retired_BrownVanilla

*what's

retired_majtodd

I did a degree in Computing Science and yeah, was applying for everything I could right now.

In one way that's a good tactic, good to get an experience of what the process is like; the online tests, what the telephone interviews are like (basically, make notes on the first interview and recycle the same answers, they're all very similar), what to expect in assessment centres and so on. For me, I found the assessment days a good judge of what it'd be like to work there; they can sell themselves really well over the web/phone, but you get a real feel for the place when you meet the people who work there.

By this time I'd probably have had a few online tests and maybe a phone interview, but I'd say you want to have applied for most jobs by the end of the year.

I had a graduate job offer by April/May last year and got a 2.1 in the end. A 2.1 really is the least you should get; I didn't see a single advert that would accept less. I'd say the difference between a first and a 2.1 is negligable in comparison to a 2.1 and a 2.2 (unless you're into investment banking or something).

I now work in IT for a telecoms company and must say it's the best decision I ever made. The fact I'm a graduate has given far more opportunities than just applying for a normal job, and the pay is higher than a lot of other IT roles too. There were 40ish grads who joined over many directorates and it's a fantastic network to have.

There were three people taking into finance this year, two of whom I know really well. Drop me an email if you want more info on either where I work or the application process as a whole (bramley at gmail.com)

retired_majtodd

Sorry, I had a job offer April/May THIS year

retired_tam5868

i got a 2:1 in maths and statistics w/ european studies (french) in 2001 and now work for a life assurance company in a french speaking country, so i suppose it must have helped somewhere along the way.

then again, i hardly took the natural route to this situation.

when i got back from my erasmus year abroad i realised that i had no intention on living in england any longer than i had to so planned to leave as soon as i could after finishing my degree. applied for a few things here and there and then got accepted onto an internship at eurostat here in luxembourg. the fact it was not in england was what mainly mattered although being related to my degree did help. came here, did the 5 months, found a job with a Greek consultancy company, then Schroders and finally this company 3.5 years ago.

that said, i don't really use anything specific i learnt during my degree here, just the general love of figures and manipulation etc.

i have wondered occasionally what would have happened if i had gone directly into a graduate job with a bank in london or paris and where i'd be now if i had....with no financial background, dunno whether i'd have got in though....

retired_Sherman6842

Graduated friday 9th November actually, though of course I knew my result in July so for all intents and purposes been a graduate since summer of this year. 2:1 in Communication and Media.

Am currently in a terrible temp job with Nationwide, which is a Catch-22 because I want to leave and get something good, but I can't afford to quit and search because I'm still in my debts incurred by being a student, but I can't go "oh I've got a job interview I can't work next Monday morning" because they'll fire me, I may not get the job and then I'll be jobless and still overdrawn. Although in reality the only thing that's kept me in this temp job is that a lot of people have done exactly the same as me - come out of Uni, thought 'I want to stay here, I need money to do so, I'll jump on board Nationwide' - and the workforce is young, beautiful and happy-go-lucky. The managers aren't mind.

To be fair to myself, and having said all the above, I have a job interview on wednesday for an ideal Marketing and PR role, and another being fixed up by my temp agency for a different PR role. One way or another, I hope to be out of NBS by the end of the year.

retired_narpinder

I have a 2:2 BSc in Psychology and Management and am half way through an MA in Human Resource Management.

Was working in HR until about 10 months ago when I moved in to the commercial team where I work as a Business Development Manager. Pays well, I enjoy the work, just a shame my boss is a complete ****.

mattsaunders

i graduated in music and now work in business development for a charity. started off doing marketing for an orchestra, so i suppose indirectly my degree's led me to where i am.

always thought i'd end up in media or journalism or something, but i didn't... now i cba because i'd have to take a pay cut or fork out more money to start studying all over again.

retired_mandyg

Scraped a 2:2 in Broadcast Media & Popular Culture. Now a teacher in an FE college and, after 2 years, thinking of packing it in and doing what I originally wanted, which is working in the media industry somewhere. Plan to whore myself out for free to local companies in Cardiff to gain some experience - possibly doing something with an organisation called Ceffyl here in Wales. Need to leave before I earn too much money that it's difficult to take the step back needed to go forward.

retired_Sherman6842

cont.

But I'm also at a crossroads. I've never travelled, I feel I could gain higher qualifications, I'm motivated by a career and money and London for a few years and I'm still young. So I don't know whether to:

Travel: save money any way and do 3-5 months travelling. Ideally this would be Australia, Hong Kong, Thailand, New Zealand, Bali, that sort of corner.
as above but do a Ski Season in somewhere like Lausanne or the French valleys for the period.

Education: do a higher qualification in something. I have no idea whether this might be something like an MA in Modern Litertaure/Literary Criticism, or conversely a Journalistic or Public Relations qualification, or even a second degree.

Career: If I were to land a decent job in Bournemouth then I'd probaby stay here at least 2 more years. If nothing comes up soon, I may hold off until my rent in Bournemouth runs out, then fix up a job in London and move to work there. This is the long-term job plan, but whether I wait til I've done some sort of travelling, or go there to make some money to THEN travel I can't decide.

This is how I feel about my life as 2007 draws to a close. It's actually helped writing the above down!!

retired_lohmannj

i have a 2:1 from Loughborough in Sports Science, got me onto a MSc in Science and Medicine of Athletic Performance at Oxford which i have just started and am enjoying, although i have no idea what to do beyond these 2 years at Oxford although i suspect i will end up in the city doing a job completely unrelated to either my undergrad or masters.