What jobs could I realistically apply for?
Discussion
I've managed to find myself in a slightly awkward situation regarding jobs, and wondered if anyone had any good ideas for possible avenues out of it.
I've just left uni without a degree, having spent 3 years studying Veterinary Medicine before eventually admitting to myself that it wasn't what I wanted to do. I'm now about to start an Open University law degree, and am looking for a full-time job to do alongside it. The problem is that I'm not technically a graduate, but also don't have any employment experience (other than working in HMV part-time for a few years when at school). I've got decent a-levels (4 As in sciencey things), but that doesn't really differentiate me from many others, given the current generosity of exam grades.
What kind of jobs could I realistically apply for? Could I persuade people looking for graduates that, despite not having a degree, I would be as good as anyone else?
I'm a bit stuck, and would appreciate any suggestions anyone has (or any jobs, for that matter!!)
Thanks
Sam
I've just left uni without a degree, having spent 3 years studying Veterinary Medicine before eventually admitting to myself that it wasn't what I wanted to do. I'm now about to start an Open University law degree, and am looking for a full-time job to do alongside it. The problem is that I'm not technically a graduate, but also don't have any employment experience (other than working in HMV part-time for a few years when at school). I've got decent a-levels (4 As in sciencey things), but that doesn't really differentiate me from many others, given the current generosity of exam grades.
What kind of jobs could I realistically apply for? Could I persuade people looking for graduates that, despite not having a degree, I would be as good as anyone else?
I'm a bit stuck, and would appreciate any suggestions anyone has (or any jobs, for that matter!!)
Thanks
Sam
What kind of areas are you interested in?
Your best bet would be to approach companies directly, explain your situation and offer to start off at the bottom and work your way up. If you are interested in a career in law, then why not approach law firms, some of which might even offer some kind of sponsorship with your OU degree.
Your best bet would be to approach companies directly, explain your situation and offer to start off at the bottom and work your way up. If you are interested in a career in law, then why not approach law firms, some of which might even offer some kind of sponsorship with your OU degree.
I am currently in the pocess of applying for jobs right now having finally reach my final year of uni but it has been a hard few years getting here and I think my story is proably simliar to yours.
I left my 6th form not know what I wanted to do and started working full time for the company that I was working for part time during my a levels, having told UCAS I as taking a year out. It was a well paid job (more than some graduates I know are getting after 3 years of uni!) but ultimately I knew it was a dead end. Because I'd spent my time working hard at my part time job during a levels I left only having 2 D's and an E. This meant that when I was offered a place at Loughborough to do a science and engineering foundation (having phoned them in the middle of September) I took it.
So after that year I had done well enough to go on to my dream course. A few weeks in I knew I'd made a bad mistake and that the course was nothing like I'd thought it would be. Being fairly stubborn, I kept at it to the end of the year. Realising it wasn't what I really wanted I decided to change course.
This meant that I was joining the first year of BEng course at 21, having already seen some of my friends from school who were in the same year gradute and get full time jobs (well, the ones that weren't lazy anyway!). I am now 23 and well into my final year and am more motivated than I have ever been. I have more experience than most graduates and would like to think that I am a fairly rounded individual. I am looking forward to getting into the world of work but don't regret the path I've taken to get here.
I guess what I'm trying to say is try not to lose hope of getting where you want to be. You are probably the age I was when I started my first year of my current course so if you do still want to get a degree studying full time then that door is still open to you. If you're not sure what you want to do then ether study something broad (one of the reasons I chose an engineering degree) or getting a job ina company who you think you might want to work for will give you a great insight as to whether you do or don't, even if you are just the tea boy. You could either work from the bottom up or getting the relevant qualifications required by doing a part time course, as you are now.
As already mentioned, if you can find someone who is willing to offer you a job that is willing to take you on and help you through the OU then take it but don't be afraid to get a job to tide you over and start a full time degree again next year if you think that it is the right decision for you.
