75ZT Community

Cowley_MOA wrote:University is not something that currently appeals to me. I have heard many stories from people doing degree courses and ending up unemployed and with massive debts purely because their degree doesn't open the doors to many job. My sister will have to go to University as she wishes to become a Dentist at the moment. However there is a shortage of them so she would have no trouble finding a job that pays ££££'s I suspect.

Good on you Lewis!!

The only thing to bare in mind with some of these stories about students who can't find jobs:

Throughout 6th form and UNi, people are blasted with this, get a degree and you'll be able to walk into a £60k a year job. If you're an oxbridge student, or get a job in law, then this is most probably true - however, anything else, particularly if you have no work experience makes this amount SERIOUSLY unlikely!

Also, depends what you get your degree in and from what Uni and what grade.

I don't believe in, but sadly will most likely ending up in abiding by the degree system, however making sure that it is in something that can be applied to lots of different areas.

JakeWilson wrote:

Cowley_MOA wrote:University is not something that currently appeals to me. I have heard many stories from people doing degree courses and ending up unemployed and with massive debts purely because their degree doesn't open the doors to many job. My sister will have to go to University as she wishes to become a Dentist at the moment. However there is a shortage of them so she would have no trouble finding a job that pays ££££'s I suspect.

Good on you Lewis!!

The only thing to bare in mind with some of these stories about students who can't find jobs:

Throughout 6th form and UNi, people are blasted with this, get a degree and you'll be able to walk into a £60k a year job. If you're an oxbridge student, or get a job in law, then this is most probably true - however, anything else, particularly if you have no work experience makes this amount SERIOUSLY unlikely!

Also, depends what you get your degree in and from what Uni and what grade.

I don't believe in, but sadly will most likely ending up in abiding by the degree system, however making sure that it is in something that can be applied to lots of different areas.

Thanks Jake
Hello and what do you do? If you don't mind me asking?

Yes, I agree. There are opportunities about.

It depends on the subject you take. Some things are in demand, but think about how many X are actually needed in any year in this country. (For X read any career you want).

It depends on being realistic about what you want to start. I'm an Engineer in the car industry. The salary surveys you get tell me we are underpaid, but frankly you have to take them with a pinch of salt.

It depends on you, your personal ability, drive and enthusiasm.

In my opinion and experience, good graduate Engineers are in short supply. I know we take a small number on each year.

Hey Lewis,

I had planned to join the RAF upon leaving school and fell foul of the recession and their barmy recruitment procedures.

I took a year out and worked as a PA, then applied to Swansea University to do a 4yr BA (with a year out, (fingers crossed with BMW) in German and Italian last september

I had a very rough beginning to this year and for lots of reasons I decided to leave at the end of the year and I have worked in London this summer, it is actually a full time position.

However, not only has London proved massively unfeasible financially, but the have you got a degree question has come up again and doors (for my long term) are not currently open as I am not a graduate. I have wanted to work abroad for years so languages have always been my thing. (I've an understanding of French too)

Currently I am sat on the fence whether to carry on with languages in Swansea (very good for languages in the times league table) and just accept that I along with everyone else will have student loans, or study part time and work back up in Lincolnshire.

ALOT of what you do depends on where you want to end up (I have to hasten to add you've a long time to think about this, being 5 years further down the line than you - so don't rush into anything.

Sadly most people in positions of management, certainly in the civil service and the city all went to University when it was all paid for - so they don't always quite fathom how difficult things are.

Out of interest, what are you thinking of doing in the long term (If you do not mind me asking?)

J

Duncan wrote:Yes, I agree. There are opportunities about.

It depends on the subject you take. Some things are in demand, but think about how many X are actually needed in any year in this country. (For X read any career you want).

It depends on being realistic about what you want to start. I'm an Engineer in the car industry. The salary surveys you get tell me we are underpaid, but frankly you have to take them with a pinch of salt.

It depends on you, your personal ability, drive and enthusiasm.

In my opinion and experience, good graduate Engineers are in short supply. I know we take a small number on each year.

Exactly! Over the last couple of years in School I experienced the suddern drive to encourage more Science, Maths and Engineering type courses. As they are in short supply unlike the media industry which is over supplied or so I am told.

JakeWilson wrote:Hey Lewis,

I had planned to join the RAF upon leaving school and fell foul of the recession and their barmy recruitment procedures.

I took a year out and worked as a PA, then applied to Swansea University to do a 4yr BA (with a year out, (fingers crossed with BMW) in German and Italian last september

I had a very rough beginning to this year and for lots of reasons I decided to leave at the end of the year and I have worked in London this summer, it is actually a full time position.

