Interested in your thoughts or advice...
Discussion
Hi Guys. I don’t post on here very often and tend to just browse, but after reading some of the threads on here recently regarding University, I’d be interested to read some of your views, and perhaps advice with regards to the position I find myself in at the moment.
I graduated in Automotive Design from Swansea Metropolitan in 2011, it was a BSc with Honours and I obtained a 2:2 Grade. I was very disappointed with this, as I worked hard throughout (I’m not the drinking/partying type). Although I was very proud of my Final Project, which can be found here, and amounted to quite a sizeable chunk of the degree grade, Design is a subjective thing and the Tutors failed to agree with the reasoning behind my project.
While going through college, and then my degree, I held down a good part time job in retail, working weekends and other free time such as holidays. This helped me to support myself with regards to paying rent and keeping a car on the road, with the added bonus that I mostly enjoyed it and worked with some great people.
Disappointed with my degree grade, I resigned myself to continuing with the retail job, taking as many hours as they would give me, and started looking for something full time.
Fortunately I wasn’t looking for long, as while my model was at the University exhibition, it was spotted by guys from a company that specialised in making models and concepts for a variety of companies, but mainly car manufacturers. While I was in University, I always wanted to design cars, but when I got to make a model of my own design, I really enjoyed that aspect as well and felt that it was something I was good at.
We got in touch and I was asked if I would be interested in going to work for them temporarily over the summer, as they had a lot of work on. I jumped at the chance, and went for it. As it was a temporary thing, I also kept on with my retail job, so I was working in the Midlands Monday to Friday, staying in a hotel, and would drive back to South Wales late Friday night, to work in the shop over the weekend, and then drive back up to the Midlands late Sunday night, ready for Monday morning.
I enjoyed the experience and they seemed happy with my work ethic and capabilities, and about a month after the temp work they got back in touch with me to offer me a permanent full time contract. To say I was pleased was an understatement!
So by September ’11 I found myself living in the Midlands and starting my first proper full time job, and in the Car Industry as well. I loved it, I worked with some great people and built up my model making skills. I got to work on a variety of things, Astons, Bentleys, Jags, Land Rovers and loads of other stuff. The pay was also very good.
Things did take a bad turn for me around this time last year, I became really ill, and lost so much weight while waiting to our wonderful NHS to get there arses in gear that it got to a point that I was within a week or two of death (later told this by a doctor). I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. I was out of work for around 2 months, but the company were great and very supportive.
I was back in work by the middle of August, and everything was largely back to reality, aside from needing a day off every few weeks for Remicade infusions at the hospital. I was lucky in that the condition did not effect me in work, and I was back working on some great projects.
Unfortunately, my luck was to strike again. The company started to go through a rough patch and needed to cut back, and in October 2012, myself along with a few others were made redundant. I was gutted.
I moved back to Wales to live with my parents again, and within a few weeks managed to get back in to the retail job that I was doing before, only this time it was a temporary thing over Christmas, although they did say if things looked ok they may be able to keep me on.
I completed the temporary contract, and they kept me on an extra week until everything went tits up and the company went into administration.
As of then, January 2013, I have been out of work. Since then I’ve been looking for stuff in industry, and also out of it here in Wales, and it is driving me mad.
One company in the industry, offered my a weekend’s work paid with the possibility of something longer on offer. I felt I had done well, and they got back to me to say that I had done well, but apparently I lacked the previous experience they wanted for someone longer term. I eventually found out they were short a few people that particular weekend and needed someone quickly to cover the hours and get the project done.
Industry wise I keep getting the usual rejections for not having enough experience. I also cant get onto most Car Manufacturer Grad Schemes because of my poor degree. JLR accept people with 2:2s, so I applied there for the Graduate Modeller role, my portfolio got through, but I failed the ridiculous psychometric tests, which given I had a bit more experience than a graduate, grated slightly. I’m waiting for it to open again this year to give it another shot.
