Today was the day I attempted to narrow down my dreams for the future.
Today was the day I had my first appointment with the Careers service at University.
Today was the day I had my first appointment with the Careers service at University.
Filled with anticipation and excitement, eagerly clutching various job descriptions, I walked into the Careers office with high hopes that they would clear the confusion that was currently occupying my head
15 minutes later, I walked out of the Careers office... feeling slightly bemused. I felt like I had made a bit of progress, but I don't know how. Let me explain:
I told the nice career lady in the leopard print shirt that I had a rough idea of the paths I wanted to follow: journalism, editing and programme researching for broadcasting. She proceeded to discuss journalism, said I really needed to investigate work experience or shadowing.
I already knew this, I just haven’t done anything.
She then suggested I have a look at the website Prospects.
I already knew this, I just haven’t done anything.
She then suggested I have a look at the website Prospects.
I already have.
Everything she then said was pretty much read off this website. Now, unless I’m very much mistaken, I probably could have done this back in my room…
Anyway, after a few minutes she told me about another girl who wanted to be a journalist and had applied for an 18 month short course for after her degree; the application process is made up of multiple stages, one of which sounded particularly intense. Basically an ‘observation stage’, the tutors tell the applicants that a major news story has broken and ask ‘what do you do?’ They then proceed to watch them, finding out what contacts they use, what they do and what they write. They form a judgement on this, throwing random questions at applicants during the process. Now, I don’t know about you but this sounds slightly scary.
No.1: I am a 20 year old student; what sort of contacts should I have already?
No.2: I have never, NEVER dealt with a major news story and attempted to gain more info. About it in my life.
No.3: I think I work well under pressure, but I started to imagine the tutors as one of those horrible fitness trainers shouting in the ear of some crying, obese person as they exerted all the energy they had on a treadmill. That would be me except without the obesity, and swopping the treadmill for a keyboard.
I think this nice lady in the leopard print shirt noticed my slightly daunted expression. She reiterated to me that all jobs are competitive but to succeed in the ones I’d mentioned I’d have to show I really wanted it, show dedication and persistence. The word pushy sprang to mind.
Everything she then said was pretty much read off this website. Now, unless I’m very much mistaken, I probably could have done this back in my room…
Anyway, after a few minutes she told me about another girl who wanted to be a journalist and had applied for an 18 month short course for after her degree; the application process is made up of multiple stages, one of which sounded particularly intense. Basically an ‘observation stage’, the tutors tell the applicants that a major news story has broken and ask ‘what do you do?’ They then proceed to watch them, finding out what contacts they use, what they do and what they write. They form a judgement on this, throwing random questions at applicants during the process. Now, I don’t know about you but this sounds slightly scary.
No.1: I am a 20 year old student; what sort of contacts should I have already?
No.2: I have never, NEVER dealt with a major news story and attempted to gain more info. About it in my life.
No.3: I think I work well under pressure, but I started to imagine the tutors as one of those horrible fitness trainers shouting in the ear of some crying, obese person as they exerted all the energy they had on a treadmill. That would be me except without the obesity, and swopping the treadmill for a keyboard.
I think this nice lady in the leopard print shirt noticed my slightly daunted expression. She reiterated to me that all jobs are competitive but to succeed in the ones I’d mentioned I’d have to show I really wanted it, show dedication and persistence. The word pushy sprang to mind.
Me? Pushy? SERIOUSLY??
The nice lady in the leopard print shirt finally suggested I come back tomorrow for a second careers talk; one that pursued each of my jobs in slightly more depth and might help me narrow things down a bit.
So to sum things up; I now know for sure that I want to work in the ‘Publishing and Journalism’ sector, but I still can’t narrow it down….is this really progress?
So to sum things up; I now know for sure that I want to work in the ‘Publishing and Journalism’ sector, but I still can’t narrow it down….is this really progress?
After this, I proceeded to make a visit to town with a housemate and SPLURGE.
Why is it that when you have vouchers for a clothes shop you only find clothes you like in other shops? Typical.
To conclude my day:
The good news? I am well and truly a size 8 and I have made an 'investment' in buying that Zara blazer ... I now also know that I want to go into the publicity or journalism sector but I also highly doubt whether I have the right attributes to be a major player in the dog-eat-dog journo world…
The bad news? I now feel incredibly guilty that I have spent a fair amount of money on clothes. Despite the fact they are all gorgeous. And I love them.
Being a student is SO.HARD.
