Education as a solution to being skint?
Discussion
I've been wondering whether it would be possible to educate my way out of the rut.
I've got a fairly s
te job which is by no means secure, effectively unskilled. It only just pays the bills, although there is a chance when the economy picks up I could find better money if I put my experience to use (this job was a gamble which backfired).
I'm interested in electronics and have a basic understanding, electrical engineering would be great.
I'm quite good with computers (lots of hardware experience, some education in the area)
I'm fairly handy with the spanners.
I've got a lot of experience in factory and warehouse logistics / stores / stock control. This is what I want to escape.
So for someone technically-minded, what kind of courses are available on a budget and which may lead to a better future?
I've got a fairly s
te job which is by no means secure, effectively unskilled. It only just pays the bills, although there is a chance when the economy picks up I could find better money if I put my experience to use (this job was a gamble which backfired).I'm interested in electronics and have a basic understanding, electrical engineering would be great.
I'm quite good with computers (lots of hardware experience, some education in the area)
I'm fairly handy with the spanners.
I've got a lot of experience in factory and warehouse logistics / stores / stock control. This is what I want to escape.
So for someone technically-minded, what kind of courses are available on a budget and which may lead to a better future?
Hi, i was similar to you, dead end jobs and getting nearer to 30. Went to uni PT in the evenings on a 4 year course 2 years HNC in Business, then 2 more for degree. (if I pass), and hopefully a better chance at finding jobs. I work Fulltime too.
The other plus is, If it is PT, you can get up to all the fees paid for by the government. Check out the local Unis/Colleges for courses..
The other plus is, If it is PT, you can get up to all the fees paid for by the government. Check out the local Unis/Colleges for courses..
That's very interesting - I didn't know it was possible to go to degree level while maintaining a FT day job. I'm 31 now so it's probably as late as you could leave it, too late maybe?
I've also been checking into funding. I didn't bother at first but have just discovered that this could be very affordable - I'm officially a low-income household so I may well be able to go through with this.
Still open to ideas on the actual subject though. Is it possible to speak to someone at the college who can advise? When I was at school there were advisors who could offer you ideas based on your interests and aptitudes.
I've also been checking into funding. I didn't bother at first but have just discovered that this could be very affordable - I'm officially a low-income household so I may well be able to go through with this.
Still open to ideas on the actual subject though. Is it possible to speak to someone at the college who can advise? When I was at school there were advisors who could offer you ideas based on your interests and aptitudes.
matt0677 said:
That's very interesting - I didn't know it was possible to go to degree level while maintaining a FT day job. I'm 31 now so it's probably as late as you could leave it, too late maybe?
I've also been checking into funding. I didn't bother at first but have just discovered that this could be very affordable - I'm officially a low-income household so I may well be able to go through with this.
Still open to ideas on the actual subject though. Is it possible to speak to someone at the college who can advise? When I was at school there were advisors who could offer you ideas based on your interests and aptitudes.
As the old saying goes anything is possible.. It is hard going back to school after all the years, and there is a mixture of ages on the course. 31 is nothing. i know people who went to uni at 30 and got jobs as teachers for example..I've also been checking into funding. I didn't bother at first but have just discovered that this could be very affordable - I'm officially a low-income household so I may well be able to go through with this.
Still open to ideas on the actual subject though. Is it possible to speak to someone at the college who can advise? When I was at school there were advisors who could offer you ideas based on your interests and aptitudes.
If you want some help with funding websites etc...I can give you help.. You can PM. Also the deadline is Sep/Oct so you have to time to get sorted if you want.
I would recommend uni, as it costs less than those 'Career Change Adverts'. You have more resources available,i.e libraries and you meet new people..
http://www.hotcourses.com - Search for courses on here.
Direct Gov - has all the funding options and grants etc. Roughly if you earn under 17 k you get everything paid for..
Better to open up channels of commuincation with the Local Colleges, they love mature students..
Edited by jaymodunn on Monday 13th April 19:45
Definitely not too late. As someone who has fallen into various ruts at various times in my life, I reckon the number one most important thing is to break the rut. Whether you go travelling, go to university, join a travelling circus or just get a different job, there is really nothing that can happen that would be more wrong than wasting years of your life in an unsatisfying, low paying job which you don't enjoy.
I know of one person who made a success of open university, she decided that she wanted to be a solicitor and did the course, came out with the qualifications she needed and got a job. I think it's worth noting though that she already had a first degree, and did extra courses by correspondence.
IMO it sort of misses the point. Although I enjoyed the academic side of my degree, the biggest benefit I got from it was being with other people in the same position with a similar outlook to myself. The contacts I made, and the skills I learned as a result of being in that environment, rather than what I learned in the course itself.
BTW, to answer the original question, as a solution to being skint education is probably about on par with getting another credit card. Unless you have a very specific idea of what you want to do and it requires a very specific qualification - such as a Doctor for instance - then education is really something you have to do as an end in itself, and/or for the reasons above.
Strange as it sounds, I actually became very interested in economics before I decided to study it, and doing a degree in that was never really a means to getting a better job. I have never had a job that required an economics degree, or really even drawn significantly on any of the skills I learned, but I enjoyed studying it, and am glad, especially as it gives me licence to yell at the telly and tell Winky he's doing it all wrong! That's about the most I've got out of the academic side
Of course everyone is different, and what worked and didn't work for me might be completely different for you, but I would say if you have a strong academic interest in a subject, and it is possible for you to do so, then chuck in your job and go ahead and do it. There will probably never be a better time, the job market is st at the moment and might well be better in 3 years time, and it will almost certainly expose you to new experiences and people you would never otherwise meet.
As a first step, would it be worth trying out an evening class first to get A levels? You might well need them for a degree course if you don't have them already, and it will be a good dry run to see if you have a taste and an aptitude for further study.
IMO it sort of misses the point. Although I enjoyed the academic side of my degree, the biggest benefit I got from it was being with other people in the same position with a similar outlook to myself. The contacts I made, and the skills I learned as a result of being in that environment, rather than what I learned in the course itself.
BTW, to answer the original question, as a solution to being skint education is probably about on par with getting another credit card. Unless you have a very specific idea of what you want to do and it requires a very specific qualification - such as a Doctor for instance - then education is really something you have to do as an end in itself, and/or for the reasons above.
Strange as it sounds, I actually became very interested in economics before I decided to study it, and doing a degree in that was never really a means to getting a better job. I have never had a job that required an economics degree, or really even drawn significantly on any of the skills I learned, but I enjoyed studying it, and am glad, especially as it gives me licence to yell at the telly and tell Winky he's doing it all wrong! That's about the most I've got out of the academic side
Of course everyone is different, and what worked and didn't work for me might be completely different for you, but I would say if you have a strong academic interest in a subject, and it is possible for you to do so, then chuck in your job and go ahead and do it. There will probably never be a better time, the job market is s
t at the moment and might well be better in 3 years time, and it will almost certainly expose you to new experiences and people you would never otherwise meet. As a first step, would it be worth trying out an evening class first to get A levels? You might well need them for a degree course if you don't have them already, and it will be a good dry run to see if you have a taste and an aptitude for further study.
Very good points all, I don't have a specific target just a general interest in a couple of areas.
I agree that while reading the OU site I was wondering whether distance learning can be as effective as actually meeting people etc. I was interested mainly because it seems so easy and they do offer the ability to build a course in a modular fashion.
I would benefit from improving my current qualifications, as I was fairly good at Maths, Science and English but was already going off the rails a bit in my teens, and didn't come out with any qualifications aside from a few half-hearted GCSE's.
We have a guy from a local uni who comes in to my work most days, he's and NVQ assessor but we have met and established a bit of a rapport (he's a petrolhead). I'll try to collar him and see if he has any advice, I think he's used to dealing with mature students.
I agree that while reading the OU site I was wondering whether distance learning can be as effective as actually meeting people etc. I was interested mainly because it seems so easy and they do offer the ability to build a course in a modular fashion.
I would benefit from improving my current qualifications, as I was fairly good at Maths, Science and English but was already going off the rails a bit in my teens, and didn't come out with any qualifications aside from a few half-hearted GCSE's.
We have a guy from a local uni who comes in to my work most days, he's and NVQ assessor but we have met and established a bit of a rapport (he's a petrolhead
). I'll try to collar him and see if he has any advice, I think he's used to dealing with mature students.With regards to electronics I would say got for it but at the momment I'm struggling finding work, infact I've been living off my savings for the past year.
Ok my qualifications arnt a HNC/HND but I have got a Btec and City and Guilds, to which I'm willing to relocate in the South East including London.
Expirence, being my previous two years I had been a Field Service Engineer for photo lab equipment so thats electrical/electronic, mechanical and chemical. Also computer based as kiosks and lab servers.
What I've learnt is hardly any company is advertising jobs, and what I do find on the likes of monster, jobsite, reed and total jobs are the same agencies with the person's name changing once every two months.
Looking at it I'ld say you'd best be off with studying Electrical then Electronics. If you want to go down the computer side then theres plenty of courses out there and I dont know what people think of Microsoft Certification? as thats an option?
Ok my qualifications arnt a HNC/HND but I have got a Btec and City and Guilds, to which I'm willing to relocate in the South East including London.
Expirence, being my previous two years I had been a Field Service Engineer for photo lab equipment so thats electrical/electronic, mechanical and chemical. Also computer based as kiosks and lab servers.
What I've learnt is hardly any company is advertising jobs, and what I do find on the likes of monster, jobsite, reed and total jobs are the same agencies with the person's name changing once every two months.
Looking at it I'ld say you'd best be off with studying Electrical then Electronics. If you want to go down the computer side then theres plenty of courses out there and I dont know what people think of Microsoft Certification? as thats an option?
Did go back to do a p/t course myself about 10 years ago and did help improve my career getting an HNC, but has reached a stagnating point again. Considering going back myself again to do another course in the evenings, as pay rises are sh!te where I work. Courses my employer want us to do are of what I'll call "we'll give you a bigger faster electric drill" principle. I.E we get more work out of you in return for no benefit to you.
It is a job to know though what the next step to do is particularly in the current market
It is a job to know though what the next step to do is particularly in the current market
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 18th April 21:44
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