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.

Well, in terms of Quattro's point, there's "required/essential" and there's "gave you the edge/got you the job" - two different things. And much of the policy/research/info stuff probably does benefit from that kind of knowledge and training.

And thank you - I shall pass it on. He got it a while ago, but just negotiated the deal more recently, and No More Marking from Sept! Which means dd can be more free with the biros. Phew.

It would be lovely if you emailed me sometime Habbibu. Onebat and swedes have my address.

I shall!

Bumper - thank you. I've ruled out psychology because of your info - definitely.

Also it is DEFINITELY not too late for prime minister plan. You are PRECISELY the kind of person who should, and might, bloody do it.

I can't find the 'birkbeck postgrad students went on to be... balloon-modellers/promotional-flyer-hander-outers' page though..

No - bbk site crap for that, it seems.

I think we all end up really doing what we are naturally good at/drawn towards? Even if you do something totally different at University.

I am so gratful that my sons' school carry out some pretty involved psychometric tests and interviews with career professionals before they commit to their choice of A levels.

I'm sure that is right, swedes. And to be honest I wouldn't feel especially confident that a further degree would be of great help in getting a job you want onebat. I also doubt that it would be all that fulfilling intellectually. It would mean an enormous slog and then the same career anxiety at the end of it.

(A taught degree wouldn't be intellectually fulfilling. A phd might well be, with good supervision. But still wouldn't generate job prospects)

Yes, you're right about having something extra/interesting on the cv potentially making a difference.

Onebat, I remember your saying that you were working - what were you doing previously? Is it possible to build on what you have already achieved or move to a field that is related to your original field?

It's just that it will be hard to go back to academia and start again competing against shiny new graduates (or postgraduates) who'll probably be more mobile and can jet off to Helsinki to work for the Finnish League for Human Rights, or whatever.

Okay brill.

I'm going to contact Birkbeck and see if there's advice available re what/why

I'm going to apply for the Demos a/v internship

I'm going to write to the tv/film depts of all greater london unis asking if they could use me for anything

I'm going to .. erm.. what else am i going to do?

here's the other thread for anyone who just can't get enough onebat angst

I am rather thrilled by the title 'Dr. Thread'. Sounds like excellent gothic film title (cf film theory particular ref. feminist psychoanalysis)

I think that's true Swedes, I was quite academic, but drawn to doing art, but knew that I'd never earn any money doing that, so at last minute decided to study social anthropology and communications and ditch art - got a first, got a job, but have still ended up doing illustration - so now I wish i'd given into it in the first place.

Threadworm - I think that's right.

If I was recruiting and had the choice of a 39 year old Eng Lit graduate with two children and a whole lot of life experience and a 23 year old with a Masters and no life experience, I might very well prefer the 39 year old for a whole range of good reasons.

onebat goldsmiths got good media /tv / film dept.

Threadie/Swedes/Quattro

You have more or less, between your posts, convinced me that a phd isn't going to work. It would be lovely if I didn't have to have job at end, but I really, really do.

I think I'm going to work, for the rest of this year, on getting something related to what I did, and then try and shift along a bit.

I think.

If I did a phd in porn though? Final time of mentioning. What do you academics think might be the prospects after that? it's a ripe and current subject?

If I were recruiting and had the choice of a 39 year old graduate with a whole lot of life experience and experience in a related field versus a 23 year old with a Masters and no life experience, I'd DEFINITELY prefer the 39 year old.

Boco I think goldsmiths might be outta my league?

A final question

WTF do people dooo PHD's? If they don't generate any job prospects other than horribly competitive academic careers which don't actually pay that well?

Threadie is spot on. Studying can be a bore unless you are really interested in the subject.

I'd hate to work in the public sector. DP spent several years on assignment (he's a Mgmt Consultant) to the Home Office. He said the arse covering and bitching was shocking.

Oh, I am going to bed - but - problem with ripe and current subjects is that a lot of people tend to do them. Basic rule of a PhD is never to treat it as a career move, tbh, brutal as it sounds. You have to really really want to do it, and then any career prospects are a bonus...

Good advice Habbs. Prob is that I DO really want to do it, but I also need to know that there's a job at the end.

Night-o, though - I'm off too.

You know, in the space of two days, I've learnt more about things that have been a mystery to me, and come closer to making a serious life-changing decision, than I would ever have thought possible.

Thank you, my dears. Really.

That's a good question Onebat. I only really get to meet people who've done Phds but don't use them. Think it's about genuine academic interest.

So for example I know two people who spent 9 & 10 years respectively at Cambridge, doing a degree, masters (in one case) and phds (in both cases) and then post-docs. They just loved their subjects - one did ancient history and the other did something to do with two specific rocks. I think he knows more about these rocks than anyone else on the planet. They both became tax consultants.

They both joined one of the big accountancy firms (interesting to see that one of the post graduates from the LSE is doing same) qualified as accountants - think that takes 3 years but you do get paid in the process - then did chartered tax exams and bob's yer uncle.

Funny though - they were both over 30 before they had real jobs.

"Funny though - they were both over 30 before they had real jobs." - see, in my world that's quite normal!

I do not regret doing my PhD - am probably still the world expert on my tiny niche area, not that there appears to be much demand for it... (never a call from Newsnight, oh no), and it does bring lots of transferable skills which have helped me a lot. Even palaeography comes in remarkably handy - mostly in reading scrawled notes by our senior management.

I don't think academia pays that badly - it all depends on what you're used to, I guess, and in terms of the private sector it's not commensurate with the amount of knowledge and training you have, but there are other benefits.

And Swedes, I'll thank you not to tar all the public sector with the same brush as the Home Office... we distance ourselves from them too. (Anyone else looking forward to In The Loop?)