What did you do with your NUIM degree?

Hairspray

Heya i decided to set this thread up to invite all alumni to tell us what they did once they got their NUIM degree.The reason for this thread is , i want to know what becomes of people once they go into the big bad world .Whether having a degree helped or not?, did they stay in the same area as their undergrad or did they totally change career direction?. And most importantly what are they doing with themselves now.

Thucydides

I'm an alumni student of NUIM as well as a (reluctant) current
postgraduate.

I'm sorry to be the bringer of bad news but I originally graduated back in 2008. Things were bad back then - there weren't a lot of jobs. Though today it's even worse - there are effectively none. I know of many fine students with good degrees in good subjects and they may as well have wasted 3/4 years of their lives.

I also know of students with Master's degrees, Hdips etc who can't find work. Many of those I originally graduated with are just floating around. Some did get jobs (in 2008), though most found nothing.

I'll be graduating (again) in September and I'm quite pragmatic about it now - if not realistic. Either I emigrate, find some sort of micky mouse job to do me over, or I go on the dole.

It's very disillusioning to be honest.

My advice to any student graduating is to do a Master's, go travelling etc as your chances of finding work are next to zero. It's all about blowing time at the moment - keeping yourself out of the job market for as long as possible

Also, I would not recommned anyone doing the Hdip - there are no jobs in teaching - this has been true for years now because of the over supply of Arts degree students. It's particualrly acute now given the recruitment embargo.

I've lost count of the number of HDip students I've come across who can't find substitution / full time teaching jobs.

jakesgirl

Hi guys!
I graduated from nuim in 2006 with a PhD in arts (also had a masters and ba) and since then have had so much difficulty in finding work. Even in 2006/07, when the economy was still ok, it was very hard to find good employment, as I was considered 'overqualified' for everything I wanted to do and ended up leaving my doctorate off my cv in order to make some sort of living, working at c**p jobs.
I dont mean to sound like a moan and to be honest, I am happy now as I have retrained in the Equine industry and am setting up my own business which will hopefully work out! But for anyone who is not passionalte about going into acadamia, who wants to work, but is unsure what they want to do, and who has considered postgrad education as a way to guarantee good employment, just consider everything really carefully first. I enjoyed my postgrad years and the research I did and I am proud of my accomplishments, but was totally naive about what would happen when I finished.
I just want all you undergraduates out there to know what is realistic and not be mislead into doing something you think will guarantee you employment once you leave. If it is a choice you make simply out of interest in your field, or if you know that you want to put in the time and effort it will take to become an established academic, I wish you the very best of luck and happiness. If however, like me, you saw it as the first rung on the employment ladder, please be careful. I sincerely wish someone had been this honest with me all those years ago.

LeixlipRed

I graduated from NUIM in 2005 with a BA in Maths, worked in NUIM ever since as a tutor, done a M.Sc in Maths in DCU in 07/08 and am now slightly altering course with research in maths education. So, yeh, done nothing "with" my degree really. Except framing it.

TouchingVirus

I framed my degree and hung it on the bedroom wall in my parents' house.

Have I put it to good use yet? Not yet ...working on that though.

LeixlipRed

If you ever have an intruder you can wallop them over the head with it.

Duddy

A friend of mine did a Bmus and a masters in musicology(?) and is teaching some instruments in posh boardin school:)

Another had a BA French and Anthro and works in Bank Of Ireland.

nameproblem

I graduated in 2008 and went back to do a Masters, graduating again in September, hoping against hope to get a job, but know realistically i'll end up getting full time work in the bar i've worked in part time for 3 years, save up and travel for a year or so, thinking Japan, then come back and hopefully there'll be jobs.
However, I have friends who graduated their BAs with me and are in related careers and happy, moving up their respected ladders too. and then other friends whom are in mickey mouse jobs / unemployed.

Raminahobbin

I did an Arts Degree in English/History, which I thoroughly enjoyed- loved the courses, found nearly all aspects fantastic.

I will never, ever need the degree- there's really not a hell of alot you can do with an Arts degree anyway, but I have now gone on to study Acupuncture. So I'd can't really forsee a future where the degree might stand to me, as i'll (hopefully) be self employed.

Suppose I can help my future family with their homework somewhat...

Beau

I graduated in 2009 in Bsc Finance and Venture Management and now work in Bank of America Merrill Lynch processing debt corporate actions. My exam result didn't matter at all to be honest but the fact that I had great work experience which was part of the degree for a semester and a summer.

I would be a lot more optimistic than some of the other posters here, I can think of one person who hasn't got a job yet in their related field from my class. The process of getting a job is horrible and is very slow but there are jobs out there and its definitely picking up. Don't use the recession as an excuse, if your not getting a job, you're doing something wrong. Also have reasonable expectation of what a job will entail.

ixus

B.Eng Computer Engineering.
2 years in back office operations (finance ala the corporate actions processing crap in Merrill Lynch mentioned above ).

Got out of that.

MSc in Finance in UL.
Working as a trader now.

