To ask what degree do you have/would you do?

[AnotherSillyNameChange]

Just that really. I am 28, went straight into work after college. Triple Distinction in a BTEC in Performing Arts, but I went straight to a job in customer service and stayed there. I progressed to management, got married, had DC and now I am back in work (no longer management) on a low wage and thinking it's time to better myself and go for a real career that I love.

So, what would you recommend? Im thinking of doing a degree with the OU as a starting point and would like to have a career in mind to help me choose.

My strengths: I have great communication skills, my written English is very good too and I tend to have a knack for sales (after years of dealing with people!). I am outgoing, friendly and upbeat and like working in a job where I interact with lots of people.

What I want: a decent salary (35k+) and a job that I'm proud to say I do. Decent working hours, preferably no weekends! A good working environment with a team I can become part of and enjoy working with.

So please tell me, are you similar to any of the above and if so, what job do you do? And what degree did you need/get to do it?

(P.s after having said my written English is good please excuse any typos! I am very tired tonight!)

If your good at sales then why not stick with that and work your way up, hitting a salary of 35K with flexible working is easily achievable and the bonus is that you do not need a degree.

I am not trying to talk you out of taking an OU course, but if you do not know what you want to do then you as a general rule you will be ~31 fighting in a competitive market of grads who would happily accept a lower wage.

Doing a degree for the sake of doing one is not a road to riches that it's pretended to be on MN.

IMO you are looking at this step from the wrong direction.

Interesting point justanother.

I wanted to do a degree as I felt it would really add value to me. My line of work does not challenge me academically and having DC has turned my brain to cotton wool, so I saw it as a sort of 'step in the right direction'.

I see what you are saying, it makes a lot of sense. I think I am quite bored of my line of work too and see a degree as a way of opening more doors! But you are so right that the job market is saturated with post-grads and it wouldn't necessarily do this for me.

Thank you for replying!

Hi op, I've just started a thread about degrees, I'm thinking of doing a law degree as a mature student single parent.

Hello ilike, I'm sorry, I didn't see it! Law sounds so interesting, good luck to you! What job would you like to do when you graduate?

If you want to do a bit of law and like being social, Real Estate Management is a brilliant degree. Loads of different jobs after, not just residential surveying. Really interesting course and suits mature students as the real life experience helps.

pippy that's a brilliant idea!

I've just completed a computing degree. nervously waiting on my results I've got a grad job lined up in the industry and I don't regret going. I've always wanted to do a computing degree and took the opportunity when it came along. I'm 44.

What type of role or degree are you looking at?

I have BA Hons English Lit, I did pgce and hated it, did a few years in retail in the management and I'm now a crown servant. I intend to try and climb that career ladder and get on. I don't want anti-social work hrs ever again. They ran my life. I'm 28 v soon, too. Good Luck xxx

Social work requires good people skills and lots of writing!

£35k 3yrPQ

I'm majoring in Biology. I intend to continue studying until I achieve a PhD, hopefully skipping the Masters so I don't join the work force in my 30s!

If you like what you do, I'd stay in the same area. Funnily enough, I also adore business (but not people!) so I would very much like to end up working in the financial aspect of a lab instead of trying not to explode things (which is my second option).

@JadziaSnax
Hi! Can I pick your brains?!
How did you get on with applying for jobs/interviews,etc? I am similar in age to you and completing a masters in computing atm and just wondering how the job market is. I am also unsure how to present myself as although I have lots of freelance experience in the field and some volunteering, I haven't had paid work. Background is originally teaching and I have been doing supply to bring in income. Any advice welcome.

Also, @AnotherSillyNameChange wanted to add that you don't really know where a qualification will take you but they always teach you some useful skills. They also put you back in the market which helps. Have you thought about an online course as then you could continue working? I have gained so much from going back to study and am happy to trade that off against where I was going in previous career.

Thank you so much everyone- JadziaSnax I'm really not sure! I just sort of got into my job and got stuck there. After the DC there were bills to pay and it was just a means to earn money. But now I want more, and in not really sure where to start as I've never thought about it before!

Great suggestion about social work seven

I don't have a degree, am older than you and am going to do a history degree via the OU with a view to going into teaching. This nonsense about competing against graduates is just that, nonsense. You have work and life experience plus you'll have a degree which makes you hugely marketable.

Psychology and mathematics
Senior manager for a charity
DD nursing now works for ambulance service
DS accountancy now works in finance role for local authority

That's amazing bumpowder! Best of luck to you! I think you are so right that it always adds value to you anyway.

Forgot to add jadzia fingers crossed for your results!

And DSHathaway I never EVER want to work anti social hours again!! I've done my time...

Is there a topic that interests you? You have lots of transferable skills (sociable, written comes etc.) so it might be worth exploring more what area interests you. There’s a book ‘what colour is your parachute’ and some free career interest tests you can do online.

Doing a degree for the sake of doing one is not a road to riches that it's pretended to be on MN.

^This.

That's brilliant happy, I'll do one of these. I have loads of interests! I love to cook and bake, I sew and make things, I sing (and have been a wedding singer alongside my job for years) and I love looking after people.

I have thought about being a counsellor maybe, I am not sure what degree you would need for this. But I am also a very emotional person and know that you would need to be very objective and strong for a position like this, which may not be me.

I'm just finishing a history degree with the OU. There's always an argument for studying just for the sake of it. If you are looking for a career I would suggest doing something vocational. Social work, environmental health or if you want something more broad business etc.

I'm currently in the construction industry and there are major shortfalls in Quantity Surveyors, Material Schedulers and Planners. All of which earn £35+ once out of being assistants or juniors and often you get given a company car too if you work for a Private Company.

There are quite a few unqualified people in these roles too as assistants and then they do their courses part time to get qualified. Potentially something you could do? I got my previous employer to pay for my course.

Your skill set does sound very transferable to Planning in particular.

@johnnymarrisback

I had no problem applying for roles. The job market is looking good - plenty of roles available. I used sites like graduate jobs and prospects to find roles and took full advantage of the uni careers service.

I did sort of similar, I got a job, then got my degree equivalent relevant to my job while I was working. I was lucky enough that work paid for it, but I was tied in to working there, although when I did leave my salary went up by around £6k. I’m considering the post grad options but tbh it’s unlikely to be anytime soon.

OP, would it be an option to look at jobs or careers you’re interested in and work your way up getting qualified on the way? Does it have to be an actual degree?

TwittleBee that sounds really interesting- I know nothing about the construction industry so I will have to research these roles!

OP I knew nothing about the construction industry when I first got the job, tbh parts are still surprising me 3 years later! jobs.planningresource.co.uk is a good place to look at Planning jobs, always worth making contact with a Construction Company for maybe even just a week's work experience (you're never too old for this!) to get a flavour?