Ben Swales Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 Good topic. I went straight to Sheffield University from school in 2002. I started studying Business Studies and French, largely because I wanted to study languages but my parents weren’t that happy about the idea and didn’t think that just languages would lead to ‘a career’. I didn’t get on with Business Studies at all (or the people that were studying it with me) and ended up failing a bunch of modules. Started again studying French and Spanish and got on much better, met a much better bunch of people, was much happier and did well in my course. As part of the degree I got to spend a year abroad studying in Perpignan in the South of France and in Oviedo in Spain. The joke of it was that one of my tutors at uni let slip that ‘because exams are harder to pass in a foreign language’ only the exams that we actually passed would be counted towards out degree. That meant that we got to play the system a bit and only really work on one module out there, pass that to get a decent overall grade, and then enjoy the rest of our time out there! Did plenty of travelling around in both countries, saw a lot of cool places, did a lot of cool stuff and basically had a year-long paid holiday (we got a small grant from the Erasmus scheme). Plus, the house we lived in in France was the coolest house I have ever or will ever live in, I’m pretty sure. My French and Spanish improved loads as well, which was the point of being there, so I didn’t feel bad about sacking off the work too much. Like Max said, one of the best things about going to uni, other than the fact that it was a pretty essential stage in my ‘career’ (I knew I wanted to be a translator from pretty early on), is that it provided me with a pretty relaxed, stress-free environment to do and to get into other things as well as studying, particularly while I was abroad. It really expanded my horizons and my mindset and, as corny as it sounds, helped me to develop as a person. Like Tom said as well, it also taught me to work to deadlines, learn things that I might not have given the ‘choice’, etc., so I’m really glad that I went. I graduated from uni a year after that in 2007 and went back to Spain (Madrid this time) to teach English and keep working on my Spanish, and did more of the same. Then I came back to Sheffield and started an Masters in Translation Studies in 2008, graduated in 2009 and have been working full-time as a translator and translation project manager since then. I’ve just got a new job (start in a few weeks) as a project manager with an e-learning company, still in Sheffield, earning pretty decent money and with pretty decent benefits I’ve been looking for a new job for ages though – the place I’m at currently is pretty horrible at the moment (for loads of reasons that I won’t go into) and it got pretty disheartening being turned down time and again. Made it all the better when I got this job, which is pretty ideal, and there’s a mother*cking slide in the foyer! Alongside all that, I’ve been helping out with Tyke Trial and the Biketrial Federation and writing/translating for Tribal Zine since about 2008. I’m still living with some of the guys I lived with at uni and in France, finding time to go out on my bike, to gigs and whatnot as well as the usual social stuff. I’m pretty busy all the time, which can be stressful, but it’s all stuff that I enjoy doing, so it’s all good. I’m pretty happy with how things have turned out so far. Starting to think about buying a house now, but that’s a pretty big step! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bikeperson45 Posted May 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 Like Max said, one of the best things about going to uni, other than the fact that it was a pretty essential stage in my ‘career’ (I knew I wanted to be a translator from pretty early on), is that it provided me with a pretty relaxed, stress-free environment to do and to get into other things as well as studying, particularly while I was abroad. It really expanded my horizons and my mindset and, as corny as it sounds, helped me to develop as a person. Like Tom said as well, it also taught me to work to deadlines, learn things that I might not have given the ‘choice’, etc., so I’m really glad that I went. That's why I want to go to uni, I don't think I could really commit myself to a job yet, don't feel like I've done enough. Although in my I'm going to try and get a job so I can get a taste for that kind of stuff and plus hopefully I'll have some extra money to play around with in uni. Main reason for wanting to go to in for me though is the only career I've genuinely considered is teaching, and for that you defiantly need a degree to do secondary, so I don't want to limit myself before I begin. Thanks for all the posts, been good reading material Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeyseemonkeydo Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 Out of interest, all of the people with degrees on JSA and friends who went to uni and are on JSA, what sort of courses did they study? I did well at school but took a year out to get a bit of money and worked delivering furniture before going to uni- did me the world of good, I grew up and matured a lot in that year and picked up a good bit of common sense that I was probably lacking beforehand! Then did an MEng in Aerospace Engineering at the Uni of Southampton before carrying on to do an EngD in rallycar aerodynamics. Funding for that finished in July 2009 (although I didn't actually submit and finish until Feb last year) but started full time as a research engineer in the wind tunnels at Southampton in mid September. Now manage the wind tunnel operations and staff, dealing with all the student users, researchers and commercial customers while developing the systems and overseeing all the aspects of the tunnels from finance to marketing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weirdoku Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 Out of interest, all of the people with degrees on JSA and friends who went to uni and are on JSA, what sort of courses did they study? I did 3D design, so did my gf, and my old housemate. Girlfriend had no luck looking for jobs for over 6 months, then get a job in Barclays in feb. My old housemate hasn't managed to find a job, currently volunteering in a gallery I think. Me and housemate are both on JSA. I worked in Halfreuds for 