Careers

[COYS]

At school, all we get bloody asked to do is think about the future! I'm not saying that's something bad, as the purpose of a school is to prepare you for the future, but it's extremely frustrating being forced to think about it the whole time.

Anyway, it won't be long before I have to really start deciding things, and I have no clue what to do. So far I've only got 4 official results back for a few different subjects about how my GCSEs are looking (In my March exams I got an A in maths, an A in biology, and an A* in chemistry, and in December I got an A in my English controlled assessment), so in sixth form I can basically do what I want at this rate.

How should I play it out? Decide on a job soon and focus on that, or just choose what subjects interest me in sixth form and then see where it takes me?

Personal experience will be much appreciated

 

[Eriktheviking]

I can only really pitch this at degree level and above as its been nearly 12 years since i did alevels - i was part of the as level trial.The problem these days is that there is a degree subject for almost everything so in pretty much any job interview situation you will be up against someone with specific knowledge of that job - this makes doing general courses like geography, business and history pretty much useless in my view except, of course, you plan on supplementing that later with a masters or PHD with a specific topic.

My advice if you do not know what you specifically want to do is try to pick courses with transferable skills, such as report writing, problem solving rather that specific technical skills as these can generally be mastered through practical experience. Remember, a degree is basically a certificate that says you can study a topic at a certain level and have the skills at that level - such as report writing, research, time management etc.

 

[Roy1983]

Times are different now kid. (I mean that affectionately ). I tinkled about in the sixth form from the September to the March before leaving to work for William Hill where I still work now. Much harder to get a job nowadays. Make sure you've OT some work to tie you over, part time bar work or anything, whilst studying but don't be scared to start at the bottom and work your way up we all have to.

 

[COYS]

I plan on doing a masters at uni. Don't talk to me about tuition fees, as they're not a big deal if you know the facts. I think when I apply for sixth form I can just choose my favourite or best subjects, and then this will help me deciding which course I wanna do at uni. The problem is there are so many courses to choose from, and like Eriktheviking said, you need to do a course that specialises in what you want to do in this day and age.

 

[Eriktheviking]

I knew i wanted to be a town planner (or something very close) before i went to uni at 24 as a mature student - i finished my degree and masters in urban planning on September and have now got a job as a planner in local government. It was hard work but as i knew what i wanted to do the course was fun - i did all the extra reading, went to out of hours workshops and conferences, did work experience and worked on the skills that i would need in my professional career that i could put on my CV, a good example is my involvement with the golf club i was a member and helping the junior section. I was sceptical at first about if employers really did take note of going beyond the required minimum and trust me, they do. I did 3 months work experience, a day a week, in the planning office i am now in - it paid of massively as they didnt think id stick it, after 2 months they got the picture i really wanted the job.

In summary, if you want something do it - if yopu want to do it they you are more than likely to succeed. I know a lot of friends who did business degrees and geography degrees and their jobs now could have been had without a degree.

You may want to look at other options other than A-Levels, my Mrs did something called the international baccalaureate - a fantastic course and very highly regarded by employers/HR teams who are in the know, if you do anything tonight, COYS, please, look at this course.

 

[COYS]

I knew i wanted to be a town planner (or something very close) before i went to uni at 24 as a mature student - i finished my degree and masters in urban planning on September and have now got a job as a planner in local government. It was hard work but as i knew what i wanted to do the course was fun - i did all the extra reading, went to out of hours workshops and conferences, did work experience and worked on the skills that i would need in my professional career that i could put on my CV, a good example is my involvement with the golf club i was a member and helping the junior section. I was sceptical at first about if employers really did take note of going beyond the required minimum and trust me, they do. I did 3 months work experience, a day a week, in the planning office i am now in - it paid of massively as they didnt think id stick it, after 2 months they got the picture i really wanted the job.

In summary, if you want something do it - if yopu want to do it they you are more than likely to succeed. I know a lot of friends who did business degrees and geography degrees and their jobs now could have been had without a degree.

