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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Worried about how I’m going to support myself

47 replies

wifibox · 26/10/2020 17:50

I’m 21 and in my final year of university. As it’s all online this year I’m living at home with my mum and younger brother. I’m starting to get quite worried about what I’m going to do when I graduate in July. I’m doing a humanities degree and I don’t know what I want to do afterwards.

I’ve never had a clear job in mind, just enjoy my subject. It’s the first time I will have to completely support myself as I won’t get any more student finance and my mum can’t afford to (nor would I expect or want her to!) support me. I’m worried because I keep hearing that there are no jobs, and because I don’t even know what job I want to do, but also because my mum is vulnerable to covid and I would hate if I brought anything home to her from work. I also don’t know where I’m going to live. I don’t particularly want to continue living with my family long term but how could I move anywhere else? I don’t know what the situation will be like in July - everything feels so uncertain and it’s really hard not to worry. It’s just really scary properly going into the “adult world” for the first time in the middle of all this.

OP posts:
funnylittlefloozie · 26/10/2020 18:06

It is scary - but you have time to think between now and July. Would you like to stay in academia? Is that possible - maybe speak to your tutors.

Do unis still have a careers service? If so, can you speak to them and get some guidance? The government careers quiz thing seems a bit daft, but when i did it out of curiousity, it basically said i should be doing the job i actually have, so its not completely useless! Give it a try, if nothing else, it might give you some ideas. Are there any jobs you like the idea of, and what sort of jobs are your peers going for?

If i was a new grad now, with not much idea of what i wanted to do, i'd either be joining the Army or the Civil Service.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 26/10/2020 18:15

Did you not even have a vague idea of what you wanted to do in mind to ensure the degree would fit and you wouldn’t be thousands of pounds in debt?

You need to see what fits with the degree choice and go from there.

Theonewiththecandles · 26/10/2020 18:21

If you absolutely have to support yourself surely any job will do? Does it really matter if it's a job you want to do? I spent 3 and a half soul sucking years in a call centre because I needed to be able to be able to pay my bills. It was awful and I had to wait in the dark on my own going on 11pm for the bus home 5 nights a week but I did what I needed to

Boom45 · 26/10/2020 18:22

I never knew what I wanted to do, still don't really, and was in the same position as you. I managed to get a temp job out of uni to pay the bills then just applied for anything entry level that came up until I had a permanent job. It wasn't great pay but I shared a house (kinda mouldy if I'm honest) house with some friends and lived to my means. So I ate a lot of pasta at the end of the month and drank cheap wine when i could afford it. Looking back now I'm not sure how i managed but i had a fabulous few years and even saved a bit for a holiday each year. One of the jobs I applied for turned into a career and while I'm not rich I'm comfortable now and it happened sort of by accident because I needed a job to live and took the first one that came along

FourPlasticRings · 26/10/2020 18:24

ALDI graduate scheme. Given my time again, it's what I'd do.

Fatted · 26/10/2020 18:25

I know at your age OP, it can look big and scary. Especially with everything going on right now. When I think back to when I was your age (20 years ago now!) I do think there was an expectation to have everything figured out. To find THE perfect job straight away, to earn THE salary from the off etc. But life doesn't work like that. I quit my graduate job after nine months because I hated it. I temped for a while and then accidentally ended up in the organisation I've now worked for 18 years. I worried so much about things when I was your age too and my life all worked out. Jot as I'd planned, but for the best.

A job is better than no job. It's better to take a job that will bring in some money while you're looking for THE job. Plus it looks better on your CV that you've done something with your time rather than months/years of not working. As for moving out, you can always share if you can't afford to live alone.

Jellykat · 26/10/2020 18:33

I think the majority of graduates that get the job they had in mind after graduating is very very slim.. so i wouldn't panic if you're unsure.
Any job will do, pay the bills etc until something comes along that clicks.

NorthGirl2 · 26/10/2020 18:36

I was like this and there was no Covid to worry about. You need to stop worrying about this now - you will work it out at the time. Almost everyone's first job after uni isn't ideal - everyone I know had to settle for something low paid to get experience and it can be hard to get that first job. But you just deal with it like everyone has to. If sounds cliche but everything will fall into place and you will deal with things when you have to, when they happen.

MaskingForIt · 26/10/2020 18:37

Agree with PP about looking into public sector (Civil Service, Local government, teaching...) or military jobs, in terms of a career.

Also just apply for everything, don’t assume you’re too good for anything. Almost everyone has to take several jobs they don’t really want on their way to the job they really do want.

It’s a tough time to be graduating, but it is great that you’re thinking about it now. Do use your university’s careers advice service - you’re paying for it with your tuition fees, so get your money’s worth!

Iggypoppie · 26/10/2020 18:40

Apply for apprenticeships and graduate programs and entry level jobs. Take anything going then use any position you get as a stepping stone to something better. Alternatively, work and do a master's in something vocational eg teaching or accountancy.

maxelly · 26/10/2020 18:47

Don't panic OP, I can feel your anxiety dripping from your post and it really isn't a catastrophe - not saying it's not hard out there, but there are jobs, 100% and you will be able to get one. If your main concern is feeding yourself/paying your way, and you are able to keep living with your mum, even a minimum wage job would do that and would be a fine stop-gap while you consider what you really want to do.

I'd also take it one step at a time and think small, don't panic about needing all the answers to where you'll live/how you'll find your dream job/how you'll move out of home/what will happen with Covid all at once, it's easy to find it overwhelming. Make a list of small steps, e.g. see careers adviser, do quiz, make list of possible graduate schemes, consider work experience placement etc., and tick at least one off the list per week, you will feel more in control this way!

I was very much like you when I graduated uni and my major regret is that I allowed myself to be rushed into major life decisions involving relocation/commitment to a career path straight after graduating when in reality there was no need to panic and hurry - I allowed myself to be highly influenced by a number of unhelpful factors/people that in hindsight really shouldn't have had the impact on me they did (such as peer pressure/an arsehole ex boyfriend/my parents/other people's parents/useless uni career service) and I was convinced of 3 things, none of which I now think was true, namely (a) it would be an absolute disaster if I had to move back home even for a few months (b) I needed to get a 'graduate' job straight out of uni or my degree was a waste of time and money (c) if I didn't know what I wanted to do in life by the time I left uni, I'd never know. All bollocks as it turns out and pretty poor as a foundation for a life strategy! It all worked out OK for me in the end but I really wish I'd just taken my time, considered my options, done my research, perhaps taken some temp jobs - one big issue for new graduates is that naturally you really lack work experience, but without spending some time in the 'proper' workplace it's really hard to know the range of jobs that are out there and what will suit you - e.g. I just lumped all 'office jobs' in my mind into one vaguely homogenous grey corporate lump of things you'd only do for the money, but there are so many different and interesting jobs that fall under that umbrella and in a range of different sectors and companies too - it isn't all the obvious things that spring to mind, accountancy and IT for instance. Even within those fields there are fascinating jobs that do good things for the world, if that's a driver/concern for you. The same goes in loads of different fields - science, health, education, media for instance. You may come to a conclusion that actually you need to do more study or spend some time gaining work experience - that's fine, you are 21, you literally have your whole life ahead of you. I know it feels like a step backwards but it really wouldn't be the worst thing to have moving home as a stop gap measure ready as your plan 'B' - I think covid may well be actually quite a good thing in one way, because home/remote working is so much more the norm, you may be able to postpone making any decisions about relocation longer than would have been the case a few years ago - you can look at jobs based virtually anywhere in the world so long as you can work remotely from your mum's house for at least a few months before needing to commit to moving to a strange city etc, which is a super opportunity if you can only bring yourself to see it that way Wink! Good luck!

