Soon to graduate - what would you do??
Discussion
Hi all,
I'm due to graduate University in June. I'm looking forward to it, but at the moment I'm not quite sure what to do with myself! So here are the options:
1) Move back to my parents and my dinghy instructors job for the summer (pays £13/hr!) whilst applying for jobs in the marine industry/fire brigade.
2) Go travelling for 6-9months - my best mate has recently gone, and is having the time of his life. Never considered it really before, but now im very jelous!
3) Start my own business - I've always wanted to, and I have a few ideas which I think I can make work. Also with the economy down the toilet recently, I can't help but think that theres some serious gains to be had from it.
I've talked to a number of friends/family, and everyone is giving me different bits of advice! What would you do in my shoes??
Cheers in advance
I'm due to graduate University in June. I'm looking forward to it, but at the moment I'm not quite sure what to do with myself! So here are the options:
1) Move back to my parents and my dinghy instructors job for the summer (pays £13/hr!) whilst applying for jobs in the marine industry/fire brigade.
2) Go travelling for 6-9months - my best mate has recently gone, and is having the time of his life. Never considered it really before, but now im very jelous!
3) Start my own business - I've always wanted to, and I have a few ideas which I think I can make work. Also with the economy down the toilet recently, I can't help but think that theres some serious gains to be had from it.
I've talked to a number of friends/family, and everyone is giving me different bits of advice! What would you do in my shoes??
Cheers in advance
A forth option could be to go and do a Masters degree. You could sit and weather the storm for another year in the haven of University and hope the economy sorts itself out by then. After you finish you will come out stronger then a lot of other people, more qualified and more employable.
Good luck
Good luck
Do a 4 week crash course in French and get down to South of France and go work in a boatyard / sailing centre / private beach / flotilla sailing for the summer. Take the opportunity to use your sailing skills and the gorgeous girls (or, boys?) on the Riviera before looking for a serious job.
Thanks for the advice guys. Unfortunately staying and studying is not an option. The cost is approx £3k, and there is no student loan avaiable. On top of that, there is little time to work to earn money. Also, the post-grad courses available in my industry are very limited, and none of them appeal to me.
Go and travel. You will never get a chance to travel for so long without financial ties/mortgage and family/work etc.
You only live once, the UK will still be here when you get back (albeit with more speed cameras and less civil liberties) but if you don't go now when will you have time apart from when you're retired? You know you'll have more fun if you go now
You only live once, the UK will still be here when you get back (albeit with more speed cameras and less civil liberties) but if you don't go now when will you have time apart from when you're retired? You know you'll have more fun if you go now
Hide, whether it's in further further education or somewhere tropical.
I graduated last summer and am still struggling to find work. I have a 2:1 in an engineering subject from a good university. I was told that I'd be able to walk in to pretty much any industry after graduating, then the world went tits up.
If my outstanding graduate employment applications fail in April, I'll be looking for a Masters.
I graduated last summer and am still struggling to find work. I have a 2:1 in an engineering subject from a good university. I was told that I'd be able to walk in to pretty much any industry after graduating, then the world went tits up.
If my outstanding graduate employment applications fail in April, I'll be looking for a Masters.
Play it safe .... ahhhh BOL
LOX
If you think you have the wherewithall and passion to not only start your own business but have the drive to develop it ... go for it.
Drop me a line if you want any specific advice/suggestions - it is a mine field really, but if you start off right you'll reap rewards later.
Paul
LOXIf you think you have the wherewithall and passion to not only start your own business but have the drive to develop it ... go for it.
Drop me a line if you want any specific advice/suggestions - it is a mine field really, but if you start off right you'll reap rewards later.
Paul
Shrimper said:
Hi all,
I'm due to graduate University in June. I'm looking forward to it, but at the moment I'm not quite sure what to do with myself! So here are the options:
1) Move back to my parents and my dinghy instructors job for the summer (pays £13/hr!) whilst applying for jobs in the marine industry/fire brigade.
2) Go travelling for 6-9months - my best mate has recently gone, and is having the time of his life. Never considered it really before, but now im very jelous!
3) Start my own business - I've always wanted to, and I have a few ideas which I think I can make work. Also with the economy down the toilet recently, I can't help but think that theres some serious gains to be had from it.
I've talked to a number of friends/family, and everyone is giving me different bits of advice! What would you do in my shoes??
Cheers in advance
2 :-)I'm due to graduate University in June. I'm looking forward to it, but at the moment I'm not quite sure what to do with myself! So here are the options:
1) Move back to my parents and my dinghy instructors job for the summer (pays £13/hr!) whilst applying for jobs in the marine industry/fire brigade.
2) Go travelling for 6-9months - my best mate has recently gone, and is having the time of his life. Never considered it really before, but now im very jelous!
3) Start my own business - I've always wanted to, and I have a few ideas which I think I can make work. Also with the economy down the toilet recently, I can't help but think that theres some serious gains to be had from it.
I've talked to a number of friends/family, and everyone is giving me different bits of advice! What would you do in my shoes??
Cheers in advance
Im in the exact same position as you shrimper, only the master I want to do is £6000, so no chance of that happeneing this year. As much as it pains me to say I think the most likely outcome for me in June is to move back in with my parents, get any old job for 6 months and save up enough money for the masters and maybe some travelling.
swerni said:
go travelling!!!!
