be put off if people wont talk to you. Be forward about it, you'll find that most people are quite chuffed to be asked for advice.

Also, voluntary work is never ever irrelevant, it shows you have intiative and courage (especially working at the drug and alcohol centre) along with a whole host of other qualities which potential employers will love. If your voluntary work upsets you occasionally thats ok, it just shows that you haven't become jaded by the problems that you encounter - I worked at a childrens home for children with behaviour problems and sometimes I just wanted to crawl under my bed and never some out, the whole thing was pointless etc etc - but you just have to think of the small differences that you make to someone - even if its just one person in a whole month of working there.

I'm going to stop rambling now and go back to aimless mouse clicking!

Lipsticklady

Thank you all so much.
Reading your messges has lifted my spirits. The problem for me is that as time has gone on all the confidence has gone with it.
Everyday i look at websites or my C.V and feel like companies wouldnt really want me. Then i think, why do i feel like this? I have good G.C.S.E's / A-levels and a degree. I am a nice person (i hope) and i am prepared to work my socks off in a job that rewards me (financially or emotionally)!

Its reassuring to know that 'i am not alone' in feeling like this.

My career advisor was right, he said sometimes you just need to take a 'leap of faith'!

Lipsticklady

Just had a look at some of the links that you provided and it has given me hope. It seems to be an area of work that i could be interested in....cant believe it wasnt something i thought of earlier!
Purple 12,hope you dont mind me asking but, did you do a Master's degree full time for a year or part time??
I ask as i am in the process of purchasing a house and therefore need to keep in full time work.

System

I thought I would chip in here as its kinda connected to how I am the moment. I too finished my Uni degree in Network Systems when I was about 24. I got a job in IT almost straight away but I have really, really grown to hate it with a passion. So much so that I got signed off work for a week with stress...

This caused me to re-evaluate my life and see what I really wanted from it. I havent burnt my bridges yet but I realised that work is not the be all and end all. Yes we need to work to live, but we need to enjoy what we do. No one lay on their death bed wishing they had spent more time at work!

Myself I decided that I wanted to drastically scale back my IT work and am currently in the process of cutting down my in work week to three days a week. I managed to do this because the boredom at work was because I never really had much to do, so I now have just the right amount of time in work, to keep my skillset etc. It did mean a drop in wages though

I also have 2 internet businesses coming online and intend to use my time wisely to nuture these and make them pay (hopefully very well, one is already showing a healthy profit) Also setting your own hours is good because I work better in the evening than I do during the day, and I like to stay in bed a lot

Im now the happiest I have been in years. Yes I may not have as much money, but im infinatly happier and I can genuinly say that work is much better as is my life in general when you get away from the grind and hatred that everybody harbours to the old 9 - 5 job that people just accept. You need to find something you enjoy and chase it till it comes to fruition.

Have you thought about perhaps about other unique ways in which you could use your skill set and gradually do less and less at your old job. It should be good and rewarding for someone with as much drive as yourself.

Lipsticklady

Congratulations on your new ventures. :beer:
Unique ideas...hmmm...none have sprung to mind. I suppose with skills in IT the benefits are you can sucessfully work from home. Having a degree in Psychology means working from home isnt really an option. Please correct me anyone if i am wrong, there may be things i havent thought of.

I dont know ....i need inspiration and to find some drive. The problem is, i hear so many conflicting tales on jobs. Some people say 'do teaching' then i hear of students unable to get positions after completing a PGCE. Others suggest PR whilst i hear it is hugely competitive and the majority of the jobs are in the south!!!

Its so hard making a 'life decision' when so far i feel i have got things soooo wrong!

p.s People who are in jobs they enjoy are richer than those earning loads and hating it!!! So well done you :T