I also lost out on another job to an ex colleague who wasn’t exactly truthful about his prior experience, and then there is the plethora of recruitment consultants who promise much and deliver nothing.
I’ve also spent some time trying to promote myself. I managed to get my model into a couple of magazines and online articles, and I’ve been asked about putting it on show at a car show near the Humber Bridge in August.
Outside of industry, back home, is just as difficult. I’ve submitted countless applications and CVs. I have changed my CV several times, and always try to tailor to whatever I am applying for. I’ve applied for anything from shelf stacking, admin work, and even washing cars.
I have had 1 interview. It was for a Service Advisor job at a car dealership, the guy seemed to love my CV and even said “We had to get you in just to see if you were real.” The interview actually went really well, and I down to the last 2 and had a second interview, with a guy higher up in the business. That one went well too.
I didn’t get it however, he told me “I think you would do well here, but I can probably bet no-one that works here has a degree, and can do the stuff that you can, and I’d be worried you’d jump ship as soon as something you really want comes along”. He even told me not to give up on the industry stuff yet.
So I’m starting to feel really stuck. I can’t get a job in the industry because, although I’ve got more experience than the average graduate, it’s still not enough. I also can’t get a job outside the industry seemingly because of the stuff I have done, things I’m really proud that I’ve achieved.
I’ve reached the point now where I’m considering removing the Degree and the Model Making job off my CV, because I really need a job. I’m not currently on the dole, my outgoings are really small right now, so I’m living on my savings, my parents help me out here and there, and I’ve started selling things I don’t need, I’d sooner sell things than face the shame of joining the dole queue, but it wont last forever.
I’m also ashamed to admit I’m quite jealous of friends who didn’t bother with Uni, and are happy in full time jobs. It makes me wonder sometimes whether I should have bothered.
I know there are many in the world who have worse problems than I do, but it’s getting me really down and wondering what I’ve done to deserve this?
Apologies for the long thread guys. It was actually quite a good feeling to write.
Cheers,
Ben
I graduated in Automotive Design from Swansea Metropolitan in 2011, it was a BSc with Honours and I obtained a 2:2 Grade. I was very disappointed with this, as I worked hard throughout (I’m not the drinking/partying type). Although I was very proud of my Final Project, which can be found here, and amounted to quite a sizeable chunk of the degree grade, Design is a subjective thing and the Tutors failed to agree with the reasoning behind my project.
While going through college, and then my degree, I held down a good part time job in retail, working weekends and other free time such as holidays. This helped me to support myself with regards to paying rent and keeping a car on the road, with the added bonus that I mostly enjoyed it and worked with some great people.
Disappointed with my degree grade, I resigned myself to continuing with the retail job, taking as many hours as they would give me, and started looking for something full time.
Fortunately I wasn’t looking for long, as while my model was at the University exhibition, it was spotted by guys from a company that specialised in making models and concepts for a variety of companies, but mainly car manufacturers. While I was in University, I always wanted to design cars, but when I got to make a model of my own design, I really enjoyed that aspect as well and felt that it was something I was good at.
We got in touch and I was asked if I would be interested in going to work for them temporarily over the summer, as they had a lot of work on. I jumped at the chance, and went for it. As it was a temporary thing, I also kept on with my retail job, so I was working in the Midlands Monday to Friday, staying in a hotel, and would drive back to South Wales late Friday night, to work in the shop over the weekend, and then drive back up to the Midlands late Sunday night, ready for Monday morning.
I enjoyed the experience and they seemed happy with my work ethic and capabilities, and about a month after the temp work they got back in touch with me to offer me a permanent full time contract. To say I was pleased was an understatement!
So by September ’11 I found myself living in the Midlands and starting my first proper full time job, and in the Car Industry as well. I loved it, I worked with some great people and built up my model making skills. I got to work on a variety of things, Astons, Bentleys, Jags, Land Rovers and loads of other stuff. The pay was also very good.