I left my 6th form not know what I wanted to do and started working full time for the company that I was working for part time during my a levels, having told UCAS I as taking a year out. It was a well paid job (more than some graduates I know are getting after 3 years of uni!) but ultimately I knew it was a dead end. Because I'd spent my time working hard at my part time job during a levels I left only having 2 D's and an E. This meant that when I was offered a place at Loughborough to do a science and engineering foundation (having phoned them in the middle of September) I took it.
So after that year I had done well enough to go on to my dream course. A few weeks in I knew I'd made a bad mistake and that the course was nothing like I'd thought it would be. Being fairly stubborn, I kept at it to the end of the year. Realising it wasn't what I really wanted I decided to change course.
This meant that I was joining the first year of BEng course at 21, having already seen some of my friends from school who were in the same year gradute and get full time jobs (well, the ones that weren't lazy anyway!). I am now 23 and well into my final year and am more motivated than I have ever been. I have more experience than most graduates and would like to think that I am a fairly rounded individual. I am looking forward to getting into the world of work but don't regret the path I've taken to get here.
I guess what I'm trying to say is try not to lose hope of getting where you want to be. You are probably the age I was when I started my first year of my current course so if you do still want to get a degree studying full time then that door is still open to you. If you're not sure what you want to do then ether study something broad (one of the reasons I chose an engineering degree) or getting a job ina company who you think you might want to work for will give you a great insight as to whether you do or don't, even if you are just the tea boy. You could either work from the bottom up or getting the relevant qualifications required by doing a part time course, as you are now.
As already mentioned, if you can find someone who is willing to offer you a job that is willing to take you on and help you through the OU then take it but don't be afraid to get a job to tide you over and start a full time degree again next year if you think that it is the right decision for you.
I have learnt that to succeed you need to do things the right way or be lucky. The right way is not necessarily doing the right or relevant course but is infact attending the right institution.
As you can not rely on luck in life I would go back University and do another degree. An open University degree isnt going to be recognised by most recruiters especially when your peers are getting qualifications from top establishments. Getting into Vetinary School is in itself an achievement and therefore reflects highly on you. You should leverage this and apply for another course you find interesting at the likes of Oxbridge, LSE, Imperial, Bristol etc.
I fear that for junior people your Open University route will not help you much.
What you do not want to do is leave a big gap in your history from your time studying to your first job. OK so you spent 3 yrs at Vet School and decided it wasnt for you. Dont throw away your current achievements by going to the Open University. 4 A's at A-level is a good start but in terms of jobs doesnt really get you anywhere. A-levels are usually only good for getting into uni.
If you are adamant on finding a full time job, you can always apply for a junior/apprentice broker position at the likes of Garban ICAP etc. They regularly recruit from A-levels for junior spots and like A grades. However you need to be outgoing and possess a wideboy type character to suceed in that role.
Good Luck.
If it was me I would go back to uni.
As you can not rely on luck in life I would go back University and do another degree. An open University degree isnt going to be recognised by most recruiters especially when your peers are getting qualifications from top establishments. Getting into Vetinary School is in itself an achievement and therefore reflects highly on you. You should leverage this and apply for another course you find interesting at the likes of Oxbridge, LSE, Imperial, Bristol etc.
I fear that for junior people your Open University route will not help you much.
What you do not want to do is leave a big gap in your history from your time studying to your first job. OK so you spent 3 yrs at Vet School and decided it wasnt for you. Dont throw away your current achievements by going to the Open University. 4 A's at A-level is a good start but in terms of jobs doesnt really get you anywhere. A-levels are usually only good for getting into uni.
If you are adamant on finding a full time job, you can always apply for a junior/apprentice broker position at the likes of Garban ICAP etc. They regularly recruit from A-levels for junior spots and like A grades. However you need to be outgoing and possess a wideboy type character to suceed in that role.
Good Luck.
