Don't know what to do

TheAgenda

I'm 26, male and unemployed. I hold a pass degree in German and Anthropology from NUI Maynooth...

It took 6 years to get it and course was 4... And to make matters worse I cannot speak fluent German which is a must for any potential job opportunities I see posted on sites like jobs.ie. (as far as I can tell Anthropology is worthless)

Did nothing in college except smoke weed and waste my life and had no clue about the real world until I started to cop on around a year ago. I would have chosen something completely different had I known the prospects and difficulties which awaited me after college. Basically my degree is useless because not only is it a pass degree, but I can't even speak fluently because I did not work hard while doing it. So I basically have no qualification as I see.

Looking for a job is a nightmare because I don't know where to go from here, do I go to Germany to get fluent? Do I lie about my qualification and try to wing it? Where do I look for work? Do I pavement pound or just search online? I'm completely lost and confused about what to do so please help me.

drunkmonkey

You could do a lot worse than spend some time in Berlin, once your German is up to scratch apply for German speaking jobs here or English speaking in Berlin.
If you prefer beer head to Munic.

Butterface

All is not lost. Start thinking about what kind of career you would like

If you're unemployed you could look into doing a springboard course, and gain a qualification that is employable.
https://www.springboardcourses.ie/

Consider your undergraduate degree a stepping stone. Having a degree will allow you to pursue a post-graduate degree down the line if you wish.

I work in IT with many Arts graduates who went on to do conversion courses and found employment as Business Analysts and Project Managers.

Tomagotchye

Do some customer support. Say you have a degree in German but it's rusty so you'd want 70-30 English. Use that as an opportunity to force improve that and get experience in stuff at the same time while you really look for something real/engaging.

syklops

TheAgenda wrote: »

I'm 26, male and unemployed. I hold a pass degree in German and Anthropology from NUI Maynooth...

It took 6 years to get it and course was 4... And to make matters worse I cannot speak fluent German which is a must for any potential job opportunities I see posted on sites like jobs.ie. (as far as I can tell Anthropology is worthless)

Did nothing in college except smoke weed and waste my life and had no clue about the real world until I started to cop on around a year ago. I would have chosen something completely different had I known the prospects and difficulties which awaited me after college. Basically my degree is useless because not only is it a pass degree, but I can't even speak fluently because I did not work hard while doing it. So I basically have no qualification as I see.

Looking for a job is a nightmare because I don't know where to go from here, do I go to Germany to get fluent? Do I lie about my qualification and try to wing it? Where do I look for work? Do I pavement pound or just search online? I'm completely lost and confused about what to do so please help me.

What would you like to do? Its not Pie in the Sky, decide that and go from there. Just because you have a degree in German doesnt mean you HAVE to get a job involving German. It sounds mad, but some places accept candidates with *any* degree over people who have skills in the area of work without a degree. Having a degree puts you above a lot of other people.

So decide what you'd like to do, and then we can help you further.

Fleawuss

Stop. You made one mistake but you have shown that you have the ability to analyze it. Take the lesson from that and stay stopped. It's time to think. What do you want to do? What do you actually give a **** about? Take the confidence you have learned about yourself, the real confidence of knowing yourself a bit better and go for what you want. I think it was a Bond novel that had the line about confusing movement with action. Too many people do. You have the chance to act for your own long term personal happiness not just move aimlessly in some direction for the sake of it. You've a real chance: mid twenties, no ties, real self knowledge. You might never be chancellor of Germsny but who cares? In the long run, the quality of your degree isn't the deciding factor on how fulfilled you will be. Good luck.

DanielODonnell

syklops wrote: »

What would you like to do? Its not Pie in the Sky, decide that and go from there. Just because you have a degree in German doesnt mean you HAVE to get a job involving German. It sounds mad, but some places accept candidates with *any* degree over people who have skills in the area of work without a degree. Having a degree puts you above a lot of other people.

So decide what you'd like to do, and then we can help you further.

I have a degree and can't get any work, not even factory work. The people who left school at 16 are better off than me.

3DataModem

Know anything about gambling?

http://jobs.jobvite.com/rationalgroup/job/oEMA1fwL

micromary

I thankfully speak fluent German and work in German. Love working with language every day. I am starting a job in a few weeks time. My advise is to do what I did when I was your age. I moved to Berlin. Great experience and I became fluent in the language. You have no ties so why not!?

TheAgenda

TheAgenda wrote: »

I'm 26, male and unemployed. I hold a pass degree in German and Anthropology from NUI Maynooth...

