[RabbitCFH]

(Original post by jonnythemoose)
I can understand how you feel, although in my case I think I'm sort of choosing to be 'left behind'. I've just graduated (three days ago!) and a lot of my friends are moving into full-time work or doing Master's degrees.

I know that one day I want to do a Master's too, as I want to pursue a career in interpreting and/or translation; however, I am ready for a break from the world of academia, and there are so many things I want to see and do now, whilst I have no responsibilities or ties to home. So this year I'll be going to France to work for a year; and the following year I'm hoping to go to Colombia. At some point I'd like to spend some time in Asia, and also in Brazil.

At this rate, I can't see myself having the money or the desire to do the Master's for another five years or so, which is absolutely fine by me...I can't get into my chosen career path without a Master's, and by spending time abroad I am improving my languages skills, so it's not like I'm dossing about. Nevertheless I know that in a couple of years time, I'll probably feel a little bit left behind, too. Try not to worry about it, OP. We are in a difficult time economically, and there's no rush to get into the serious world of work. After all; you'll be working until you're 65...why does it matter if you start at 21, 22, 26, 29...?

How did you find a job in France, if you don't mind me asking?

[jonnythemoose]

(Original post by RabbitCFH)
How did you find a job in France, if you don't mind me asking?

My university has a link with a French university where they send one of their graduates to be a language assistant, or as the French sya, a 'lecteur' or 'lectrice' every year - and I was the lucky one to be selected this year.

[RabbitCFH]

(Original post by jonnythemoose)
My university has a link with a French university where they send one of their graduates to be a language assistant, or as the French sya, a 'lecteur' or 'lectrice' every year - and I was the lucky one to be selected this year.

Ah fair enough. That's pretty cool, congrats. I'd love to work at least for a while in the US or Canada but that's almost impossible.

[jonnythemoose]

(Original post by RabbitCFH)
Ah fair enough. That's pretty cool, congrats. I'd love to work at least for a while in the US or Canada but that's almost impossible.

Nothing's impossible, my friend. The world is our lobster. What's stopping you?

[RabbitCFH]

(Original post by jonnythemoose)
Nothing's impossible, my friend. The world is our lobster. What's stopping you?

Immigration laws.

[jonnythemoose]

(Original post by RabbitCFH)
Immigration laws.

Ah, raspberries. Marry an american?

[bo'diddley]

(Original post by hiding12)
oh right, my dad's an engineer and he'sa saying its tragic that so many engineers are going into IB as there's a shortage of engineers, wasted talent

having done an internship with bp and now a nuclear firm, I can see why. The work is slow and hardly challenging, banking is lot faster paced and you get rewarded well for the effort you put in so there is that incentive.

[hiding12]

(Original post by bo'diddley)
having done an internship with bp and now a nuclear firm, I can see why. The work is slow and hardly challenging, banking is lot faster paced and you get rewarded well for the effort you put in so there is that incentive.

Yeah but there are many different types of engineering with high job satisfaction my dad says. Banking is boring and repetitive, most people I know in banking hate it and themselves. In engineering, you can make a difference

[bo'diddley]

(Original post by hiding12)
Yeah but there are many different types of engineering with high job satisfaction my dad says. Banking is boring and repetitive, most people I know in banking hate it and themselves. In engineering, you can make a difference

Sales and Trading is many things. But it certainly ain't boring.

[hiding12]

(Original post by bo'diddley)
Sales and Trading is many things. But it certainly ain't boring.

Well I suppose trading isn't. My dad finds it very interesting to see these various projects through and to see how they make a difference, he's just a normal guy, no t the geeky type.

[dom99]

(Original post by rock_climber86)
thats my point! Employers don't want to train anyone. they would rather take someone who did a business degree than a maths degree. It's unbelievable because business is a piece of piss and anyone with half a brain can kill it. I'm just pissed off employers are discriminating against people with academc degrees!

ps sorry if that other post came across as a bit snobbish. I'm just a bit peeved off i'm unemployed 2 years after graduating!


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

I got a job as an Analyst Programmer in an insurance company over plenty of people with Computer Science degrees, which are much more relevant. They took me on knowing they would have to train me and are sending me on these training courses spending thousands, IT courses are insanely expensive!). Maths defintily carries the clout factor with employers. Although I also took a gap year before uni working for a software engineering comapny who then sponsored me to go to uni with no obligation to return afterwards (which I didnt lol but worked every holidays I could ££££ )

[dom99]

(Original post by lcsurfer)
I did not do business i did disaster management and now work in it. The job market is bad but it is all about contacts, who you know, links into industry... there are hunderd of physics/maths students and speaking from experience if an 18 year old has 2 years of office experience or work compared to a 21 yr old graduate who has never had a job with a degree, I'd got for the 18 year old because of the experience...
Obviously they want someone with relevant knowledge (as you stated)... Your best bet will be to find someone you know or just chat to people, linkedin is a great tool for that! and networking. Go an offer to volunteer for a few weeks as you will get your name out there. I Haven't been unemployed since the age of 14, its takes hard work and dedication.