If it was me I would go back to uni.
ukbondraider said:
If it was me I would go back to uni.
This is good advice. You are three years in. You could finish this degree - however much you dislike it - and you will then have a qualification. With a first degree in anything you can get onto post-grad courses to redirect you into whatever career you decide on.
I had a bad year in the middle of Uni where I decided I hated it utterly and wanted off. Didn't work hard and got into trouble (educationally!). A wise man and good friend gave me the bollocking I needed and I got back to it.
I *hated* education by the time I had finished but it was worth it. I got into the career I now have and have never looked back. One day I may indeed go and do a postgrad course and change...
Give it another stab. Really.
And as for your question about Grad Positions, you will not be eligible as you are not a grad.
I know of people who were in their final yr when the were offered jobs. These offers were on the basis of them actually obtaining their degree. One guy contracted an illness and had to repeat his final yr. He lost his job that was due to start that yr.
Could you not go back to your vetinary school, transfer to another course and do the minimum for that course. E.g a friend of mine who went to Med School and decided it wasnt for him in the 3rd yr converted to a Biological Science course and only needed to do one more yr on top of his 3 yrs at med school to graduate. He left with a degree albeit not one he original went for and now is doing well in management consulting.
I know of people who were in their final yr when the were offered jobs. These offers were on the basis of them actually obtaining their degree. One guy contracted an illness and had to repeat his final yr. He lost his job that was due to start that yr.
Could you not go back to your vetinary school, transfer to another course and do the minimum for that course. E.g a friend of mine who went to Med School and decided it wasnt for him in the 3rd yr converted to a Biological Science course and only needed to do one more yr on top of his 3 yrs at med school to graduate. He left with a degree albeit not one he original went for and now is doing well in management consulting.
Thanks for the replies.
Going back to uni is not an option. If I hadn't left, it would almost certainly have been suggested that I should leave. A problem with the veterinary course is that it involves a huge amount of learning (although none of it is particularly difficult), so if you're not fully committed to it you invariably fall down.
The reason that I've decided to go for the Open University route is two-fold. One of the problems I found with the veterinary degree was that, in addition to not being motivated by the prospect of a career as a veterinary surgeon, I found university very restrictive and artificial. Contrary to a lot of students, I really want to get out and work, and the veterinary course in particular made that practically impossible. The intention with the OU course is that it'll give me the time to develop real-world experience that will motivate me more, help me build relevant experience for my developing career, while also giving me the style of study that I believe will give me the best chance of achieving a good degree.
As an aside, I've spoken to as many people as I can about OU law degrees and, although it is quite a new course and many people hadn't yet had experience of OU graduates, it was generally pretty well received. I think the law degree is run as part of the business part of the OU, and that is widely regarded as being one of the best places to study in the country.
I do appreciate that it won't be always be straight forward persuading people that a degree from the OU is as worthwhile as a degree from somewhere more traditional, but I'm hoping that the experience I'm planning to gain alongside the degree over the next two years will help me to stand out from the crowd. Time may prove me wrong, but I hope not!
Any more suggestions as to employment avenues in my current situation would fantastic by the way!
Sam
Going back to uni is not an option. If I hadn't left, it would almost certainly have been suggested that I should leave. A problem with the veterinary course is that it involves a huge amount of learning (although none of it is particularly difficult), so if you're not fully committed to it you invariably fall down.
The reason that I've decided to go for the Open University route is two-fold. One of the problems I found with the veterinary degree was that, in addition to not being motivated by the prospect of a career as a veterinary surgeon, I found university very restrictive and artificial. Contrary to a lot of students, I really want to get out and work, and the veterinary course in particular made that practically impossible. The intention with the OU course is that it'll give me the time to develop real-world experience that will motivate me more, help me build relevant experience for my developing career, while also giving me the style of study that I believe will give me the best chance of achieving a good degree.
