WOULD A DIFFERENT DEGREE HAVE BOOSTED YOUR PROSPECTS?
A new survey by Totaljobs.com has found that more than four in ten graduates wish they’d studied a different subject at university.
Almost half (44%) of those questioned said they wish they’d picked a more vocational or hands-on subject as they feel it would have boosted their chances of bagging a good job once they graduated. Mike Fetters, graduate director at Totaljobs.com said:
“Our research shows that many graduates are starting to wonder if they should have studied for a more vocational qualification as more effective route to employment. Although a degree is an essential qualification for some industries, school leavers need to think more carefully about which route to employment is best for them as some may be more suited to an apprenticeship scheme.”
Do you regret your choice of degree – or are you happy with the subject you studied? If you had a different qualification, do you think you’d be finding it easier to land a good graduate job? If you fear you made a poor decision when picking your degree, who helped you to make it and why do you think their advice wasn’t better? How well did you research your options – and whose responsibility is it that young people make good choices about what degree subject they study at university?
Also, in response to Richard, I think its great that ex-offenders, alcoholics etc are getting the support, or a ‘leg up’ as you say. Why shouldn’t they? Why do they deserve the opportunity less than someone who has been to uni? Just because we went to university doesn’t make us entitled. In fact, despite our issues, we’re still privileged. These people getting the support have generally come from dire backgrounds/circumstances and don’t choose to be alcoholics etc, so need all the support they can get otherwise the alternative could be spiraling even further down or even death. I work in alcohol/drugs abuse/homelessness, and these people have a VERY hard time accessing even these basic support services. Sorry, but I find the entitlement on this thread bewildering.
Evie! Its not long or boasty. You paid your dues and you have every right to be proud of yourself. I am inspired by your story.
You make a good point Evie. I have readjusted my expectations. Like I say, I have given up applying for so called “graduate schemes”. I’m not playing a rigged game anymore.
I worked in admin before I went to university. I worked in a hospital and managed to save up a lot of money, but admin jobs won’t touch me now. I applied for a minimum wage office role in the council not long ago and they didn’t have the courtesy to reply to me. They probably see my degree and think I am overqualified or that I will leave at the earliest opportunity. I can get retail work, but who wants to work in retail at 29? That would be very depressing.
I think computing is a safe bet for future employment. There are always jobs in IT, software development and machine learning is taking off. Unfortunately, I can’t walk into something like app development as it requires advanced Java skills and Python at the front end. My only way into this would be to work for many years learning the trade, or by doing a masters with a year in industry. Again, there is no guarentee that I can “get” a job in this area even if I wanted to. The masters route is the more likely option.
So what is your situation now, are you still working in admin?
Entitlement? Where have I said anything about being entitled? Is a job too much to ask for? Just wow. I give up.
For what it’s worth, I’ve spoken to two people from this thread who posted over the past two years. Both have gone through severe mental health issues and I myself have been in therapy on and off for a number of years. To call us entitled is frankly ignorant. The fact that you make a judgement from reading only the posts on here tells me all I need to know.
Btw, you have no chance of getting into app development.
Goodbye
I said the entitlement is astounding, not because you expect a job. Everyone deserves to work and to have the chance to make a living and life for themselves. Some of the posts come across as entitled because a graduate job is EXPECTED simply because one has a degree, and therefore, the degree holder should automatically get straight ahead of everyone else.
No I’ve not based my opinion just on this thread, but on the attitudes of LOTS of videos, blogs, comments, posts, people I know, over the years, complaining about not automatically walking into a high paid job. No ignorance here. I also suffer with mental health issues, a long history of it (which heavily contributed to my poor university outcome) have done so since I was a teenager, and have had periods of severe clinical depression and suicidal ideation that has need intervention. Admittedly that hasnt been caused by employment issues but so so. As you said, lowering expectations may help.
And I have no chance of getting into app/software development? Would you like to explain why? Because from where I am, and the work I’ve put in, I’ve developed connections, startig to build a portfolio of technical skills and projects, attend lots of events and sessions around this and neetig the right people, have been learning the software from my dad for the last couple of years (have always had basic level knowledge having seen my dad work), and as mentioned before, have the opportunity to get a conversion degree in a closely related subject, though to be honest, the most actual employed developers I know aren’t qualified, just skilled and passionate.
It sounds like you’re being petty because of my previous comment to be honest, and trying to put a damper on my spirit, my ambition. Well eater off a ducks back because I won’t let it, but thanks.
And there’s nothing to stop from learning Python, Java, etc. If you want to. There are lots of programming languages out there. Look for the most demanded ones (or even better, decide what you’re interested in building, and that will decide the language) and start learning them. There are blogs, YouTube channels, free courses, paid courses, lots and lots of resources. Blog your journwy and put yourself out there. The only thing it will cost you to learn how to actual code is time. It might take a while, but the time will pass anyway right? So a hour or two a day to get started is a go. I’m in a few coding groups, and quite a lot of people without computer science degrees are getting interviews and hired as web/software/app developers simply because they are passionate and have put the effort into building up a good skill set. Tech is the future.
I don’t have all the answers but I tried to distil everything I learnt from long-term unemployment in a post over on this thread.
https://graduatefog.co.uk/2016/4473/graduates-with-jobs-what-advice-do-you-have-for-those-still-hunting/ @ June 12, 2016 at 7:33 PM
I learnt I had to admit defeat with getting into certain industries. I had to stop blaming everyone else. That I had to recognise getting out of the hole I dug myself would be a process that would take years. It is an ongoing process which I don’t feel is over until I am in stable long-term employment.
For the last year I have been working as a caseworker/adviser for an education charity. Pretty much what a CAB adviser does but for students.
The pay isn’t brilliant but after long-term unemployment to be actually earning has been incredible. I will come out with about £10k-£11k which is more money than I’ve ever had. The fixed term contract ends Xmas which is a real shame given I have found a role I am good at and can cope with.
I’m terrified of becoming unemployed again.
Terrified of being stuck in a suburban library firing applications into the void.
I have two interviews this week and the worry is what happens if neither of them come off. I crave nothing more than stability.
Good luck in your interviews David!
Thank You. I’ve already had a form rejection for one of the interviews. I seem remarkably unsuccessful interviewing for roles near identical to what I am currently doing which is a concern.
Part of me feels I have fallen into the wrong industry. The advice sector is underfunded. Job substitution with volunteers is rife. I’m good at what I do but the pay is rubbish. My salary is just under 22k which isn’t great though that isn’t the immediate concern.
I’m sure there are caseworker roles like say the Financial Ombudsman Service where I could be earning more. There are student support roles within HE where I could be earning more as well. I think it would be a good idea to get out of the charity sector in the long-term.
Dread the thought of being unemployed stuck in a deprived part of Essex come 2018. I am a 30 minute train ride from London. A global centre of finance, law, entertainment, insurance and education. It might sound Londoncentric but the opportunities are not where I live they are in London and that is where I need to be next year.
Anyway back to the applications…