You may want to look at other options other than A-Levels, my Mrs did something called the international baccalaureate - a fantastic course and very highly regarded by employers/HR teams who are in the know, if you do anything tonight, COYS, please, look at this course.

I know what the IB is, and how favourable it looks these days, but to be honest my school seems good enough to stay on. A levels may just look average in this day and age, but they're good enough to get me in to uni. It's about proving talent and ability, which A levels allow (especially now they've added the A* grade), and if I'm looking really far ahead, my preferred uni will probably be UCL or something like that.

My problem is I don't do many extra-curricular activities, as favourable as they look on a CV. I'm not sporty at all, I don't play a musical instrument and there are no clubs that really interest me.

 

[Sheikh Ma Nuggets]

I wouldn't worry too much about your career at this stage mate. I have a degree in computational fluid dynamics, but instead of having a career in engineering I'm a commercial finance consultant. I still dabble with my CFD knowledge though through interpretation of weather models, which I often used relay on this forum if there were anything of note.

Some advice I'd give you, is to study a field which gives you the broadest spectrum of employment - don't focus on niche stuff. As for your CV, I honestly can't remember the last time I read further than a candidates last job - you just don't have the time if you've got 10-15 CVs in front of you. They're conversation pieces more than anything, so I really wouldn't sorry about it.

 

[spursman17]

I recommend the following:
GCSE: do whatever interests you.
A level: do whatever interests you
Degree: do something that you have an interest in BUT also relevant to your work.
DO take a placement year.

I know so many people doing jobs they never wanted to do because of the subjects they have chosen. I did Computer Science back at university because I have always had an interest in technology (50% of the reason) and because I knew technology will be in demand for a long time to come (the other 50%).

Too many people these days do a subject irrelevant to their work and in my opinion this puts them down to a disadvantage. Why study something 3+ years if you are not going to use the skills you have obtained?

These days it's very hard to get onto that first step. That is why placements give you the advantage above the average Joe. They say a student with a placement year behind them is 70% more successful finding work.

All you are looking for is the chance to come face to face with an employer. CV's, phone interviews, grades all come second to the impression you give as a person.

Best of luck.

 

[COYS]

GCSEs I'm already doing, but GCSE choices don't really make much of an impact. It's just the results that matter I suppose. This may be thinking very far ahead, but like I said, when I go to uni I plan on doing a Masters with a year abroad. I'll definitely do some kind of placement as well.

 

[IsraYid]

I'm from Israel, where things might be different - but here my advice for people is always try to study something, anything, that interests you the most. In the worst case scenario, switch.

How much does higher education cost in the UK?

(Also, haven't you ever listened to the Clash? Because you should know that career opportunities are the ones that never knock...)

 

[GLENROYID]

I always dreamed of being a professional footballer.

I knew my dream was over when i passed all my A levels.

Nowi work in a school

 

[T-C]

From personal experience, my specific choice of subject at both A-Level and degree had little impact on my career. Go for something you enjoy as chances are that it is something you are good at, most will have some transferable skills.

Concentrate on your style of presentation, your approach to analysing and writing. Being able to come across as more professional than your peers will make you stand out.

I had average GCSEs, poor A-Levels went to a former poly. Didn't start my first job on a great salary but 9 years and 6 jobs later I consider myself to be doing well and have a job I love in the business side of the football industry.

 

[Baleforce]

definitely follow your interests, i had no idea what I wanted to do back then (still don't really), its easier to find work (and be good at it) in a field which holds your attention, i took an IT junior job 14 years ago because I enjoyed fixing computers, it was my career before i knew it

 

[monkeybarry]

I always dreamed of being a professional footballer.

I knew my dream was over when i passed all my A levels.

Nowi work in a school

what do you do in a school Glen?
im studying my degree in Economics at the mo, with the longterm view to teaching

 

[GLENROYID]

what do you do in a school Glen?
im studying my degree in Economics at the mo, with the longterm view to teaching

Im currently an unqualified teacher 3 days a week, doing my degree two days a week, at least 2 more years and a PGCE/GTP before i get QTS

 

[COYS]

I'm from Israel, where things might be different - but here my advice for people is always try to study something, anything, that interests you the most. In the worst case scenario, switch.

