The world is your Oyster!

Lipsticklady

Purple12, did the GSCC provide a bursary for your MA. I have had a look at some of the courses and they appear to be 24 months full time.
That would mean i would be nearly 27 by the time i graduated........aghhhhhhh!!!!
It apprears that the only way in, is to complete a degree/MA in social work!!

purple12

Hi
i did a two year masters full-time with the bursary from CCETSW (which changed into GSCC a couple of years ago). . I had a part-time job working evenings, weekends (not all of them though!) and uni holidays. It wasn't easy but even being on the social work course meant that part-time work was better paid and more readily available.. the agencies are snapping you up.
And the only way in is through a degree but having a postgraduate qualification is no bad thing. It also makes you very marketable in Australia, New Zealand, US etc if that ever appeals in the future.
I was 28 when I finished and was the second youngest in the group (the youngest was 27!!). Social work is often a job that people come to with more 'life experience'.
My group consisted of former psychologists, police officers, teachers and women whose children had left home and were looking for a career.

Even now (i'm 32!), I am the youngest person by at least ten years in my office which means that promotion prospects are very good, at least, if you want them to be.. and without going into too much details, this year my salary overtook my age for the first time in my life (something my sister always told me was important!).

But even without the job, the actual course was such a positive experience.. the things I learnt but also the people I met. The reason the course is two years minimum is because you have to work on three placements with supervision from a practising social worker. They can't cut that time down so it isn't a standard MA.

Of course, the job isn't for everyone but I love it from all angles. The day-to-day work I do, the people I work with and for, the promotion/management prospects and the salary. But ultimately you have to like working with people and be good at relating to people (although you we did do some counselling training on the course to help with listening skills).

The reason I'm pushing it a bit is also because it is a career I would never ever have considered if I didn't have a friend who was doing the course, and then investigated further from there..

Anyway, good luck with whatever you decide - and sometimes we end up doing things we never even dreamed of but loving it all the same.

Lipsticklady

Thanks Purple12.
I dont think (although i could be wrong) that the GSCC are offering bursarys for MA's anymore. It is an area that is of interest to me....its amazing that I didnt even consider it previously!
Being honest, at 24 i thought i would be steadily working my way up the 'work ladder. Its a little bit frightening thinking about a full time return to university!
Thank you for you excellent advice, it is a little less daunting knowing that you have completed the course and are now enjoying your job!

Loopylou_4

Hello,

First I would just like to thank you so much for posting this. I was about to post something similar myself.
I have just finished my three year psychology degree (at the end of May) & have still to find a job. (I'm 24 also).I know it's not that long but I honestly thought I would've been able to have found something by now & each day that passes me by I am getting more & more depressed to the point I feel quite suicidal right now because I feel like it is impossible for me to find a job & the debt is mounting up.
Like you, I feel no one would want to employ me even though I do actually WANT to work so badly because I enjoy working & just doing something. I always put my all in to everything I do & I know if someone would just give me a chance, I would do my very best as I'm not scared of a bit of hard work. In fact, I thrive on it. I'm not the type of person who enjoys not working & these past few months have been utterly depressing for me even though at first I was looking forward to a nice break after three hard years of study.
I just feel so disheartened now, like I have wasted three years of my life to end up with a job I could have done at 17 with no qualifications & a wage that does not suffice. I can't stop crying about it.
All the jobs I have seen advertised are saying they require experience & that seems to be what eveyrone is looking for, doesn't matter if you have qualifications or not but how can you get experience in the FIRST PLACE?
I just have no idea what to do at the moment & I like I said I am getting further & further into debt & it's worrying me no end.

I'm sorry for ranting on, but I just wanted to let you know that you aren't alone & I'm sure there must be many others too in the same situation even though I do feel like I must be the only one.
Good luck, I wish you all the best.

