I have been rather busy of late with one thing and other; from realising that it is not too far off the deadline for my dissertation to realising that I had better start looking for work for now as well as the future. And it is that which is causing me so much angst. I must be the leasy employable person on this planet. I am not suited to graduate employment because I am too ethical; i.e. I don't want to exploit people, resources and nations in poverty for the sake of the pockets of wealthy shareholers and chief executives.

 

I seriously can't find a job, and by that I mean what us students call a 'proper job' which can pay a salary that justifies going to university in the first place. However, in my attempts to do this I have been thwarted at everyturn; I have tried banking, energy, banking again, transport, civil service, retail, and the list goes on. Because my degree subject-history-does not automatically link to a career, with the exception of teaching, which was what I was originally intending to do but..., I am a bit screwed.

 

I thought that the reason I failed to get a graduate job last year after I had finished my degree, was because I had not done much at university in terms of 'getting involved' in stuff, like clubs, societies, and student union. So when I went back to do my masters I resolved to broaden my experience. I have been an active member in two societies, setting one up, a member of Union Council and I even ran for union President. My CV, for positions of responsibility and experiences, is looking pretty good. But why do I still not have a job for September? Is it because I, like I mentioned above, care more about people than profit? Is it because I lack a certain management skill? Is it because I am just crap?

 

The answer escapes me at the moment; I know I have the ability to manage people because I have done so in the past. Ethics??? Surely companies want ethically minded people working for them, especially considering tax breaks and shit like that. So it must be because I am crap. So crap that I couldn't even get a job as a cashier in a bank. Nothing againt cashiers in banks, but seriously what am I doing wrong? Will someone please tell me? Maybe universities are about producing managers; clones or robots who think in terms of profit and efficiency etc... Those that resist attempts to be 'sterialised' suffer...

 

I really think that my degree is useless and I have wasted four years of my life. As much as I want to do a Phd, I can't and am not guarenteed employment for a good few years after completion anyway. I suppose I have only a couple of options left to me now; money being money, and that it runs out a lot more quickly when you have none coming in the other way, dictates that I need something as soon as possible.

 

But what about a future? If universities are about producing the leaders of tomorrow, then I can't really be a part of the future from behind the checkout of my local supermarket. The future, therefore, has two options staring me in the face. Funnily these two thingswould be great jobs for me; so why am I so glum? One is politics and the other the armed forces. It is something to aim for at least.

 

(I think politics is the preferred option, let the plotting begin.)

 

But this all begs the question: what is the point of going to university?

 

Well many students, with their cushy jobs in accountancy, no offence to anyone, or management or whatever, will say that there is a great deal of 'point' in going to university. Others, who have got nothing like myself will disagree. Then there are those in the middle who, like me have involved themselves in stuff, worked, played and managed to scrape a fairly decent job. Of course if the people in my boat had scraped a fairly decent job then they would be reasonably chuffed with their university experience. But when you reflect back over four years and cannot see any endpoint, any conclusion, you have to ask, inspite of all the good experiences, what was the point?

 

Answers on a postcard...

 

 

 

 

 

There's something freakishly wonderful about Peter Crouch. He looks like he would be the most unsuitable person for a 21st century football match. However, when he graces the ball with his touch and vision, he becomes a superstar. He will most surely be England's dark horse for glory. I might even put a couple of quid on him to get the golden boot. The odds???