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Deciding on an occupation and universities exposed

Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
edited March 27 in Work & Study
Hello guys

So you are going to make one of the most important decisions in your life and need some help deciding. There are many different factors with deciding a career, some of which are out of your control. You really need to make some notes with this one as I only know the basics. I am not saying I am right or wrong in anything I say, and don't ever think others are right or wrong either.

I have read about a few people that have decided their career because others have pressured them or convinced them it is the career for them. If people don't want to go into an occupation or go to university why can't others get off their case about it? I was naïve enough to conform to going to university because I thought it was compulsory. I thought I would stand out from the crowd, but they just wanted the tuition fees. If people are nice to you when you don't really know them always question why, most of the time it's because they want your money - not always though.

Make notes about whatever occupation you are considering and question everything!! Speak to people currently working in the occupation, preferably by themselves. If there is a shortage in an occupation ask yourself why, keeping in mind over 10 million people have been made redundant.

Other aspects are things which you don't really consider, such as how the job will effect your personal life or whether it will cause you health problems. I have a phobia of needles so never really considered a medical career. Some people faint at the sight of blood, you really need to rule these problems out. I thought about a career as an electrician and discovered that you cannot be colour blind. Do your research into various occupations before deciding courses. Think about what you want from life. If the only reason you go to work is to earn money you will have a very boring life.

So, exposing universities...it is no longer a secret that thousands have left Oxford and Cambridge and gone into minimum wage jobs or unemployed (with second class degrees). Until recently they refused to disclose this information....hmmm. Do your research on google guys...but keep in mind that the internet can be very deceiving but also tells you things which universities don't want you to know. It pays to be cynical these days!

I hope you choose the right career for you
Post edited by JustV on

Comments

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    What strikes me as odd is that you apparently think that the powers that be - whether they be university marketing teams, admissions teams, careers services, teachers etc - are brainwashing students into going to university, however you can't see that by continuously posting about how bad universities are, you are effectively also brainwashing those same students. There's a difference between advice and negatively forcing your opinion again and again.

    University isn't right for everyone. I don't think anyone disputes that. It's a shame but it happens. Life isn't all plain sailing and perfect choices. My secondary school wasn't right for me but for various reasons it was chosen and I had to remain there. However I don't sit and blame all my problems on my secondary education; it wasn't a bad education, it just happened to not be the right environment for me. I made the choice to make the most out of the situation, I could have easily rebelled and I could very easily slate the school now, but it won't change anything. The same goes for you: you went to university, for whatever reason, it wasn't right. You have two choices, as have been explained before. You can be bitter and cynical, or you can move on.

    Going to a top university such as Oxbridge does not automatically mean you will have a top job. As with any university, you make what you want of your time there. Make good connections and sure, you're more likely to get a good job, but if you sit on your backside and wait for things to come to you, then sure, unemployment is likely. A degree doesn't equal a well rounded person with life experience, it isn't the only thing employers want.

    Employment works on the bases of looking: the person who wants a job must seek the job. The job does not seek the person, at least very rarely. Laziness and idleness is not a good attribute when it comes to employment.
    I have read about a few people that have decided their career because others have pressured them or convinced them it is the career for them. If people don't want to go into an occupation or go to university why can't others get off their case about it?

    In an ideal world this wouldn't happen, but in reality young people are often forced into various careers by their families. Not everyone can say to their parents to "get off their case."
    Other aspects are things which you don't really consider, such as how the job will effect your personal life or whether it will cause you health problems.

    I would imagine that the majority of people do consider this. Humans have this wonderful thing called common sense.
    keeping in mind over 10 million people have been made redundant.

    Yes, and keep in mind that there was a huge financial crash a few years ago. It wasn't just one area of employment which suffered. Cost cutting happens, fact. Redundancy is horrible, I've been there but sometimes you have to accept that in certain areas, it is more common because of government cuts. It is a personal choice as to whether the passion for working in that area overrides the risk. It's not a case of a straight "no you should not work in that area."
    If the only reason you go to work is to earn money you will have a very boring life.

    This interested me, because before you have raised that [one of] your main hates about university was you left a well paying job, got a degree and now have a job which pays less. You made the choice to leave, no one else and the blame game stops with you. So what do you want out of life? Besides the perfect job you once had, obviously. Being cynical isn't the best way to achieve whatever you want. Too much cynicism is off putting and being surrounded by negativity is draining. Good luck to you.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I tried to "like" Ella!'s post, but then remembered that I wasn't on facebook.

    :thumb: instead.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    How did I know you would comment ella? I am giving my nephew advice about his career and have been looking through the college prospectus. There are half the number of courses that there were when I was there, no explanation needed. She got very angry when I started asking questions. She didn't care about him or his future, she was more interested in keeping her job and getting the tuition fees. That's why some universities did not want whatuni set up but students took it into there own hands
    As with any university, you make what you want of your time there. Make good connections and sure, you're more likely to get a good job, but if you sit on your backside and wait for things to come to you, then sure, unemployment is likely.

    You are aware that some employers don't accept graduates anymore?
    Employment works on the bases of looking: the person who wants a job must seek the job. The job does not seek the person, at least very rarely. Laziness and idleness is not a good attribute when it comes to employment.

    Did you read about the Oxford graduate with a 2:1 that applied for 200 jobs and did not get an interview?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    How did I know you would comment ella?

