Scoobydick

£50 to reach through my letterbox and pull the handle down from the inside Fu_cking genius way to make money [img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img]

I have a university degree and I couldn't figure it out - nearly broke a window before boy wonder showed up

tony jones

Well. I left school at 16 cos I want to earn money, bricklayer for 15 years. Yes I earnt good money (944, etc) compared to my mates at uni, but I was working 6 days 10 hours a day, and am paying price for it now, aching back etc.

I went back to uni at 27, got 1st degee then masters and now taking PHd, Now wear suit, drive company V6 Ford and eat out on expenses every day.

I see plumbers everyday spending their day on cold toilet floors.

In most cases a degree will pay for itself over the course of a working lifetime.

Stick at it, u won't regret it in the long run.

The grass is always greener seems to spring to mind when reading some posts on here.

RaZe-=Buzz=-

4 years Uni, Chemical Engineering honours degree, 6 months of dole, get given a job labouring for the company my father is a director of, now 8 years later I work for him and its his own company now.

What a waste of 4 years THAT was -in fact, make that 6! I should have started labouring at 16, forgotten about 6th form and Uni.

But at least I DONT have any debts, and didnt need any. Thanks to mum & dad

Ray_li

How many of you guys are still in the same field as your degree?
Its seems like most people dont stick to their field they have trained as.

Ray

brickboy

Ray, damn right we don't

3 to 4 years of studying anything makes you never want anything to do with the subject again

Pavlo

Well, perhaps I am the oddball.

I have started 2 degree course, one sucked and I failed, the other was great but I jacked it it to get a paid job, rather than pay to work.

I've recently been made redundant, so in looking for a job I once again face the drawback of no higher education qualification. I do however have about 7 years of experience in my field as a mechanical engineer. In my last job, I worked with plenty of people that were masters of eng etc, and never once did it occur to them I didn't have a degree, because my work skill and knowledge are still excellent.

I would still prefer to have a degree, and it anyone is reading this and thinks a degree is pointles think again. However my advice is not to pursue a degree simply because it puts you on the correct career path, or because it's at the right institution. If I had to do it all again, I would have just gone and done a degree that I enjoyed, and after my first year I should have swapped to a course that better suited me. I think these days that a more-or-less relavent degree is what people look for. And you you're far more likely to get good grades doing something you love than something that's a chour but apparently necessary.

Finding a bjob isn't easy. 50% of jobs are not advertised, so research your list of contacts, friend, past employers, customers, suppliers, lecturers, guest speakers etc etc. Find out who is bouyant, who's got new projects coming, who's signed a big contract and will need to recruit. If you have a contact name, it adds weight.

Find out companies you suspect need your skills in the local area, do your homework. What industries are up? (oil, financial, retail) What are down? (IT, telecomms, aviation).

work hard to get a job, it's not coincedence that the job centre expect you to work 40hrs a week to find work.

Paul

beemerboy

alterboy,
{quote]Get a job as a plumber's apprentice. I don't know about the rest of the country, but in SE England they're crying out for them.
In five years time you'll be buying a house next door to a stockbroker![/quote]

You mean you will be buying the house FROM the stockbroker, the way share prices are going!!!!

BB

TelBoy

Well, i graduated in Economics, and have never done anything that hasn't been connected with it. And i never take for granted how fortunate i've been.

Bottom line is - today, more so than ever, the name of the Higher Education institution is key. Employers can afford to be picky.

Personally, i think a degree IS worth the hassle, but you have to choose your subject, and where you do it, very carefully.

ADP

Stick with it, look for companys who have a "graduate scheme" I know that there are recruiters who specialise in grads.

It took me a year to find a real job, in the mean time I messed around working in a bike shop.

Try thinking of companies youd like to work for, then look on there website. If there is nothing going, think of similar companies and do the same. I found loads of job opps like that.

andy

Katana

This is why I'm out of the country the minute I finish my course. There's too many engineers here as it is.

Dream Weaver

I also think you need luck on your side - my career has been a shambles from day one.

Finished uni in 96 with a 2:1 in BA Business Communications, and a HND in Marketing.

Started work on a telephone help line for a marketing company, then managed to work my way up eventually onto a BPR project team after 2 years. Great job, but they were still paying me the telephone rate (£4/hour) and wouldnt put it up. So then decided I liked logistics and became a warehouse manager miles from home. Hated it, and after a year was lucky enough to be made redundant.

Then went back to temping and started at Airtours back on £5 an hour (from £16-17k). Worked my way up there to Intranet Manager on £24k+, and was then shafted by a bullying boss who made my life hell. September last year, i started back on the phones for £4 an hour after being out of work for 3 months selling IT solutions.

