Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

My DS, university/ job/ career....

128 replies

Periperisauce · 29/08/2018 09:25

For the last 3 months DS has been working in an office for a local company - basic junior admin stuff. Completing spreadsheet, typing up notes. He's been asked to do a few extra tasks too but it's all quite simple.

At first he quite liked it when it was all new. But now he's really bored. There's no prospects either, no natural way of advancing his career. The more senior people have worked there for 20 years plus, then it's loads of juniors. So no career path.

He said if he stays for a year, 5, he feels he will be in the same position. He's a very upbeat person normally, things don't upset him, he is always glass is half full. But currently he's really quite down. It's most unlike him.

We've talked about applying for another job. However he's not sure he enjoys the office environment. This is his first office job, he previously worked in customer facing roles in a bar/ restaurant which he enjoyed more but was never a long term plan.

When he was in 6th form he thought about teaching (and did some teaching practice in school) but the school directed him down the path of accountancy- he applied for a few degree apprenticeships but wasn't successful and took the bar job...He's not sure accountancy is for him though it was more the schools idea. And it's still office work which doesn't appeal.

I've asked about other careers, he really isn't a physical type so manual trades don't appeal.

He's going to speak to a family friend who is a teacher about his options and see what he can do. I don't know if he can try and get a place through clearing or if he will need to wait and apply next year but at least he can look into it.

This seems sensible to me, but my DP was quite dismissive of it and said he needs to stick to it, he's being ridiculous saying there are no prospects, and so on. So is DS being unreasonable in this?

OP posts:
LemonysSnicket · 29/08/2018 14:19

It's not the office environment, it's that office. I did a similar role when I was 16 and was genuinely bored to tears, made me really down and eventually led to panic when I had to go to work. I moved and worked in bars and restaurants and loved it and now, after uni, I'm in an office again. But, it's interesting, it's varied, it's in a career path that is v clearly defined and of interest to me.

I would def recommend he studied something of interest and moves into a more enjoyable area.

Piggywaspushed · 29/08/2018 14:19

Just discovered EY also requires science at C (or access equivalent) so he does need to sort that out.

LemonysSnicket · 29/08/2018 14:20

Also DP does accountancy and thought it was what he really wanted to do and now would not do it if given the choice again, it's a very boring and stressful career

Original poster
Periperisauce · 29/08/2018 14:22

I was just looking at a couple of Early Years courses...one says that although you only need English and Maths for the course, to qualify/ work as a teacher you may need additional GCSEs (presumably Science).

OP posts:
JennyHolzersGhost · 29/08/2018 14:29

If he’s into sport perhaps he could volunteer at a kids’ weekend football or rugby club? They always seem to be in need of helpers.

JessieMcJessie · 29/08/2018 14:31

Could he become a PE teacher maybe? (I know nothing about how that works!)

Regarding the office job, what strikes me is that you haven’t mentioned what sector the company is in- eg is it financial services, manufacturing, retail, property etc? Often with entry level office jobs the idea is not that you are looking to learn how to do generic office work, it’s a foot in the door to a sector you’re interested in. So the same filing clerk job could be very dull in one industry but much more interesting in one that really interests you. Did he think at all about his interest in the company’s business when he went for the role? With respect, at his age and level his own impression that he has “learned the whole job” and “there’s no progression” could be totally wrong- he’ll know nothing of what management may be planning for future development/expansion and could still find himself moving into a more interesting role in the future just by gaining the trust of his bosses, even if there is no obvious career ladder.

JennyHolzersGhost · 29/08/2018 14:38

And a thought on the current job - if it’s a big company it may be a bit of a monotonous and anonymous role, small cog in the machine etc; maybe he would do better at a small place where his work is more varied and he feels more in touch with the wider ebb and flow of daily business activity ?

Fairenuff · 29/08/2018 14:42

Do the TA posts ask for any qualifications? Usually schools want at least NVQ 2 specific for the role. Sometimes you can be working towards this if they give you a placement.

I've worked in schools and most of the TAs are employed to assist children with SEN. This can be an extremely rewarding role or it can be repetitive and isolating, depending on the placement.

He could always try it, of course but, again, much like his current job, one establishment can be very different to another and it all depends what type of environment he is in and how helpful/supportive colleagues are.

VanGoghsDog · 29/08/2018 15:52

He has looked at many non degree apprenticeships over the last 2 years. In this area they are pretty much all either practical trade-centric (plumbing, building, electrical), or office based and below min wage. There isn't much else.

So, no emphasis for earnings, just you don't want him earning a low wage? OK.

And 'office based' can mean literally anything, from accountancy, to HR, to IT etc. What about IT in fact? Technical Support apprenticeships are good.

And why can't he learn a trade?

If he says at an interview for a TA role that he's doing it to see if he likes it enough so then he can go off to uni and get a degree and apply to be a teacher, he'll not get the job. So, he'll need to think up a better story.