Sassa

Hi,
I just want to say that I empathise with you lipsticklady! Have you tried getting unpaid work experience at a prison? My dad used to work at a prison & whilst he was there a graduate in Psychology approached him for work experience. The graduate was in exactly the same position as you, he'd tried everywhere for ages and was becoming very disappointed and disheartened. My dad gave him the opportunity to gain work experience at the prison (after all the checks etc) .Anyway, he was committed & after a couple of months (I don't think the wk exp was everyday) when a vacancy came up for Trainee Criminal Psychologist this graduate got it, and I believe he's still there and loving it.
So, although you feel like giving up on your dreams... Your 'break' may just be round the corner....
Good luck!

Also, to Loopylou, good luck with your job hunting. A career advisor told me that it is easier to get a job when you are in employment than when you're not. He said that even if you are working in MacDonalds (not that there's anything wrong with that!) it looks better to a prospective employee than not working at all, because it shows that you are employable and reliable. So maybe it would be an idea to get a part time job whilst you're looking so that enables you to keep job hunting but also helps stop the debts mounting up.....I know it's really hard and depressing when you leave University & then can't get a job. I think Universitys should do more to prepare people for the workplace. Have you been in touch with your careers service at university? They may be able to help you over the phone....?
Keep smiling and I'm sending lots of positive vibes to you!

Lipsticklady

Hello loopyloo,
I am so sorry to hear you are in the 'same boat'. It is difficult but, we both need to keep faith that we will find something suited to us.

Take heart in the fact that you are not alone...it isnt much consolation but it helps.

I hope you find something and wish you all the luck in the world. Please update us and let us know how you are getting on. :-)

Loopylou_4

Hello again,
Thanks for you reply. I have taken heart to the fact I'm not alone, your post helped me realise this so much & has made me feel better knowing that fact. I was honestly beginning to believe it was just me!

I have just finished filling in an online application form for comet working on the checkouts. I'll probably be filling in a lot of similar things as people will be recruiting for christmas soon. I am finding that I cannot be picky about what I do right now & most of these jobs are just temporary anyway for christmas so I just keep telling myself to think of the money for the time being. Like you said though, it does not feel good to be doing a job that we could have done anyway without our degree Like you, I'd love a job that actually stimulates my brain because it's what I thrive on!

Take care & hope you'll keep us updated too, it would be nice to hear you find something you really want to do & it would also be very inspiring!

Loopylou_4

Sassa wrote:

Hi,


Also, to Loopylou, good luck with your job hunting. A career advisor told me that it is easier to get a job when you are in employment than when you're not. He said that even if you are working in MacDonalds (not that there's anything wrong with that!) it looks better to a prospective employee than not working at all, because it shows that you are employable and reliable. So maybe it would be an idea to get a part time job whilst you're looking so that enables you to keep job hunting but also helps stop the debts mounting up.....I know it's really hard and depressing when you leave University & then can't get a job. I think Universitys should do more to prepare people for the workplace. Have you been in touch with your careers service at university? They may be able to help you over the phone....?
Keep smiling and I'm sending lots of positive vibes to you!

hello, thanks for this.
Yes, my mum & other family members & friends have said the same thing to me. I'm just looking for anything at the moment & keeping in mind that even if I hate the job, at least it's some money & like you said, I can still be looking for something else at the same time.
I also agree with you & think university should do more to help people as we all seem to be in this same boat - it just feels like we are chucked out in to the real world after three years & it's very scary. They should help to prepare people more. I have thought about seeing the careers advisor at uni but I wasn't sure if I would still be able to since I have now officially finished. Do you know if I would still be able to access this?
Thanks again for your help, I really appreciate it

Sassa

Hi Loopylou,

I went to Manchester University and I know that you are able to make use of the advisors for up to 3 years after graduating. I have done this on occasions since graduating myself and I've always found it useful. Also, you can use the resources there for up to 5 years. Manchester University has some kind of deal with other universities, whereby if you no longer live nearby, you can use your local University careers service, even if it's not the one you graduated from. It might be worth checking out if yours has similar arrangements. Good luck!

Loopylou_4

hi, thanks for your reply sassa

just checked my uni website & it too says we are able to use their careers service up to 3 years after graduating so first thing monday i think i will give them a call
i think they may be able to put things in perspective, i hope so anyway because everything is so jumbled in my head right now!

thanks so much again