LOL I havent been unemployed since my paper round I got the day after my 13th birthday, I just always had that work ethic even if it meant getting up early every saturday and sunday morning.

I had no idea that work experience outside of uni was so important to finding jobs after uni. My brother is just starting a maths degree at Leeds this september and im going to force him to take a placement year or find a summer internship.

From what everyone seems to say, work experience is key.

[Presenttime]

I hope that doing a masters and gaining an in depth knowledge in a specific area with practical usage may be the way forward, but like you said there's not a guarantee. I am doing something similar

[Regent]

(Original post by dom99)
LOL I havent been unemployed since my paper round I got the day after my 13th birthday, I just always had that work ethic even if it meant getting up early every saturday and sunday morning.
.

You sound arrogant. Being unemployed has very little to do with work ethic for a lot of graduates. Plenty of Oxbridge alumni on the doll right now.

[lcsurfer]

(Original post by Regent)
You sound arrogant. Being unemployed has very little to do with work ethic for a lot of graduates. Plenty of Oxbridge alumni on the doll right now.

He means, work ethic to do any job... Being unemployed has a correlation with work ethic, I'd happily take any job retail or admin over being unemployed. I've always been employed too since my paper round when i was 14. Worked all the way through Uni and now have a really good job as a graduate.
I know many people from oxbridge and top unis on he doll....
It's not being arrogant it's being productive.

[anonymousaudit]

I think the problem with a lot of graduates from top institutions is that they had no work experience at all? Internships are negligible, I think employers understand how competitive they are and more importantly how not everyone is able to undertake weeks of unpaid work.

When I was in my third year (I've recently graduated, had a job waiting for me before I left for reference) there was a notable difference between those getting interviews & offers, and those getting rejected from the outset: employment. I'm not suggesting you need to get into the ridiculously competitive world of uni internships/placements but even working a few shifts at River Island looks better in their eyes than nothing. When interviewing firms often have "competencies"- those on my course answering purely with answers from uni/school must have looked weaker than those who could link it into real world work experience?

It's a shame because those at top unis are always led to believe that academia and high grades alone will secure you a good job like it did for your parents. So to focus upon your grades, don't get a job to interfere with your studies as recommended by your teachers/parents/peers.

To all undergrads ****ting themselves over what's going on in this thread- the best advice I could give is get a job absolutely anywhere. You CAN get good grades and work if you schedule your time well, in uni holidays I used to work 60 hour weeks (this was through necessity I don't recommend replicating it) and still came out of a redbrick uni with a first. Employers want to see you being proactive, that you have some experience in the work place, etc etc.

Also good luck to grads trying to find work- the only thing careers-wise I would recommend is prospects.ac.uk and the Uni of Kent's careers website! They're both really good resources for guiding you through the application process.

[Smack]

(Original post by Renacata)
...Going to apply for every internship I can find for the next year, then :/

For those who've managed to get placements: if an application form specifically asks for relevant work experience, and I don't have anything relevant and recent, should I put down non-relevant jobs/ECs/voluntary work? I'm studying physics and I'd be applying for related internships; my ECs are mainly charity-based and I've done a bit of office temping... not relevant at all! It might sound like a bit of dumb question but I'd be worrying that they'd just see that I'd ignored the 'relevant' part of the form and that might annoy them :/ Or should I split my CV into 'relevant experience' and 'other experience' or something?

I've had two placements so far and applied for well over a dozen in total and never once came across any that specifically asked for relevant work experience, so I think you'll be fine without it, not something I'd worry about.

[ColyTom]

Have you considered blogging for money on the side while you look for something?

I am considering getting into it myself, some people have made good money from it. Also, buying/selling on Ebay

[rock_climber86]

(Original post by ColyTom)
Have you considered blogging for money on the side while you look for something?

I am considering getting into it myself, some people have made good money from it. Also, buying/selling on Ebay

was this directed at me? If so, nope, i've never considered blogging. How can you get paid to blog anyhow? i have sold loads of stuff on ebay but running out of stuff to sell now . I guess I could sell my rarely used climbing ropes, a harness and stuff

[ColyTom]

(Original post by rock_climber86)
was this directed at me? If so, nope, i've never considered blogging. How can you get paid to blog anyhow? i have sold loads of stuff on ebay but running out of stuff to sell now . I guess I could sell my rarely used climbing ropes, a harness and stuff

Yeah, it was! Ahh, would you consider buying stuff in bulk to sell on?

You can get paid through affiliate links and through advertising, such as google adsense. I am still learning about it myself and have yet to start but I think it is definitely an option.

There is loads of info on the Moneysavingexpert forum and on www.problogger.com