Has anyone done a degree in Politics?

[ssd]

what sort of jobs do you do now, was the degree useful?

ds wants to do this.

[lightgreenglass]

My first degree was in politics and my second is in psychology - the field which I work in. I honestly felt politics wasn't that much use to me hence the second degree, but that's my personal experience. My sister did a politics type degree, think international relations and now works for an MP.

My advice to anyone going to university now would be to do a degree which leads to a vocation and do a sandwich course as the world of work is so competitive. The most successful people I know have done that.

[Isthiscorrect]

Ds is currently in his second year studying politics. He loves it. Has had work experience with an mp since he was 14, currently is webmaster for a political group. Regularly pops in to help out with an MP who is currently inundated with work. He is studying this because he loves it, it really is his passion. No idea about his future but can't imagine it will be any different to history, philosophy, English etc. plenty of analytical skills, essay, report writing. All useful and desirable skills.

[Verritie0]

My DD has just graduated this year and she did a politics degree. She has throughly enjoyed it. However, its not been easy getting a job. Since begining of July had at least 12 interviews for jobs ranging from recruitment consultancy, digital marketing to finance, accountancy dept type roles, but unsuccessful. This can be attributed to dd not doing well in interviews. So not really anything to do with her doing a politics degree. She has now managed to get a job in retail management, this wasn't what she intended to do, but is better than nothing. A politics degree lends itself to jobs that are in the people orientated industry. I would seriously think about what area of career your dc is wanting to be in, get as much work experience as he can. My DD had lots of little partime and summer jobs during her degree. So looked good on paper, her interview technique let her down, nerves mainly, plus many of the jobs were in london, employers there are a bit cautious wether graduates can handle london life if they live/study up north like DD did. Eg things like cost of living, fast pace of life, not being able to get on the housing ladder, if that's your aspiration to settle in the capital for a fair while etc .... She thinks her many work experiences uk and abroad was what got her the interviews, as many students now have degrees, you need something that makes you stand out or give you the edge.

[ssd]

TBH, I'm not sure why he's doing it, he likes modern studies best at school and seems to think the politics degree is like a big modern studies course. He doesnt have a clue what sort of job he would like. I'm just hoping politics is varied enough degree to give him a wide career choice. Not near London though.

[ssd]

lightgreen, what is a sandwich course?

[ssd]

I've just googled the answer to ^^. What if the uni dont offer work experience as part of the course, whats the best thing to do then?

[CarpeJugulum]

Yes. I interviewed, and was offered jobs as a party political agent and also a researcher. I would have loved that but circumstances changed and I couldn't accept.

Haven't worked in politics since. However it does make you very cynical, and you develop a high degree of sarcasm... but that might just have been me!

[daisydalrymple]

Dh did PPE and is now a senior manager in public sector recruitment.

[Verritie0]

Well I've noticed with DD after doing a politics degree, she is alot more confident with all sorts of people be it arrogant or quite ones. Just not with interviewers. Dealing with people is what they end up being good at. She can't half debate till the cows come home!. Recruitment consultancy/ head hunter would be her dream job. ( daisy your DH job would be perfect)

[Verritie0]

Oh yeah meant to say that most uni will have a job search office type dept that will actively seek out jobs or will have jobs or internships already within uk or abroad available to students, they will have to apply like a normal job application. Its advisable to do internship in the 2nd year of degree most of the time they are unpaid and can last up to 6 weeks or in the summer holidays. But it can lead to a graduate job with the company if they are impressed with you.

[daisydalrymple]

Yes, I think the PPE graduates tend to do well on the graduate entry type schemes with the big companies. (Plus of course, half the cabinet, journalists and other media type roles have this degree).

[northerngoldilocks]

I did law and politics. After graduating I trained in tax at KPMG. I think if its politics at a Russell group type uni it will be fine for academic prospects. From a recruitment prospective in my current role the actual degree is less relevant - more the skills developed and the way people present at interview.

[pastaofplenty]

Hi OP

Did degree in Politics then postgraduate qualification in journalism - became reporter, then news editor and then left to work in PR (better for family life, better pay, more sociable hours etc... Originally worked in communications for local government and NHS but now work in PR in Government

[ssd]

no, its not a RG uni, he didn't like the RG uni near us.

[Verritie0]

My DD didn't go to RG but still managed to get lots of graduate job interviews. I think if her grades were good enough she would have chosen RG though as she would eventually like to work and live in Asia, RG brand uni seems to be the ones they've heard of and think is reputable. Obviously in the uk there's lots of good non RG uni.

[ssd]

I don't get the fuss about RG uni's..

[lightgreenglass]

Neither do I - my postgrad wasn't RG but my undergrad was and the quality of the teacher and engagement from the lecturers/dept was far better at postgrad.

[Whenwillwe3meetagain]

I did politics and spanish at a RG uni and now work in HR. Really enjoyed my degree but not hugely useful.

As a recruiter I look more favourably at RG universities as harder to get into. Personally I'd go for the best uni I could get into then change course if not enjoying but that's just me. Don't do a degree for a degrees sake especially as so expensive nowadays.

[lifeissweet]

I have a politics degree from a RG uni.

I ended up working in PR and then retrained and did a PGCE.

Of all of the people I graduated with, most went onto further vocational study - law conversions or accountancy.

Another is a famous Pop star (which is a one-off) and another is a well-despised hate figure in the media - also not a result of the degree!

I think these days that any first degree is only going to get you into a bottom rung of a career if that - graduate traineeships and vocational masters level qualifications seem more important than ever.

More debt, more work, but more useful in the long term.

[lifeissweet]

I would also add that my first job after I graduated I got because of the extra-curricular things I did. I managed events, I ran societies and ran for Union President. It was the extras that got me the job - not the degree. I would encourage anyone to get out there and get real experience - not just a certificate.

[ssd]

Whenwillwe3meetagain, can I ask, as a recruiter, what degrees you look for then?

[GinandJag]

DD has just started a degree in PIR and Economics :)

[ssd]

whats PIR?

[GinandJag]

Politics and International Relations.

[BettyTurpinsHotpot]

Ok don't worry about RG/nonRG but do look at the entry grades required.