Stuck at a dead end job. Help!
Discussion
Basically I'm 22 years old and only recently recovered from 4-5 years of depression. From a young age I've been brainwashed into going into the medical sector, so after leaving school, I did a btec in science and applied for a pharmacy foundation course in uni, at the same time I found a job in a supermarket pharmacy part time.
As I was brainwashed into doing the subject, I obviously had no passion and showed no commitment with constant procrastination I was failing and just scraping though and at the same time my depression was get worse and worse to a point during exam time I was having panic attacks.
After some retakes and also working in the sector for a few years I came to the conclusion that I hated the course with passion and not only that but the future in the field was becoming bleak. So last year finally grew a pair and decided to drop out.
Right now I'm still working in pharmacy but I can only get part time hours (15) which means I'm hardly earning anything (7k), I'm a very good employee, and always put in lots of work but the fact that it's a supermarket pharmacy it which makes it even worse as you're just another number in the thousands and then you have customers treating you like dirt, constantly belittling you or having to rub every assholes dick while they talk to you like a dog.
So anyway I decided to apply for computer science for uni. Having read UCAS, most of the uni's I applied to wrote about giving chances to mature students and being more easy on entry qualification, however that is not the case as I have been rejected from 4 of my 5 choices and still waiting for one to get back to me.
Tbh I really struggling right now. I don't really want to continue with my current job nor do I want another crappy job that involves me serving people with minimum wage, but on the other hand I don't have a degree or any experience in other fields. I want to get a degree but that is looking bleak right now. I really need some decent guidance as I feel my parents have given up on me and don't really care and my life has also become very crap with awful sleeping pattern. All I do is sleep, work and gym. I want to get into a sector which I will have a future in or I can climb up the ladder.
I would be grateful for any help or suggestion as. After overcoming my depression I'm determined to sort my life out.
As I was brainwashed into doing the subject, I obviously had no passion and showed no commitment with constant procrastination I was failing and just scraping though and at the same time my depression was get worse and worse to a point during exam time I was having panic attacks.
After some retakes and also working in the sector for a few years I came to the conclusion that I hated the course with passion and not only that but the future in the field was becoming bleak. So last year finally grew a pair and decided to drop out.
Right now I'm still working in pharmacy but I can only get part time hours (15) which means I'm hardly earning anything (7k), I'm a very good employee, and always put in lots of work but the fact that it's a supermarket pharmacy it which makes it even worse as you're just another number in the thousands and then you have customers treating you like dirt, constantly belittling you or having to rub every assholes dick while they talk to you like a dog.
So anyway I decided to apply for computer science for uni. Having read UCAS, most of the uni's I applied to wrote about giving chances to mature students and being more easy on entry qualification, however that is not the case as I have been rejected from 4 of my 5 choices and still waiting for one to get back to me.
Tbh I really struggling right now. I don't really want to continue with my current job nor do I want another crappy job that involves me serving people with minimum wage, but on the other hand I don't have a degree or any experience in other fields. I want to get a degree but that is looking bleak right now. I really need some decent guidance as I feel my parents have given up on me and don't really care and my life has also become very crap with awful sleeping pattern. All I do is sleep, work and gym. I want to get into a sector which I will have a future in or I can climb up the ladder.
I would be grateful for any help or suggestion as. After overcoming my depression I'm determined to sort my life out.
Consider doing a CertHE or DipHE with the OU or some other distance learning/part-time setup to improve your chances of getting onto the course you want? It'd take about a year for the cert, 2 for the diploma which I know feels like half a lifetime when things aren't good, but it'd pay off bigtime if you were able to get through it.
How are your A levels? I went to university at about your age with some foundation qualifications, but I believe they look more favourably on those sort of applications if you have been studying for a year already, rather than going straight to university after a few years of working. I guess if you're in the habit of studying they feel you're less likely to drop out.
Rather than jumping straight into being a student again, how about trying to get a work placement first somewhere in the field youre interested in. If youre on 7k anyway you may be able to find something at the bottom of the ladder to work up frim that would also give you a good reason to study, or do computer jobs not work like that?
