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female
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anonymous
writes: I graduated with a 2:2 in History in 2002. I foolishly believed all the lies about graduate vacancies and starting salaries of £18k etc. But like everyone else I knew I starting temping, doing boring reception and data entry jobs on £5 an hour. After a year I was temping in local government and through sheer hard work I was able to get a contract. Most of the work I was doing was still boring admin, but some of it was project work, which I really enjoyed. After 3 years I couldn't take it anymore. There was no chance of moving up as there was a recruitment freeze. I walked out. A bit stupid, but I was so unhappy and frustrated. Three months later I still have no job. I'm registered with agencies, but they only seem to ring about rubbish boring jobs on about 15-16k and I want more. I don't want to do secretarial/admin, and I've done my fair share of degrading, demeaning roles. I want to do project development type roles but I can't find any. I'm living on overdraft and credit cards at the moment. I refuse to lower myself anymore. I won't work unless I get a proper, well paid job. What do I do? Reply to this Question |
Fancy yourself as an career advisor?
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (29 October 2006): I graduated in 2001 with a 2:1 in English studies, and like you, I struggled to find a reasonably paid job. Because more people are going to University now having a degree does not carry as much prestige as in previous years, and many graduates are forced to undertake non-graduate jobs in order to survive.
Do not underestimate the value of your work experience, and simply keep trying. With your experience you do have a head start over newly qualified graduates. I started off doing a low-paid admin job, but then I moved companies and I've managed to get extensive experience in management and accounting.
The most important thing for you to be working now though, even if you have to do a crappy admin job for a brief period, as you are much more employable when you are working.
A
male
reader, Lake +, writes (21 September 2006):
It is foolish to believe that you are above any job.
I have an engineering degree, but like you I find finding the job I want difficult after I left Uni.
I am working in the pension industry/ At first it seems that it is a far more degrading than any jobs I been in, but it pays the bills. You eventually realise life is not about money. I am now starting to enjoy my job, the challenges and the fact that I am able to help people who do not understand what it means to have a pension. Have you ever spoken to a distressed widow? Or a child reporting the death of his parents? It sad but someone got to do it.
I now dislike people who believes that a degree put them above those with it. I have been in employment for 5 years after my degree in Engineering (Chemical Process Engineering and Fuel Technology to be precise) and have worked for various companies. Through my experience I find people without a degree tends to be more focus and intelligent. Why? because they do not have this stupid notion in their head that they have a degree therefore it is their God given right to rule.
STOP Moaning and get a job! Not being harsh, I have been in that position myself. I have been a cleaner and a school admin assistant so don't tell me that I don't know what is like to be you.
Life will not go the way you want it. So deal with it and move on!
No more to say.
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A
male
reader, contender +, writes (21 September 2006):
Have you tried posting your CV on the internet? There are many sites that provide a CV matching service, when they match your CV to a certain job criteria they inform you about it, they also provide a list of possible jobs as soon as oyu upload your CV. Hope this helps a little and good luck for the future, hope you find your ideal job.
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