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Lost College Graduate

  • 19-02-2010 9:46pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,026 ✭✭✭✭


    Hi everyone!!

    I graduated from my degree 2 years. I did a J1 straight afterwards and got great experience there but unfortunately you can only do the J1 for 5 months.

    Since then, I've done 2 "internships" in Ireland; one was a way of getting cheap slave labour with no training, the other I left as I didn't learn anything; the managers ended up being too busy to train me in.

    So I'm just a bit lost and confused cos although college was fun, it was totally out of touch with the real world. I don't feel trained enough to go straight into a "career" job but I don't know if I want to go back to college either and then be in the same situation in another few years. I don't even know if what I did in college is what I want to do either!!!

    Anyway I'm sure there are 1000's out there who have been in the same situation so I'd love to hear of success stories of

    * Getting a good job after being a lost college graduate
    * Happily working in something different to your college degree

    I'm not depressed, just a bit apathetic and disillusioned at life.

    Thanks in advance for the replies :-)


Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 401 ✭✭Angus Og


    My two brothers:

    One was a Biblical Theology student in Trinity. Once he graduated he had no interest in it. He went back to college (UCD), completed his Masters in science and is now starting his own business. He's very happy.

    The other was an archaeology student in UCD. Completed his Masters in same. Is currently very happy working as a language teacher.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,883 ✭✭✭shellyboo


    I did Arts in UCD and ended up failing one of my finals - but I had a journalist job lined up off the back of my experience with the college newspaper after I was due to graduate, so I went ahead and took it and have been working in publishing ever since.

    Except for now... Stupid recession! :)

    You need to find out where your passion is and just go for it - get the experience, do the crappy, unpaid internships, do whatever you need to do to get into where you want to be. All easier said than done, I know... But figuring it out is the first step.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,026 ✭✭✭✭LegacyUser


    Thanks for the replies!!

    I'm only young, I'm sure everything will all work out in the end... saying that, I don't want to miss the boat and end up still floating around in 10 years or so


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,182 ✭✭✭nyarlothothep


    What I found was helpful was identifying what I liked doing most, and eliminating possilble career directions as a result to the extent that I was left with 3 options. I'm still unsure of where I want to end up but I know that 3 definate options is better than general unsureness. In actuality I prefer this element of uncertainty. It requires a shifting of perpsective from the view that life is a race to one which embraces life as an experiment and the acceptance of risk as an inevitability.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,026 ✭✭✭✭LegacyUser


    Have you considered teaching English in South Korea for a year? You'd still be doing something, and a lot of companies might hire you to teach something related to you degree too. Fair enough you might realize that you don't like teaching or whatever but it's certainly doing something and as well the pay is very, VERY good. You might realize you want to do an MA or whatever and you could save up while you're there. Expect the unexpected ;)


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,026 ✭✭✭✭LegacyUser


    Have you considered teaching English in South Korea for a year? )

    I'm on the dole unfortunately, I'd need to win the lotto.

    Thanks for all the responses. I've applied to do FETAC and evening courses to keep up my skills.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,026 ✭✭✭✭LegacyUser


    A lot of companies will pay for your return flights and accom, seriously look into it! Do you have a TEFL? If so, you're sorted, if not a lot of companies will take you on because you're a college graduate and a native speaker. My friend is going out there in April and has his flights and accommodation covered by the company. I know two companies in Japan who have a similar scheme too :) Strangely enough, a lot of people who do them end up in recruitment afterwards.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 27,857 ✭✭✭✭Dave!


    What's your rush, OP? You've got a qualification behind you, now you've alot more doors open for you than you might otherwise have. Obviously at the moment the recession is significantly hampering everyone's careers, but in the long-term you can do what you want really.

    What was your course, and what internships (not the companies) did you do?

    The fact that you did two internships suggests to me that you have a good idea of what you want to do career-wise; is it the case that you've changed your mind?

    I suppose I'm in a similar situation. I finished college in May, but I don't really want to work in the area of my qualification. I'm sure the fact that I have a degree will help me get work that I do want, and I intend to do a postgrad (part-time) whenever I decide on the direction I want to go. I have a few ideas, nothing concrete though.

    I'm not panicked really :) I'm relieved that I have a qualification to point to. The rest will fall into place.


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