desperately need career advice

[ForTealViewer]

Hi,

I’ve posted on here before but in some desperate need of career advice as I have severely messed up.

I started a degree in 2022, left by Christmas of December 2022, course had been advertised as something v different & just was having a rough time.

started degree again in Sep 2023, had a really good first year of uni and then got to second year and had a breakdown, currently on an ‘interruption’ from uni, but I really don’t think I want to go back.

as you can tell, I don’t think uni is for me/clearly chose the wrong course to get out of my home environment & rushed into things.

im out of funding now, so cannot go back to uni & have struggled severely with my mental health throughout these years.

I really am at such a loss of what to do and career wise and so was wondering if anyone has any suggestions.

I achieved 2 A stars in History and Psychology at A-Level and 1 A in Law.

I have a range of GCSE’s from 9-6 (A**-B)

I adore helping others and offering advice and making people happy.

My A-Level Psychology was OCR exam board, which was significantly less ‘scientific’/maths based than AQA, hence why I never went down the psychology/counselling route at degree level & was never any good at Maths/Science subjects. Plus, psych degrees often require masters, which I would not be able to afford.

I have had a look at degree apprenticeships, but all are tech/science based.

I have no passions, no interests, I feel really low and down at the moment as I have no clue what to do with my life.

If anyone has any advice or any suggestions on careers, not to place blame on anyone as I know this is my fault, but we barely had any career advice in sixth form and were just pushed at going to university for the sake of it essentially.

If you like helping people and offering advice, would you consider teaching? You have all the qualifications needed for a teaching degree apprenticeship Teacher degree apprenticeships (TDAs) | Get Into Teaching GOV.UK. I think at the moment the only ones available are in maths but they continue adding the subjects on up until Sep 2025, and then courses start in the Autumn, so check regularly.
Or a social worker? That uses similar skills and degree apprenticeships are available in it also. Social worker (integrated degree) (level 6) - apprenticeship training course

If you struggle with mental health, I wouldn’t recommend teaching or social work!

what is your current degree?

@AelinAG

criminology at a top RG

so equally don’t think I can hack anything to do with that sector either

Where are you looking for apprenticeships?

There are usually quite a few vacancies this time of year due to National Apprenticeship Week last week. Not all are science/ tech.
Don’t just look at the gov site, check out other sites too, like Rate my Apprenticeship or the Apprenticeship Guide.

Create a linked in account and just start exploring different industries.

Try not to get stressed about it now. You WILL find the thing that’s right for you, but maybe for now, give yourself time to explore, and think.

Maybe get some work experience- just a job job in something while you catch your breath.
Good luck

You can get degree apprenticeship for Law, Finance, Accountancy , Project management etc. Civil Service do a range of career paths with qualifications while working which do not require a degree for entry. What do you hope to study or take up as career?

Just seen it was Criminology, you could look at roles in Ministry of Justice or Prison/Probation service.

Travel! Sounds like you need to find yourself (I was you!). Work your way around the world. Or even if you don’t travel, know that things will work out in time. I didn’t know what I wanted to do until I was in my 30s but before that I had a hell of a lot of fun - and I don’t mean partying, just living life, working various jobs, meeting people. I look back now and see that I use experience from those wilderness years in my current career all the time. It all leads you somewhere and you hone your path as you go.

I personally didn’t work my way around the world but I went somewhere for a couple of months and came back different. If you like helping people you could start with TEFL and then just keep doing the next right thing and see where you end up.

Lots of visas required for working abroad now.

Could you try being a special Constable? Look at Local Government for apprenticeships? What about being a TA? Are there roles like boarding assistants in schools that you might like? I’d brush up your it skills and see if you can get work via an agency. Just try something.

Not everyone suits university but you are intelligent so something will work for you.

What are you doing at the moment? Are you well enough to work or volunteer? How many hours a week do you think is realistic for you?