Jobs with an Arts degree?

[schoty77]

DD#2 finished a Bachelor of Arts degree, then did an Honours degree in Film Making, then a Postgrad Cert in Secondary Teaching. For the past few years she's been backpacking around the world with her boyfriend, and worked a few odd jobs -- supply teaching, fruit picking, hostel work etc. Now she's back and doesn't know what to do with her life!

Older sister is a teacher and hates it, so DD#2 isn't keen to work in a formal setting. She doesn't want retail work, fast food, reception jobs, but would like something with a good work/life balance.

Any career recommendations?

I have a BA although mine is perhaps a bit more ‘academic’ as it’s English Lit, not that’s any more useful in real world terms! I did the reception job thing, got a few promotions and in under 3 years was working as a PA/Executive Assistant for an investment bank earning £50k. Work life balance is surprisingly good too. Retail/fast food/reception can have prospects, it’s not a dead end so she shouldn’t be so quick to rule it out!

She could look at jobs at a university or college. Advisory admin roles or lv1 technician within the department she's familiar with.

Once you're in there's normally plenty of room to move around departments as you know the systems and broadly how the institution functions. Even between institutions is easier as you gain knowledge that is sector relevant.

I initially worked as a enquiry advisor at a contact centre for a college. Wasn't very well paid but it was alright and the work was interesting. I enjoyed helping people out and it allowed me to get into a student advisor role at a uni and then further so I now deal with casework.

A lot of people that temp with us during registration end up with longer contracts in other depts if they're any good and then can get into permanent positions. Can't be precious as a temp though. She would probably be asked to make tea and do the most mind numbing repetitive admin to take that sort of stuff off the staff to deal with more complex tasks and enquiries.

Registration is hard but so enjoyable with all the new bright eyed and bushy tailed freshers :)

Good luck, I hope she finds something she enjoys.

She doesn't want retail work, fast food, reception jobs, but would like something with a good work/life balance.

Doesn't everyone. Sadly, life isn't perfect like that, and she'll just have to take whatever she can get to get a foot on the working life ladder and take it from there. With no proper work history, she's going to struggle to get her "dream job". She needs to get something, anything, stick at it for a good period of time and then move upwards/onwards.

What is she passionate about? I have a similar background (different artform), and the thing that got me out of bed in the morning was (and still is) the idea that I thought everybody and especially young people should have access to the arts. I knew that for me didn't mean being a 'teacher' but something else I didn't really know existed. 20 years later and I have a very established career in arts management as a producer/fundraiser/consultant/programmer. It's not an easy or an obvious career path and I have absolutely had to feel my way (if that makes sense), but I've never regretted it.

Problem is that nowadays a 'degree' is not a way of opening doors to careers. So many people have them that employers are looking for people with a 'spark'.
She could volunteer in a project on anything that inspires her, she could wait forever for the 'perfect job'.
There is no such thing!
My brother left school in the early 90s with good grades and had a degree, but hung around waiting for the perfect career.
He's now over 45 and lives in a crummy bedsit on JSA.
All because he thinks the 'perfect job' is out there and refuses to do any menial work.

I have a BA (Hons) in Scottish history. I joined the police. Not sure how much the degree helped apart from delaying making a decision for a few years but with twelve years’ service, I’m earning £40k a year. I appreciate it’s not a job for everyone though.

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone!

**pacer142 she is not opposed to retail/fast food, but doesn’t want to make a career out of it. I think that’s reasonable.

Has she looked at graduate training programmes. Usually they specify a degree but not what the degree is in. A good one to look at is the civil service programmes as they also ask what grades you got at degree and there are different programmes depending on whetwhryou got a 2.2 or 2.1

The national careers service list all the jobs you can consider with various degrees, just type in creative or culture. Themgusrdian also have a creative job section. What about working in the media, film industry.

Unless you have inside connections, nobody is ever going to hand anyone a dream, well paid, good work/life balance job on a plate. I know several people who have started at companies and worked their way upwards, moving to different departments. I also know several people who have retrained to new careers. Some people don't have the luxury to procrastinate, because they need to take a job to pay their living costs and bills. What steps are they taking to find employment and pay for their lifestyle ?

FerryLaugh7 She’s not expecting to jump into the ‘dream job’ straight away. She wants a goal to focus on and work towards, suggestions of what people think may be a good fit for her in the long run, given her training. As I have said before, retail and fast food is a good start, but she doesn’t want to aim for a career in it.

As for the remark about my DD’s “procrastination” and “lifestyle”... please don’t make assumptions. As I have said, she has worked and paid her own way during her travels. Nothing has been handed to her for free.