Poll: Graduated within last 2 years?

What are you doing job wise?

  • Unemployed

    Votes: 8 12.3%

  • Crappy/temporary job

    Votes: 12 18.5%

  • Career job

    Votes: 38 58.5%

  • Further study

    Votes: 7 10.8%
  • Total voters
    65
Work/life experience is just as important than paper qualifications. As a manager for a (very) large uk company I wouldn't take on a graduate in a top paid job with lots of responsibilities without first knowing the person could do the job. Theoretical knowledge and on the job competence/experience are two totally different things. I do however sympathise with those caught in a catch 22 situation. I have gone the opposite way around to most here. I'm currently studying for a degree (B.Sc) at 37yrs old as this is needed for further promotion! I'm doing this while in full time work and trying to raise a family so it's not all rosy on the other side of the fence (although my employer is paying the tuition fees!).

As has already been stated, work placement at a lower level in your chosen field while studying is perhaps the best way forward as then you can go into an interview with a little more confidence.
 
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I graduated in 2009 so just about 2 years ago give or take a couple of months.

I graduated with a 2:1 in Primary Education and French and am now working as a year 5 teacher in a primary school, where I have worked for around 18 months now. But I didn't get the job until February 2010, so took me a good 7 months to find the job. Was doing supply teaching which sucked.

Love my job now. It was worth the wait, I'm in a brilliant school :)
 
BOBPegasus said:
Graduated with a 2:2 in IT in 2010.

First job after Uni was a trainee job at an investment bank as a desktop analyst.

10 months later im no longer a trainee but a full analyst :)

Though its made me had to redo my goals in life as I already hit my 5 yr "money" plan..
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Do you enjoy the work? I'm just going into 2nd year of a Computer Science now and weighing up whether to try and get experience in technical roles in Banking/IB which is potentially very lucrative or whether to aim for a software development role in big company (Microsoft/IBM/etc.) which may be more meaningful work.
 
Graduated in July 2011 with a 1st class degree in Information Systems.
Carried out a placement year in world's second largest pharma company.

Result? Still looking for a job. Have spent approximatley 35 hours travelling to interviews/assessment centres so far. I cannot tell you how excited I will be once I find a job. Seriously!
 
Graduated in June with a 2:1 MEng in Electrical And Electronic Engineering.

I didn't exactly "apply" for jobs, I just sent a letter and CV to every company I could find that did the sort of thing I'm interested in: Electrical design, specifically automotive. I got 3 good job offers, and accepted the best one. Starting work in December.
 
Technically Graduate next week with a 2:1 in Comp sci! I did a placement year so really should have finished last year. Placement company has taken me back straight out of uni pay is pretty good but not really what I want to do. (want to get into ASP.NET + C# development or IT Security)
 
Graduated in 2008 from a MSc after having done a BSc before that. I am in scientific consulting, earning reasonable money but could be better and the job at the moment is very stressful. Am looking for something else to be honest but have no real credible ideas, even joining the submarine service went through my brain a few days ago....
 
Graduated 2 years ago with a degree in forensic science. Not where I'd planned to be but I'm working at a top college as a science technician and haven't stopped doing training courses since I arrived 6 months ago.

I'm now working alongside some very interesting individuals and learning a lot about Geology, Environmental studies and the bit that interests me most, the Nuclear industry. I'm working in a brand new centre and have an analytical lab with GC and AAS, two great labs and a prep room to myself :)

I've been lucky to get into somewhere like this when I look at the rest of my course mates. I volunteered for a few months at the college before the job came up, which went in my favour a lot.
 
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GeX said:
Graduated July 2010 (Network Computing, Staffordshire Uni) - started working as a software developer in July 2010 at a local company. Win.
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Sorry, I know this is off topic. But what was that course like at Staffordshire University? By that I mean, was it enjoyable, good quality of teaching etc? I've been looking in to the course, so it'd be good to hear from somebody who's been on it.
 
Graduated in July and have started my new job, I moved to London granted but that was always the plan, it degree with 2:1
 
Graduated this year with a 1st in Computing & Management from Loughborough, doing a PhD in the big aero firm. It's all very interesting.
 
Graduated in July with a first class in architecture. Couldn't manage to find a placement year with a view to further study so I am now a part time graphic designer for a local museum with a view of going into full time graphic design/freelance. Intend to apply to any graphic design firms I can find once this part time contract is over.

Here's hoping :)

Edit: I also do freelance design work for friends which is good fun :)
 
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Graduated 2009 with a 2.1 in Chemistry w/ Medicinal Chemistry.

Working as a Junior Chemist in a lab 30 min walk away from where I live. I make pharmaceutical and other chemical intermediates basically :)

Pretty lucky to get where I am though because well 2009 recession much, the company I work for now was laying off staff then! Tried further study back then but it just didn't work out for various RL reasons and also had enough of the years of stressing over academia.

I did happen to be job hunting for 7 months though, it can be tough but if you keep at it then something will turn up. Got where I am in a roundabout way but things have thankfully worked out.
 
2:2 in civil engineering in 2009, career job, probably a bit of further study within that too over the next few years
 
2:2 in accounting & finance.

Working in Tax for an accountancy firm, nearly completed my first Tax qualification, only taken 6 months. Next stop the CTA qualification followed by $$$.
 
What are you doing? What have you done?
Manufacturing Engineering and Management, top of the course in both 2nd year (of all manufacturing based courses) and final year (just my course). 1st Class.

Have you got a career?
Yes, but chose to do a PhD instead. I get paid to learn :). With being a Sub Warden I end up with more money each month than working as a graduate. Win win situation!

Was your course vocational and led to job or not?
Offered a design engineering job at JCB. Declined it.
 
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w3bbo said:
Work/life experience is just as important than paper qualifications. As a manager for a (very) large uk company I wouldn't take on a graduate in a top paid job with lots of responsibilities without first knowing the person could do the job. Theoretical knowledge and on the job competence/experience are two totally different things. I do however sympathise with those caught in a catch 22 situation. I have gone the opposite way around to most here. I'm currently studying for a degree (B.Sc) at 37yrs old as this is needed for further promotion! I'm doing this while in full time work and trying to raise a family so it's not all rosy on the other side of the fence (although my employer is paying the tuition fees!).

As has already been stated, work placement at a lower level in your chosen field while studying is perhaps the best way forward as then you can go into an interview with a little more confidence.
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Woah didn't know you were doing a degree as well! That's some serious commitment.

As for myself, I just graduated with a First in Geophysics and will be starting as a Seismic Data Processor next month.
 
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