No idea what I want to do

LegacyUser

OK it's another one of these 'I have no idea what to do with my life' threads. Apologies for boring topic but this is wrecking my head right now.

I'm 22 and finished college last year. Got a good degree from a good college (in languages). I was never given much help in choosing a career at school, was always told to pick what I liked and of course my language teachers encouraged me to do languages, even thought I've always insisted that I do not want to be a teacher. Apparently it's a very good 'general' degree, valued by employers bla bla. Well I have absolutely no idea what to do next. I'm currently working in a call centre, which I hate, I intend to do a Masters this next academic year but I keep changing my mind about what I want to go into. I always thought of doing a Translation master's, but a lot of people have put me off by saying it's boring, makes no money etc. I also love Linguistics but I don't know what kind of career I could have with a Masters in that. I've been thinking about doing business or marketing because it seems more practical, and more potential to make money, but I have no real interest in it.

I would rather be happy and do something I love but at the same time I'd like to have a comfortable lifestyle. I'm not into fancy cars or designer clothes, but I'd need to afford a car, be able to go on holidays, things like that. Unlike most Irish students just out of college, I owe about 16 grand in student loans, so I probably have it worse than a lot of people my age. Its putting a real downer on things now its time to start repayments - it's one thing being broke on leaving college but actually owing so much money is very depressing. Also, since I paid so much to go to college and worked to hard to achieve my end result, I feel like I should be earning a decent amount, or at least be in a position where I can potentially earn a decent salary after a few years.

I was told that a languages degree was a great general degree, and valued by employers but it's not feeling that way right now. I'd love any opinions or advice from anyone with any experience in the area, or who has experienced the situation of not having a clue what to do. I feel sometimes that I made a mistake doing languages at all, and that I should try to move away from it, and at other times that I'd like to continue along a similar path. Careers which have always interested me are journalism, media, PR, translation, linguistics...

I feel so lost and I just need to find something to focus on and work towards. I am currently working in a call centre temporarily, and I feel like I'm wasting my life here when I could be doing something useful for my career. I would really appreciate any help...

StormWarrior

Maybe think about travelling or volunteering in a foreign country for a few months or a year for a change of scene and to refresh your mind.

LegacyUser

I'd love to travel or volunteer in South America but just dont have the money. All my salary is going towards rent, bills and paying off my loan.

MissThing

What languages have you studied?
Have you researched teaching english as a foreign language abroad?

Have you considered a placement with a global international company. Multi-nationals are very keen on hiring graduades with no family comittments who they can work to death and in return you get to travel around on business for them.

You have more options/opportunities at your feet than your uneducated peers. Stop complaining and get researching.

You're young, yes you're saddled with debt but don't let that hinder you. Seek out volunteerism in aid agencies.

Stop thinking about the barriers but the opportunities. The 'ideal' job won't fall into your lap, you may have to tend bars, wait tables in Europe but what's the aleternative, a call centre which you detest. Get out there, pick a country and go. Google expat clubs/networking clubs prior to taking off so you've some idea what its like.

Your masters can wait - you don't get a second chance at youth.

Good luck!

jdivision

Why don't you apply for work experience in a newspaper/radio station. You could use the holidays you've accumulated in the call centre to take the time to do it. Then if you like it and things work out you'll get work, if you like it and they just aren't in a position to offer you further work then maybe look at doing the journalism MA in DCU. The thing is to choose the work experience place carefully. PM me if you want some advice on which ones are good for students.

By the way I always used to say that if you knew what you wanted to do before you were 27 you were probably heading for a mid-life crisis. you're very young to be worrying about what to do. Obviously the debt is a concern but try and not worry too much about the future

LegacyUser

French and Spanish, I also speak reasonable German.

I applied to work as an English teacher in Japan last year but decided to work in New York instead. The global multinational company interests me, but how would I go about getting into it? I could get a much better paid job right now here in Ireland, the call centre was the first thing I saw when I got back from the States and needed a job fast, but I thought rather than take any old job next (I'll be leaving the call centre soon) it would be a good idea to start working towards a career and building my CV with somewhat relevant experience, not with waitress and bar work....... I already have worked as a nanny, waitress, maid, receptionist in Europe and the states, it was great at the time for learning the language and culture but not much use for a career as a translator or in media I don't think? I dunno, I just feel like I should be going for more 'real' jobs now.....some people from my college are working in embassies and things like that, which I'd love, but have no idea how to go about it (they all got in through mammy/daddy connections but there has to be other ways!) Anything that involves languages, working in a European capital and would look impressive on a CV interests me. I'm just aiming for my jobs to be relevant to my degree in one way or another......don't see the point of applying for jobs in Brussels with "cleaned toilets in a pub", "worked in Starbucks" etc on my CV That was OK when I was an undergrad, and yes, they show I'm reasonable good with people, have customer service skills etc, but I think I should be aiming for graduate type jobs now?


Unfortunately I have a medical condition which requires examinations every few months for now, so my dream of living in South America or any other 3rd world region is off the cards for the time being - pretty much rules out any aid work etc. Its a bit of a bummer as its what I intended to do after finishing my B.A, but I'm waiting to see what happens with it. I can work in the UK or anywhere in Europe though...

Piste

I'd like to recommend this site, www.careerdirections.ie it has a questionnaire type thing where you enter your highest education qualification you intend to acheive and then you answer and load of questions about your interests and then it suggests suitable careers that suit you interests and qualifications, might be worth a look!