How much does higher education cost in the UK?

(Also, haven't you ever listened to the Clash? Because you should know that career opportunities are the ones that never knock...)

?ú9000 a year, but it's cool because of the excellent student loan system.

Happy independence day, by the way

 

[NW5pur]

don't think you'll think it's that cool when you see all the money disappearing out of your pay packet ‎each month, think i'm paying about ?ú400/month at the moment, trust me, it hurts! thankfully i've ‎almost paid it off now, but under the new rules i'd be paying it off for years to come! Not great when ‎you're also trying to save up for house and want to start contributing some real money to pensions ‎etc.‎

i'm not saying uni should be free (although there is an argument that it should be for subjects where we lack skills) but i do feel very sorry for anyone coming out of uni with a debt of ?ú50k hanging over their heads, even though you only pay it off when you can supposedly afford it. i had ?ú16k and that was bad enough

 

[monkeybarry]

Im currently an unqualified teacher 3 days a week, doing my degree two days a week, at least 2 more years and a PGCE/GTP before i get QTS

at least you are working doing what you want to do mate - ill be early/mid 30s before i can even think about my PGCE

 

[COYS]

don't think you'll think it's that cool when you see all the money disappearing out of your pay packet ‎each month, think i'm paying about ?ú400/month at the moment, trust me, it hurts! thankfully i've ‎almost paid it off now, but under the new rules i'd be paying it off for years to come! Not great when ‎you're also trying to save up for house and want to start contributing some real money to pensions ‎etc.‎

i'm not saying uni should be free (although there is an argument that it should be for subjects where we lack skills) but i do feel very sorry for anyone coming out of uni with a debt of ?ú50k hanging over their heads, even though you only pay it off when you can supposedly afford it. i had ?ú16k and that was bad enough

They made it less for the new system.

The word 'debt' is very much a misnomer. You don't owe the government anything, really. You pay off what you can, like a tax. When you're paying off a student loan and you're ever asked if you're in debt, your student loan doesn't count.

The full details can be found here. What I find very interesting is point 18 on that page:

"Think of it like a graduate tax, not a loan

The maximum possible loan combining tuition fees and maintenance is ?ú16,675 a year, ?ú50,000 over a three-year course.

This is a frightening amount, and indeed many are frightened of it. Yet it's important to not just jump at this figure, but look at it in regards to how much of that loan you'll actually have to repay.

In fact when you examine this debt, it's far more like an additional tax than a loan for the following reasons:

• It's repaid through the income tax system
• You only repay it if you earn over a certain amount
• The amount repaid increases with earnings
• It does not go on credit files
• Debt collectors will not chase for it
• Bigger borrowing doesn't increase repayments
• Many people will continue to repay for the majority of their working life.
• In summary, it's basically a graduate tax but one that simply ends once you've repaid what you borrowed plus interest (this isn't the first time I've argued this, see My blog We already have a graduate tax).

This means on current thresholds, a typical graduate will face the following deductions from their payroll, while they still have an outstanding student loan."

EDIT: I think it's also worth pointing out after 30 years (if the system doesn't change), the loan no longer has to be repaid.

 

[P.D.]

Its also worth pointing out without being rude that you have been brainwashed by the above, it's not debt in that you dont pay a fixed amount back but a % over x salary but thats still paying it back unless you plan on being a pauper.

Trust me it seems minor when you think ?ú200 a month when you might be earning ?ú25-30k on a decent grad position but once you start getting used to having some income your thirst for more doesnt take long and having money go out of your salary really tinkles you off. Combine that with wanting a mortgage and todays house prices and you soon won't have very much money.

I'm not sure I would go to uni if I had the choice now really, I had a good time there and met some good people etc but I'm not sure if its helped my career but as a life experience it was great. Most jobs if you put the effort in you can get up the ladder anyway, obviously some will need a degree but less than you think.