Things did take a bad turn for me around this time last year, I became really ill, and lost so much weight while waiting to our wonderful NHS to get there arses in gear that it got to a point that I was within a week or two of death (later told this by a doctor). I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. I was out of work for around 2 months, but the company were great and very supportive.
I was back in work by the middle of August, and everything was largely back to reality, aside from needing a day off every few weeks for Remicade infusions at the hospital. I was lucky in that the condition did not effect me in work, and I was back working on some great projects.
Unfortunately, my luck was to strike again. The company started to go through a rough patch and needed to cut back, and in October 2012, myself along with a few others were made redundant. I was gutted.
I moved back to Wales to live with my parents again, and within a few weeks managed to get back in to the retail job that I was doing before, only this time it was a temporary thing over Christmas, although they did say if things looked ok they may be able to keep me on.
I completed the temporary contract, and they kept me on an extra week until everything went tits up and the company went into administration.
As of then, January 2013, I have been out of work. Since then I’ve been looking for stuff in industry, and also out of it here in Wales, and it is driving me mad.
One company in the industry, offered my a weekend’s work paid with the possibility of something longer on offer. I felt I had done well, and they got back to me to say that I had done well, but apparently I lacked the previous experience they wanted for someone longer term. I eventually found out they were short a few people that particular weekend and needed someone quickly to cover the hours and get the project done.
Industry wise I keep getting the usual rejections for not having enough experience. I also cant get onto most Car Manufacturer Grad Schemes because of my poor degree. JLR accept people with 2:2s, so I applied there for the Graduate Modeller role, my portfolio got through, but I failed the ridiculous psychometric tests, which given I had a bit more experience than a graduate, grated slightly. I’m waiting for it to open again this year to give it another shot.
I also lost out on another job to an ex colleague who wasn’t exactly truthful about his prior experience, and then there is the plethora of recruitment consultants who promise much and deliver nothing.
I’ve also spent some time trying to promote myself. I managed to get my model into a couple of magazines and online articles, and I’ve been asked about putting it on show at a car show near the Humber Bridge in August.
Outside of industry, back home, is just as difficult. I’ve submitted countless applications and CVs. I have changed my CV several times, and always try to tailor to whatever I am applying for. I’ve applied for anything from shelf stacking, admin work, and even washing cars.
I have had 1 interview. It was for a Service Advisor job at a car dealership, the guy seemed to love my CV and even said “We had to get you in just to see if you were real.” The interview actually went really well, and I down to the last 2 and had a second interview, with a guy higher up in the business. That one went well too.
I didn’t get it however, he told me “I think you would do well here, but I can probably bet no-one that works here has a degree, and can do the stuff that you can, and I’d be worried you’d jump ship as soon as something you really want comes along”. He even told me not to give up on the industry stuff yet.
So I’m starting to feel really stuck. I can’t get a job in the industry because, although I’ve got more experience than the average graduate, it’s still not enough. I also can’t get a job outside the industry seemingly because of the stuff I have done, things I’m really proud that I’ve achieved.
I’ve reached the point now where I’m considering removing the Degree and the Model Making job off my CV, because I really need a job. I’m not currently on the dole, my outgoings are really small right now, so I’m living on my savings, my parents help me out here and there, and I’ve started selling things I don’t need, I’d sooner sell things than face the shame of joining the dole queue, but it wont last forever.
I’m also ashamed to admit I’m quite jealous of friends who didn’t bother with Uni, and are happy in full time jobs. It makes me wonder sometimes whether I should have bothered.
I know there are many in the world who have worse problems than I do, but it’s getting me really down and wondering what I’ve done to deserve this?
Apologies for the long thread guys. It was actually quite a good feeling to write.
Cheers,
Ben
Thought about taking some time out for travelling? 6 months or so away from things, different pressures, you could still work many countries on a casual basis. Come back with a fresh outlook, some different cv fodder and let the industry pick up a bit. You definitely want to keep in touch with the company that was forced to let you go though.