Ostrom

B.A. Arts, 2007. Halfway through phd now.

Good post from jakesgirl - it was some time before I realised that academia positions are very much the minority. Best thing to do is gather as many skills as you can in whatever you do, and try to stay modest

jakesgirl

efla wrote: »

B.A. Arts, 2007. Halfway through phd now.

Best thing to do is gather as many skills as you can in whatever you do, and try to stay modest

Absolutely agree! Learn as many skills as possible, especially skills you enjoy--you can never learn too much and you never know what's in store in the future. Options are best!:)

jethro081

it is a particularly expensive, and indeed a particularly small piece of wall paper, for which i have found little use. (other than the fact that i'm back doing a masters which will ultimately it seems end up being a more expensive, particularly small piece of wallpaper)

petals

I've done nothing with either my degree or postgrad from NUIM and kairos and i finished almost two years ago now!

I don't know whether it's my location or the lack of jobs available that's the problem. I do notice though that with the Kairos end of things I did radio and television production but the stations tend to pay more attention to those that have come from Ballyfermot rather than Kairos.

folan

graduated in 07 with degree, last year with masters in Electronic Engineering. have been working since my degree (1 year contract in HP and my current job, both engineering).

both pieces of paper are in a cupboard in my dads till i get a home of my own to hang them.

nyarlothothep

petals wrote: »

I've done nothing with either my degree or postgrad from NUIM and kairos and i finished almost two years ago now!

I don't know whether it's my location or the lack of jobs available that's the problem. I do notice though that with the Kairos end of things I did radio and television production but the stations tend to pay more attention to those that have come from Ballyfermot rather than Kairos.

anything entertainment related is very difficult to break into. If you're in Ireland its even harder because the industry is smaller compared to other countries.

r3nu4l

Wow lots of negativity here!!

I graduated with a BSc (Hons) in 1997, I then did a PhD in the Biology Department at NUIM, demonstrated undergrad practicals during it and did 9 months on my PhD in TCD at the Dental hospital.

Following that, I returned to NUIM for a post-doc in Biology. Then I decided that the uncertainty of life in lab science was a bad thing and so decided that I wanted to be a medical writer, putting my PhD to use but earning good money while I was at it. So I ended up in a Medical Communications Agency in London. It was a very high-profile and well respected company in the heard ot 'The City'. Unfortunately, the work hours and quality of life were the same as those of big city bankers so I left the job after 15 months and took a position in Cambridge in a Medical Communications agency. Four years later I am Editorial Director at that company and have gained loads of experience. I regularly travel to major congresses in Europe and the US and I meet and work with very senior members of pharmaceutical companies and also some of the most well respected physicians worldwide. I love my job and I love the education I got at NUIM.

So, yeah, my NUIM degrees have realy benefitted me

banquo

r3nu4l wrote: »

Wow lots of negativity here!!

I graduated with a BSc (Hons) in 1997, I then did a PhD in the Biology Department at NUIM, demonstrated undergrad practicals during it and did 9 months on my PhD in TCD at the Dental hospital.

Following that, I returned to NUIM for a post-doc in Biology. Then I decided that the uncertainty of life in lab science was a bad thing and so decided that I wanted to be a medical writer, putting my PhD to use but earning good money while I was at it. So I ended up in a Medical Communications Agency in London. It was a very high-profile and well respected company in the heard ot 'The City'. Unfortunately, the work hours and quality of life were the same as those of big city bankers so I left the job after 15 months and took a position in Cambridge in a Medical Communications agency. Four years later I am Editorial Director at that company and have gained loads of experience. I regularly travel to major congresses in Europe and the US and I meet and work with very senior members of pharmaceutical companies and also some of the most well respected physicians worldwide. I love my job and I love the education I got at NUIM.

So, yeah, my NUIM degrees have realy benefitted me

Can I have some money?

mitsybaby

I'm in Ballyfermot at the moment and was using it as a stepping stone to get into Maynooth to do media studies but now after reading some of the posts i wonder am I better off staying in Ballyfermot!!??

Confused!! :mad:

ljohnson

A degree is never a waste of time but there is no jobs

mitsybaby

I'm a mature student (30) :mad: and i really want to make the right choice regarding employment when i finish!!

I have my written assessment in Maynooth on Saturday anyway, I'll give it my best shot and see if I even get a place first and then I'll have to look at my options..

petals

mitsybaby wrote: »

I'm in Ballyfermot at the moment and was using it as a stepping stone to get into Maynooth to do media studies but now after reading some of the posts i wonder am I better off staying in Ballyfermot!!??

Confused!! :mad:

From my experience of both Kairos in Maynooth and the radio industry I'd stay in Ballyfermot if I were you. Radio industry tend to pay alot more attention if Ballyfermot is on your cv and my experience of the media dept in maynooth wasn't great

mitsybaby

Thanks Petals..

What about the tv industry? I'm debating between the two... think i'll have to specialise in one thing....

lordgoat

Got a degree in Biology in 2003 ( i think). Did a masters in UCD (2005 i think)
Now working for a biomed company. It pays the bills and the people are nice. Have lots of friends in maynooth and still live here.

