No Degree

Konata

Hey all,

I've recently withdrawn from college due to medical reasons (severe depression, eating disorder, history of self harm, alcohol abuse and suicide attempts). I'm not well enough to continue my studies in the near future, but hopefully some day I will be able to secure a degree.

I'm just wondering what the prospects for jobs without having a degree are? I always had the potential to get a good job - with 8A1s in my Leaving Cert in 2008 I was given every scholarship and opportunity available. But now I'm at a loss. I doubt emplyers are going to care about my top LC results if I don't even have a degree.

Has anyone else had experience with finding work without any qualifications? Or what else could I do in the meantime?

I appreciate any help

Sardonicat

I think your main focus atm is to concentrate on getting your mental/emotional health back on track. Worry about the rest when you are able to. Don't add to your troubles by focusing on not having a degree for now, when you get back on track you'll find a way to resume your studies.

Best of luck.

Dr.Sanchez

Sometimes I reckon experience outweighs a degree depending on the job offered.

A friend of mind in the states has a masters in phycology but at the moment she working as a graphic designer!

Take the time out you need to get better, I can guarantee that you'll be better before the country is..!!

frankythefish

ho hoturu

a degree is not the be all and end all of everything

an your excellent lc results will always stand you in good stead

having just completed your lc in 2008, i expect you are young so you will surely have lots of opportunities in the future

on a personal level, when i was 18 i developed chronic ocd and like you had excellent lc results,thereafter i focused more closely on my health and now in my 20s i again have the world at my feet

pat

Konata

Thanks for the advice guys and yes, I'm 20 at the moment. A degree often seems liek the be all and end all though, especially when almost everyone else my age is in college.

I just find that I often feel worse if I just stay in bed all day - I'm trying to fins something productive to do that might help me get up in the mornings. College was difficult because I have zero motivation or concentration at the moment.

Guess I'm just at a loss as to what to do with myself!

frankythefish

what would you like to work in?

Konata

Tbh I have absolutely no idea. I was studying Science in college but I really don't think that area of work is for me now - I've just grown to hate it

And now I have no idea what I want to do with my life which is terrifying! >_<

frankythefish

sometimes it can be hard to make a decison about what job you want

you speak about wanting to keep busy/stay productive, it might n't be a bad idea to just follow your interests. if it be gardening for instance, why not set up your own/fruit veg patch. if it be animals, why not volunteer as a helper at an animal rescue centre or something

ultimately your interests will guide your destination. albeit unfortunately many people out there end up in jobs they hate as they got into something they really did nt like

The_Morrigan

On your question OP,I don't think a degree is a must have.
I left school at 18 didn't have a breeze what I wanted to do and luckily enough I've been working ever since.
I'm just turning 30 and Ive bought my own home, I've completed an Advanced Diploma and I'm currently doing a degree - but that 3rd level education came only in the last 14 months.
Now in saying that considering the current climate, if I was in the same situation now I'd probably not have risen up through the ranks in my day job as well, but I've never been afraid of work and I've done fancy jobs and durty ones since I started earning my own way.

However, like the other posters have said, I think now is not the time to be worrying about what degree you're going to do and what career path you should take. Focus on yourself and getting yourself into a better place mentally & emotionally, maybe there is some part time work, or volunteer work that is available that will give you something positive and challenging to do, but that isn't going to bog you down with mundane tasks or too much stress, you might also by chance stumble across your calling. My brother did that when he took part in a workshop and realised he wanted to be a primary teacher - he had previously been studying something to do with science & health/safety.



Good Luck

Tom Dunne

When I was 17 and started college, I was, quite frankly, emotionally and psychologically way too immature.

For various reasons, I didn't finish college. It was only later in my 20's when I felt I was mature enough did I give it a go again and flew threw it (kept on going on got the masters as well).

However, I have to be honest, not having a degree did hinder my prospects in my chosen career (IT). I felt I did encounter what I bitterly called "degree snobbery". I was denied many jobs because I did not have the qualification (despite being technically quite savvy).

But all is not lost. Your health is what is important to you know, so focus on that. And speaking of focus, would something in the field of graphical design/art/animation be of interest to you? I dunno where I am getting this from, just a feeling I have.

Finding something you enjoy doing is important in a career. I was lucky I always enjoyed computers/IT, so it came naturally to me. The trick is for you to find something you enjoy and make it work for you.

TheUsual

Hotaru wrote: »

Tbh I have absolutely no idea. I was studying Science in college but I really don't think that area of work is for me now - I've just grown to hate it

My brother did the first year of a Science degree and he hated it. It just didn't suit him. He went against a lot of people telling him it would get better and just to not get depressed about it.

