Graduate scheme at 31?
Discussion
Yes, it's another thread where someone wants careers advice. I have been trying to do "career planning" all day and don't feel like I have got anywhere - perhaps Pistonheads can be a useful resource for once, rather than an endless source of distraction 
I am in the final year of an Open University degree in Engineering (I have been studying for the last four years as well as working), my exams are in October, results in December, I will be 31.5 when I finish. The course has been brilliant, but I now have to start thinking about making it work for me and getting a job out of it!
I have had a few different jobs since I did my A-levels all those years ago; lab technician, worked in a hifi shop, ran my own garage for a couple of years, and now I install home cinema systems. I've never had any sort of "professional" job, worn a suit to work, or worked in an office. I was hoping my degree would be a way to start a proper career, albeit ten years later than most graduates. Without wishing to sound like an arse, I am an intelligent chap and there's no way that I can spend the next five, ten or twenty years doing a job with limited prospects, no real challenge, and very limited reward.
I know that legally employers are not allowed to discriminate by age, but I am concerned that being a fair bit older than a typical grad will be a problem. If I were to apply for graduate training schemes, I am worried that my age will be a hindrance to employers (eg "this man has wasted ten years of his life, why would I want to take him on now?"). Alternatively, it could be a positive thing, as I have shown that I can hold down a job and have managed to gain a good degree whilst working full-time. Given that this is a career start for me, rather than a career change, I am not sure what other options I could pursue.
I have included a lot of maths modules with my studies as I didn't want to confine myself to pure engineering roles when I finished. Engineering fascinates me, and I have done very well in those modules so I think I have a good aptitude for it - however I could say exactly the same thing about maths and physics, so ideally I would end up in a technical role with a fair bit of number-crunching involved. With this in mind, I'm looking at the traditional engineering employers such as British Aerospace, but also tempted by the potential rewards of the financial sector if they'd have me . . .
So, are employers crying out for home-schooled elderly
graduates with a competent but unspectacular work history, or do all the graduate placements go to 21 year old Oxbridge types who will happily work 80 hours a week and get by on three hours sleep a night? What chance does the former have, competing against the latter?
I am in the final year of an Open University degree in Engineering (I have been studying for the last four years as well as working), my exams are in October, results in December, I will be 31.5 when I finish. The course has been brilliant, but I now have to start thinking about making it work for me and getting a job out of it!
I have had a few different jobs since I did my A-levels all those years ago; lab technician, worked in a hifi shop, ran my own garage for a couple of years, and now I install home cinema systems. I've never had any sort of "professional" job, worn a suit to work, or worked in an office. I was hoping my degree would be a way to start a proper career, albeit ten years later than most graduates. Without wishing to sound like an arse, I am an intelligent chap and there's no way that I can spend the next five, ten or twenty years doing a job with limited prospects, no real challenge, and very limited reward.
I know that legally employers are not allowed to discriminate by age, but I am concerned that being a fair bit older than a typical grad will be a problem. If I were to apply for graduate training schemes, I am worried that my age will be a hindrance to employers (eg "this man has wasted ten years of his life, why would I want to take him on now?"). Alternatively, it could be a positive thing, as I have shown that I can hold down a job and have managed to gain a good degree whilst working full-time. Given that this is a career start for me, rather than a career change, I am not sure what other options I could pursue.
I have included a lot of maths modules with my studies as I didn't want to confine myself to pure engineering roles when I finished. Engineering fascinates me, and I have done very well in those modules so I think I have a good aptitude for it - however I could say exactly the same thing about maths and physics, so ideally I would end up in a technical role with a fair bit of number-crunching involved. With this in mind, I'm looking at the traditional engineering employers such as British Aerospace, but also tempted by the potential rewards of the financial sector if they'd have me . . .
So, are employers crying out for home-schooled elderly
graduates with a competent but unspectacular work history, or do all the graduate placements go to 21 year old Oxbridge types who will happily work 80 hours a week and get by on three hours sleep a night? What chance does the former have, competing against the latter?I wouldn't let the age thing put me off, even though they want graduates they still want the best people they can find, aslong as you can demonstrate why you'd be better than a young graduate, assuming you've picked up a few more skills along the way?
We had a placement student where I worked who was 34!
We had a placement student where I worked who was 34!
Im also 31 and looking at graduate schemes! I graduate this year with a BSc Hons in Building Surveying and the Environment. I like the idea of a graduate scheme as they tend to help with joining my professional body (RICS) and give you plenty of backup. If only I could find some schemes that are taking people on!
