University? Job? Help :(

Nitrojan

Nitrojan

Nitrojan

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12 Jan 2008
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I have just finished Sixth Form at my school and I am taking my A2 exams at the moment but have absolutely no idea of what I want to do for a career.

I have applied to Loughborough university to take 'Commercial Management & Quantity Surveying' but the more I think of it, the more I wonder whether this is just going to be a boring, tedious job that I will not enjoy. The only reason I chose to do it was that I did it for 2 weeks 'work experience' in my lower school years and I know that it's a job that pays well. The problem is that at such a young age that I am - I have absolutely no idea what I enjoy or will enjoy doing for the rest of my life, so as I sit here I am slightly worried about what to do as time is running out.

Infact, I don't even think I want to go to university - I am much more of a 'home' person and the idea of university doesn't appeal to me as much as it does to others. I have looked into a trainee quantity surveyor position about 13 miles from where I live (4 days a week in the office, 1 day a week at Nottingham Trent) which would mean that I still live at home, and I still stay with my friends and family which is ideal and I am ensured a job at the end of it, however again - I am having doubts as I feel the constant sitting infront of a PC typing numbers into Excel, chairing and attending many boring meetings and being sat in an office all day will just make me hate the job even more.

I am a quiet person to people that I do not know so the idea of actually chairing meetings puts me off slightly. I am the sort of person who loves working with technology/cars and really enjoy working as a team to achieve something. I want to be able to have a laugh at work and want variety in the day to day activities. Obviously, I want a well respected job, with a good salary and job perks (pension scheme, company car, healthcare etc) however I don't want to be sat infront of a desk/computer all day - I love being outside. I was considering the RAF however the entry fitness puts me off and the fact that you can often be called out at any time and have to leave your family behind - this isn't what I want (thinking for the future here lol).

Since I met my girlfriend, I have developed a good relationship with her dad who owns his own MOT Garage and does his own classic car repairs etc and since then I have developed a real liking and interest for cars and repairing them, however I know from what a lot of people have said that a mechanic is not a well paid job and is best avoided (not to blow my own trumpet - some have said that I am too clever to be a mechanic?) however I love the way that mechanics work in an open environment, are able to have a laugh and a joke together and just take each day as it comes.

Sorry for the long post, but I really hope that someone can help me out with some suggestions to possible jobs? Has anyone else been in this situation? I am just really stuck for ideas and with the year passing by so quickly, I don't want to end up being stuck at home whilst everyone else goes off to university/jobs still thinking what it is that I can do that I will enjoy.

Help me OCUK :(
 
Yeah, but I dont know what I would do during a gap year. Ideally, I wanted to go straight into something and get into the world of work as soon as possible. I just want a job.
 
Yeah, what I meant was that, I don't want to be sat for 3/4 years at university - I would much rather learn as I go along and gain experience at the same time, but knowing what sort of job is ideal for me is what I am really struggling with. Obviously I want to 'get a job' that will benefit me in the future and not just earn me a bit of low wage cash in the meantime.
 
Get a job then, earn some cash, travel a bit, do another job.


See if you can spend a couple of weeks working along side quantity surveyors and see what it's like so you get a better insight now you are older. I don't know how their business works but you never know, maybe some company will sponsor you through uni if you are really interested in it. Ask your girlfriends Dad if you can hover around a bit more, who cares what other people think. If you enjoy it and could see yourself doing it why not?

Keep your options open though, see what you enjoy.
 
Nitrojan said:
Yeah, what I meant was that, I don't want to be sat for 3/4 years at university - I would much rather learn as I go along and gain experience at the same time, but knowing what sort of job is ideal for me is what I am really struggling with. Obviously I want to 'get a job' that will benefit me in the future and not just earn me a bit of low wage cash in the meantime.
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I'm 29 and still struggle figuring out what I want to do. My dad is coming to the end of a career he never wanted, and is still struggling figuring out what he wanted to do. Some people just know, most people don't.

What's your hobbies? What's the favourite thing in the world you like to do with your free time?
 
Working with cars/computers/being practical/learning new things

Other than that, I don't really know - I spend a lot of time on the computer which means I don't really do much else (bad.. I know).
 
Oh, I can also tell you that QS's doesn't do too badly and it is an interesting job. I know, I work with loads of them everyday. One of my ex colleagues went into consulting and is now travelling the world working on massive projects. The kind you would see on the Discovery Channel. You can pick far worse jobs than being a QS. It's not a 100% office based job and you will get to do loads of site visits and be wined and dined by prospective suppliers.
 