As an aside, I've spoken to as many people as I can about OU law degrees and, although it is quite a new course and many people hadn't yet had experience of OU graduates, it was generally pretty well received. I think the law degree is run as part of the business part of the OU, and that is widely regarded as being one of the best places to study in the country.
I do appreciate that it won't be always be straight forward persuading people that a degree from the OU is as worthwhile as a degree from somewhere more traditional, but I'm hoping that the experience I'm planning to gain alongside the degree over the next two years will help me to stand out from the crowd. Time may prove me wrong, but I hope not!
Any more suggestions as to employment avenues in my current situation would fantastic by the way!
Sam
If, for some reason the idea of working as an accountant is attractive to you, a number of firms are recruiting people with good A-levels to become Accounting Technicians & puttign them through their AAT qualification. IIRC if you have the AAT qualification, you get get credits towards Chartered Accountant qualifications.
If you want to go into law then the better route would probably be to finish the vet degree then do the one year conversion course and finals (Bar or Law Society)
With a vet degree behind you and as long as you get 2:1 or above there is hardly a law firm in the country which would not take a look at you
On the other hand the vast majority of the major city firms would not look twice at someone with an OU degree - even if you got a first
You have obviously got some serious brain power to get into vet school in the first place so my advice would be stick with it, get the piece of paper and then move.
Good luck
With a vet degree behind you and as long as you get 2:1 or above there is hardly a law firm in the country which would not take a look at you
On the other hand the vast majority of the major city firms would not look twice at someone with an OU degree - even if you got a first
You have obviously got some serious brain power to get into vet school in the first place so my advice would be stick with it, get the piece of paper and then move.
Good luck
Three years to realise you didn't want to put your hand up cows bums. Decide what area of law you want to get involved in and try to get in through the back door. You should be good at that by now. Seriously though, studying is just a door opener in my experience, get out there and roll your sleves up. Again, no punn intended.
Frik said:
I suppose it's a stupid question (since you have already made the move) but could you not have simply switched courses at the same institution?
Unfortunately not, no. I was at the Royal Veterinary College, and they only do the vet course (and a couple of other veterinary related ones). Never mind.
I'm currently going for the approach of contacting everyone vaguely involved with the areas that I might be interested in, and hope that someone happens to be able to give me a job! Not that confident how successful that will be, but we shall see.
Sam
Join the Police! You don't need a degree, and you can get on perfectly well without one. I've worked with a 22 year old Sergeant (earns circa £35K) and I've known Superintendents (circa £60K) with 15 years service, also non-graduates. And, once out of your probation the BiB will sponsor you through a degree (so long as it's job related - law would obviously be fine) and you'd be given time off, paid, to study!
There, I've done my recruiting bit!
There, I've done my recruiting bit!
I left uni mid way through my second year. I hated it after my first semester, it was boring and tiring and most importantly I felt uninspired. Friends and family persuaded me to keep giving it a shot all the way into the second year.
I was lucky though, I had other skills and had built up a decent list of contacts to start my own IT/freelance business. At the same time I enrolled in an Open University course and they gave me credit for the time I'd already studied at a regular university.
Today, I'm definitely NOT looking back. The friends I'd met during my first semester have all graduated with either First or 2:1 degrees. However, not all have found jobs and most are pleased they've achieved the degree but not really happy with their life yet. I, on the other hand am pleased. I took a big personal risk and so far its been paying off for me.
Your mileage may vary, but if you do go via an unconventional method be prepared to think creatively about your problems and work hard. Good luck
Don said:
If it was me I would go back to uni.
This is good advice. You are three years in. You could finish this degree - however much you dislike it - and you will then have a qualification. With a first degree in anything you can get onto post-grad courses to redirect you into whatever career you decide on.
I had a bad year in the middle of Uni where I decided I hated it utterly and wanted off. Didn't work hard and got into trouble (educationally!). A wise man and good friend gave me the bollocking I needed and I got back to it.