Maybe PH towers can help, as you are probably about as qualified as their techies and they obviously need more hands to keep the servers running
Maybe PH towers can help, as you are probably about as qualified as their techies and they obviously need more hands to keep the servers running
please dont ban me, I love you really great clever well professional overlords of ph
If you're sure you want Togo the Uni route ( and I'd make sure you've really thought about this. As much as you may think it'll allow change with a subject you like, it's still something that doesn't suit everyone and there are other options.
When applying to Uni as a mature student I contacted Los of unis to see who woe actually consider me and in the end only applied to one. If they don't think you're suitable, they'll probably tell you what they're looking for. You may need to do an access course or gain experience in the industry.
This is a good resource:
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f...
When applying to Uni as a mature student I contacted Los of unis to see who woe actually consider me and in the end only applied to one. If they don't think you're suitable, they'll probably tell you what they're looking for. You may need to do an access course or gain experience in the industry.
This is a good resource:
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f...
The dropping out of the btec will be counting against you, as Unis have a big problem with this at the best of times. OU might be the way to go, if you are really determined to go.
Even if you have a load of money, Uni can be pretty depressing & if you are prone to depression is that a really a place you want to be.
I personally didn't enjoy the studying at Uni myself, but loved the work placement & social aspects. Given the fees these days, I can't say I'd recommend it unless you had a real passion for a particular subject.
Good luck.
Even if you have a load of money, Uni can be pretty depressing & if you are prone to depression is that a really a place you want to be.
I personally didn't enjoy the studying at Uni myself, but loved the work placement & social aspects. Given the fees these days, I can't say I'd recommend it unless you had a real passion for a particular subject.
Good luck.
A good friend of mine is a pharmacist at Asda, she made around £55k last year. Tesco made her an offer that with benefits would add up to around £72k, she turned them down as it'd involve out of hours and she valued her home life more than the money.
Re your motivation and depression, it sounds a bit like you're not quite out of the woods if your post is anything to go by, I read it that you're blaming rather than accepting the situation, though I guess you know your own mind better than anyone else. Very few people get to do something they truly love as a career, the rest of us muddle through and hope it works out. There's always other options if you look for them. It's probably the time to figure out what you do want to do rather than what you dont.
Re your motivation and depression, it sounds a bit like you're not quite out of the woods if your post is anything to go by, I read it that you're blaming rather than accepting the situation, though I guess you know your own mind better than anyone else. Very few people get to do something they truly love as a career, the rest of us muddle through and hope it works out. There's always other options if you look for them. It's probably the time to figure out what you do want to do rather than what you dont.
Complete left field, but have you considered the forced?
You can get some great qualification (at their expense), while at the same time make a decent living, hopefully see the world, get some great skills, and be in an industry with a future (even if you move into the private sector later on).
Worth talking to Navy, RAF, Army recruiters about your situation, and see what is possible.
Best of luck!
You can get some great qualification (at their expense), while at the same time make a decent living, hopefully see the world, get some great skills, and be in an industry with a future (even if you move into the private sector later on).
Worth talking to Navy, RAF, Army recruiters about your situation, and see what is possible.
Best of luck!
tinoproductions said:
Complete left field, but have you considered the forced?
You can get some great qualification (at their expense), while at the same time make a decent living, hopefully see the world, get some great skills, and be in an industry with a future (even if you move into the private sector later on).
Worth talking to Navy, RAF, Army recruiters about your situation, and see what is possible.
Best of luck!
The armed forces is a good idea, but there is often a hefty waiting time, for anything decent at the moment. I started the process of becoming a weapons engineer on submarines but was told it would be a 18-24 month waiting period, before I would actually start my basic training.You can get some great qualification (at their expense), while at the same time make a decent living, hopefully see the world, get some great skills, and be in an industry with a future (even if you move into the private sector later on).
Worth talking to Navy, RAF, Army recruiters about your situation, and see what is possible.
Best of luck!
Obviously, depending on what you choose, you'll get qualifications in that field but you can also do extra things and study on the side for other things.
In the end, for me, the waiting list was too long, a lot can happen in 2 years and it did. I ended up meeting my current partner and having my 2 boys with her. I could still have gone, of course I could, but leaving my family for 6 months at a time, to go on a submarine, wasn't for me.
Last year I got a real bug for Physics, so I started the Q64 degree with the OU and am now on my way to getting a Bsc (hons) in Physics. Loving it so far. The trick, as you've already found out, is to pick something you're really interested in, so that it isn't a chore to learn but a pleasure.