If you don't know what you want to do then there isn't much point just getting a job right now. IMO you should try and get into the best university you can and study an academic course in a subject you enjoy.

Don't pigeon hole yourself into a job or into some career specific course if you don't know what you want to do. If you can get into a decent red brick uni then you've got 3 years to think about what you want to do with your life and you'll still have plenty of options open to you. You'll also have long holidays to do work placements etc...
 
My job title would be a Civil Engineer, but I'm bogged down with Project Management these days. We basically do a lot of new constructions and bit of rail work. Usually new constructions. We've also just go involved in road/bridge works which is proving to be interesting.

I tell you, it's interesting driving past some of your old projects and think, yea, I helped build that.
 
You say you are staying at home with friends etc, but arent your friends going away to university? I know about 90% of my friends went away and however much im not a fan of my campus its better than being at home with 5 friends.

I was in the same position as you, doing my AS's though not knowing what i wanted to do. Ended up looking through about 10 prospectus's and finding something relevant to my interests (Computer game design). I absolutely love this course, it is perfect for what i enjoy doing. If you dont know what to do now i'd say take a gap year, find some kind of job and in the mean time look through a ton of courses finding one that suits you.
 
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Nitrojan said:
I am a quiet person to people that I do not know so the idea of actually chairing meetings puts me off slightly. I am the sort of person who loves working with technology/cars and really enjoy working as a team to achieve something. I want to be able to have a laugh at work and want variety in the day to day activities. Obviously, I want a well respected job, with a good salary and job perks (pension scheme, company car, healthcare etc) however I don't want to be sat infront of a desk/computer all day - I love being outside. I was considering the RAF however the entry fitness puts me off and the fact that you can often be called out at any time and have to leave your family behind - this isn't what I want (thinking for the future here lol).
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Not to be totally rude here, but you are aware of reality right? Im 20 and can do most things if I put my mind to them, but I know getting a well respected job etc etc is not going to fall into my lap. You considered the RAF but the entry fitness put you off? Depending what trade you go into that's paltry in comparison. And yes, you can be called out at any time and have to leave your family behind, that's why its the armed forces and not the cub scouts.

Its a lucky man or woman that knows at 16 what they want to do in life and actually achieves it. Too much pressure is put on young people these days (imo) about long term career goals (which isnt a bad thing, but maybe not at 16?) and I think young people have too high an expectation on what they are going to be able to get job wise.
 
Find a University you can commute to, then find a degree at that university which interests you.

I did Computer Science, commuted everyday to Uni, was perfect for me I could enjoy the Uni lifestyle but also escape it when stress got tough and when I wanted to go out I could crash at a friends place on campus.
 
I'd say everyone feels a bit like "I don't wanna leave home" but I just got into hating living at home. It's just a room in a house with my parents now, that I have to pay for, and my food.

I can't wait til uni. It's gonna be cheaper than living at home, The loan pays my rent! :D

You sound like you'd enjoy an engineering based course, theres no money in mechanics any more like you say. How about doing a degree in mechanical engineering and looking at getting into R + D?
Take a gap year if you really need time to decide. Only thing I always think sucks about a gap year is being a year behind your freinds (assuming you have freinds) upside being that you can usually save enough money to support yourself for a year or two.

Commuting is rubbish, you'll make more freinds and have more fun living down there as you get to enjoy the nightlife.
 
My eldest daughter went to Sixth Form to do psychology and sociology and hated every second of it knowing it wasn't what she wanted.
She took 3 years off and got a job at The Harvester and while there and going on lots of holidays she realised what she really wanted to do with her life which is Travel & Tourism.
She enrolled at Stoke College and is at the top of the class because she loves it.
She now hopes to go to Uni even though she will be 23 but it's what she wants.

One of the top Radiotherapists at our hospital bombed out at school then bombed out at College.
He also took 5 years out doing crap jobs and at 23 he had a revelation to be a Radiotherapist and now at 27 he's on a very good wage.

Basically take your time and hopefully you will know what to do.
 
I get around said:
Commuting is rubbish, you'll make more freinds and have more fun living down there as you get to enjoy the nightlife.
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I went out any night I wanted, made tons of friends. You just have to make more effort if you commute to make friends at the start, I didn't find it a problem to be honest.
 
Everyone seems to be gearing towards the university option - University isn't for everyone, it's certainly not for me and I thoroughly regret not getting into the job market and keeping my head down, I would've been far better off, imo. The only difference with me is that I have a relatively rough idea of what I'd like to do but uni just seems like a chore and I can't wait to quit/get through third year and leave. Oh and I hate students, despite being one.
 
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