Go self employed.
Do something. Anything. Weeding gardens. Ironing. Cleaning etc etc
If you have a talent for design..... come up with something that you can utilise that skill.
eg. I've seen leather upholsters take boring chairs/ stools and kit them out in racing livery for car nuts.
Leather travelling bags with racing numbers.
Do something, anything to generate some income.
While doing that - think about something that you can do - and you can sell.
Hope this helps.
Do something. Anything. Weeding gardens. Ironing. Cleaning etc etc
If you have a talent for design..... come up with something that you can utilise that skill.
eg. I've seen leather upholsters take boring chairs/ stools and kit them out in racing livery for car nuts.
Leather travelling bags with racing numbers.
Do something, anything to generate some income.
While doing that - think about something that you can do - and you can sell.
Hope this helps.
awooga said:
Thought about taking some time out for travelling? 6 months or so away from things, different pressures, you could still work many countries on a casual basis. Come back with a fresh outlook, some different cv fodder and let the industry pick up a bit. You definitely want to keep in touch with the company that was forced to let you go though.
Travelling is something I had considered early on, along with looking at contract work in the likes of Germany. However I have to go to the hospital for Remicade infusions every 8 weeks, together with the possibility of needing other treatments, and the cost of travelling puts me off going abroad for extended periods.
Get yourself signed on the dole.
Not for the giro but to get your NI stamp paid, you might need this in about 40 years time when you want a bit of state pension.
In the meantime, don't give up. Your doing some of the right things just do more and get your name known, you're in a really good position - you have knowledge, experience, qualifications and most of all know what you want to do.
How many muppets are out there with a generic degree and no idea what to do with it?
Not for the giro but to get your NI stamp paid, you might need this in about 40 years time when you want a bit of state pension.
In the meantime, don't give up. Your doing some of the right things just do more and get your name known, you're in a really good position - you have knowledge, experience, qualifications and most of all know what you want to do.
How many muppets are out there with a generic degree and no idea what to do with it?
Chim said:
Shheeeesh that was dull, gave in half way. Any chance of posting an abridged version
Sorry, wasn't intending to be that long. I started and kept going.Sucked at Degree, but managed to get job in industry.
Made redundant.
Out of work for 6 months
Can't get back into industry, and struggling to get any job.
Wondering if uni was waste of time, and whether to remove degree and industry job off CV, to give me a better chance at getting any job.
Better?
Edited by BenRichards89 on Thursday 18th July 20:32
Sharted said:
Get yourself signed on the dole.
Not for the giro but to get your NI stamp paid, you might need this in about 40 years time when you want a bit of state pension.
In the meantime, don't give up. Your doing some of the right things just do more and get your name known, you're in a really good position - you have knowledge, experience, qualifications and most of all know what you want to do.
How many muppets are out there with a generic degree and no idea what to do with it?
Thanks for the heads up, I must admit I didn't know that, I guess I should.Not for the giro but to get your NI stamp paid, you might need this in about 40 years time when you want a bit of state pension.
In the meantime, don't give up. Your doing some of the right things just do more and get your name known, you're in a really good position - you have knowledge, experience, qualifications and most of all know what you want to do.
How many muppets are out there with a generic degree and no idea what to do with it?
I know there are genuine people who are on the dole, but there is a stereotype, and I don't want to be seen as a scummy scrounger.
BenRichards89 said:
Chim said:
Shheeeesh that was dull, gave in half way. Any chance of posting an abridged version
Sorry, wasn't intending to be that long. I started and kept going.Sucked at Degree, but managed to get job in industry.
Made redundant.
Out of work for 6 months
Can't get back into industry, and struggling to get any job.
Wondering if uni was waste of time, and whether to remove degree and industry job off CV.
Better?