It took 6 years to get it and course was 4... And to make matters worse I cannot speak fluent German which is a must for any potential job opportunities I see posted on sites like jobs.ie. (as far as I can tell Anthropology is worthless)

Did nothing in college except smoke weed and waste my life and had no clue about the real world until I started to cop on around a year ago. I would have chosen something completely different had I known the prospects and difficulties which awaited me after college. Basically my degree is useless because not only is it a pass degree, but I can't even speak fluently because I did not work hard while doing it. So I basically have no qualification as I
see.
Looking for a job is a nightmare because I don't know where to go from here,do I go to Germany to get fluent? Do I lie about my qualification and try to wing it? Where do I look for work? Do I pavement pound or just search online? I'm completely lost and confused about what to do so please help me.

Your extreme negativity is not helping you at all, you are in a far better position that lots looking for employment, go to Germany and improver you German, it would be good for your head as well.

How did you avoid spending any time in Germany as part of you degree or doing an Erasmus year?

TheAgenda

Thanks for all the input,

I kind of do have to pursue the German route I feel because of the time it would require to re-skill myself in another area, I want to be working before I am nearly 30.. If I was to put forward another interest in something else I would like to do it would be professional cookery. There is a 2 years course in DIT that I am thinking about but fees are an issue, so I have to meet with my case officer from the social welfare office to see if I qualify for anything in terms of back to education based on my situation. Although I guess it's unlikely. I am applying for jobs but I have stopped applying for the German speaking jobs, as I get a phone call back within minutes sometimes and they are strictly looking for perfect fluency. I have an interview for AIB in March achieved so far, I am making a list of companies and applying to loads of them. I also have someone helping me with my CV and it looks as good as it could, but it will be difficult to explain college and work dates...

I may go to Germany in summer if I can't find anything here, if I were to go does anyone have any advice? Should I just go for say 2 or 3 weeks and job hunt? I'd rather spend my time over there than in college for another few years here living with parents and on dole but am worried about it... I wonder how long it would take to become good enough to be considered fluent?? I can understand German fairly well but am pretty terrible speaking it and my grammar is awful.

p.s I didn't do Erasmus year in college because I was a waster and didn't go out of choice (which ridiculously was an option).

zef

Hi , I did a year of Spanish in NUIM so i'm not exactly fluent yet , but have found some great online resources for language learning- especially DuoLingo (which claims it can teach to College Level fluency- it'll help you brush up and is totally free. You can take quite a thorough test on to to check your % fluency. It's fun watching it go up. Also with Grammar I find youtube videos/ channels great.
If you are in a city, there might be a German meet-up on meetup.com . Most of my problems are nervousness actually speaking the language, (i skipped as few lab classes...) but I find a bit of immersion by watching films in my chosen language, reading the National newspaper, or getting a friend who is fluent over for a chat- any old college friends? really help.
I'd only chase the German fluency if you really enjoy it btw.
And hey, at least you have a degree- even though you don't feel so good about it , it does open a lot more doors. Good luck.

jive

If you do go to Germany you could look at getting a job teaching English, you'd pick up the German fairly quickly I'd say given your background. Plenty of universities would be interested as they run English courses and you'd basically need no German. Don't limit yourself to Berlin or Munich either, plenty of smaller cities are lovely over there.

gar32

I got a job in Germany with no German at all. If you show any interest at all you will get a job no problem here. I am looking around now and the are screaming out for people. Have a look at monster.de or indeed.de

You could get a job even with basic German.

Good luck

TheAgenda

Did you get a job over there or from here?

cloudatlas

Are you passionate about cooking? You could get a low level kitchen job and work your way up from there if it is truly your passion. Be honest with yourself. If you went to Germany and became more fluent would you just end up trying to work in a kitchen there?

bucketybuck

TheAgenda wrote: »

I have stopped applying for the German speaking jobs, as I get a phone call back within minutes sometimes and they are strictly looking for perfect fluency.

Then work on your German, you have plenty of time on your hands to do so.

bonyn

Don't do a springboard course! Some of the courses aren't that bad, but you already have 6 years in college with no relevant work exp. Is an extra year going to get you the job of your dreams?

You have a golden opportunity to go to Germany. You may qualify for free education or a grant (im not sure, but research it), which might not be available if you obtain a level 8 through springboard.

You are a native English speaker with upper intermediate German. Get over to Germany! Id love to be 26 with a language degree, where the language i studied is the language of one of Europe's decent economies.

Im 34 with a C in leaving cert spanish from 17 years ago. Last month i quit my job and booked flights to bolivia. Hoping to go there for 3 months and take daily spanish lessons. I'll let ya know how it works out. But as for you... no excuses. The trip abroad would more than make up for the erasmus year you skipped

bonyn

Something else to be aware....

You can move to germany to find yourself (job hunt) and keep the dole. Really! That will cover your hostel, and later rent.

Dont wait til the summer. There are more opportunities now in terms of employment and also its cheaper this time of the year.

Book a one way flight.. you can book the return flight whenever. Flights are dirt cheap.