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Original poster

What did you do after university?

55 replies

mildredhubblesplait · 29/03/2020 08:49

In the three years immediately after graduating?

I spent the summer working in a residential home for adults with learning difficulties. I then did a one year training course plus some voluntary work. Got my first ‘proper’ (graduate) job after this, and then three years after graduation bought a house (dad gave me a deposit.)

Just interested in some non corona talk Smile

OP posts:
curiouslypacific · 29/03/2020 09:50

Pissed about a bit for a few years tbh. Worked in a bar in a beach resort the first summer, then a ski resort that winter. Was supposed to be going into the army the following year, but due to an accident (caused by my cock of an ex) suffered an injury which put paid to that. Ended up a bit lost for a while, but eventually got a job in my degree area and have been doing variations on that ever since.

BestIsWest · 29/03/2020 09:55

Worked in a pub for six months. Then joined the Civil Service on an IT Trainee scheme - my degree had nothing to do with IT. Met DH while I was working in the pub.

Lippy1234 · 29/03/2020 09:59

My DH and I purchased our first house 5 weeks after graduation, got married 9 weeks after graduation, moved house again, had a baby, had another baby, moved house again. I didn’t work.

ErrolTheDragon · 29/03/2020 10:07

Three more years doing a PhD. Then got a job, but moved after about 9 months because a similar (very niche) job ad came up in the area where my fiancé was located. I've been in continuous employment with this company (albeit with several different names through mergers, acquisitions and takeover) since 1986, including a couple of years in the US (they were able to keep me when DHs job seconded me there) and then WFH since his job moved in 1995. I've been part time since DD started school (she's 21 now but I never wanted to return to full time)

Alarae · 29/03/2020 10:08

Started off in asset management (repossessions) on behalf of a couple of banks. Was there 18 months until I had a mini crisis realising the job was dead end (only promoted if someone above you leaves deal) and decided to get a trainee role in personal tax.

Been in personal tax for four and a half years now (fully qualified) and still love it. Best decision I made.

tiredanddangerous · 29/03/2020 10:11

Got a shit job. Then got a few more shit jobs hmm

Same.

HollyBollyBooBoo · 29/03/2020 10:13

Joined a grad scheme & been with the same company for 20 years.

CMOTDibbler · 29/03/2020 10:20

Finished my exams, straight into a summer job at the hospital I'd done my research project at, then into a permanent training post with them.

DH graduated, had a couple of months where he started a PhD and then the funding didn't work out. He then went to an insurer to work in the claims call centre just to earn something, discovered he was good at it, and then moved to a different company who would enable him to do his professional qualifications

EspressoPatronum · 29/03/2020 10:22

Got a job as a study support tutor at a college for 2 years, then did a SCITT (School based teacher training) in primary teaching.

Ladyglitterfairydust · 29/03/2020 10:36
  1. Got a job working in credit control for a large company. This was to save for year 2.
  2. Spent most of the year travelling abroad.
  3. Came home and worked for a year as a TA in a secondary school. This was experience for my PGCE which I did the following year.
SnuggyBuggy · 29/03/2020 10:40

Got a job somewhat related to my degree but at a lower level than I'd hoped. It's a cliche but my job became more automated, de skilled and low paid so I ended up giving up on it. I've had other jobs but still don't really know what I actually want to do.

Those years were pretty shit, I had to live with my parents as I couldn't afford to rent a place by myself and didn't have anyone in the area to flatshare with. I never really built a social network, no ones fault, just never found my tribe. Was a lonely time.

LargeGinOnTap · 29/03/2020 10:41

Went straight into the job I am doing now, 7 years later

I was only going to stay until I figured what I wanted to do, but as it suits me down to the ground so stayed

CaribouCarafe · 29/03/2020 10:42

Masters, then an internship, then moved abroad, then another internship which turned into a full-time position which I'm currently still in.

I had multiple part-time jobs all the way through university which helped build up my CV and was very proactive about finding opportunities and interviewing (even for positions I didn't really want) just for the experience and just in case I decided that the job was right.

Freshnewus · 29/03/2020 10:47

After uni I modelled and travelled the world with work.

Whilst it was an adventure, it wasn't glamorous and I went to the 'regect' model cities Grin (I didn't go to Paris, New York or Milan. More like China, Vietnam, South Africa Grin which was still great fun when your 21 and not paying for it!)

nowaitaminute · 29/03/2020 10:52

Went travelling for a year and a half and then got a job.

happystory · 29/03/2020 10:53

1980s. Carried on with my usual summer uni job until the September, got my first job. Degree not needed or used. Terrible pay, lived with parents. Hated it. LDR with boyfriend. Got a graduate job, moved to London, moved in with boyfriend. By the end of the 3 years, we were married and had bought a flat.

Orangecake123 · 29/03/2020 10:56

3 years of biomedical science followed by another full undergraduate medical school course.

mizu · 29/03/2020 10:56

Got a job as a 'multi media resource manager' aka school librarian Grin for a year.

Then did a CELTA and went to Greece to teach for the next year.

Then came home for a bit and moved to Japan to teach...........

whattodo2019 · 29/03/2020 11:04

Went off sailing for 2 years. Came. Sick and bought a house and a puppy on the south coast. Then got an office job....

BobbinThreadbare123 · 29/03/2020 11:05

More university! Stayed for a PhD for three years after my UG and Master's. Then industry, out into teaching via PGCE, then back to industry. I always think I haven't done much but it's actually quite a lot!

IceKitten · 29/03/2020 11:06

I started a graduate job immediately and stayed at the same firm for the next nine years when I went on maternity leave (and never returned, as I was a SAHM for a few years).

DH and I took unpaid leave and went travelling for three months after we got married, as neither of us had had a gap year before or after uni.

Dinosauraddict · 29/03/2020 11:10

Year 1 - did a masters degree, got engaged, got a dog
Year 2 - went straight into my grad scheme, got married, bought a house, got another dog
Year 3 - not much changed (but got a promotion)

NothingIsWrong · 29/03/2020 11:11

Started work as a junior engineer on 1st August. Still working as an engineer 19 years later but in charge of a few things now...

DistantVworp · 29/03/2020 11:15

Worked 2 jobs (accounts and a pub), while saving up to go travelling. Meant to go travelling for a year, ended up coming back after 4.5 years working as a scuba diving instructor on a Caribbean island, 3 months pregnant with DP in tow. Got a Big4 graduate job and been an accountant ever since (now in industry).

VivaLeBeaver · 29/03/2020 11:18

Got a basic admin job which I did for the next few years. Had a baby 3 years after graduating. Went back to uni when dd was a toddler and did a better degree which actually led to a career.

Not sure I’d have got a graduate job with my first degree. But looking back I didn’t have the confidence to apply for graduate schemes, etc. I thought it was for people more intelligent than me, total imposter syndrome.

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