Careers - How on earth do you know what to do and how to do it??
- Thread starter you
- Start date
I'm graduating this year and stand to be in a similar position.
Been persuading myself that I wouldn't mind just doing the job I do in the holidays (boring office shit for a fair but not great wage) but that's not what I had planned when I took on a four year degree with the associated £13k of debt, you know what I mean?
Dissensians are a cool bunch. What do you all do and how did you get into it?
Been persuading myself that I wouldn't mind just doing the job I do in the holidays (boring office shit for a fair but not great wage) but that's not what I had planned when I took on a four year degree with the associated £13k of debt, you know what I mean?
Dissensians are a cool bunch. What do you all do and how did you get into it?
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matt b
Indexing all opinion
re-assess your short and medium term goals, for a start.
think of a job that would engage you and pay a realistically decent wage (e.g. around average earnings and above)- research in library, you've got the time. then find out how to get there- again not difficult to find out, try: www.prospects.ac.uk/
an MA sounds good- you've got a lot of years of full-time employment ahead of you. see if you can get a bursary etc if debt scares. or work a shit job, save cash and fund your own MA (more or less what i did).
get some cheaper aspirations and hobbies
think of a job that would engage you and pay a realistically decent wage (e.g. around average earnings and above)- research in library, you've got the time. then find out how to get there- again not difficult to find out, try: www.prospects.ac.uk/
an MA sounds good- you've got a lot of years of full-time employment ahead of you. see if you can get a bursary etc if debt scares. or work a shit job, save cash and fund your own MA (more or less what i did).
get some cheaper aspirations and hobbies
baboon2004
Darned cockwombles.
Sound advice.
Don't be scared of working a shit job for a while, because everyone has to do it at some stage. The only ones who don't are utterly over-privileged in my experience.
Equally, don't go onto a dull graduate scheme, get acclimatised to an expensive lifestyle, be scared of ever making less money and end up not doing what you really want/dying in a pointless job.
You've got time, but remember that some careers 'close off' more quickly than others. Get some decent careers advice from your university (usually still free up to a year after graduation, isn't it?).
Mr. Tea
Let's Talk About Ceps
This^. It's absolutely ridiculous.
mistersloane
heavy heavy monster sound
I think prioritising ideally what you would like to do is the first thing to work out. I quickly decided that for my twenties I didn't need money ( didn't go to uni either, eventually went building college )and wanted as much free time as possible - to be able to do my own work in - and thus worked in cinemas, part-time archival work, record shops etc. Sticking to my own work quite doggedly eventually got me running a gallery, and now making films full-time. But it took a while.
What I see amongst most people - of all ages - is the ones who don't have many regrets are the ones who did what they WANTED to do, as opposed to trying to strategically plan for material wealth over happiness. If you're gonna end up doing something for long periods of time, if you can, make sure it's something that you think is even partly worthwhile and not just for the money, everyone I know who has done that has had breakdowns. Alot of people I know who haven't done that have had breakdowns as well, but bear it in mind.
With regard to the arts the best way to make money without the power tussles is becoming a consultant for arts agencies; working in arts admin. It's a less stress and socially forceful environment than working in galleries etc, which requires alot of networking which can be very very difficult. I would recommend the volunteer route if you're trying for the arts world, because the day to day running can be very different from what is taught at colleges, and, ultimately, the more experience you have - in life, in general! - the better.
And don't worry about your debt, everyone in the country is in debt. They might try and force you to think that it's problematic, but it really isn't. All they can do ultimately is take you to court and tell you to pay it off at whatever they decide your income is. Keep on top of it and in touch with your bank, and often you'll find in later years that it's beneficial with regard mortgages etc to have a credit record that not to have one. I didn't really know what tone to pitch this at, sorry if it may come across as overbearing.
I just recently undertook an MA and thought it was a waste of time, I'd wait to do that until you know what it is you'd like to focus on, don't just fall into it.
What I see amongst most people - of all ages - is the ones who don't have many regrets are the ones who did what they WANTED to do, as opposed to trying to strategically plan for material wealth over happiness. If you're gonna end up doing something for long periods of time, if you can, make sure it's something that you think is even partly worthwhile and not just for the money, everyone I know who has done that has had breakdowns. Alot of people I know who haven't done that have had breakdowns as well, but bear it in mind.
With regard to the arts the best way to make money without the power tussles is becoming a consultant for arts agencies; working in arts admin. It's a less stress and socially forceful environment than working in galleries etc, which requires alot of networking which can be very very difficult. I would recommend the volunteer route if you're trying for the arts world, because the day to day running can be very different from what is taught at colleges, and, ultimately, the more experience you have - in life, in general! - the better.
And don't worry about your debt, everyone in the country is in debt. They might try and force you to think that it's problematic, but it really isn't. All they can do ultimately is take you to court and tell you to pay it off at whatever they decide your income is. Keep on top of it and in touch with your bank, and often you'll find in later years that it's beneficial with regard mortgages etc to have a credit record that not to have one. I didn't really know what tone to pitch this at, sorry if it may come across as overbearing.
I just recently undertook an MA and thought it was a waste of time, I'd wait to do that until you know what it is you'd like to focus on, don't just fall into it.
mistersloane
heavy heavy monster sound
Unfortunately I think a large part of getting a decent salary is about how much of a bastard you're prepared to be to get it, theatre work is always a really good way of getting a start in the fashion/design/costume world, as with many things it's just about trying it and seeing if you like it and can do it, I was a stonemason for a few years which I loved doing, but it really wasn't my forte.
matt b
Indexing all opinion
why do you want those things? you don't NEED them. life is much more than material possessions obv.
any degree will be looked at positively by employers- the generic skills gained are useful in and of themselves
so, work out the skills/experience needed to get those jobs and aim to gain them. if you don't get interviews, ring the company up and ask them why not- i'd guess it's becuase you're not clearly meeting the specifications required- either write a better job app. or attempt to gain them
see above point re: degrees.
no you don't! avoid supermarkets, buy fresh, seasonal veg etc- we (me and my better half) eat well on about £25 a week between us.
er, move to the countryside then. e.g. you can live on the edge of the dales/lake district/peak district/ n.yorks moors and still work in a city to get £
welcome to adulthood! and bless your parents for giving you such a lovely upbringing
you won't become a doctor. the door is closed. think of something else. teacher maybe (have you seen the armstrong and miller show?)?
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Mr. Tea
Let's Talk About Ceps
Very much this! If you're prepared to put in a little time and effort it's much cheaper to eat well than it is to eat badly. Although I wouldn't advise avoiding supermarkets: get in there and look for the special offers! I practically subsist day-to-day on BOGOF.
matt b
Indexing all opinion
this reminds of a time when a student basically wanted me to go through the alphabet of all careers until i found one for him:
'should i be an actor?'
'i don't know, do you have an interest in acting?'
'no, not really. could i be a barrister?'
'do you have in interest in law?'
'no, not really'
etc etc
can you be more specific about your interests/ academic background? i have tried to help!
'should i be an actor?'
'i don't know, do you have an interest in acting?'
'no, not really. could i be a barrister?'
'do you have in interest in law?'
'no, not really'
etc etc
can you be more specific about your interests/ academic background? i have tried to help!