I now work for myself, which is much much better, but the money isnt too good to be honest, and I do about 60-80 hours a week. Still much happier with life and wouldnt swap it, but always skint and in debt.

My career has been one seesaw of a (bad) journey.

On the other hand, I know people who got 3rd's or failed their degrees, but have had mucho luck. One runs his own Graphic Design firm in London (failed his degree), and drives about in a Westfield and Elise

Oh well - I am happy with life though. Spend my time enjoying the smaller things now, rather than dreaming of being a Director with company Porsche and fuel card.

Just got to be thankful for what you do have, and not dream too much - Dreams are good, but dont forget to enjoy the journey

Nigel H

Well a degree worked for me. I'm a Chartered Electrical Engineer working on major railway projects. You need to have a degree to do this work, so there's no option.

I think having a degree does say something about you capabilities. You can think in depth and develop arguments. You also have a specialist knowledge. This may be of some use - depends on the job. Sales managers? Don't really see this needs a degree - you just need a lot of front

Would suggest that you train to gain work experience somehow and then keep trying to get into your chosen field. You never know you may find something you like better

I don't fancy being a plumber much, I like to use my head in my job

MarkCSC

Every graduate I know (including me) thought there would be loads of jobs after Uni. Something like 50% of graduates are doing job were they don't need a degree to do it. It sucks but that's life.
It took me a year and a half to get me first proper job after uni (BA Business Economics 2:1) and I got paid £10k. Because I had a degree I got moved on to the graduate pay scale and was earning double that in 6 months. With the experience I gained from that job, plus my degree, I was able to get my current job (Marketing Manger in a Mobile Internet company)

Basically in the short term a degree is worth ****. Long term it makes career progression easier and gives you a good grounding in life.

[Edited by Mark Champion - 11/13/2002 5:43:01 PM]

Pavlo

Hmmm, I beg to differ, too many graduates perhaps, not enough engineers.

I agree with those that think a degree is worth having BTW. I am finding it harder to get a new job, without doubt. If I get an interview then that's most of the battle done. But it's getting your foot in the door that is really the benefit of a degree. Fortunately the last two companies I've worked for have valued me for what I can do, rather than the letter after my name.

Paul

Ray_li

im not even looking for 24k like most graduates im just after the first year experiance.
When for a drive around Telford today to look at what companies are in the are. i found a few but i got really lost after taking all the round-a-bouts and turning left ang right all the time.
i Think my head was spining after some time but i did see a few scobys today so that made up for it.

Ray

normarker

DHORWICH
What are you employed as, MLOS or Clinical Scientist?
If the former you'll be in the same position as me, after all that time qualifying for £18000 max or thereabouts unless you make it to the next grade. I did 25 years ago and that was it, £25k max. 60 odd people in my lab and only 3 MLSOs above my grade.
If the latter you're in a rather better position.
You can't get into iether of the above without a degree in a relevant subject so its hardly surprising we can't keep decent staff.
I once recommended my job to a bloke in a pub and I still feel a bit guilty about it

Katana

Pavlo I get what you mean. Lots of engineering graduates ends up doing something else. Either way, I ain't too worried about it.

Pavlo

Well, without wishing to cast dispersions, many graduates I've come across are crap when it comes to the real world. And most ceratianly not worth £24k

Do grads really get £24k now? I seriously doubt an engineering grad would pick that much up on a first job. And that's based on south east pay rates which do tend to be a little higher.

I think you'll find that wages have dropped in the last 18mths as many industries have suffered. I think many companies are looking at pay cuts for existing employees to stay in business.

To give you an example, 2 years ago, contract rate for Ltd company contractor was about £25/hour, now you're looking at more like £18, simply because of the marketplace. More companies are looking to fill gaps in the workforce with contractors they don't have to give more than a few weeks notice to.

Paul

dhorwich

normarker,

I am supposed to be a trainee MLSO or what they are now called a biomedical scientist, i started off in histopathology and shortly found out there was no demand for 'on call'... Ive only been doing it a year but i now work in haematology and blood transufion which im enjoying alot more, plus you can do on call and that adds a big bonus to my normal (crap) pay...

I think when im fully qualified you have to do something like 5-6 on call sessions a month at about £100 a session.... im not looking forward to the sleepless nights, but the money will be great and needed...!! just need the time to spend it..!!

The thing that really gets me is, to start as a qualified MLSO you need an accredited degree and there is only a few out there, luckily for me my degree was accepted by the CPSM but other trainees at our place have all got degrees but they have to do another year on a postgraduate diploma in pathalogical science course..!!

Dan

[Edited by dhorwich - 11/13/2002 10:25:17 PM]

Katana

I've had "real life" training too as I'm a 25 year old student (well 19 if any ladies asks). 24k a year only in this country? Damn, thats less than what I earned before..