Much better a degree is never a waste of time, no one said that you only have to have one CV. It amazes me that people will blindly send out the same standard CV for every job they apply for, read the job advert, have a look at the company that you are applying to join and modify your CV to suit the position and the job.
Just don't go nuts claiming skills that you have not got the first clue about.
Chim said:
Much better a degree is never a waste of time, no one said that you only have to have one CV. It amazes me that people will blindly send out the same standard CV for every job they apply for, read the job advert, have a look at the company that you are applying to join and modify your CV to suit the position and the job.
Just don't go nuts claiming skills that you have not got the first clue about.
I'm just wondering whether it's worth removing them altogether, to give me a better chance at basic jobs. Just worried about what could happen if they found out that I did actually have a degree and the industry experience.
Apologies for my somewhat poor attempt above, now having read your OP.
No, don't take it off. Keep it on there I would say. Always better to have more strings on your bow, even if they are maybe unrelated to what you're going for.
You've got a degree. That shows at least commitment and an ability to learn, apply yourself and succeed - regardless of the grade, your degree is more than I have. I'm in my mid-30's and wish I had a degree. If you get another job within the industry, it's a door-opener. If outside the industry, it's evidence of commitment.
Work is f
king scarce at the moment. For sure. But you've obviously got a bit of intelligence, could you transfer your skills? My industry (civil engineering) can cater for all sorts, people good with aesthetics can be good 3d designers, number-crunchers can reasonably easily transfer to quantity surveying.
I'm sure other people in other industries can offer similar examples tailored to them. A friend was an M+E grad who couldn't get work, transferred to civils, did ten years, then went on to teaching. Horses for courses and all that, but don't give up hope.
Good luck to you.
Oh and (possibly flame suit on) while you're searching, claim what you are entitled to. You'll be paying in to it when you're working, and it's what it's there for. st experience, yes (I've done it, once!) but it really makes you appreciate work when you do finally find it!
No, don't take it off. Keep it on there I would say. Always better to have more strings on your bow, even if they are maybe unrelated to what you're going for.
You've got a degree. That shows at least commitment and an ability to learn, apply yourself and succeed - regardless of the grade, your degree is more than I have. I'm in my mid-30's and wish I had a degree. If you get another job within the industry, it's a door-opener. If outside the industry, it's evidence of commitment.
Work is f
king scarce at the moment. For sure. But you've obviously got a bit of intelligence, could you transfer your skills? My industry (civil engineering) can cater for all sorts, people good with aesthetics can be good 3d designers, number-crunchers can reasonably easily transfer to quantity surveying. I'm sure other people in other industries can offer similar examples tailored to them. A friend was an M+E grad who couldn't get work, transferred to civils, did ten years, then went on to teaching. Horses for courses and all that, but don't give up hope.
Good luck to you.
Oh and (possibly flame suit on) while you're searching, claim what you are entitled to. You'll be paying in to it when you're working, and it's what it's there for. s
t experience, yes (I've done it, once!) but it really makes you appreciate work when you do finally find it!BenRichards89 said:
Chim said:
Much better a degree is never a waste of time, no one said that you only have to have one CV. It amazes me that people will blindly send out the same standard CV for every job they apply for, read the job advert, have a look at the company that you are applying to join and modify your CV to suit the position and the job.
Just don't go nuts claiming skills that you have not got the first clue about.
I'm just wondering whether it's worth removing them altogether, to give me a better chance at basic jobs. Just worried about what could happen if they found out that I did actually have a degree and the industry experience.
Not telling them though is not grounds for dismissal.
OpulentBob said:
Apologies for my somewhat poor attempt above, now having read your OP.
No, don't take it off. Keep it on there I would say. Always better to have more strings on your bow, even if they are maybe unrelated to what you're going for.
You've got a degree. That shows at least commitment and an ability to learn, apply yourself and succeed - regardless of the grade, your degree is more than I have. I'm in my mid-30's and wish I had a degree. If you get another job within the industry, it's a door-opener. If outside the industry, it's evidence of commitment.
