Hi,
I’m 25 years old, from Northern Ireland and I’m desperatly looking for some career advice. My (long) background story, better give all the details.
I finished school with good results and went to Queens University Belfast to study Computer Science, my plans were all based around doing this then getting a job in IT…it didn’t work out, I discovered that working with computers was not for me and dropped out of the course. I took a year out and returned a year later to do a degree in Geography of which I got a 2.2 (missing a 2.1 by 1%)
For the next year I worked in a minimum wage paying job in a supermarket chain before starting graduate IT training scheme. The RAP programme, including three months work experience in the IT department of the PSNI (Police).
At this time I was unhappy with things, I had moved back in with my parents and I kept thinking I was pursuing the wrong path, the initial disillusion with IT had ruined all my carefully laid plans. I decided to go back to university and pursue something I had a genuine interest in. I got accepted to Salford University in Manchester to do a MA in International History and Intelligence (the course is usually called Intelligence and International Relations) as I have a strong interest in Cold War history and current global politics etc, it seemed a good choice and I was assured it would help me progress, I wanted to work for the UN or the EU, or some sort of international organisation. However my results on the course were better than I initially expected so I have been persuaded to seriously consider a doing a pHD. This threw my initial plans off and it appears I’ve left it too late to apply for a pHD programme starting this September, or more importantly, receive funding.
The current situation is this: I’m halfway through my MA and both of my dissertation ideas have come to a standstill through lack of ideas and I have to come up with another plan very very quickly.
The problem is I’m trying to consider how to progress, I need to find decent work somewhere and I’m having problems. I paid to do this MA with the money I had saved from my first job (and the succession of crappy jobs previously) and now I’m deeply in debt.
Should I start sending off speculative applications to various places stating that I’m looking for internship opportunities (though I could really do with a job that pays decently, I’ve heard that internships either pay nothing or very very little)
or if they have any employment opportunities come open shortly.
I’ve seen internship opportunites with the National Security Archives in Washington which is exactly the sort of thing I’d be looking for but see the problems above. A UK equivalent would be necessary.
Should I look for administrative positions in different areas?
At the moment I’d take work almost anywhere, I really need to find something and soon.
So:
Advantages -
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I’m single with no dependants or commitments. Willing to move and work virtually anywhere
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I’ve never had any complaints about my work ethic.
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I’m open to virtually any idea.
That was a really confused post but every time I think about the future I get increasingly upset and have a panicky feeling in my gut…I’ve put so much into this and I don’t know what to do if it falls through…
Any help is very very much appreciated.
Thanks in advance.