LegallyBrunet · 29/08/2018 16:02

If he’s interested in teaching could he do an Access to Teaching course at a local college? They’re an A-Level equivilant and designed to get you to uni

Piggywaspushed · 29/08/2018 16:16

I don't think he needs to do that : that's really aimed at older people with non conventional qualifications. He does have 2 A Levels (and an AS), one at B grade and a decent set of GCSEs (if we ignore the science issue...). I thinka foundation year would be the way ahead....

Piggywaspushed · 29/08/2018 16:19

Don't agree with that at all VanGogh : that's exactly who we are recruiting as TAs : with a view to them being trained up as excellent teachers in our own schools! TAs , relatively speaking , are easy to recruit, teachers not so much.

Original poster
Periperisauce · 29/08/2018 16:54

VanGogh, theres no emphasis on earning from me, he doesnt want to work for less than minimum wage as a basic filing clerk. Many of the apprenticeships in offices in our area are really just an excuse for cheap labour and offer no actual training or development. There may well be better ones nationally, but thats what is on offer local to us.

He has a friend doing an IT developer apprenticeship. It's just not for DS. He has tried but isn't interested in computers beyond using them as a tool.

As for trades he isn't interested in that type of work, or probably suited to it, as he's a bit clumsy with practical tasks. No snobbery involved, but what's the point in doing something he doesn't have an interest in and may not be any good at? A family member works in the trades, as a child was always fixing and tinkering with things, seeing how they worked etc, that job suits them very well they now run their own business with a near 6 figure salary. But that isn't for DS.

Several of the TAs when DS was at school were doing part time degrees (one later joined the school as a teacher) so I don't think they would automatically rule him out for saying he wanted to gain experience on a path to a teaching degree)

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 29/08/2018 17:38

You DS actually sounds a lot like mine! (Other than having at least some ambition but mine is 17 , so...) Similar ability, interests, lack of interest in IT. Also under achieves . Only thing mine has is science but I suggested teaching and he ran away (literally) from me Grin

I knwo what you mean about apprenticeships. Same in my area , excpet for Santander but mine would not get accepted on to that I suspect.

JennyOnAPlate · 29/08/2018 17:57

I just wanted to add that he is very unlikely to walk out of an office job straight into a TA role. He would need an NVQ and significant experience of working with/volunteering with children.

harshbuttrue1980 · 29/08/2018 18:02

Its difficult if he isn't suited to learning a trade and isn't particularly academic either. I'm a teacher and do a lot of careers advice, and a degree isn't suited to everyone. From the fact he only managed two A levels with a B and a D, he might find university study to be a demoralising slog. If he enjoyed working with customers, what about going for a qualification in retail management or hospitality, and working his way up in that field? Its about finding the right path for each person, and if he doesn't shine academically or practically, he might have the sort of personality to shine in a customer-facing role. There is plenty of opportunity to work your way up. One girl I taught left school with two C grades at A level and got on a management training scheme in Tesco and has the chance to become a store manager after 3 years.

thesandwich · 29/08/2018 19:40

Can I suggest he visits www.worldskillsuk.org/directions/our-events/worldskills-uk-live in November . Loads of info about all sorts of careers. Have a look at icould website too.

BlaaBlaaBlaa · 29/08/2018 19:43

Has he spoken to a careers adviser? He really needs to speak to a professional who can offer impartial, independent advice

F1reintheWh0le · 29/08/2018 19:52

I've worked in several different industries including offices. At his office can he investigate if he can be involved or set up, first aid courses, fire warden courses, health and safety courses, employee forums how to make being at work better, social club, lottery club, volunteer days, charity fund raising days, Christmas celebrations. Some offices I've worked in have offered a huge range of free courses and have paid for some qualifications. Obviously, this depends what size company he works for etc

VanGoghsDog · 29/08/2018 20:26

Several of the TAs when DS was at school were doing part time degrees (one later joined the school as a teacher) so I don't think they would automatically rule him out for saying he wanted to gain experience on a path to a teaching degree)

Yes, so I have friends who also worked as TAs while doing their degrees to get into teaching.
But I didn't think that was what you were suggesting - you seemed to be suggesting he give TA a go to see if he likes it enough to then go and do a degree. Not to do it at the same time.

All I'm saying is that if he says in an interview that he's just trying it out, he'll likely be put behind committed candidates who look more likely to stay for a few years - no recruiter sets out to have to recruit again in a short timeframe. Of course, if he can commit to stay there while he does his degree, then I'm sure they would indeed snap him up - but TA jobs are very sought after so he needs to think carefully about how he positions this.

Piggywaspushed · 29/08/2018 20:51

It's a commonly recommended route into teaching... these days you cannot get into a teacher training course without some experience of working ina a school. 3 of my department did TA work for a year or so. Tbh, there is a huge turnover in TAs at my school. We have 4 or 5 who have been with is for years and the rest are more or less in a revolving door.

Crystalblue13 · 29/08/2018 21:29

While applying for teaching assistant posts could he maybe volunteer at a school. It is really hard to get a TA job without any experience.

Crystalblue13 · 29/08/2018 21:30

I did a level 3 teaching assistant course which was one day a week at college, one day at a school.