I *hated* education by the time I had finished but it was worth it. I got into the career I now have and have never looked back. One day I may indeed go and do a postgrad course and change...
Give it another stab. Really.
3 years of vet school has to be worth loads of CAT points. Some institutions will virtually give you a degree on the back of it, or at least just top it up with 12 months of something related. Might be more of a problem switch vet school to law!
Buy a degree from the Inverity of Blah Blah USA? I did.
Thanks for the slightly more positive replies. I know that the others weren't being negative just for the sake of it, and made valid points, but I'm going to find a way to get where I want to go by moving forwards. Going back is not an option, either because it's not possible, or because it's not what I want to do.
Now, I just need to find someone who agrees with me who happens to have a decent job going!
Sam
Now, I just need to find someone who agrees with me who happens to have a decent job going!
Sam
I'd say finish the degree you started now taht you're three years in. If you ultimately want to join the legal profession, you won't get any respect by just giving up on that amount of time invested. One of my colleagues did a degree in zoology before converting it to legal qualification (only one year extra). It's not unusual to change direction.
Most law firms like the fact that prospective employees might have gained a qualification in something different before doing law - it brings more to the table and such people often end up better lawyers.
What is frowned upon is lack of dedication or commitment. You can't give up on a huge legal case half way through just because you don't fancy it.
Do you think that a career in law does not have similar requirements??
>> Edited by cy88 on Sunday 27th November 11:31
Most law firms like the fact that prospective employees might have gained a qualification in something different before doing law - it brings more to the table and such people often end up better lawyers.
What is frowned upon is lack of dedication or commitment. You can't give up on a huge legal case half way through just because you don't fancy it.
samwilliams said:
A problem with the veterinary course is that it involves a huge amount of learning (although none of it is particularly difficult), so if you're not fully committed to it you invariably fall down.
Do you think that a career in law does not have similar requirements??
>> Edited by cy88 on Sunday 27th November 11:31
cy88 said:
I'd say finish the degree you started now taht you're three years in.
I can't go back to the degree I was doing. As I mentioned before, it's not an option.
cy88 said:
A problem with the veterinary course is that it involves a huge amount of learning (although none of it is particularly difficult), so if you're not fully committed to it you invariably fall down.
Do you think that a career in law does not have similar requirements??
I've no doubt that a career in law does have similar requirements, but the fundamental difference is that it IS what I want to do, whereas the veterinary course just wasn't. With the benefit of hindsight, I should have left the vet course after the first year, but, for various reasons, I carried on. But it was clear that my heart wasn't in it and I just wasn't giving a very good account of myself. With the law thing I'm absolutely certain that it is what I want to do, and I'm going to put everything into it.
I don't mean to sound ungrateful for all the suggestions, I really do appreciate them. But, just to clarify, it is not possible for me to finish the vet course.
Thanks!
Sam
Have you spent any time at all in a law firm? It can be stupendously boring and not at all financially rewarding. Like most professions, average, run of the mill lawyers don't actually make a great living. Also, there is a huge surplus of law graduates per law job. You will be competing with quite a few graduates for any law job. Make as many lawyer/barrister friends as you can because, as with most professions, who you know counts for quite a lot.
If I were in your shoes, I'd take the advice of xxplod. Join the Police Force and let them pay for your legal training. You'll meet a bunch of lawyers (handy down the line), get a job defending frauds and drug dealers (defence pays loads more!) and after 7-8 years court experience try to get on the circuit as a stipendiary magistrate - pays £97k pa at the moment, with 50% final salary pension!!
Good luck
If I were in your shoes, I'd take the advice of xxplod. Join the Police Force and let them pay for your legal training. You'll meet a bunch of lawyers (handy down the line), get a job defending frauds and drug dealers (defence pays loads more!) and after 7-8 years court experience try to get on the circuit as a stipendiary magistrate - pays £97k pa at the moment, with 50% final salary pension!!
Good luck
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