He would say today it was the best thing he did changing courses. I respect him for doing that to this day.

Find stuff that you enjoy and do that. Maybe if its a hobby like art, then pick something you think you will get a job from at the end of the course. It's obvious you can study by the Leaving Cert results you have so don't stress, it will work out.

daigo75

Hotaru, I don't have a 3rd level degree, and I'm not planning to get one any time soon; this didn't prevent me from finding a job, because my experience helped me a lot.
On the other end, I have a friend who put himself under pressure to complete his studies (which he started hating after 3 months), and it costed him 11 years and a nervous breakdown. Now he feels better, but he's in a much worse position than me, although he has "the piece of paper".

I believe one should fundamentally do what he/she feels doing, and not necessarily what "everyone else is doing". I'm not advocating a culture of fooling around here, I'd recommend to take things easy.

eire2009

8A`s and a **** load of boards.ie posts you obviously should get a job working with computers seen as your on one all the time.

To be honest I would advise sticking it out in college or doing something you hate every day like going to the gym or a run getting some exercise basically.

For someone who apparently got 8a`s you should be smart enough to do whats best for you and not looking for advice off people who dont know you.

Daisy!

eire2009 wrote: »

8A`s and a **** load of boards.ie posts you obviously should get a job working with computers seen as your on one all the time.

To be honest I would advise sticking it out in college or doing something you hate every day like going to the gym or a run getting some exercise basically.

For someone who apparently got 8a`s you should be smart enough to do whats best for you and not looking for advice off people who dont know you.

How is that in any way helpful???

Anyway, Hotaru. I am similar to you in the way I also got a pretty great LC, went on to study Science too and then realised, no this isn't for me and I dropped out. It was a tough time, I didn't know what to do with myself. I took up a job childminding for a friend while I was figuring out what to do with my life and it turns out Childcare was my calling, I didn't even know if I liked children before that. Not that money is everything but I'm now earning a higher salary than many of my friends who are supposedly in "good" jobs. And most important of all, I've never been happier. Go do things that interest you, maybe get a part time job to keep you going money wise. And maybe in a few years you'll go back to getting a degree. You're only 20, you probably feel ancient but believe me you're not, plenty of time to get to where you're destined to be, looking after yourself is the most important thing right now. Best of luck.

eire2009

Daisy! wrote: »

How is that in any way helpful???

A

That person will have to help themselves I realise life has its bad patches but sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind.

My advise is do something you hate every day because obviously that person doing what they want is not helping them physically or academically if that person has a year left in a degree they should stick it out with their results I wouldn't imagine them failing 1st or 2nd.

If your the lowest you've been then you can only get better.

I would also say alcohol is your major problem from
past experiences

Mrs OBumble

Hotaru wrote: »

Thanks for the advice guys and yes, I'm 20 at the moment. A degree often seems liek the be all and end all though, especially when almost everyone else my age is in college.

I just find that I often feel worse if I just stay in bed all day - I'm trying to fins something productive to do that might help me get up in the mornings. College was difficult because I have zero motivation or concentration at the moment.

Guess I'm just at a loss as to what to do with myself!

A degree isn't everything: there are still more people who don't have one than do, in many workplaces.

That said, I think you should ask for advice from the health professionals who are assisting with the various problems you have been diagnosed with. If you don't have the concentration to cope with college, in which you control when you do most things, then I doubt you'll cope with most workplaces, where you have to perform when the boss wants you to no matter how you're feeling at the time. And the last thing you need right now is to get fired from a job you can't cope with.

Your health professionals should know you well enough to suggest things that you will succeed at, and may have contacts to help you get some part time supported employment. They will also be able to help you put in place a plan to give you something to get out of bed for each day, which may or may not include paid work

IMHO for the moment, don't worry about the long term at all. You have some serious health issues to be dealing with. Focus on them first.

Cavehill Red

Hotaru wrote: »

Hey all,

I've recently withdrawn from college due to medical reasons (severe depression, eating disorder, history of self harm, alcohol abuse and suicide attempts). I'm not well enough to continue my studies in the near future, but hopefully some day I will be able to secure a degree.

A degree isn't the issue.

I expect any employer would be much more concerned about the

severe depression, eating disorder, history of self harm, alcohol abuse and suicide attempts

.

You need to conquer your mental health problems first, and then you will be in a position to tackle a job or finishing your degree.

