What career if you're good at exams but shit at networking?

[AllotmentTime]

I keep pondering a career change but I don't know what I'd move to. Classic school overachiever who couldn't translate that into the real world- I got As at A level including both Maths and English, had no idea about career so did an English degree because I loved reading. Looking back at the STEM opportunities I missed makes me 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

I feel as though being good at studying is really my only/major skill. I get on well with people, but I don't have the confidence or outgoing personality to be a go-getter. I like numbers, I like words, I currently work for a university in a dead end admin job. My IT skills are okay but untrained - I can teach myself something in Excel when I need to but I've never done any coding etc.

Anyone have suggestions please?

Bump?

What is stopping you revisiting the STEM opportunities?

https://careers.ba.com/future-pilots

Well, I’m an English teacher because I love reading and learning!

You’ve described me! I’m painfully introverted but good at exams. Engineering is full of the same personality types. Even the administrators have a Stem background ☺️

Accountancy
Actuarial?
Insurance?

Accountancy. You don't need a STEM degree.

Revisit STEM. Loads of opportunities there. You could be very good in IT user support (you have people skills and interested in tech) and there are career development paths from there.

You could look for a degree apprenticeship for an engineering or software role, since your first degree isn't in STEM.

Accountancy jumped out at me! Or law conversion but law sounds quite tough these days.

Software engineer or accounting

Start doing your basic accountancy exams then if you’re admin try to move into a finance admin job. Then the way is open to you!

Also - civil service tax expert exams would be ideal!

https://codefirstgirls.com

have a look here

Computer programmer, software developer, engineer, accountant (some are more behind the scenes than others), government statistical analysis, business analyst, economist.

Don't rule out improving networking skills. You don't have to be the most confident outgoing person. Often people like the person who just stands and listens. But there are also courses, books and life coaches that can help with that.

Similar to you - Local authority work has lots of report writing and budget stuff. Look into policy teams, or committee services.

If you could excel in the exams you must have a level of intelligence to have other skills. You just have to find out what they are. There are plenty of introverts having very sucessful careers without networking. I would think you need to change your mindset first (perhaps with help), and then evaluate how you can switch up your career. Perhaps there is a way you can study something else through your university?

All the antisocial people I know work in food safety for LAs but just be aware that salaries are low in comparison to the cost of the qualifications you require. You’ll get more value for money by doing classes to improve your networking / communication skills.

Railway engineering? Or engineering in general? I've worked at two major railway engineering companies. Most rail engineers I've met are fairly introverted but also nice to be around, it's an easy work environment with very little drama. There are usually some very experienced ones at the top end of their career who network and get the tendering contracts but the rest just get on with their job.
There are other roles in rail other than engineering, too, like project management.

I'd look at apprenticeships on the Gov website and see if you can find any in your area for something you might like. There's no upper age limit on any of the STEM ones these days!

https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship

CIMA course for accountancy? Pays v well, normally office hours, some wfh. If manufacturing early finish Fridays

Everyone saying accountancy, do you not need great customer service skills/be a bit outgoing for dealing with all your accountancy clients? Or is that only in a specific type of accountancy?

I enjoyed software development and there are well paid jobs. It’s very logical and good for someone who likes learning. There are lots of courses around you could try or see if you yow can move sideways, offer to get involved in streamlining and automating processes. You probably need to write too to write user documentation.

Patent attorney? (not sure how you get into it though)

Law, this was exactly me and it's amazing to find a career where I thrive, am challenged and rewarded. I loved doing the degree too!

I’m an actuary. Although you may struggle with the maths if you only have single maths A level and an English degree.

Q How do you spot an extrovert actuary?
A They stare at your shoes while talking to you rather than your own!
😀😉

The ones I know have stem degrees. I'm not sure what sort of patents you could assess without a strong technical background?

I write software, I'm the epitome of a 'good at exams, bad at networking type' . My area is scientific but there's lots of other types where that sort of deep domain knowledge may not be vital. Ability with words is certainly necessary, for user interface and documentation. We do have technical writers who work on the initial drafts produced by 'subject matter experts', that sort of thing might also be worth considering.