If you have a good degree from a good university but have NMW, why?

[SisforSoppy]

As per the question. Following on from another thread, but also because I have a relative who got a 1st with distinction from an RG uni who post children chose a NMW job because she said she couldn’t find anything else that fitted with childcare. (Although mostly, I think, because she wanted to be a SAHM, and couldn’t be arsed with the challenges of combining a career with motherhood but needed a little bit of extra money). I was a bit , but it seems there are a lot of people like this, so I’m trying to understand why.

I have two children with autism. They can’t access childcare because there isn’t any and when younger were in and out of school.

Is there any reason why you're not taking her at her word, given you've said in your OP what she says her reasons are?

Because it's a job I love and believe is really important. It fits in with my life and my values and I love my colleagues. Wish it paid better though.

I know at least two people with good degree from good universities who cannot even hold down a job due to bipolar and, the other, (probably, its undiagnosed) aspegers.

There will be many reasons.

I got a 2:1 from Greenwich uni (no idea if that’s a RG one or not but this was in the late 90’s) and can’t even get a job (NMW or otherwise) that fits in with childcare.

I do, I'm a teaching assistant, I do it because it means I don't need childcare. It's a personal choice that I decided I wanted to be there to look after my own children out of school hours. Once they are all older I will probably look at using my qualifications again, but realise that after not being in the field for so long that might be easier said than done, it was a sacrifice I was willing to make. I also understand why women choose to continue in their chosen field and use childcare. Each to their own.

What is NWM?

For me as the first person in my family to go to uni, uni was the destination. I had no idea what career I wanted and no idea how to navigate getting it. I've worked since I was 15 and carried on working throughout my A Levels and degree so I just continued to work.
In fairness I had a couple of opportunities like an invite to a graduate recruitment assessment and I trained as a teacher but I was too scared to go to the interview and I left teaching after 3 years when I had a breakdown. Basically I have the qualifications of a graduate but not the skills.
Currently in therapy to work out how to feel about my failure to launch but happy where I am in life at the moment.

@makelovenotpetrol

What is NWM?

national minimum wage

My DD got a first from a RG university and is on NMW. It’s her first job after leaving university. She applied for lots of jobs and this is the only one she was offered, so she took it.

@MorganSeventh she hasn’t told me that it’s because she wants to be a SAHM, I’ve presumed that. She’s naturally very bright and quite lazy. She benefitted from a moderate inheritance and married young. She’s left herself in a very precarious position if her relationship doesn’t last….which is what really worries me. With a tiny bit extra effort she could be earning a reasonable salary which would safe guard her against a long list of life events.

There aren't enough graduate jobs for all the graduates. It helps to do a vocational course and come out with skills, especially in a recession.

www.theguardian.com/education/2021/may/19/job-prospects-vary-widely-for-graduates-in-england-data-shows

I was in this position once and it was because I'd had a breakdown so I got a job which I could do easily and not have to worry about when my shift ended.

Kids

HTH

@Amundo thanks for the link, although when I put ‘good’ although I didn’t specify RG I’m talking in that league. I don’t think anyone will be surprised that a degree in frog grooming from the university of the arse end of no-where only leads to a NMW job.

@InvisibleMiss

Kids

HTH

Agree. I've seen extremely gifted women end up in crap jobs because of trying to balance family life.

@VladmirsPoutine I’m really sorry to hear this happpened to you. I hope you are in a happy place now x

You sound really judgemental towards your friend, OP.

I think it's because their education means they have choices....there's a huge difference between choosing to work in a low paid/unskilled job (to fit round childcare for example) and having no choice but to work in that type of job. That's what I've tried to drum into my kids, education gives you choices in life, but also it's no one else's business, ultimately you choose what work best for you and your family and just do the best you can.

I've seen extremely gifted women end up in crap jobs because of trying to balance family life

I have a friend who is a SAHM because her husband made it impossible to work. They both had full on career jobs, they needed a live in full time nanny…I obviously wasn’t privy to their discussions but the end result was that she ended up giving up a lucrative career because her useless DH wouldn’t even pull 5% of his weight. And trust me, my husband isn’t a naturally hands on dad…he’s had the ‘if you are asking me to choose between you and my career, the career will win’ conversation. No marriage is full proof.

he hasn’t told me that it’s because she wants to be a SAHM, I’ve presumed that. She’s naturally very bright and quite lazy.

Lazy !!! You've never been a SAHM have you ?!

I got a first in Maths, had a high flying well paid career, got to my 50s and thought I have had enough, there's money in the bank, so work very part time in a NLW (I'm over 23 so not NMW) job for a bit of human interaction.

@Gingerkittykat; she’s a relative, not a friend. And , yes, I am. Her parents sacrificed a lot to give her a private school education. I’m disappointed that given her brain and the opportunities given to her (on a plate) that she hasn’t tried harder. She’s very naive. If her husband leaves her she’s absolutely fucked.

@hassletassle. Yes I have.