After college I have no Plan.

LegacyUser

Hi, I am 23 and currently doing a university degree in business. I started it last year after dropping out of college originally and have another year left after this. I decided to return to college to give myself better opportunities for the future and it was sort of out of panic to be honest. I chose business because it is quite broad and secure in terms of job opportunities.

I don't like it at all but I have no problem getting my head down and passing exams to get it done at the end of the day. The thing is most people in my course are gearing towards becoming accountants or going in to a certain field where as I could not care less. I don't think I am the type of person suited to the corporate world and certainly dont have the motivation to do a bunch of exams and work experience after college to get qualified. I would love to move to the united states as soon as I finish college and I am hoping my degree will provide certain opportunities towards achieving this.

Anyway people often ask me what my plans are with regards to careers and they are surprised when I look at them with a blank face. It seems that everybody in my course has their goals in sight where as I am just trying to get my degree and am not even thinking about applying for jobs in Ireland for when I finish. It is sort of bothering me lately coz I feel like I should have an actual plan.

RossFixxxed

Ah look this happens, and I'd imagine a lot of people don't really know what they want to do. You do need two things though (I think anyways) a willingness to work and an open mind to jobs.

I've found from working in different companies that there were roles I've NEVER heard of (take underwriting as an example) that actually got my interest and seemed like things I'd like to persue. You really never know. Some of the stuff I do at the moment I really enjoy and others have let me do it as they hate doing it. You really don't know at all, once you are willing to get stuck in and see what you'd like and go for it!

LegacyUser

Hiya,

I did a business degree. A good while ago. Stated out with the intention of becoming an accountant and then changed my mind after 1st year. I really didn't know what I was going to do, but I was going to finish my degree.
I went to a college that did work experience and the 2nd work experience I had was for a US multinational.
When I finished my degree they called me up and asked me back and I went. Really because I didn't have any other master plan. I ended up working in the states for them at their hq.
The reason I'm telling you this is when I was in college I didn't know what kind of jobs were out there. I didn't realise that there were a lot of jobs that a business degree will get you into. I definitely didn't see myself doing the kind of work I have ended up doing but I have to say I enjoy it. To be honest I didn't know this work existed.
You need a motivation to work and to succeed and be willing to put the hours in post college. If you got into a US multinational in Ireland then after a few years of work and hard work, you could transfer to the US, have visa and transfer taken care of and really you'd be on the pigs back. You may need to take a longer term approach to your goal that could make it more sustainable in the LT.

Anyway, you are coming out of college at a difficult time economically, however if you are strategic about what you want eg. a life in the US. It is very achievable. You need to go for it...

Best of luck.

LegacyUser

Thanks for the advice. I know the sensible thing to do is to start thinking about joining a multi national firm first and work my way up to the point where I could transfer abroad but because I am 23 now and will be 25 when I graduate, I feel like I am a bit against the clock and I cant bare the thoughts of having to work in Ireland for another 3 years or so to get qualified. The thing is I am not sure I would even like to work for a firm in my life. I am not anti capitalist or anything but I do see myself as a bit more suited to more personally interactive jobs such as teaching. I was thinking about spending a year in Japan when I finish college teaching english as you can do this with any degree. Another option is to take the 1 year Jvisa to the states and try and get a job and hopefully get sponsored after that to stay. Basically I have very itchy feet and want to go somewhere as soon as I finish college instead of waiting around until I am 28 or 29.

P.s, sorry mods if this is in the wrong forum, I know it is more of a career advice thread.

RossFixxxed

You sound like a man with a plan to me Go for it!

petethebrick

I think going to Japan for the year is a great idea!!
I finished a degree in computer science when I was 24 and after finishing didn't really know what I wanted to do. I taught in Korea for two years. Had the time of my life and during this time figured out sort of what I wanted to do.
Came back to Ireland age 26, did a masters MA degree in Politics and I'm now working in that field. Working abroad for a while was best decision I ever made.

You're young at 23. Many peaople who wait to get a good job etc before travelling end up never doing so.
Don't rush into joining some company training program- probably not many jobs in that about now anyway.
The great thing about a business degree is that it gives you loads of options. When you come back from a year or two abroad you could go into any one of lots of different areas.

Wish I was heading off again!

thumbtackjack

I'm in the same boat as you havenoplan. I'm doing an arts degree and currently on work experience teaching but not too sure if I'd like to become a teacher after college and I've no idea what else I can do with the degree besides doing further study which I'm not too keen on

piby

Very few people really have an idea what they want to do straight out of a degree so I wouldn't worry about it.