Funding wise, I'm not sure how you funded your other Uni course, but if it was through a student-loan, I don't think you can apply for another if you've ever dropped out of one. There are other ways to pay though.
If your household incoome is less than £25,000, then you can apply for a module, free of charge, through the 'access to learning' programme but you'd have to speak to the OU about all the details.
You can also pay for each module (£1250 per 30 credits per year) on a monthly basis. So if you can't afford it now, you could go find a full-time job to help pay for it.
Why do you want to do IT? Do you have a passion for it already, what do you do/have you done in that field (personally) built and repaired PC's and software, what experience (windows/Linux/Apple etc). Just aiming for IT because you perceive it pays well isn't the right approach.
You only work 15hrs a week, why not look for part time work that fits around this and try something like IT support desk (phone monkey basically). That will pay you, give you experience and make sure you like that sort of work.
You only work 15hrs a week, why not look for part time work that fits around this and try something like IT support desk (phone monkey basically). That will pay you, give you experience and make sure you like that sort of work.
AJS- said:
How are your A levels? I went to university at about your age with some foundation qualifications, but I believe they look more favourably on those sort of applications if you have been studying for a year already, rather than going straight to university after a few years of working. I guess if you're in the habit of studying they feel you're less likely to drop out.
In college I did a level 3 Btec in applied science which is the same as two A levels. I only stopped going to university last year.. but I guess you have a point. I think I need to do some sort of a access course.W00DY said:
If you're sure you want Togo the Uni route ( and I'd make sure you've really thought about this. As much as you may think it'll allow change with a subject you like, it's still something that doesn't suit everyone and there are other options.
When applying to Uni as a mature student I contacted Los of unis to see who woe actually consider me and in the end only applied to one. If they don't think you're suitable, they'll probably tell you what they're looking for. You may need to do an access course or gain experience in the industry.
This is a good resource:
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f...
Unfortunately applying for uni this time round I didn't do proper research and didn't contacted the uni's. If I get rejected from all uni I can go through clearing and then I will contact them for sure.When applying to Uni as a mature student I contacted Los of unis to see who woe actually consider me and in the end only applied to one. If they don't think you're suitable, they'll probably tell you what they're looking for. You may need to do an access course or gain experience in the industry.
This is a good resource:
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f...
thepeoplespal said:
The dropping out of the btec will be counting against you, as Unis have a big problem with this at the best of times. OU might be the way to go, if you are really determined to go.
Even if you have a load of money, Uni can be pretty depressing & if you are prone to depression is that a really a place you want to be.
I personally didn't enjoy the studying at Uni myself, but loved the work placement & social aspects. Given the fees these days, I can't say I'd recommend it unless you had a real passion for a particular subject.
Good luck.
I did finish my btec but it was the uni course I messed up, and tbh I made a massive mistake with my uni choice and there was lots of deception involved in UCAS. Something many people realised doing the course. My depression was getting bad but thinking university life and also progression with my education, thing would get better but. when I started uni it got worse and my "downfall" started, especially student accommodation as our building was secluded from the others for some reason and the foundation people ware separate from the other "proper" uni people. So it made things much harder regarding socialising and also not liking the course that much didn't help too + a bad relationship made it worse, however after getting the normal working in a sEven if you have a load of money, Uni can be pretty depressing & if you are prone to depression is that a really a place you want to be.
I personally didn't enjoy the studying at Uni myself, but loved the work placement & social aspects. Given the fees these days, I can't say I'd recommend it unless you had a real passion for a particular subject.
Good luck.
tty minimum wage job I'm determined to put my 100% in uni and do something with my life.andy-xr said:
A good friend of mine is a pharmacist at Asda, she made around £55k last year. Tesco made her an offer that with benefits would add up to around £72k, she turned them down as it'd involve out of hours and she valued her home life more than the money.
Re your motivation and depression, it sounds a bit like you're not quite out of the woods if your post is anything to go by, I read it that you're blaming rather than accepting the situation, though I guess you know your own mind better than anyone else. Very few people get to do something they truly love as a career, the rest of us muddle through and hope it works out. There's always other options if you look for them. It's probably the time to figure out what you do want to do rather than what you dont.