MonkeyMatt said:
Im also 31 and looking at graduate schemes! I graduate this year with a BSc Hons in Building Surveying and the Environment. I like the idea of a graduate scheme as they tend to help with joining my professional body (RICS) and give you plenty of backup. If only I could find some schemes that are taking people on!
Interested in seeing how you do Matt as this has been a bit of a long term interest for me but never had the balls to jump out of the Police and back into a conversion course and a RICS accredited masters. Rob13 said:
MonkeyMatt said:
Im also 31 and looking at graduate schemes! I graduate this year with a BSc Hons in Building Surveying and the Environment. I like the idea of a graduate scheme as they tend to help with joining my professional body (RICS) and give you plenty of backup. If only I could find some schemes that are taking people on!
Interested in seeing how you do Matt as this has been a bit of a long term interest for me but never had the balls to jump out of the Police and back into a conversion course and a RICS accredited masters. What course is it that you have been looking into?
I did a MSc Real Estate at Reading University a few years ago and can thoroughly recommend it although I specialised in commercial property rather then building surveying. The Reading course is arguably the most highly regarded by the industry but the course at Oxford Brookes is also pretty decent. Virtually all sectors of the industry have been heavily hit by the economic conditions over the last 2 years but things appear to be improving slowly and overall, election permitting, this should continue to be the case 'til everybody is bathing in champagne again... until the next recession! Good luck with the job hunt! In terms of age, I found many of the major Firms rate MSc grads above BSc ones on account of (supposedly) greater levels of maturity and experience in a professional environment. The industry is I would imagine, a world away from working for the police!
Prince Rupert said:
I did a MSc Real Estate at Reading University a few years ago and can thoroughly recommend it although I specialised in commercial property rather then building surveying. The Reading course is arguably the most highly regarded by the industry but the course at Oxford Brookes is also pretty decent. Virtually all sectors of the industry have been heavily hit by the economic conditions over the last 2 years but things appear to be improving slowly and overall, election permitting, this should continue to be the case 'til everybody is bathing in champagne again... until the next recession! Good luck with the job hunt! In terms of age, I found many of the major Firms rate MSc grads above BSc ones on account of (supposedly) greater levels of maturity and experience in a professional environment. The industry is I would imagine, a world away from working for the police!
Hows business down your way Prince Rupert? I was in the South East for a couple of years working for Fitzpatrick then Kier!I wouldn't even consider it for a nano-second.
No f
king way. Grad schemes are about fast tracking yes-men in order to create a better breed of robot. As a 31 year old, particularly with experience of being self-employed are probably not the "right sort" mentally.
So, you're an engineer now. What are the holes in the engineering market?
I'd say your prospects were much better as a sole trader than joining a massive hierachy. Forget security, it's a mirage these days.
No f
king way. Grad schemes are about fast tracking yes-men in order to create a better breed of robot. As a 31 year old, particularly with experience of being self-employed are probably not the "right sort" mentally. So, you're an engineer now. What are the holes in the engineering market?
I'd say your prospects were much better as a sole trader than joining a massive hierachy. Forget security, it's a mirage these days.
Tangent Police said:
So, you're an engineer now.
No, I'm totally not! I've got excellent marks in every module I've done, but I wouldn't have a clue how to do an engineers job. I'm not sure that my degree has taught me anything directly useful, but I hope it shows employers that I am capable of way more than my work history would suggest, IF they take the time to train me up.Many thanks to everyone who has responded, learning with the OU is like being in a bubble, it's great to hear other peoples opinions and experiences.
grad schemes are good if you can rotate through different departments to see what suits you best.
I'm 28 and recently took voluntary redundancy from a company I joined via their grad scheme in 2003. I'm now trying to break into a completely different industry and part of my approach has been to apply to grad schemes again.
age won't be a problem. as I'm finding, time since graduation is the only real limiting factor. even then, one firm I've seen has the profile of a lawyer who joined their scheme in his late 30s after wanting a career change.
I'm 28 and recently took voluntary redundancy from a company I joined via their grad scheme in 2003. I'm now trying to break into a completely different industry and part of my approach has been to apply to grad schemes again.
age won't be a problem. as I'm finding, time since graduation is the only real limiting factor. even then, one firm I've seen has the profile of a lawyer who joined their scheme in his late 30s after wanting a career change.
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