Ray_li

Katana

A friend of mine that graduated at the same time (5 months ago) started work for Jaguar on 24k but he's one of the lucky ones.
iv been thinking of working in Hong Kong but theres things i dont want to give up over here.
What did you do b4 uni? How can you afford to drive a scooby as a student?

Ray

[Edited by Ray_li - 11/13/2002 11:17:58 PM]

Katana

I've had a few jobs in the past. The last job I had was as a retail manager. Before that I managed my grandad's calor gas company. I'm also the kind of guy who saves his money instead of spending it all in one hit like a lot of my friends does.

fast bloke

Quickest way is to call round to your local financial advisor company and ask them if they could give (or seel ) you training material for CeMAP. (Don't do FPC first- you will never get paper 3 unaided.) Start studying and apply for a consumer credit licence and data protection register notification. I got all the CeMAP exams over a period of about 10 weeks. Hard work - much harder than I worked in total at university. Now one of very few fully CeMAP qualified people in Northern Ireland. (I've heard a rumour it is less than 100.) 100 000 people remortgage, move house or have a 'mortgage event' every year in NI. Each client would be worth on average 800.00 by the time you sell some life assurance or mortgage payment protection. So... 1 client a week for 40k. With interest rates and competition for new business among lenders the way they currently are average saving you can make for Joe Bloggs with a 50k mortgage on SVR would be about £100.00 a month, so you don't have to try to hard to find clients.

p.s. Brickboy - worst degree course must be 'History and Philosophy of Science.' One of my mates was 'reading' it and when asked what sort of career it might lead to, best he could come up with was 'I could lecture in history and philosophy of science'

normarker

FAO DHORWICH
OK Dan, you're a trainee ATM with an accredited degree which means you have a probational year to do to get your state registration.
So what do you get paid ATM?
When you have filled in all the bull**** "learning contract" paperwork and paid for your state registration and are a fully qualified and accredited MLSO1, what is your starting salary in the supposed career grade and what is the maximum?
After that you will need at least an MSC to stand even a slight chance of promotion which will involve finding a job to apply for, passing the interview and probably moving.
What will then be your starting salary as an MLSO2?
When you start to do "on call", how many hours do you expect to work on the trot, mostly on your own? In most labs its between 24 and 30 hrs.
Have you ever considered being a fireman or a policeman?

normarker

And BTW you will need to work for 40yrs to get the maximum pension of 50% of final salary and you wont collect it until you're 65.
If this job was recommended to you by a bloke in a pub IT WAS NOT ME!

marty_t3

Just though i'd add my 2p worth.

I dropped out of an Comp. Science degree after 2 years... got a £4.50 an hour job in a PC manufacturing plant plugging in hardfiles. 3 years later (at 23yo) i was the Senior Engineer and on good money. I'm now an IT analyst and looking for a job move now. I'm finding that it's experience people are after now and not qualifications. If i'd finished my degree it wouldn't have made one bit of difference to my career prospects now. Doing MCSE now is virtually the only IT qualification thats any use.

My young brother has a decent law degree and a post grad in IT. He left uni and got a job as an Oracle programmer. His first 4 years at uni were pointless cuz by the time he finished them he didn't want to do law anymore.

My young sister is a degree qualified chartered accountant with 2 years experience. She just got offered a 40 quid an hour job in Australia as an accountant. She knocked it back because she doesn't want to be an accountant anymore. Another wasted degree.

My own plans are now to train as an electrician.. i reckon i could make more in the next 10 years as a spark than as an IT analyst.

Alan

I don't think any degree is a waste - it's the fact you've got that piece of paper and can use it to your benefit in any profession.

I have done very well without a degree, in fact many friends say I am the prime example of why not to have a degree. However now at the age of 30, I am back at university (fulltime), yes, a first year undergraduate and I still hold down my job. Married, got a house......., but the future is so uncertain, that while I am relatively young it was time to get that degree, giving me a wider scope.

The course I have is Geography, Sociology and Third World Studies. Geography for the skills, problem solving, techniques..., Sociology to have a better understanding of the population and Third World Studies because it is an interest of mine. I should finish with an all round complete package. Would recommend it to anyone.

Only problem: I may never need it, but I just don'y know!

Dream Weaver

Ray

Just try and keep an open mind. Dont limit yourself to a job that is associated with your degree. Employers are interested in the fact that you have a degree anyway, so use it for other things.

What are you interested in? Apply for jobs in that industry. How about becoming a car designer - Subaru?

Ray_li

Fast Bloke

where can i find out more about this course and what does a financial advisor do?
im really intrested in this. please give me as much info as possible.

Ray