After working in Pharmacy for around 4-5 years, things have started to get worse and worse and with the previous aggressive expansion of supermarket pharmacies, they have now realised their mistakes and are reducing hours + sacking people. Only this month 3 people got kicked out of our pharmacy. With the introduction of electronic prescriptions and also pharmacy only medication being transferred to over the counter soon, things are looking extremely bad. I really feel sorry for the new pharmacist as job wise they will be totally screwed.Re your motivation and depression, it sounds a bit like you're not quite out of the woods if your post is anything to go by, I read it that you're blaming rather than accepting the situation, though I guess you know your own mind better than anyone else. Very few people get to do something they truly love as a career, the rest of us muddle through and hope it works out. There's always other options if you look for them. It's probably the time to figure out what you do want to do rather than what you dont.
Regarding the depression. I Officially became "depression free" around the xmas time. The antidepressants helped me massively but at the same time I felt that it masked over a lot of problems and just made me permanently "happy" to a point that i didn't give a s
t about how crap my life had gotten and I just carried on without much thought. I mean right now I'm not depressed for sure but if things ware to carry on this way it is then there might be a relapse. Also gyming has helped me massively but imo you should never accept your current situation and always been on a look out to go further up and improving yourself.Bullett said:
Why do you want to do IT? Do you have a passion for it already, what do you do/have you done in that field (personally) built and repaired PC's and software, what experience (windows/Linux/Apple etc). Just aiming for IT because you perceive it pays well isn't the right approach.
You only work 15hrs a week, why not look for part time work that fits around this and try something like IT support desk (phone monkey basically). That will pay you, give you experience and make sure you like that sort of work.
Good question. The problem with having asian or middle eastern parents is that from the second you are born they have already decided your future. From the time I could remember I was referred to as a doctor and like I said in my original post I got brainwashed to a point that I didn't develop any liking for anything else and it made me genuinely want to get into a medical sector, which eventually became pharmacy but that being all artificial.You only work 15hrs a week, why not look for part time work that fits around this and try something like IT support desk (phone monkey basically). That will pay you, give you experience and make sure you like that sort of work.
It's being pretty hard trying to figure out something that I like but so far everything points in the IT sector. You could say I'm a massive geeks about computers. I've made some pc's and also fixed many hardware problems and some software. I love my gadgets and so on... Not enough to make a carrer of it now but enough for me to persure a future carrer. Also at no point have I even looked into the pay. Right now its about passion and enjoyment.
I went to Uni at 23 and was just about a mature student but uni can be very solitary so I would not consider it in your position
I take it you live at home, are there any uni's you could attend whilst living at home, so you can still have some family support?
gives you time to study and perhaps get some unpaid work to see what sort of career you like, you are still young enough to take your time
I take it you live at home, are there any uni's you could attend whilst living at home, so you can still have some family support?
gives you time to study and perhaps get some unpaid work to see what sort of career you like, you are still young enough to take your time
AJS- said:
W00DY said:
If you're sure you want Togo the Uni route
That's the way he's Ghana go, he's Benin the wrong line work for years.OP: congratulations on dealing with your depression and spotting the slide before it happened again. As for advice? I'm with the work contingent. Is it worth looking for a bit of unpaid work (given your part-time hours at the pharmacy)? Uni's would surely look on that favourably.
I'm MANY years out of education, but is there a way to back up your application with a bit of text - allowing you to sell yourself a bit? Well written, this could probably make a world of difference to your application. I'm sure there's plenty of people here who'd help you with that.
Good luck whatever, though.
Have you considered an apprenticeship? IBM (my lot) offers them - other firms might as well. Not great pay while you complete your training, but they'd earn you a qualification and a route into the IT sector which didn't involve having to go through uni again (with the associated costs etc).
Usget said:
Have you considered an apprenticeship? IBM (my lot) offers them - other firms might as well. Not great pay while you complete your training, but they'd earn you a qualification and a route into the IT sector which didn't involve having to go through uni again (with the associated costs etc).
except of course if he;s already got L3 qualifications he may be excluded from many apprenticeship schemes.AJS- said:
nagsheadwarrior said:
AJS- said:
W00DY said:
If you're sure you want Togo the Uni route
That's the way he's Ghana go, he's Benin the wrong line work for years.Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff