It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
Originally posted by fiftyfifty
I agree that life is tough and can often seem unfair however, if you needed counselling after finding working in a coffee shop stressful then you will struggle with a proper job. Teachers for example - my wife works 75hrs+ a week and has practically no money left once all the bills have gone out. She is responsible for making sure 30 5yr old kids progress to the national expectations whilst also dealing with parents, reports, assessments, social services etc. I work 45hrs a week (flexible hours give me time to occasionally post on here!). You will find that call centers, office admin etc are ALL more stressful than working in a coffee shop!
I have to say that I can't hold any sympathy to you complaining about the price of education. School was free, an opportunity to gain GCSEs, GNVQs, A-Levels etc. These qualifications would provide you more than ample opportunity to get a decent job.
I haven't even got A-Levels but through hard work and determination have worked myself up to a very comfortable and healthy salary. If you miss this opportunity, then I'm afraid that you have to live with the consequences and put in the extra time and money to make up for it.
This seems like another classic example of a young Brit who expects everything for nothing. Hard graft and willpower, that's all you need.
Originally posted by fiftyfifty
reply to post by SearchLightsInc
I think I perhaps misunderstood you so apologise for jumping to conclusions.
I find it hard to believe that if you have GCSEs and A-LEvels and are struggling to the capacity that you are. Maybe you are being too specific? I don't know. You are right, I am in sales/ business development and agree that there are many jobs of this type around. Trust me, you don't have to be particularly talented, just a quick learner with the ability to speak to and get on with people although it's not everyones cup of tea. I would be doing something much more worthwhile if I could afford to! I left school / college in 2004 and worked as a catering assistant at a department store in the final couple of years so I know how dealing with the public and serving them can be a drag. Personal/ emotional issues can affect anyone at any tome so glad to hear that you are doing well now and I'm sure you will find future roles easier without that additional 'upset'.
You have a lot of voluntary experience which employers love as it shows willingness to work, my advice to you would be it is a numbers game, apply for as many jobs as you can find in an area you are interested in and believe you are right for the job at interview stage.. Forget further education for the time being and wait until you CAN afford it before considering it. In many cases, unless it is a vocational career, experience is much more valuable than education.
By the way. administritive jobs are probably so difficult to get into because that is one of the first things people think of. Try and think about what you enjoy rather than what you think you are capable. Most junior sales roles for example offer all the training you need. You might not be able to sell for # now but after an induction and some training you never know. You don't have to be a bolshy, cocky, stereoptypical salesperson infact I try to avoid this as much as possible. This will go for other roles too. Try putting the word 'trainee' into the jobsearch bar and see what comes up
I genuinely wish you luck!edit on 6-8-2013 by fiftyfifty because: (no reason given)
What line of work are you in if you dont mind me asking? Ive noticed that if you're good at sales, you're set for life as the service sector is all about maximising sales. I cant sell for #.
Originally posted by SearchLightsInc
Originally posted by ObservingYou
Bleh Bleh Bleh... The world sucks - but life is what you make of it.
You have neglected to inform everybody that you should have completed your basic IT in school, I did, got 4 GNVQ's at grade A.
College is FREE from 16-19. If you MISS that window, Tuition is now free for those of 24+
Life IS what you make of it and if you didnt bother to read the OP, i am trying to change my lot in life by learning new skills. I have my 5 GCSE's including English Lit/Lang and Maths. 2 A-Levels in English Lit and Geography. Now i want to learn some actual skills so i can be more useful to society and im getting an "access denied"
I think i have a right to be upset mate.
And i am 24 but they're still expecting me to pay tuition i cant afford, so please link your source as to how i go about getting it paid for me, thanks.
You are able to claim tuition for University ANY TIME YOU PLEASE. Open University accepts NO qualifications, and leaves your fate in your hands.
Isnt offering a Level 2 business admin course. Ive already done an Openings module with them.
Not to mention APPRENTICESHIPS are in abundance to enable you to work and gain qualifications. If you use your head, you'd pick a trade - Engineering apprenticeships offer a decent wage of over £6 per hour, and always lead to long term employment.
Are you missing the point here? Im not an engineer, I wouldn't be suited to be an engineer! I want to go into administration because IM BETTER SUITED FOR IT. As for apprenticeships being in abundance i dont know what planet you're on but they're not.
Extremely stressful COFFEE job...are you for real?
Service sector can be very stressful especially when you have poor management running the show, take into account your life outside of work falling apart and yeah, it all get's on top and even the smallest things become stressful. I dont need to defend myself to you, if you dont understand that each job can have its toll on people that's not my problem, perhaps you should learn some compassion and stop judging people before you've even walked in their shoes.
See - lot's of options and it took me 4 minutes of trying...
Its a myth that if you work hard and be patient, good things will come.
Sounds like your not trying hard enough in my opinion.