5 months then they got rid of me, haven't had any luck since then. Currently applying for some volunteering in several places. To be honest I don't think I'll ever land a job related to my course, it's been so long since I graduated last August. If I can't find a job soon after graduating I don't think I ever can! Now I'm just happy to get any sort of job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1337 Trials Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 Finished 6th form in 2007, went straight to uni. Studied web systems development, finished uni in May 2010, got a job a week later at a big company in Manchester. Worked there ever since as a web developer. Also moved in with the GF this year, so now we rent a flat together. Costs a lot but saves me driving 4-500 miles every week... Similar thing to what I want to do. Web design/development. Damn the code confuses me. I went to 6th form then onto college and did a BTEC National in IT but now im searching for jobs constantly. Im stuck in my retail job from when I was at 6th form. I wish I had done an apprenticeship as I still need some sort of training job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeyseemonkeydo Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 I did 3D design, so did my gf, and my old housemate. Girlfriend had no luck looking for jobs for over 6 months, then get a job in Barclays in feb. My old housemate hasn't managed to find a job, currently volunteering in a gallery I think. Me and housemate are both on JSA. Without meaning to be an arse and condescending (which I'm not that good at), how far for 3D design go? I have images in my head of being able to produce pretty looking 'things' on a computer but not necessarily being able to incorporate those into either animation for the likes of TV/film/adverts or able to produce mechanical components for engineering/real world applications. It just seems to me that the majority of people who went to uni and now don't have jobs did degrees that never really had job prospects in the first place (thinking psychology, art, lots of geography students etc.). Could be wrong of course and I know I probably see things from quite an odd perspective because everything's worked out surprisingly well for me (touch wood...)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weirdoku Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 (edited) Without meaning to be an arse and condescending (which I'm not that good at), how far for 3D design go? I have images in my head of being able to produce pretty looking 'things' on a computer but not necessarily being able to incorporate those into either animation for the likes of TV/film/adverts or able to produce mechanical components for engineering/real world applications. It just seems to me that the majority of people who went to uni and now don't have jobs did degrees that never really had job prospects in the first place (thinking psychology, art, lots of geography students etc.). Could be wrong of course and I know I probably see things from quite an odd perspective because everything's worked out surprisingly well for me (touch wood...)! Some stuff I made is in my flickr if you wanted to look... But your right about the never had job prospects part. I went to college without a aim and ended up doing computing, geography, maths and physics in my first year. Failed maths and physics so I thought I retake maths and drop physics for accounting, failed those in my second year. In my third year I retook A2 computing and Geography and picked up AS 3d design which I completely ACED with best grade in that year, I always liked making things, still do. But even after that I still didn't have a job in mind. Being chinese I have your typical chinese parents that thinks you should study 24/7 and never pleased with what their children does, I went to uni and did 3d design to shutup my parents and hoping I would find a goal by the end, but I didn't. I like the practical type of jobs, making things/taking things apart, I just don't know what to do with myself at the moment. Being turned down for so many jobs is a bummer and makes me feel like I'll never even get an semi-decent job. That's my story EDIT: Like to add that I also did 3d design at uni was back then I was thinking a degree is better than no degree. Now I wish I didn't do uni and just did an apprenticeship like carpentry or something like that. Edited May 23, 2012 by weirdoku Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muel Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 Sav, how hard would it be to create that cardboard table as a kit? Say if you produced a run of 25, any idea what they'd be worth? Just strikes me that you've got a rather innovative and interesting product there, and it's the kinda thing that people might buy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weirdoku Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 Don't want to hijack the thread so sorry about this! The cost for cardboard per desk comes to about £30, the more cardboard I buy the cheaper. The other cost is pva glue for the glued version, which isn't really expensive, I've found some shops to have them for a few quid for a few litres. But then I obviously won't sell it for just the cost of materials, need moneys for my time on each one but I'll be happy for £50 per desk since it's hand made. I've sold one to my friends sister for £70 believe it or not. But obviously if I have some sort of machine production line, each desk will be way cheaper. Back on topic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alistair14 Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 Joinin the army from now on ..on the first stage of tests and my application form ..the fitness part is the hardest atm but im slowly getting there! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun H Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 Don't want to hijack the thread so sorry about this! The cost for cardboard per desk comes to about £30, the more cardboard I buy the cheaper. The other cost is pva glue for the glued version, which isn't really expensive, I've found some shops to have them for a few quid for a few litres. But then I obviously won't sell it for just the cost of materials, need moneys for my time on each one but I'll be happy for £50 per desk since it's hand made. I've sold one to my friends sister for £70 believe it or not. But obviously if I have some sort of machine production line, each desk will be way cheaper. Back on topic! Once VAT and tax and middle men come in I'd expect the product will need to be selling for around £70 for you to make a good profit yourself. As for myself: I did carried on from school in to Sixth Form (maths, physics, chemistry, economics) and then, although noone ever sat down and explained what sort of path I needed to take to do what I like (inventing stuff etc), I realised a Mechanical Engineering degree would place me well for the future. So I did that at Aston University with a year's placement at a coatings company in Leamington which taught me a lot about the working world. I've had a brief dabble with making my own components and I've really enjoyed it but it takes up a lot of time and all the stuff I get excited about normally requires big investment. May pick it back up when I have more spare cash... I graduated last July but not before savagely breaking my ankle mountain biking. Fortunately an aerospace company saw fit to employ a (temporary) cripple and I was lucky enough to get on their graduate scheme. I'm currently moving around the different departments; I've just come from test engineering where they bash the parts with hydraulics for thousands and thousands of cycles and I'm now in the materials lab, I'll eventually take up a Design Engineer role. At the end of August I'm getting placed in Paris for 3 months and I'm really really excited about that, the company is providing me with 2 one on one tutored French lessons every week (and the instructor has a tidy bum (A) ) so I hope my fluency comes along a bit. Recently been headhunted for another company's "future leadership programme" but their product isn't particularly exciting so unless the rest of the job is appealing and/or the money is amazing I may turn it down, but at the very least it's a massive ego boost having that happen so early in my career! As for advice for the OP my sentiments echo some of what has already been said. You claim that you're pretty sure on university but nothing after that, I'd say don't even consider a degree unless you're certain it will allow you to get in to a career you know you want. Its an expensive (although I'd say ignore the recent hike in fees, unless you earn megabucks you'll pay back a similar amount to those of us who got in before) and lengthy experience and not one you should go through with if you have serious doubts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Quinn Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 Without meaning to be an arse and condescending (which I'm not that good at), how far for 3D design go? I have images in my head of being able to produce pretty looking 'things' on a computer but not necessarily being able to incorporate those into either animation for the likes of TV/film/adverts or able to produce mechanical components for engineering/real world applications. It just seems to me that the majority of people who went to uni and now don't have jobs did degrees that never really had job prospects in the first place (thinking psychology, art, lots of geography students etc.). Could be wrong of course and I know I probably see things from quite an odd perspective because everything's worked out surprisingly well for me (touch wood...)! Having just finished an art degree, I do agree with you there. A good 60% of my course aren't now planning on going into photography, or don't have a real plan within it if they are. Not to say that jobs would be ridiculously hard to come by because it's a good course, but it's not the kind of course people really go onto with a defined career path and it's no suprise a lot of them don't leave with one either. To be honest, I think uni's become a bit too much of a middle class right of passage and just 'what people do' rather than people really appreciating or thinking about what they're going for a lot of the time. Me included to some extent. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simpson Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 Just finishing my Mathematics for Finance and Management degree (it sounds fancy but its basically pure maths with financial proof). Will be unemployed as of next Tuesday after my last exam. Hoping to get a job at the docks in logistics, if not something in London. Used to be super bothered about "how much I would earn" but f**k it, lifes too short want to get a job I will enjoy and I won't stop till I've found out what that is! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bikeperson45 Posted May 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2012 As for advice for the OP my sentiments echo some of what has already been said. You claim that you're pretty sure on university but nothing after that, I'd say don't even consider a degree unless you're certain it will allow you to get in to a career you know you want. Its an expensive (although I'd say ignore the recent hike in fees, unless you earn megabucks you'll pay back a similar amount to those of us who got in before) and lengthy experience and not one you should go through with if you have serious doubts. I'd defiantly need a degree to do teaching, but my problem is that the subject I'm most interested in is psychology and psychology teachers aren't in massive demand and only really exist in sixth form. Have to look more into the whole PGCE thing because I know my history teacher is a geography teacher by her qualification and she teaches politics as well. But yea, that would be my main reason for going to uni at the moment, it's the subject I'm most uncertain about... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onza pro series guy Posted May 24, 2012 Report Share Posted May 24, 2012 Have to look more into the whole PGCE thing because I know my history teacher is a geography teacher by her qualification and she teaches politics as well. But yea, that would be my main reason for going to uni at the moment, it's the subject I'm most uncertain about... My mum is a head of english at a secondary school and her degree is in primary school teaching, she did english and history as her main subjects. So yeah it's worth looking into just what jobs you can get in the education sector with what qualifications. Simillarly my old Geography teacher was a PE teacher in qualification and the same for my old ICT teacher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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