However, not only has London proved massively unfeasible financially, but the have you got a degree question has come up again and doors (for my long term) are not currently open as I am not a graduate. I have wanted to work abroad for years so languages have always been my thing. (I've an understanding of French too)

Currently I am sat on the fence whether to carry on with languages in Swansea (very good for languages in the times league table) and just accept that I along with everyone else will have student loans, or study part time and work back up in Lincolnshire.

ALOT of what you do depends on where you want to end up (I have to hasten to add you've a long time to think about this, being 5 years further down the line than you - so don't rush into anything.

Sadly most people in positions of management, certainly in the civil service and the city all went to University when it was all paid for - so they don't always quite fathom how difficult things are.

Out of interest, what are you thinking of doing in the long term (If you do not mind me asking?)

J

The situation may have changed lately, but as someone who worked abroad for some years let me advise you that I found a surprising high quantity of bi-lingual Brits in many countries. Language knowledge is only a part of working out there. You need another skill as well. The competition is fierce for those without a primary skill.

JakeWilson wrote:Hey Lewis,

I had planned to join the RAF upon leaving school and fell foul of the recession and their barmy recruitment procedures.

I took a year out and worked as a PA, then applied to Swansea University to do a 4yr BA (with a year out, (fingers crossed with BMW) in German and Italian last september

I had a very rough beginning to this year and for lots of reasons I decided to leave at the end of the year and I have worked in London this summer, it is actually a full time position.

However, not only has London proved massively unfeasible financially, but the have you got a degree question has come up again and doors (for my long term) are not currently open as I am not a graduate. I have wanted to work abroad for years so languages have always been my thing. (I've an understanding of French too)

Currently I am sat on the fence whether to carry on with languages in Swansea (very good for languages in the times league table) and just accept that I along with everyone else will have student loans, or study part time and work back up in Lincolnshire.

ALOT of what you do depends on where you want to end up (I have to hasten to add you've a long time to think about this, being 5 years further down the line than you - so don't rush into anything.

Sadly most people in positions of management, certainly in the civil service and the city all went to University when it was all paid for - so they don't always quite fathom how difficult things are.

Out of interest, what are you thinking of doing in the long term (If you do not mind me asking?)

J

I seem to be in much the same position as you except you are much further down the line of course. I like History and English hence why I have chosen to study them at A level. In addition to History and English I am also studying Politics and Business Studies.

I have always like cars and so the Automotive Industry has always seemed like the natural field to head into. However it is very broad as you might imagine! In addition I seemingly have a natural gift at being able to sell things. Not just from the forums and ebay but also from places as diverse as Car Boot Sales and helping my Aunt at several Antique Fairs. Infact I have a 50% share in the running of an Antique Fair down here.

Putting Cars and selling together made me for a long time suspect I could do well with running my own Car Sales Business. The idea of running my own business appeals to me. However recently I have heard many people talking about the hard times in the car industry and how selling cars is getting ever more difficult. I am therefore starting to wonder if I maybe wise to think or come up with something else.

As you say I have a long time ahead to make up my mind and with a bit of luck 2 years at sixth form will help me to make a decision as to what I do in the future. The trouble is though I don't want to be in a position in 2 years time of having left sixth form and having no idea of what I want to do with my life.

First sort of need to apolgise to Zeb, as we seem to have hijacked his thread..

Lewis. Like you say, the car industry is quite broad. As well as selling at the dealership level, car manufacturers need people who can sell at that level. In fact there's probablyy more opportunties than in the Engineering side, as there are importers for all the brands. For example, the VW brands have national companies (mostly in Milton Keynes). The few manufacturers we still have also need sales and marketing staff.

Of course like many things, it's a volatile market, but I do hope that it lasts a while yet!

S'all right...between you, you are doing me job...

Zeb is a past master thread hi-jacker himself so the tables are turned.

I have to admit to being pleasantly surprised that we have younger members on this forum, young in years that is but certainly not so in mind (I hope that didn't sound patronising - it wasn't meant to be).



The university of life is a great place to attend.

Duncan wrote:First sort of need to apolgise to Zeb, as we seem to have hijacked his thread..

Lewis. Like you say, the car industry is quite broad. As well as selling at the dealership level, car manufacturers need people who can sell at that level. In fact there's probablyy more opportunties than in the Engineering side, as there are importers for all the brands. For example, the VW brands have national companies (mostly in Milton Keynes). The few manufacturers we still have also need sales and marketing staff.

Of course like many things, it's a volatile market, but I do hope that it lasts a while yet!

Sorry Zeb a hijack seems to have taken place

I had wondered in the past about working directly for a manufacturer as it were. However it didn't really seem obtainable I suppose as you don't see the jobs advertised. I hope you get what I mean ?

With regards to engineering I had thought about it but once again it all seems to inaccessible as it were.

Cowley_MOA wrote:

JakeWilson wrote:Hey Lewis,

I had planned to join the RAF upon leaving school and fell foul of the recession and their barmy recruitment procedures.