It's my one regret.
Once you get on the treadmill and start collecting the toys it's so so difficult to step off.
Not impossible very difficult.
You are going to spend your whole like working.
You know it makes sense!!!
+1It's my one regret.
Once you get on the treadmill and start collecting the toys it's so so difficult to step off.
Not impossible very difficult.
You are going to spend your whole like working.
You know it makes sense!!!
I graduated 2 years ago, went into where i wanted to go as a contractor and am now a fully paid up member.
Bugger me its been hard enough getting in let alone stopping it all and having to go through it all again.
If you have the cash and the freedom do the traveling.
Have you got work experience in the field you want to go in?
Something i was advised to try and worked for me was to get some short term work in the industry/compnay you want to get into and see where it takes you. get the contacts and see if those networks can find you a way in its not impossible.
As i say i've only just got in full time but im much further on than if i had done the usual grad route.
I'd do 1, 2 and 3 becuase I'm greedy like that!
Move back home for the summer and do your work (1) and save a pile of cash which you then use to go travelling (2) for 6-9 months or however long you want - as some of the others have mentioned you could use your experience and get a place working on a yacht or similar and travel place to place like that.
Whilst you're travelling you should have ample time to have a real good think about setting up your own business (3) - the feasibility of it, do some research on the potential opportunities/competitors whilst you're away.
You'll find once you get into a job/setting up your own business it is difficult to find time to just sit back and think without that nagging feeling at the back of your mind that you should be doing something.
Even if you don't set up your own business on your return the economic climate will hopefully be a lot healthier than it is right now.
Enjoy your travels
Move back home for the summer and do your work (1) and save a pile of cash which you then use to go travelling (2) for 6-9 months or however long you want - as some of the others have mentioned you could use your experience and get a place working on a yacht or similar and travel place to place like that.
Whilst you're travelling you should have ample time to have a real good think about setting up your own business (3) - the feasibility of it, do some research on the potential opportunities/competitors whilst you're away.
You'll find once you get into a job/setting up your own business it is difficult to find time to just sit back and think without that nagging feeling at the back of your mind that you should be doing something.
Even if you don't set up your own business on your return the economic climate will hopefully be a lot healthier than it is right now.
Enjoy your travels
Another vote for travelling. It is simply THE best thing you could ever do.
I went for six months & came back 9 years later (only because the work dried up & the money ran out). So many amazing places to see, people to meet, opportunities to raise their heads & lead you to the next fantastic adventure.
Easy to live frugally, especially in South East Asia, loads of bits & bobs of work to pick up to keep you going, especially if you have sailing type experience... If I were you, you wouldn't see me for dust...
I went for six months & came back 9 years later (only because the work dried up & the money ran out). So many amazing places to see, people to meet, opportunities to raise their heads & lead you to the next fantastic adventure.
Easy to live frugally, especially in South East Asia, loads of bits & bobs of work to pick up to keep you going, especially if you have sailing type experience... If I were you, you wouldn't see me for dust...
I graduated in June 2008.
I had extensive work experience which led to me getting quite a few very competitive interviews. However i managed to secure a few job offers within the motorsport / automotive sector.
If I wouldnt have been able to secure a job then i would have most certainly gone travelling once again.
I took a year out before uni to explore Oz and Japan and cant recomend this enough. During that time i learnt so much about myself, what i wanted from life and my expectations totally changed.
If you have your sailing / dinghy skills then find a country you can use them in - head out there and enjoy your life for a year before returning to try again with the engineering positions.
Remember most countries have schemes where if you work for them you can gain qualifications - I did this in Oz working for a reputable diving centre and i was able to complete my diving instructors certificates free of charge in between work days.
Best of Luck
I had extensive work experience which led to me getting quite a few very competitive interviews. However i managed to secure a few job offers within the motorsport / automotive sector.
If I wouldnt have been able to secure a job then i would have most certainly gone travelling once again.
I took a year out before uni to explore Oz and Japan and cant recomend this enough. During that time i learnt so much about myself, what i wanted from life and my expectations totally changed.
If you have your sailing / dinghy skills then find a country you can use them in - head out there and enjoy your life for a year before returning to try again with the engineering positions.
Remember most countries have schemes where if you work for them you can gain qualifications - I did this in Oz working for a reputable diving centre and i was able to complete my diving instructors certificates free of charge in between work days.
Best of Luck
Great advice so far, thanks everybody. Just in the process of doing my Senior Instructor Course, which means I'm well on my way to £20/hr in my old job teaching kids sailing in south london over the summer. Not bad for a 21 year old, and a damn sight better than sitting in an office all day. I'm not kidding myself, Its definitely not a career, but hopefully it will get me through the summer and might even allow me to save a bit of money to do a bit of travelling.
With regards to setting up my own business, am I daft? I know a lot of people are going bust and getting laid off at the moment, but I can only think that where others are loosing out there are some massive gains to be had.
Cheers again, I really appreciate it!
With regards to setting up my own business, am I daft? I know a lot of people are going bust and getting laid off at the moment, but I can only think that where others are loosing out there are some massive gains to be had.
Cheers again, I really appreciate it!
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