I think MY generation has got it bad
We could have it better that's for sure, however, I AM your generation - and from my point of view, the majority of our generation lack the basic mental capacity to over come the above mentioned barriers, when in actual fact - if you apply you mind - you WILL achieve results.
Obviously you're entitled to your opinion and im slightly insulted by your rose-tinted view of the world. I posted this thread because i wanted some advice, yano, some help so that i can do better. Telling me to "work harder" isnt exactly contributing.
FYI - If you couldn't handle being a waitress, you certainly won't handle a call centre.
Hahaha, well, i guess i'll just go give up on life then because obviously, you're the people expert
Enlighten me, Where have i gone wrong?
Originally posted by SearchLightsIncOn April 2nd 2012 i quit working a minimum wage incredibly stressful job working in a coffee shop.
Originally posted by moonrunner
Originally posted by SearchLightsIncOn April 2nd 2012 i quit working a minimum wage incredibly stressful job working in a coffee shop.
Seriously?
I think the fact that education costs money is the least of your problems by reading your story here.
Originally posted by SearchLightsInc
Its a myth that if you work hard and be patient, good things will come. Its not like im asking for a 20k wage, be promoted to manager within my first week, drive an audi, have a mansion - Im just trying to attain the skills to do better! I think MY generation has got it bad but im sitting here thinking that people being born today (in lower-income families) will have even less than me.
Any advice is welcomed, though i would quite like to discuss education becoming the most expensive elitist sector in the 21st century. Just really don't have a clue what to do.
Originally posted by destination now
reply to post by SearchLightsInc
Yes, you can improve your chances with education and whilst it's not free (nothing in life is) if you make the right choices it can be seen as an investment.
You are entitled to govt grants and funding when you are a full time student, to cover the costs of your tuition and your living expenses. Do you live at home with your parents? If yes, their income will be taken into account, but if you are living at home, that means you can reduce your living costs.
Whilst much of the financial support is in the form of loans, you have to be earning before you pay that back, and although that may seem like a bummer, it's just the way it is and has been for quite some time. Although I had a secretarial qualification that I gained in the late 80's, I went back to college after my daughter was born and my marriage had ended, firstly to do an Higher National Certificate and then I went on to Uni and completed and Hons Degree in Business and Information Management, both of which I needed loans to fund. Once I was working, I was able to do a range of other courses at my employers expense, and earned a lot of money that enabled me to have savings that allowed me to take time out and go an do a post grad (I've subsequently had a serious illness and have not been able to work, but as my health is improving, I'm still in a really good position to go and get a job as I will always have all of those qualifications as well as all of my work experience)
Therefore, I suggest that you look at a full time course starting in September and forget about the call centre stuff (they rarely keep people on after 3 months as the targets are impossible to meet, and if you thought the coffee shop environment was stressful, I can assure you that you would have a meltdown after 2 weeks in one of those places (I had a friend who ended up on anti-depressants after working in one of those places for 6 weeks)
My own daughter who is 19 is studying graphic design at college and is in her second year, and she will have approx £7000 of debt at the end of this year, yet she intends to go onto to Uni and do her degree, so god only knows what her debt will be at the end of her qualification, but she feels that it is worth it as she will be well qualified in a field that she is really interested in, and that will eventually bring her the financial rewards as well as great job satisfaction.
So don't give up, think about where you want to be in 5 yrs time...10 yrs time and so on and understand that having an education may be expensive in the first instance, but is definitely worth it in the long run.
Originally posted by Esrom Escutcheon Esquire
reply to post by SearchLightsInc
Hi there.
I can kinda relate to your position.
School wise, I had 5 C's and 1 D at GCSE. Then college for Btec First diploma in public services (Which was a waste of time in my op)
I then completed an apprenticeship in construction. I quit the industry in 2008. A couple of months later the recession kicked up.
The advertised jobs in the local paper went from 8 full pages to half a page. Or one page if there was a large job add (mainly for call centre stuff which has a high turn over of staff)
I struggled and joined many job agencys. Signed on every two weeks for £90.
Occassionally had tempoary work (3 days here, a week there. longest streak was 2 months at a distributer)
During long spells the job centre would put me on courses. CV skills (must have written a cv a thousand times) and an Nvq Level 3 in IT (Advanced diploma in IT which was a micky mouse course but good as my formal IT skills were lacking)
Life kinda sucked because my friends were in work and I kinda resented that as they could afford a social life etc. But at the end of the day I got my self into this situation. I needed to sort my self out.
I ended up doing another apprenticeship at the age 25.
That was in bussiness administration (Nvq level 3) which took a year too do.
Now I'm sort of ok, I'm trying to "pre-empt" any future lack of qualification matters by hopefully doing some night school at college (Hopefully CISCO and an Nvq in welding) cost is about £700 in total.
There are options. None of them are easy. All require hard work and determination. Just wish I had this mind-set back when I was in school and actually listend.
eee.