If you're around 26 years old and...

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A job is a job at the end of the day, just get on with it, at least you gain meaningful experience (and it improves your CV). I know a guy with a masters degree that stacks shelves in Asda, yeah that's ****, but what can he do there are no jobs at the moment. And these days your 'experience' mean almost as much as your qualifications if not more. Anyway, just take what you can get, remember: "beggars can't be choosers".

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 41

Angeo

Well ill finish my degree this year and ill be staying with Sainsburys as a supervisor. Nothing wrong with that, better than saying your unemployed when it comes to getting a job.

Reply 42

Jake22

Just an off-topic comment to add to the mix:

Working at Tesco isn't as bad or lowly as people are making out.

My first full-time job was working at Tesco - in the Warehouse and also stacking shelves. I found that they were truly an excellent employer; the pay was fair (they paid under 18s at least the full over 21s minimum wage as a matter of policy) I was treated with respect and left to get on with my work without over the top supervision.

In fact, I would have to say that working there was the best job I ever had in terms of getting through the day and not dreading going to work. I enjoyed it more than my graduate job which paid well more than twice the salary.

I actually came to regret moving on from there to seek a more 'professional' environment and a higher salary.

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 43

Pitt1988

Not working = soul destroying. Take the job, you can be looking for bigger and better things while you are there, at least you've got some money coming in. Though, not sure if this applies for every job, I have had mates with degrees that have been turned down for such jobs in favour of people that don't have degrees. Is there situations where you might be overqualified for positions?

Reply 44

dgeorge

Because it gives you an advantage!!!!!!! Thats why he SHOULD have one! If you're not interested in furthering your education, then fine, thats your opinion. However, its FAR MORE USEFUL to have a degree than not have one, if you're ever looking to have much more than a lower level job (if not none needed!)

I HAVE worked in Human Resources myself and have PERSONALLY seen the difference between those who apply for jobs with
GSCE's
A Levels
Undergraduate Degree
Postgrad Degrees

And if you're aim is towards the top then you MUST have a degree in the current economic climate. Even those who are rising find that they have to get a degree during their employment (my mother was one of them) because there is quite often a "glass ceiling" where top level jobs are concerned. And trust me, it is much, MUCH easier to get a degree while you're single, than to leave it when you have to work AND provide a living for your family.

PS - I'm not saying that everyone HAS to have a degree to have a successful life/job, or that there isn't anyone without a degree who has climbed to the top of the ladder. BUT having a degree makes it much, much likelier and easier

Question: Have you finished a degree yourself?

Reply 45

silverbolt

Original post by 4TSR

... the only job you can find is stacking shelves in Tesco, despite being smart above average and have good A levels and you're good at many other things, would you do it? would you think it's shameful for a young man to "waste" his youths doing this?

No. success is not measured by money. Is the person happy doing it? Do they enjoy it? Is it enough for them to live off and support who needs to be supported?

Yes - then they are a success.

Some of happiest people in the world go home stinking to high heaven.

Im 30, im a claims handler for an insurance company. Certainly a step down to what i used to do and far less money, Yet i really enjoy it, it pays the bills and i go home feeling good. Im a sucess

Reply 46

MagicNMedicine

Another point in favour of taking a job like this is the social aspect, in the current climate there will be lots of other young people wanting something better, being forced into this type of job, and at least working you can meet people and it doesn't feel so isolating.

One of the worst things about the dole, is the social isolation, its like a form of prison you are stuck on your own looking for work, feeling like you are a loser on your own, not having the money to socialise and not seeing other people during the day. I've got a couple of mates (both graduates) that are struggling at the moment to find proper work but one worked in a shoe-shop for a while and met his current girlfriend (also a graduate), the other has worked in two bars and whilst he's not exactly rolling in cash, he has got a shedload of new friends from the other staff at his bar jobs.

Yes.

A jobs a job. earning is better than not earning.
You can jobhunt and work, thats an ideal stopgap.

Simple question "Do you have a job?"
if no take the first job you can find
"Is that the job you want?"
if yes stay
if not search for a new job

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 49

Ronda

Original post by HumiT

I don't see anything shameful about that. In this day and age a job is a job. The care-taker at my college was a RAF pilot but took the job as care-taker because he didn't want to be at home all day. And I also heard that a guy graduated from uni with a good degree classification but has chosen to work in Tesco because he enjoyed it.

Exactly. I don't understand why certain jobs like that have a certain stigma attached to them, that they're for high-school drop-outs who are thick, blah, blah, blah.

I've been thinking about what I want to do with my life a lot recently, and am starting to realise that going through uni and getting a job might not be the thing for me. I work at McDonald's (which is probably looked down a lot more than a job in a supermarket), but you know what? I enjoy it, have had an offer to progress further with the company and I'm seriously considering leaving uni all together and working there full time. There are things I want to achieve in life, and having a high-paid job, in which I'll have to put off a lot of things for, is not one of them.