Tigger03 · 26/10/2020 18:48

If you want to do something corporate, look at graduate schemes that support professional qualifications. Most large conspire offer them, things like HR, marketing, accounting, tax, procurement

CherryPieface · 26/10/2020 19:19

Use your careers service, they will be a terrific help. They’ll help you find out more about graduate schemes etc.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 26/10/2020 19:21

I was once given a great advice.
Take this time and explore 1 career a week. Set a time for it, have a career afternoon.
Write a list and read about them, have a look at blogs etc. Something might catch your eye.

As pp said, use your career service. You are by far not alone in not being sure.

Iggypoppie · 26/10/2020 19:22

I had a friend who studied humanities. Took on an audit traineeship with KPMG and is now a well paid public sector finance manager.

Midnightswim · 26/10/2020 19:24

Your university should have a career advice centre. Please seek them out, this is where your money goes towards.

Carrotcakey · 26/10/2020 19:25

Find a job, any job, that allows you to pay your way and then investigate some career paths.

I did a couple of years in call centre before I started on my career path. I found a graduate intern program I liked and it went from there. There wasn’t a rush :-)

12in21 · 26/10/2020 19:27

What area is your degree in?

Midnightswim · 26/10/2020 19:30

Oh as for humanities being looked upon as worse off than science, tech etc. As if it's a rubbish choice. Please believe me it isn't.
I get so frustrated by this! Do what you love.
I studied theology and philosophy and I now have a job (pre covid...still have it) that takes me around the world on a regular basis. Last year I was in Santiago, New York, San Francisco and dubai.
And I get to see some amazing places, experience wonderful cultures and go to swanky places.
I work in business setting and no I didn't ever imagine this when I was 21 and studying but my experience of studying people and what makes them tick means I am open minded, educated and am great at my job.
Always choose what you love over what you think you need.

Embracelife · 26/10/2020 19:31

Apply for all graduate schemes going. Civil service et etc nhs retail . Will give you training snd experience
This way you Take something from your degree .

TheLastStarfighter · 26/10/2020 19:32

Bug the hell out of the career advice people, your head of course and your tutors. Try to get on a big-name graduate scheme if you can. It will really fast track your career and give you a lot if experience while you figure out if it’s what you want to do longer term. Recommendations for your head of course (because you bug the hell out of her and are top of her mind) go a king way to getting you into the right scheme.

Yourpartjewishfriend · 26/10/2020 19:32

I have a humanities degree and didn't know what I wanted to do. So joined the armed forces! Best thing I ever did, got loads of professional qualifications (including Masters) travelled the world, made friends, got great industry qualifications and now run my own, fairly successful, business.
I was so far removed from anything dangerous (support role) I was never put in danger, in over 10 years. A lot of people dont think of it, so just throwing it out there!

TheLastStarfighter · 26/10/2020 19:33
  • from you head of course
  • go a ling way (Bloody autocorrect)
DivisionBelles · 26/10/2020 19:42

OP, echoing other posters, get a job, any job to begin with so you have time to think about what you want to do. Any job will give you some transferable skills that you can use when you are looking for a better job.

FWIW, my DD graduated last year with a humanities degree and now works in pensions admin. She moved to Birmingham to begin with, and is now in a new job doing a similar role but has moved back to the south. It's not the most interesting of jobs, but she's reasonably well paid for her age and she's doing it while she saves up to go travelling to Aus, once their borders are open again. I also did a humanities degree as a mature student, graduating 7 years ago. I also had no idea what to do with it, but I found a job with a small local business and have worked my way up to managerial level.

You're young, opportunities are out there. I agree, now is a shit time to be looking for a job, but they are out there. Can you do any volunteering to bolster your cv at all maybe?

I wish you lots of luck.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 26/10/2020 19:43

Also, since you are in your final year, do have a look a targetjobs etc because some of the grad schemes are already open.