Work is fking scarce at the moment. For sure. But you've obviously got a bit of intelligence, could you transfer your skills? My industry (civil engineering) can cater for all sorts, people good with aesthetics can be good 3d designers, number-crunchers can reasonably easily transfer to quantity surveying.
I'm sure other people in other industries can offer similar examples tailored to them. A friend was an M+E grad who couldn't get work, transferred to civils, did ten years, then went on to teaching. Horses for courses and all that, but don't give up hope.
Good luck to you.
Oh and (possibly flame suit on) while you're searching, claim what you are entitled to. You'll be paying in to it when you're working, and it's what it's there for. st experience, yes (I've done it, once!) but it really makes you appreciate work when you do finally find it!
My fault to some extent. The OP is a bit long. I posted as I knew people would have good suggestions.No, don't take it off. Keep it on there I would say. Always better to have more strings on your bow, even if they are maybe unrelated to what you're going for.
You've got a degree. That shows at least commitment and an ability to learn, apply yourself and succeed - regardless of the grade, your degree is more than I have. I'm in my mid-30's and wish I had a degree. If you get another job within the industry, it's a door-opener. If outside the industry, it's evidence of commitment.
Work is f
king scarce at the moment. For sure. But you've obviously got a bit of intelligence, could you transfer your skills? My industry (civil engineering) can cater for all sorts, people good with aesthetics can be good 3d designers, number-crunchers can reasonably easily transfer to quantity surveying. I'm sure other people in other industries can offer similar examples tailored to them. A friend was an M+E grad who couldn't get work, transferred to civils, did ten years, then went on to teaching. Horses for courses and all that, but don't give up hope.
Good luck to you.
Oh and (possibly flame suit on) while you're searching, claim what you are entitled to. You'll be paying in to it when you're working, and it's what it's there for. s
t experience, yes (I've done it, once!) but it really makes you appreciate work when you do finally find it!I do look into transferable skills, I keep an eye on other design sectors, graphics etc. I always thought Civils would be a bit too technical for me, but again it's worth looking into so thanks for that
Edited by BenRichards89 on Thursday 18th July 21:01
Just finished reading the thread on you build project. You have real talent, as a designer and model builder.
Wish I could offer helpful advice. In the short term, perhaps have a 'downgraded' CV to get your foot in the door at a McJob. And keep putting the real CV out their to those that might offer a job suitable to you talents.
Good luck mate.
Wish I could offer helpful advice. In the short term, perhaps have a 'downgraded' CV to get your foot in the door at a McJob. And keep putting the real CV out their to those that might offer a job suitable to you talents.
Good luck mate.
1) Get some help - I recommend reading John Lees 'Job Interviews - tough answers to tough questions' - if you are getting to interview, then you are doing some thing right, but something wrong at interview. You should be bagging 1 or 2 job offers every 3 or 4 interviews.
2) Agree with the do anything idea. Get out there and knock on doors - you'll find something.
3) Try and get a positive mindset - you come across in the post as a little bit sorry for yourself, and this might come across at interview / talking to people.
A degree is always worth something, as is any education, but it's not a right to a world of work and happiness. You just need to take the next step, and make it happen, and to do this you need focus, commitment, and a can do view of things.
Best of luck with things, and if you fancy a few days digging foundations for a pittance (but more than I'll earn), give me a call.
2) Agree with the do anything idea. Get out there and knock on doors - you'll find something.
3) Try and get a positive mindset - you come across in the post as a little bit sorry for yourself, and this might come across at interview / talking to people.
A degree is always worth something, as is any education, but it's not a right to a world of work and happiness. You just need to take the next step, and make it happen, and to do this you need focus, commitment, and a can do view of things.
Best of luck with things, and if you fancy a few days digging foundations for a pittance (but more than I'll earn), give me a call.
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