Careers after university. Did life turn out like you thought?

[olympicfan]

I'm curious....what did you all study at university and what are you now working at? Was your degree necessary/helpful for your career?

I studied joint honours in Physics and Philosophy with the vague idea of going into academic research. A few degrees later I realised that wasn't for me, and stepped into teaching, where I've taught both subjects to A-level. So, yes, pretty much based on the degree!

Degree in Maths and Education (QTS). 29 years in primary teaching.

Yes, LLB (law degree) and still a solicitor now. My siblings are the same eg brother read medicine at Cambridge and is a doctor. Perhaps we were unusual in all studying for a career specific degree so in a sense had decided our life's career in the sixth form or earlier. I still remember things I was taught on my degree which can be useful in my work (and study law every day too because cases and statutes change so it is a life long learning process).

I did an LLB (law) and then LLM (masters in law). Trained as a solicitor and worked there for about 10 years after qualifying. I now work in a creative career which I knew at 19 I wanted to do instead of law.

I studied Engineering at university and have never worked as an engineer. I worked in finance in London for a decade and now I'm a maths lecturer. Although my degree wasn't directly relevant to either of my careers, it was essential for me to have had a numerical / STEM degree of some description - it just needn't have been the exact subject that I studied.

Chemistry degree - realised after 2 years that I didn't like the unpredictability of it (I don't think I did an organic practical in my entire 3 years that produced the correct outcome) and joined an IT consultancy on graduation - it was either that or accounting.

30 years later, and I'm still trying to decide what I want to do when I grow up.

Yep, my 2 degrees are exactly what I currently work in, I really enjoy it!

Studied philosophy and politics. Worked in advertising for 30 years. Degree not explicitly linked but it helped me formulate arguments, use evidence, be culturally aware, understand people, write and think laterally. I earned more money than anyone I knew who worked in the same industry and had a degree in media/business/marketing/advertising.

Ended up hating it and quit to do something more personally meaningful. I earn very little money but am happy.

LLB and practising solicitor as well. I am curious, Apparently, can you say what creative career it is?

Read psychology but then converted to law and am now a solicitor. Original degree of no relevance or practical use whatsoever.

First degree in a science related discipline.
Did a law conversion postgraduate course and then a Masters LLM. Qualified as a solicitor
Have now left the legal profession and opened up a small business

DC 1 psychology and masters in social care ..now social worker
DC2 conversation and ecology …now ecologist
DC3 Economics …now working for large firm in London,not sure what job title is but doing very well .

Four degrees in Eng Lit, became an academic for decades, then turned to writing novels, and now write and have a 0.5 lectureship in creative writing.

I’m an interior designer. Hardly a typical career after commercial litigation in the City, I know!

Did history undergrad at the Fen Poly. Then did chartered accountancy grad scheme and once qualified worked in finance and investor relations for a few years. Then moved into asset management and then into social investment. There basically was no plan when I was at Uni so I cant say if it worked to plan or not but it’s worked out well overall.

Why does one do four degrees in the same subject? Or do you mean, BA, MA, PhD and post doc….?
still seems very unusual. I’m intrigued.

Law undergrad, languages and business economics post graduate.
i use law every day at work. I wouldn’t be where I am now career-wise without law.

BA, two master’s degrees, DPhil.

Sorry- @blueshoes meant to reply to your q but totally failed to do it properly!

That takes some serious dedication to English lit @Tibba . I salute you!

Thanks for answering. Must be much more rewarding

Much more creatively rewarding, yes. If I’d made the decision just on objective criteria, staying in law made more sense. But I love what I do now, and though I found law really interesting, I didn’t love it. And I think I’d have become burnt out if I’d stayed. As it was I didn’t go back to work after 2’d child. And it turns out doing a career change kids is really hard. But it’s 12 years since I left law and other than the slog of constantly marketing and being responsible for my team (and for payroll!), I’ve never looked back.

No, I loved it, and it was all on scholarships — it didn’t cost me a penny!

First class BA in journalism. Worked in sales for a long time. Now work part time in a supermarket and it's the best job I've ever had, I love it!

I studied economics and realised after finishing that I was way too disabled for the long hours city jobs everyone else moved into.

So I ended up working temp work for a few years and then did a maths degree through the OU while my children were young and I was a sahm.

Used the maths degree every day of my working life since, economics only as examples of the maths.

Not in the slightest. Only did one year of law degree. Ten years in accountancy practice, then NHS management, followed by consultancy & self employment. Last two roles in charities. Acquired a masters degree in my thirties which I've barely used but it definitely opened doors.