What can you do with Sociology/Psychology/Cultural Studies/Social Anthropology post-grad qualification

[onebatmother]

Apart from pat self on back?

I am thinking of retraining but no idea about jobs. Those are the things I'm considering studying - what REAL ACTUAL JOBS might I get with a postgrad MA/PHD in them?

I mean ones that pay money. Any money. But must be money.

Thanks dearies.

interesting pw.

Onebat, the reason I ask is that I wondered if a career here might interest you?

I've only looked at Film Practice type things, as I think your previous experience would be your USP to depts.

IB, I was fucking FANTASTIC.

I love the suggestion of being a plumber 100x. Haven't checked out average earnings but prepared to bet that an average plumber would earn more than an average solicitor.. Also you get to suck through your teeth every day when you get to break that day's bad news to customers.

The plumbers are in residence here atm. They obviously like it because they show no signs of going. The hours are incredibly flexible too - start at 10ish, knock off at 4ish. Also you get to have a Silent Sidekick and unlimited cups of tea/coffee. And blag a box or two of books too.

You might have to wear dungarees though ...

I know someone who did a plumbing qual post-dc. I thought a v. impressive move - she says it's physically very, very demanding but pays well, and she likes it.

Might not be right for OBM though. I'm sure there must be some cross over from previous experience into new career though - unless she re-trains into a vocational job. I met someone the other day who had left bbc and was running some sort of a thing sort of company putting something into schools - god sorry, I totally switched off. Anyway, there was cross over, I do remember that.

Threadie, it won't be proven until onebat fulfils her vision. And she has to work out what her vision is yet.

The Poor School genuinely v interesting but bloody hell, expensive and it's every bloody night pretty much! incompatible w my life now, esp since it is the archetype of insecurity, isn't it, as a career? Slightly shocked at my quite visceral reaction to the idea though (despite deathly fear of actors). One never knows what the future holds, does one..?

MI5!! not really? or really? Am I being groomed over the internet by a handler code-name bumper?? Have you got specially-adapted LK Bennet's which conceal deadly sticky out blades?

A 100x - thank you my dear. you're probably right about confidence, but I think I do have a fairly clear understanding of what I'm actually qualified to do. There is huge competition for arts jobs, even fairly junior ones like that - and in fact they tend to be very specific about what they need - it's not, these days, enough to have been in another 'creative industry'.. . "The successful candidate must have previous experience working in a media centric role within the arts sector and be immediately available to start work." 'The Arts' is v different from tv. Partic since I can count on one hand the performances I've attended in the last 5 years, and they all involve balloon-animals.

I might be totally wrong about that, of course (not balloon-animals, arts admin) But in fact I wouldn't do well as a press officer for anything, I don't think. Not bright-as-a-button enough.

SNOT at "god sorry, I totally switched off". I soooo know what you mean.

Habbs - I couldn't do that lecturer in film studies!! It needs a post-grad, it's entirely academic, it sounds to me. Kind of thing my friend, who studied media studies at a left-wing uni in 70s, then worked in docs for 15 years while continuing to write for Sight and Sound is now doing. I am a lowlier beast.

LOL Iorek

Oh yes, I do see your point. But also worry that you don't actually think you are qualified to do anything iyswim which is the impression I've got - everyone's confidence goes i think, most people who are nice anyway, and esp people working freelance in tv etc, and is difficult sometimes to know what is realistically out of reach, and what is just slightly overwhelmed thinking.

But I do understand, and can see it would absolutely have to be the Right Thing and not random job I've suggested!

Would you apply for Habbs's lecture job do you think?

Onebat: PhD OR "or equivalent professional achievement, and a strong profile of practice work" - but I wasn't thinking that you'd apply straight away - just giving you an idea of what's been asked for atm.

No, again,100x, not qualified. This is the fucking thing with what I did . I am really pretty competent in getting up to speed with some bloody difficult subjects, to the point that I can talk convincingly to 'experts' whom I need to persuade to express their ideas in a manner which fits my own overall thesis. I can then weave all these different experts points into a visually interesting and stimulating (but crucially, reasonably accessible) piece of tv.

But that doesn't actually qualify me for anything else. I really don't think it does.

But Ah've done with cryin'. I'm gonna ....

DANCE!

er, couldn't you make a documentary onebat?

Ah, I seee Habbs. Sorry, I do get it now.

What is practice-research btw?

I do think that it's possible that I might wing something part-timey or modular though. It's what I'm aiming at, realistically.

This pm (kids involved in chess) I sat down to write Demos letter (see, carping diem) and realized that actually, I'm not really interested in current affairs. I am interested in the v broad socio-cultural brushstrokes which result in the events. That was, once again, liberating, partic since I didn't have to write the letter.

RUTY!!!! You've not been paying attention, have you?

constant travel when filming, 3am finishes when editing, total obsessive/neurotic involvement, never see kids. I did that already!

Oh, I've no idea what practice-research is - way out of my league now! I think one thing to do would be to look at the bios of current film academics on uni websites to see what they want.

Plus - look for film practice type modules, and see if there are any which you think you could teach - then approach dept for possibility of teaching assistant roles. Would not be much cash, but might give you a useful taster to see if it's a direction you would actually like to go in.

THAT is a v good idea Habbs.

Is it really realistic though to think that I could eventually cross over into something else, lecturer-wise? Bcs I'm not actually that interested in film studies. I liked making docs because it allowed me to research subjects which interested me.

Fuck, I'm sure I had the answer there for a minute? Something about a portfolio career?

Bugger. Forgot to say in that post that OF COURSE kids not involved in chess, involved in nintendo. Shit, now it looks like am type of person who sends round-robins with specific ref to DC's chess-skills.

Ooh - Exeter have a film-maker in residence. Can't find a bio. This teaching fellow bio is not directly related to yours, but interesting.

My dad has a regular lecturing gig at what used to be the London College of Printing (at Elephant and Castle) - can't remember what it's called now. Anyway, he teaches a couple of modules about drama-documentary and screen-writing, and he sure as hell doesn't have a PhD in anything.

But he DEFO has practice-as-research Pol. V interesting though, could you ask him what he thinks next time?

kids involved in chess - yes i did suddenly have a new image of you in my head, bearded with holes in your tights.