Duffbeer

BA Geog and Greek & Roman 2001.
Worked in HR for nearly 4 and half years after (Got summer job in '01 and stayed there) It was great craic, pay, Celtic Tiger years..Ahhh the memories:)
Went back to NUIG in 2005 and completed a Masters in Occupational H&S and Ergonomics. Great year out and H&S was booming!:)
Working in Construction H&S since 2006. Will be unemployed soon so........
Applied for H-Dip in Education starting this sept. Will know this Thursday...
Hopefully after 10 years I will start using my BA....if I can remember any of it!

OctavarIan

mitsybaby wrote: »

I'm in Ballyfermot at the moment and was using it as a stepping stone to get into Maynooth to do media studies but now after reading some of the posts i wonder am I better off staying in Ballyfermot!!??

Confused!! :mad:

Despite being a smaller college, Ballyfermot's reputation in the media industry DWARFS Maynooth's. This year that will have grown even more thanks to all the Oscar nominations and indeed the Oscar win. The number of applicants this year has been unreal.

Definitely stay in Ballyfermot.

silverberg

I'm just wondering did anybody who graduated with a 2.2 find it hard to gain employment? I have always been a 2.1 student but unfortunately due to personal issues 3rd year has been extremely difficult time for me which in turn has been reflected in my grades. I am borderline at the moment so hopefully I can bring it up again while there is still time!!

billybigunz

I graduated from nuim in 2006 with a PhD in arts (also had a masters and ba) and since then have had so much difficulty in finding work.

Are you surprised by this?

Graduated from science in 2004 and it has been plain sailing since. Do well in a good numerate scientific discipline like maths or physics and the world is your oyster.

Come out with an arts or soft science 2.2 and you would be better off without it.

princess_calico

OctavarIan wrote: »

Despite being a smaller college, Ballyfermot's reputation in the media industry DWARFS Maynooth's. This year that will have grown even more thanks to all the Oscar nominations and indeed the Oscar win. The number of applicants this year has been unreal.

Definitely stay in Ballyfermot.

Oh god... Why did I not consider that before starting in 'Nooth?

mitsybaby

thanks for the input everyone.. looks like i'll be staying where i am then!!

I'm Glad i didn't get accepted into Maynooth last year after all or i wouldn't have considered Ballyfermot...

joseywhales

billybigunz wrote: »

Are you surprised by this?

Graduated from science in 2004 and it has been plain sailing since. Do well in a good numerate scientific discipline like maths or physics and the world is your oyster.

Come out with an arts or soft science 2.2 and you would be better off without it.

Yeah great, but he/she has a PHD in an arts subject, I would have expected that to be valuable with respect to critical thinking and independant research, as well as an ability to present arguments and argue.Writing up detailed rigorous reports is also a skill that he/she is likely to have. I mean there shouldn't be too much difficulty in getting a job.

Your point that maths/physics/Chemistry/IT are more valuable in the jobs marketplace is valid, it still doesn't mean that this should influence what somebody chooses to study. There's no point in somebody doing Physics if they don't like it. While it's possible to do well, it's completely pointless as you have no passion for it.

r3nu4l

joseywhales wrote: »

Yeah great, but he/she has a PHD in an arts subject, I would have expected that to be valuable with respect to critical thinking and independant research, as well as an ability to present arguments and argue.Writing up detailed rigorous reports is also a skill that he/she is likely to have. I mean there shouldn't be too much difficulty in getting a job.

Transferable skills are very important, however, the sad truth is that most employers will still only employ that person with a PhD at a graduate level if they are moving into a field unrelated to their PhD. The advantage is that the person with a PhD in an unrelated subject is more likely to get the job than someone who only has a degree in an unrelated subject.

The person with the PhD looking to jump career to an unrelated field will have to suck it up and accept that they will start on a lower point in the career ladder and will be 3-4 years older than most others at that point in the same career path.

Your point that maths/physics/Chemistry/IT are more valuable in the jobs marketplace is valid, it still doesn't mean that this should influence what somebody chooses to study. There's no point in somebody doing Physics if they don't like it. While it's possible to do well, it's completely pointless as you have no passion for it.

On the other hand, as I discovered, no amount of passion for a job will pay the bills if it's low paid. The reason I left post-doctoral laboratory research was because it only offered three year contracts at best, no pensions or benefits, was not very well paid and there was no real career structure at all for advancement.

So I chose medical writing (I do love it as well though ) and my career and pay have rocketed since doing so in a way that would never have happened had I stayed in the lab.

I would advise people to very carefully consider what they study, check potential career paths and then decide. Strike a balance between what you want to do and the kind of life you want. If you love a subject but think there will be no jobs out there in that field then study something else professionally and use your free time to imdulge yourself studying the subject you love as an amateur. Later in life you may choose to go back to college to study the thing you love in more detail but at least you'll have had a decent career in something else.