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what do grads tend to do after uni, like what have your friends done

i feel so lost because i dont even know what kind of career i want, so its hard to be motivated to do job applications. my degree is pretty crappy so i no i have no chance of getting in to competitive grad schemes. so thinking of something entry level, like an office job. but im not exactly excited by this.

any way i am interested in what options there are after uni. like how have you and friends done since graduating? have you managed to get a decent job, do grads go travelling, or what....is there any alternatives....


i know doing PGCE course seems like a popular option, but i dont think teaching is for me.
I will write down the friends I know to tell you what they're doing. We all graduated in July 2012.

MSc Maths - working at the other end of the country as an assistant to the manager of a football team.
BSc English & Media - working in home town in a rehabilitation centre for people with brain injury.
MSc Geography - working in uni town with two part time jobs in a pub and a cafe.
BSc Psychology (me) - working as a freelance writer & proofreader.
BSc Psychology - Unemployed.
BSc Psychology - Working as a teaching assistant in a primary school.
BSc Psychology - Worked as a teaching assistant for a while, then got a place on an MSc course so is now back at uni.
Reply 2
Original post by xoxAngel_Kxox
I will write down the friends I know to tell you what they're doing. We all graduated in July 2012.

MSc Maths - working at the other end of the country as an assistant to the manager of a football team.
BSc English & Media - working in home town in a rehabilitation centre for people with brain injury.
MSc Geography - working in uni town with two part time jobs in a pub and a cafe.
BSc Psychology (me) - working as a freelance writer & proofreader.
BSc Psychology - Unemployed.
BSc Psychology - Working as a teaching assistant in a primary school.
BSc Psychology - Worked as a teaching assistant for a while, then got a place on an MSc course so is now back at uni.


it is interesting how their jobs are quite irrelevant to their course. this makes me feel a bit better about my own lack of direction
Reply 3
I know one guy who finished a Business Management course and he's now working at Rolls Royce in a trainee management position.
Reply 4
All are either 2012 or 2013 grads.

LLB Law-Solicitor x7
LLB Law-Fashion buyer
LLB Law-Civil Service (European) x2
LLB Law-PR graduate for a bank
LLB Law-Language Assistant for a year in Quebec
MChem-Teaching Assistant (previously tried accountancy but hated it)
MChem-Graduate trainee at Sky
BA History-Sports journalist
BA History-Postgrad, now works in a museum
BA History-Graduate at small fashion company
BA History-Primary PGCE
MA Criminology-Policeman
BA English-Sales
BA English-HR assistant
BA English-Graduate Teaching Assistant
BSc Psychology-PhD
BSc Biochem-Working at a pub, living at home, got some job in a lab for next March
BA Management-Year out working abroad, no idea what to do.
BA Theology-RE Teacher

etc.
(edited 10 years ago)
Original post by raf123321
it is interesting how their jobs are quite irrelevant to their course. this makes me feel a bit better about my own lack of direction


Yeah - mine is completely irrelevant (I am the writer) other than I am able to write to a high standard, construct research papers and write analytically. I would never have gained my job if it weren't for my degree, but I don't think it would have mattered if I hadn't done this subject.
Reply 6
I only know of a few friends who graduated:

- Two girls who studied psychology have now opened up their own private tuition company back in London
- A guy who studied game design is now working part time at a supermarket while developing his own game
- A guy who graduated with chemistry degree is now doing an MSc

...I'm sure there's more but I can't think of any at the top of my head, sorry!
I hope this helps... somehow... :biggrin:
Reply 7
Original post by Le Nombre
All are either 2012 or 2013 grads.

LLB Law-Solicitor x7
LLB Law-Fashion buyer
LLB Law-Civil Service (European) x2
LLB Law-PR graduate for a bank
LLB Law-Language Assistant for a year in Quebec
MChem-Teaching Assistant (previously tried accountancy but hated it)
MChem-Graduate trainee at Sky
BA History-Sports journalist
BA History-Postgrad, now works in a museum
BA History-Graduate at small fashion company
BA History-Primary PGCE
MA Criminology-Policeman
BA English-Sales
BA English-HR assistant
BA English-Graduate Teaching Assistant
BSc Psychology-PhD
BSc Biochem-Working at a pub, living at home, got some job in a lab for next March
BA Management-Year out working abroad, no idea what to do.
BA Theology-RE Teacher

etc.


wow your friends have done well considering only just having graduated.
Reply 8
Original post by raf123321
wow your friends have done well considering only just having graduated.


Majoriity are 2012 and would have looked different this time last year, a year stuck at home is quite a lot of time in which to work out what to do!
Reply 9
2010, 2011 and 2012:

BSc in early development - Now in events and marketing
BA in English - Primary school teacher
BSc in International Relations - Doing some grad course and volunteering at CAB
MSc in Psychology - Waitress
BSc in Biology - Financial consultancy, making loads of money
BA in German and Politics - Writer at a magazine
BA in German - Tescos
BSc in Graphic Design - Tescos
BA in English - Unemployed
MA in English - Teaching Assistant
BA English and Media - TEFL teacher
Reply 10
Some of my friends (all 2012 grads):
Geography - year out doing temp work, now doing masters
Geography - relevant grad job
Geography - relevant grad job
Geography - year our travelling now at home working at a call centre applying for jobs
Geography - grad scheme with company that she did a year in industry with
Physics - phd
History - year out travelling,now doing a masters
History - Teaching assistant, doing a pgce next year
History - Mentor in a local college
French - mentor at her old secondary school
Sports Journalism - working in retail
Business - did a ski season now working on a yacht
Biology - year travelling/working, now doing a masters
Engineering - pgce
Reply 11
Original post by raf123321
i feel so lost because i dont even know what kind of career i want, so its hard to be motivated to do job applications. my degree is pretty crappy so i no i have no chance of getting in to competitive grad schemes. so thinking of something entry level, like an office job. but im not exactly excited by this.

any way i am interested in what options there are after uni. like how have you and friends done since graduating? have you managed to get a decent job, do grads go travelling, or what....is there any alternatives....


i know doing PGCE course seems like a popular option, but i dont think teaching is for me.


What course did you do? It takes time to find out what you want/ can do.
Also if your still in uni take the time to visit your careers advisors!
Travelling is definitely an option if you think its what you want to do, as is working abroad (TEFL, holiday reps, camp america type things, ski season)

Also don't do a pgce just because it seems easy, i know a few people who have done that, who thought it would be a good idea because its ok pay, good holidays and easy to get a job and are now absolutely hating the pgce and all the work that comes with it.
Reply 12
Basically based my whole blog on this topic, give it a read, you're not the only one who doesn't have a clue :smile:

Too Write - https://ladshead.wordpress.com/

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