And before anyone asks, it's not because I'm failing or whatever. I've averaged over 70% in my first year and a half there. I just think it's not what I want, and I'd rather be doing something with my life which makes me happy, rather than doing what other people expect me to do.

Reply 50

arbaaz

If someone offered me a job stacking shelves in any supermarket I would be very grateful!
I don't get the snobbery surrounding jobs.
At the end of the day, whether your a high flying business executive or a shelf stacker, your doing a job, your providing a service and your getting a reward for it.

take the job!!!

Reply 51

arbaaz

Original post by Ronda

This is exactly what I feel. :smile:

When you do a job, your doing it for yourself or if your older for your family... what others think shouldn't come into it.

Reply 52

xDave-

I'd be depressed as ****, but if that's all that's on offer I'd have no choice.

Reply 53

*Joanna*

Original post by Pitt1988

I've been told I was overqualified for jobs on more than one occasion- one job invited me to interview and in that interview I was effectively told that I was overqualified and too 'ambitious' for that position. Which made me a little cross and made me feel a bit like doing a degree was a waste of time. But you can't turn down or rule out jobs just because you think it's beneath you etc.

I think it says a lot about someone's work ethic if they're prepared to take a job that they are overqualified for rather than sign on the dole and wait for that perfect job to land in their laps. Life isn't like that and sometimes you have to compromise.

Reply 54

Jake22

Original post by *Joanna*

I've been told I was overqualified for jobs on more than one occasion- one job invited me to interview and in that interview I was effectively told that I was overqualified

Overqualified is a euphemism for any of the following:

i) Won't fit in with other staff members
ii) Won't stick around long
iii) Won't be prepared or able to do physical work/repetetive tasks efficiently.

Seriously, I think plenty of people have worked in a busy job in fast food or in construction etc. where a student/someone with office work background has turned up and rubbed everyone up the wrong way and not got on with their work because they get flustered and confused or they aren't used to turning up and jumping into a days work rather than sitting around for an hour updating facebook. This is where the term 'overqualified' essentially originates.

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 55

dgeorge

My point was you don't HAVE to have a degree to get a half-decent job. THAT'S ALL :smile:

Never said that you HAD to have a degree to get a decent job. As I've said before, there are people who've worked their way up the ladder, got lucky, or in more cases had great connections.

It isn't anyway EASIER to get a job with a degree. You just might look a bit "smarter" on paper

When you've got 80 plus applications for one job opening, (especially one that REQUIRES a degree, which most half decent jobs do require) the level of qualification is the FIRST thing that an employer will look at. 100% guaranteed. So no, you don't look a bit "smarter" on paper. It gives you an immediate advantage over those who don't have one

If you want a job, you've already got an advantage if you have a degree- 89.9% of graduates either go on to employment or further study.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2010/jul/15/employment-statistics-university-graduates#data
You've got a serious advantage if you've got a job

Why you so surprised I quoted you?

Reply 56

4TSR

Original post by dgeorge

Never said that you HAD to have a degree to get a decent job. As I've said before, there are people who've worked their way up the ladder, got lucky, or in more cases had great connections.

When you've got 80 plus applications for one job opening, (especially one that REQUIRES a degree, which most half decent jobs do require) the level of qualification is the FIRST thing that an employer will look at. 100% guaranteed. So no, you don't look a bit "smarter" on paper. It gives you an immediate advantage over those who don't have one

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2010/jul/15/employment-statistics-university-graduates#data
You've got a serious advantage if you've got a job

Why you so surprised I quoted you?

Sorry but why would someone without a degree apply for a job that requires a degree? obviously if a job requires a degree then surely it would make perfect sense to only accept applicants who have the required degree.... it just seems like your example was unfair.

What if a job doesn't require a degree? an admin job... A degree wouldn't automatically get you the job. In fact it might get in the way, since you would be "overqualified" which just means you will eventually leave for a job that is related to your field/degree

Reply 57

Harrifer

Original post by Drewski

It's always easier to find other jobs when you're working than while you're not.

Kind of like girls, lol.

Reply 58

xoxAngel_Kxox

I think it's good that you even have a job. My boyfriend is 27 and can't get a job anywhere, not even shelf stacking.. but then again he doesn't have GCSEs or A Levels.

Reply 59

dgeorge

Original post by 4TSR

I've personally seen people applying for these jobs that they don't meet the requirements for..... which is why some job ads specify that if you do NOT meet the requirements your letter will not be considered.

FYI - After graduating with a degree I've held an admin job ("administrative assistant" aka secretary) AND a low paying tour guide job which required absolutely no qualifications beyond GCSE's (which I LOVED, my favorite job!) I've also worked part-time in a CLEANING job while I was working on my masters (which required no qualifications whatsoever). Sooo.....the fact that I had a degree did NOT hinder me from getting these jobs. If I DID get turned down from a job because of "over qualification" then it's probably one that I wouldn't have been very suited for anyway! Quite often once these employers are happy that you won't quit the first day of work because you feel it is "beneath you" (which I have never done) then they will be happy to take you on!