I took a year out and worked as a PA, then applied to Swansea University to do a 4yr BA (with a year out, (fingers crossed with BMW) in German and Italian last september

I had a very rough beginning to this year and for lots of reasons I decided to leave at the end of the year and I have worked in London this summer, it is actually a full time position.

However, not only has London proved massively unfeasible financially, but the have you got a degree question has come up again and doors (for my long term) are not currently open as I am not a graduate. I have wanted to work abroad for years so languages have always been my thing. (I've an understanding of French too)

Currently I am sat on the fence whether to carry on with languages in Swansea (very good for languages in the times league table) and just accept that I along with everyone else will have student loans, or study part time and work back up in Lincolnshire.

ALOT of what you do depends on where you want to end up (I have to hasten to add you've a long time to think about this, being 5 years further down the line than you - so don't rush into anything.

Sadly most people in positions of management, certainly in the civil service and the city all went to University when it was all paid for - so they don't always quite fathom how difficult things are.

Out of interest, what are you thinking of doing in the long term (If you do not mind me asking?)

J

I seem to be in much the same position as you except you are much further down the line of course. I like History and English hence why I have chosen to study them at A level. In addition to History and English I am also studying Politics and Business Studies.

I have always like cars and so the Automotive Industry has always seemed like the natural field to head into. However it is very broad as you might imagine! In addition I seemingly have a natural gift at being able to sell things. Not just from the forums and ebay but also from places as diverse as Car Boot Sales and helping my Aunt at several Antique Fairs. Infact I have a 50% share in the running of an Antique Fair down here.

Putting Cars and selling together made me for a long time suspect I could do well with running my own Car Sales Business. The idea of running my own business appeals to me. However recently I have heard many people talking about the hard times in the car industry and how selling cars is getting ever more difficult. I am therefore starting to wonder if I maybe wise to think or come up with something else.

As you say I have a long time ahead to make up my mind and with a bit of luck 2 years at sixth form will help me to make a decision as to what I do in the future. The trouble is though I don't want to be in a position in 2 years time of having left sixth form and having no idea of what I want to do with my life.

Yep, sorry for being a thread pikey Carl

I did History and English at a-level too (and law as well) I would have loved to do politics but sadly there weren't enough people run the course.

Sadly I'll never be an engineer, I can service a car etc, but that's as far as my engineering skills will ever go, I do believe that people are just wired up in different ways. If you can Sell that's superb (or Business Development they call it now apparently in the smoke!) Nor am I an accountant etc.

Being your own boss, is something I would love to do and if circumstances allow you to, then that would be great. You are right in what you say that the automotive industry is a tricky one - I would (but then again I'll most likely be proved wrong) try to work for a manufacturer directly, rather than a franchiesed garage.

One way to get a taster of what you might want to do Lewis is organise some work experience (time permitting of course) during your holidays. Your first summer of year 12 (if I remember correctly) is a long one indeed (10 weeks I think) so get your applications and letters in and try a few things out.

Alot of it depends on your goals and aspirations Lewis. My 6th form pushed us all to thrive for magic-circle law firms, banks,KPMG, you name it. Personally as long as I get to do something that pays the bills and allows me to (within reason) enjoy life then that's all that matters!

Happy to chat via PM on this further, or perhaps meet up when you're back in the country.

With regards to Bernards post, I have work experience both in law and education. My reason for choosing languages is that one can apply them to many different spheres and although there are Brits who are bi-lingual, there aren't that many in comparison to people in mainland europe. Also, if all goes to plan, including English I hope to be quad-lingual....... Yep I agree an engineer with one language would probably be more desirable to certain employer than another, but I am not an engineer.

Realistically a degree is just a tick in the box, unless you are going to be an engineer, doctor, dentist etc. It's not a tick I have EVER in my entire life agreed with, but will only be letting myself down if I try and fight the system.


J

Tourerfogey wrote:Zeb is a past master thread hi-jacker himself so the tables are turned.

I have to admit to being pleasantly surprised that we have younger members on this forum, young in years that is but certainly not so in mind (I hope that didn't sound patronising - it wasn't meant to be).



The university of life is a great place to attend.

Not patronising at all and it is a good one indeed!

Tourerfogey wrote:Zeb is a past master thread hi-jacker himself so the tables are turned.

I have to admit to being pleasantly surprised that we have younger members on this forum, young in years that is but certainly not so in mind (I hope that didn't sound patronising - it wasn't meant to be).



The university of life is a great place to attend.

Proof that the Rover 75 isn't an old man's car I suppose I get what you mean Basil

BTW in Monte Carlo yesterday I saw the registration BAS1L on a Bentley Azure, just thought you would like to know.