RATM

A degree isn't everything but it helps open doors. I say that as a recruiter that sees a lot of CVs- I do come across non-degree CVs but they need to be top notch to get past our filters and it is very rare (IME) that that is the case.

dory

I don't believe a degree is some amazing piece of paper that proves your worth as an employee, but it makes life easier. I dropped out but forced myself to go back. I would probably still be working in a sports shop if I didn't go back.

As everyone else has said, concentrate on you. I'm 25, and everyone I know around my age who is happy in their job is doing something they would do as a hobby anyway; computers, working with languages, Pilates instructing etc. So maybe take this time to develop one of those?

Also, use the time to develop some of your skills. If you got an A1 in Spanish for example, improve your Spanish until you could work proficiently in Spanish.

Scrappychimow

Cavehill Red wrote: »

I expect any employer would be much more concerned about the .

And why should the employer know about any of that?.

Mrs OBumble

Scrappychimow wrote: »

And why should the employer know about any of that?.

They may not know before hiring the person, but it's highly likely that some symptoms will show in the workplace pretty quickly.

It's not enough to just get a job, you also need to be able to keep it.

Long Time Reader

Hey OP,

Yes, A degree is essential. But to echo everyone else here... You should take the time to recover and really talk to qualified people in the area in require.

I think when your ready to complete a degree, you'll fly through it...

Be safe, I used to self harm too. I made myself tell most of my close friends and they helped greatly.

Konata

Again, thanks everyone for the advice.

I've been getting help for years and things have improved vastly in the last 6 months, which is why I thought I'd be able for college this September. Unfortunately the aul brain is quite up to standard yet >_<

Hopefully I'll get back in the next few years

Monty Burnz

Hotaru wrote: »

Hey all,

I've recently withdrawn from college due to medical reasons (severe depression, eating disorder, history of self harm, alcohol abuse and suicide attempts). I'm not well enough to continue my studies in the near future, but hopefully some day I will be able to secure a degree.

I'm just wondering what the prospects for jobs without having a degree are? I always had the potential to get a good job - with 8A1s in my Leaving Cert in 2008 I was given every scholarship and opportunity available. But now I'm at a loss. I doubt emplyers are going to care about my top LC results if I don't even have a degree.

Has anyone else had experience with finding work without any qualifications? Or what else could I do in the meantime?

I appreciate any help

Hotaru, would you consider studying abroad at all? There are Engliash language courses in lots of top European universities.

Ireland aside, remember that the world is your oyster. You could do a CELTA course somewhere (costs about a grand) in a month and teach English anywhere in the world. You're young, you're clearly smart - why not get out of Ireland for a bit if there are no opportunities for you there? You can always come back - it's not going anywhere. Best of luck!

Konata

Monty Burnz wrote: »

Hotaru, would you consider studying abroad at all? There are Engliash language courses in lots of top European universities.

Ireland aside, remember that the world is your oyster. You could do a CELTA course somewhere (costs about a grand) in a month and teach English anywhere in the world. You're young, you're clearly smart - why not get out of Ireland for a bit if there are no opportunities for you there? You can always come back - it's not going anywhere. Best of luck!

Leaving Ireland is something I'm seriously considering - I think a new life somewhere else would do me the world of good! Finances are another thing though

I was looking into TEFL courses and I really want to go to Japan but it said they require you to have a degree aswell So that kinda hampered those plans.

munstergirl

Hi op, i don't think a degree is essential.

Your still young and have your whole life ahead of you. You can do whatever you want to do. trying to figure out what that is for most people is pretty hard. But if you find a job you love you'll never have to work again a day in your life, it will be a pleasure.

What ever that is you might not figure out right now, you can always go back to school whenever you want, there is no age limit.

So whether you get a job in a pub or shop for now you can always move onwards and upwards.

Start writing down things you would like to achieve however small. Small steps.

NeuroticMonkey

Hotaru wrote: »

Thanks for the advice guys and yes, I'm 20 at the moment. A degree often seems liek the be all and end all though, especially when almost everyone else my age is in college.

I just find that I often feel worse if I just stay in bed all day - I'm trying to fins something productive to do that might help me get up in the mornings. College was difficult because I have zero motivation or concentration at the moment.

Guess I'm just at a loss as to what to do with myself!

I'd suggest volunteering. Great feel good factor and can be great in the CV! E.g. If you'd like to work some day in teaching you could help out at a kids sports team or beavers or something. Take up something in the evenings that is just for you..like a martial art or yoga or pilates...something where you don't have to be in competition with others and whether you improve/are "good" at it is really irrelevant. It can have an immense ability to focus your energies and break up your week (speaking from experience of unemployment and the anxiety that goes with it).

Sort out your head first...everything else will fall into place naturally.

Good luck and don't worry so much!