    I am fully entitled to comment on whichever thread I want. How did I know that this thread would be yet another anti-university, cynical thread?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I wanted to be a doctor so I'm studying medicine at university. Innit.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I personally can't wait to go away to uni. I think it's totally the right move for me

    Sent by Sony Xperia
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Did you read about the Oxford graduate with a 2:1 that applied for 200 jobs and did not get an interview?

    I expect that Oxford and other universities produce thousands of graduates every year, and that not all of them are able to easily find work. This is not a secret, and nor does it automatically mean that no graduate will find work, or that people shouldn't go to university "because they won't get a job after it".

    Even leaving aside how many people might or might not get jobs immediately after graduating, it's a simple fact that certain careers require degrees, and that some people want to go to university simply for the experience, or because they want to pursue a life within academia.
  • Cat88Cat88 Posts: 377 Listening Ear
    Did you read about the Oxford graduate with a 2:1 that applied for 200 jobs and did not get an interview?

    I swear i said this one one of your other threads, but it is a well-know fact that your academic grade isn't everything - you need to be a well rounded person with a variety of skills. I did indeed have friends with 1sts in degrees who found it harder to get a job than those with a 2.1 because they hadn't done work experience or other extra curricular activities. My employer actually told me when I started that it was my extra stuff that gave me an edge.

    I do think though that this thread is a bit better than the last and I appreicate that you are trying to give a slightly more rounded view.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Becki: I thought university was the right move for me, looking back I was just used to get the tuition fees.

    Cat: I have no doubt that there is a combination things that employers look for but the 'extra bits' that you keep referring to only make up maybe 20%.

    I have friends that interview people in big companies and they told they have made up their minds within 10 minutes of interviewing someone if they are going to employ them. I would say 50% is whether they like you as a person. Companies these days are more concerned with what ideas you have to boost their profits rather than having a team where everyone likes each other. Money will always rule, but now more than in the past. Have you ever heard the phrase 'She did not get this far by shaking hands'. Speak to people only you tube etc, you will soon discover what gets a job.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    To be fair I know a lot of people that have come out of university very happy. Many of my carers have been to uni and said it was an enjoyable experience. I know it can't be said for everyone but I believe life is what you make of it. You are the main person in your life and has full control if it. This goes for uni life and what you do with your degree after

    Sent by Sony Xperia
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Have you ever heard the phrase 'She did not get this far by shaking hands'.

    isn't that Nickelback??
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    To be fair I know a lot of people that have come out of university very happy. Many of my carers have been to uni and said it was an enjoyable experience. I know it can't be said for everyone but I believe life is what you make of it. You are the main person in your life and has full control if it. This goes for uni life and what you do with your degree after

    Becki, this will be the last time I talk to you about this. You should be okay because psychology is a specialist area. I hope you have read my comments though, 80% deciding to pursue other careers is really high. There are too many things which make me question whether university is worth the effort. My local college is struggling to keep its' head above water, and they are in the top 30 in the UK. The drop out rates and students that regret studying are not publicly known, whatuni will not record them. If a university is not in the top 50 I think they should be shut down. I feel for these students that have enrolled on courses such as journalism, will be 40K in debt only to discover that journalism is a dying profession. There are things that colleges and universities will not tell you, believe me. When deciding your uni becki ask about drop out rates, what happens to students after studying and student satisfaction surveys. You want to know what they do when leaving education, not whether they further their studies. Make notes, that will help you make decisions. I hope it goes well for you but I can guarantee you that you will make friends that regret studying at all.

    Grace: I think they are nickelback lyrics x
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Becki, this will be the last time I talk to you about this.

    Just because Becki disagrees with you doesn't mean you need to patronise her.

    I'm actually at a lose of what to say to you, numerous people have spent time replying to you, trying to offer some balance to your threads and you're dismissive about our comments and rude about the people who post.
  • plugitinplugitin Posts: 2,197 Boards Champion
    but I can guarantee you that you will make friends that regret studying at all.

    But I can guarantee you they will move on, take responsibility for their life - whether that be through dropping out or finishing their studies.

    Unlike some.

    I read an interesting article recently about some firms recruiting people who dropped out of uni because it shows they are strong enough to follow their guts and aren't afraid to admit they made a mistake.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I read an interesting article recently about some firms recruiting people who dropped out of uni because it shows they are strong enough to follow their guts and aren't afraid to admit they made a mistake.

    I also read an article that 1600 graduates applied for 6 graduate jobs. I would think those 6 people know people that are managers for that company. Most of those students will be lucky to break even by the time they retire.

    I think some of you have got shares in the students loans company or have partners that work in the education system. Not surprising you are so keen for people to enrol in university/college. When I visited my local college they did not care about my nephews future, all they wanted was the money to keep themselves in a job. Evil world we live in, everyone is looking after their own interests. Watch more courses and degrees being axed at universities and colleges in the next few years!! Many colleges have already axed A Levels and degrees - no demand for them! Google this 'What colleges and universities don't want you to know'

    Just come across this. This is illegal in others countries (commonly known as bribery) http://www.tcs.cam.ac.uk/news/0023880-what-they-dont-want-you-to-know-the-cambridge-student-exclusively-reveals-the-secret-unethical-commission-rates-of-top-uk-universities-2.html
  • plugitinplugitin Posts: 2,197 Boards Champion
    Really got something against Anglia Ruskin, haven't you?

    Why haven't you got anything better to do?

    Can you not move forward with your life?
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