To leave university and get a job?

[tiredeyesyeah]

I'm not feeling it this year. I have too many personal problems and it's really impacting my work and my ability to study.

If I leave, I'll have a Diploma of Education with 56% (which is shit), so realistically why would an employer think I was employable if I couldn't even do well in my second year.

I have a small child who just started school, so I can't just do any job.

I feel as if I'm not learning any useful skills at university. It keeps my mind occupied though because I usually slip in to a depressive state. It has enhanced my writing skills and my ability to think critically, but I don't think employers see this as a plus. These are basic life skills.

If I do drop out- how bad would that look?

How bad is the economy right now? Can I realistically get a job that works around school hours and one that doesn't mean I have to rely on benefits?

If personal problems are affecting your study, you will find the same problems affect your ability to do panic work? It's normal t9 struggle sometimes and it's a poor time to look for work

Don’t leave. You’ve come this far. It’s been an awful year for everyone, there will be some dispensation for that.

What are you studying? It may vastly affect your prospects. As you say, your childcare needs will currently limit your employment potential at the moment. I think you’d come to regret leaving uni now, especial as - I’m guessing - you didn’t necessarily take the conventional route?

I’m at uni now doing postgrad. It’s part time though. I have a baby, too and I’m working around it. It’s been such a hard year and time management is hard but I would say to stick with it.

I don't know how a drop out in the future will look, you can always claim charge of circumstances which is true.
I think you should just start applying for jobs while still continuing to study. Once you have a job, you can leave!

Getting a job at the moment is not going to be that easy. In your shoes, I'd have a word with your personal tutor or student support services and tell them what you've written here. They should be able to either provide or signpost help for the problems that are making it hard for you to study. That is a better option than dropping out at this point. Alternatively, it might be possible to defer this year and come back later, but honestly, the job market is not great and is only going to get worse, so staying at university and riding it out would be better.

You mention that employers aren't interested in the skills you gained - if you're finding this it might be worth having a word with the careers service, because there are plenty of industries that value the skills you mention.

In all honesty, you're still going to be facing the same problems around finding a job that fits in around the school day when you complete your degree. And will probably still need UC to top up your hours, cover childcare etc.

Now would be one of the worst times to leave. Jobs are hard to come by as it is, let alone one that fits around your child’s school.

Op stick with Uni. It sounds like you are studying to be a teacher or something. Stick with it.
Not just for now but your future too.
Yes we are in the middle of a pandemic many jobs are hanging by a thread. Who knows what the next few years will bring. Mass unemployment?

Very difficult to train young people while most staff are working from home too so unlikely companies will want to take untrained young people on.

Stick with your degree and get into teaching. Teachers will always be needed one of the few careers that you can honestly say will still be their in 50 years time.
And you get school holidays to work round kids.

Well maybe I could do an apprenticeship. Don't know in what though.

The subject is a social science. A popular one.

I'm just really fed up of everything.

I'm not doing teaching. Never would, no offence to anyone that does this job.

Please don’t leave. I finished my second year with an average of 56% and in my last year (after a years leave as I was pregnant in my exams) I went back, with a 9 month old baby, finished it with 68%. I got a 2:1 overall. I got firsts in most of my final year modules including my dissertation. It was hard but I needed to do it. Can you take a year out?

Seeing my baby at my graduation was the best feeling ever. She doesn’t even remember it but I always will. After uni (stem subject) I went on to have another baby and haven’t yet used my degree but it’s there ready for when both kids are in full time school. For now I’m a full time assistant manager in a restaurant, where the manager used to be high up in a very well known company related to my degree, and is still very highly regarded by his colleagues. I know a lot of this is down to luck and pure chance.

I couldn’t find a school time hours job, so now I tag team with DH and work 6 nights a week when he’s finished working. It’s really hard work but I know it’ll give us a better outcome in the end.

Good luck OP, with whatever you decide, please speak to your course tutors about how you’re feeling. Mine were an huge source of help, even allowing me to bring my baby in if I was stuck for childcare or had meetings to go to.

Could you defer until next year?

Don't give up...plough on it is all a bit bleugh at the moment, you've done the worse now it will flyby and you'll have that qualification and be better able then to choose what you want to do in a related field or not...hang in there....it will get better.

Will it qualify you to become a social worker? Perhaps you need a clearer goal to get you through this.

Have you spoken to the wellbeing team? Do that first.
I agree with others to finish it, however, should you choose not to, no, it will not look shit on your cv, because you don't have to put it on there...

Are you really asking how bad the economy is right now?

Jobs around school hours are like hens teeth at the best of times, but there's currently mass unemployment and mass redundancy- not sure where other than NHS would be hiring!

As others have said, reach out for some pastoral support at uni. Try and make it to the end of at least this school year, it's not too long now! You can do it.

Definitely sit down with careers advice people.

There are very few jobs at the moment and anyone that has a job isn’t leaving. Stick at your degree. Why are you only getting 56%? Can you start trying to improve on that? If I was you I would put 100% into my degree and get the best result I possibly can. This is an opportunity to shine.

Unless you have relevant work experience you are unlikely to find a job quickly especially around school hours. Can you risk it? Chances of you resuming the course is very low.

@Em8725

You've given me hope! Your final year results sound fantastic. Really glad you turned it around. I'm not sure I can reach the same standard, I really struggled to get 2:1s in some of my 2nd year modules. I had one essay where I worked my arse off for, but only got 68%.

I got 56% because as I struggled in one very difficult module, plus I was doing my exams a month or two into the first lockdown. It was difficult having DD at home by myself and trying to revise.

I would love to graduate with a 2:1 but I'm not sure it's possible. I will try.

Ask if your uni has a “no detriment” policy. If so was this applied to your lockdown exam grades or will it be applied at the end of the course? If not get your SU to push for the uni to implement it...most unis have.

So any assessments done in lockdown shouldn’t get a worse grade than previous assessments.

The no detriment policy was in place when I did my exams. They asked me if I wanted to defer my exams until summer or continue, and I decided to carry on.

If I drop out then maybe i could return later with the OU?

At least i can get my head straight whilst i job search. I was a cleaner previously so i have lots of experience in that. People are working from home and still need cleaners.

You should look into the funding for future courses then. Because you can get loans only for so many years.