JakeWilson wrote:
Yep, sorry for being a thread pikey Carl

I did History and English at a-level too (and law as well) I would have loved to do politics but sadly there weren't enough people run the course.

Sadly I'll never be an engineer, I can service a car etc, but that's as far as my engineering skills will ever go, I do believe that people are just wired up in different ways. If you can Sell that's superb (or Business Development they call it now apparently in the smoke!) Nor am I an accountant etc.

Being your own boss, is something I would love to do and if circumstances allow you to, then that would be great. You are right in what you say that the automotive industry is a tricky one - I would (but then again I'll most likely be proved wrong) try to work for a manufacturer directly, rather than a franchiesed garage.

One way to get a taster of what you might want to do Lewis is organise some work experience (time permitting of course) during your holidays. Your first summer of year 12 (if I remember correctly) is a long one indeed (10 weeks I think) so get your applications and letters in and try a few things out.

Alot of it depends on your goals and aspirations Lewis. My 6th form pushed us all to thrive for magic-circle law firms, banks,KPMG, you name it. Personally as long as I get to do something that pays the bills and allows me to (within reason) enjoy life then that's all that matters!

Happy to chat via PM on this further, or perhaps meet up when you're back in the country.

With regards to Bernards post, I have work experience both in law and education. My reason for choosing languages is that one can apply them to many different spheres and although there are Brits who are bi-lingual, there aren't that many in comparison to people in mainland europe. Also, if all goes to plan, including English I hope to be quad-lingual....... Yep I agree an engineer with one language would probably be more desirable to certain employer than another, but I am not an engineer.

Realistically a degree is just a tick in the box, unless you are going to be an engineer, doctor, dentist etc. It's not a tick I have EVER in my entire life agreed with, but will only be letting myself down if I try and fight the system.


J

Hi Jake
I agree with the being wired in different ways comment! I am crap (by my own admissions) at Maths! I am targeting a C Grade for it infact. I aspire to do something interesting as well! Especially given that my Mum and Dad hate their jobs to varying degrees. However my Great Aunt never stops going on about how she loved working for British Gas in London. I suppose much depends on what you earn and how high you fly as it were. I think some work experience may help to make me decide which way to go as it were. Hopefully the Sixth Form has either some good companies or allows you to arange your own.

Lewis
PS I will PM you

The more work experience you can get the better...

(Sorry, I am multi-tasking.... )

There are far too many who go to University just to do a degree. They have no idea what career path it is that they wish to follow, and so they do a degree that they perceive will open as many doors as possible for them. Trouble is those kind of degrees oopen no doors, as they are too general.

This summer there were 70 applicants per graduate job.

I am in the Zeb mould. I am a teacher but I realise that 6th Form, College and University are not the be all and end all. At the same time I do encourage my students to achieve all that they can academically, so as to help them at least get an interview and a foot in the door to show a potential employer what they are capable of.

While schools are put into league tables, based purely upon how many students have achieved particular grades, life skills etc will never become part of the curriculum. No matter how much we would like them to. At the same time these tables also mean that students don't learn a great deal apart from how to pass the exam or complete the coursework.

As for relying on parents, god help us, last year the nation (via the written media) more or less said that it was up to teachers to teach manners, not parents. Nuff said there I think.

I'll put my soapbox away now.

Chris

I would love to see General Studies dropped and the time spent on learning about things like Mortgages, The property market etc, useful things that people will need in life.

Prior to going to Swansea I worked for a Federation of Academies. (Apologies Carl as you'll probably be going here he goes again! ) and that took over two highly under performing schools. The lead school had a GCSE pass rate of 100% and a 6th form to HE % rate of 99.8.

It was a hell of learning curve for them as the approach for academics, does not work for everyone!

J

I went to a university to do a degree in surveying. I eventually found a job as a probationer. and I earned a good salary for a while. However training was non-existant even though the firms that employed me stated to the RICS that they had formal training in place.

I was laid off because I was not fully qualified, not surprising due to the lack of training.

Now struggling to put food on the table, I know how to do a proper Homebuyers Survey or Mortgage Valuation, but because my previous employers were more interested in making money from me, rather than training me, I am unable to carry out this work.

I have come across many surveyors who are totally incompetent in their duties, but because they are 'qualified' they are allowed to continue.

The RICS is a joke, it is more interested in enrolling overseas members for example than addressing the issue of thousands of surveyors being made redundant in the UK.

Have you come across any Energy Assesors? The industry said 2500 -3000 were needed, now there are 7000, yet Elmhurst Energy are still carrying out training courses for new energy assessors.

Madness, absolute madness

Cheers

Mike

Lewis, the opprtunities are out there, though scarce.

Always worth looking at company websites in the careers section. I think you can register to be emailed with future openings at this one, for example:

http://www.bentleymotors.com/careers/

Oh, and well done for spotting the Azure.