How to start a career when you don't know what to do!

[coffeeebean]

Hello, I know this seems like a very stupid question but please hear me out. I am from a working class family...everyone I know just has a 'job', mostly cleaners, tradesmen and catering. I was the first in my family to attend university...and after graduating I don't know how to get started!

I don't know what i want to do. At all. I don't really have any 'passions' and nothing jumps out as overly interesting, which is making it so hard to get started. I don't want to blow my own trumpet but I have always been very bright (Top A-Levels and a 1st) but since graduating have only had dead end jobs (some temporary admin, hospitality and childcare). I haven't absolutely hated them necessarily but they aren't something I want to do long term...and cant really progress in either.

I just don't understand how people get going on a career, especially when you don't know what to do. A lot of advice online seems to say just get a job and go from there...but what job? What do i look for? Entry level, graduate jobs, assistant?? I don't understand a lot of the jargon which I know just sounds stupid; I have only just learnt the difference between private and public sector for goodness sake! No one in my family is able to advise me so i'm just overwhelmed with all of the options. I have applied for a few 'assistant' type roles in various industries and haven't heard back from a single one, I imagine on my applications it is apparent i'm quite tentative and lack passion..which i do.

My degree is in life sciences but there is nothing in my field that stands out to me or opportunities that i can find. Im not sure why I went to university when i did...i suppose i felt i should go because of my grades, which is a shame looking back. But equally i suppose having a degree is never a bad thing, even if i'm not using it right now.

Graduate schemes do not really appeal, mainly because although i know i have performed well academically, I lack confidence. I dont know how id cope with the intensity and competitiveness of it all. At the same time I want to use my brain and be challenged and fulfilled by work, its just finding something thats a good balance.

I am just really looking for any advice on how to find out what on earth i want to do with my life, or how to get started finding out what I enjoy. I am 24 shortly so really feel I should be getting on with it by now!

TIA

How about medical research? It's so important. There must be many roles involved from lab work to the organisation and management of trials.

Plenty of good advice here, but it's a crying shame you don't seem to have been offered any structured careers advice during your degree. It's surely the responsibility of any university to ensure that people graduate armed with comprehensive information on potential next steps.

Sadly even when this is ostensibly offered, some people are better able to take advantage of it than others, and it doesn't seem as if your university was taking much notice. No one should be leaving undergrad study in your situation.

(Though I did, decades ago.)

Please press the careers service for proper, proactive advice.

There's lot on this thread already but I would say - get a half decent job you like the look of. See how it goes. Apply for another. Then another.

I had one 'career', then a gap, now I have another 'career'. Both have been really positive, neither very planned.

For many people their 'career' is just a string of jobs they liked the look of.

You've plenty of time to work this out. Good luck!

Financial analyst for investment bank could be a good option - lots of sitting at a desk but also lots of getting under the skin of companies so understanding how they work and what their prospects are, analysing the sectors (you could specialise in life sciences) and valuing them....

Meant to say as well as the desk, to understand individual companies you will need to have in depth discussions with management..

You’ve had some good advice and a lot of options here - some great stuff to explore. If it would help, I am an accredited careers coach and I offer an hour’s free career coaching to anyone who wants it. It’s totally free and there’s no obligation to book any further sessions or buy anything from me. If you’d like a chat, we could use that time to work through some of your options and how you feel about them,, and it might be helpful - it’s up to you.

Look into epidemiology my friend has a smashing career out of a life sciences degree in that.

My life changed for the better when I was accepted on a graduate scheme. We all had different degrees, we were all enthusiastic & we all brought something different to the table. This led onto lots of further opportunities.

The reality is that once you are in the world of work, living expenses & bills need to be paid. You need 35 years National Insurance contributions to receive a full state pension & the state retirement age is 68+. So that is a lot of years to work

It is good if you can do a job that you enjoy, then it doesn't feel like work

I agree investigate jobs in civil service, big communication companies, NHS, teaching etc

You will need to promote your skills & yourself to every employer.

Some questions to consider;

Where do you see yourself in 5, 10 years time

Provide 3 words how people describe you

Provide one of your flaws

I am going to add

A dream job is not just going to magically appear !

It is entirely up to you to research, apply & start
If you don't like your job, try something else

A lot of life sciences and pharma firms are crying out for data scientists and product managers right now. I was just looking at websites of startups like Eagle Genomics as well as big companies like Unilever and they're all advertising vacancies.

Always apply for jobs you think you could do, not just the ones where you already tick all the boxes. Often firms will advertise for someone with prior experience and provide a "wish list" job description, but might be willing to hire someone with less prior experience and train them up. You won't know unless you apply... Obviously this doesn't apply if it's a professional qualification that's needed, but if they say they want a masters in bioinformatics or a related subject, don't take that as an absolute bar because you only have a BSc in Biology (for example). Or if they're advertising for a senior position, they might be willing to consider someone more junior while they build a team and promote internally.

Also get on LinkedIn!! It's such a powerful tool. Ask your contacts in the industry you're targeting for 30 mins to give you advice on zoom and you'd be amazed how people love to be helpful. Did you do any internships or industry placements? That's where you start building your network. If you don't have current contacts, ask your tutors and professors for introductions to people in industry. Don't ask, don't get!