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Careers advice for sons - help!
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My son has a history degree, a 2:1. He had intended to do an MA, but has changed his mind about this, for various reasons, and now wants to get a job.
The huge snag is, he has no idea what to do. He graduated in 2007, and spent this last year working at a nearby holiday attraction to earn money for the MA.
I feel we desperately need someone outside the family who could talk to him about career options and guide him towards the kind of thing he would enjoy/be good at. I don't feel we have enough knowledge of what's out there to be able to advise him effectively (my husband and I are a teacher/writer respectively).
Does anyone know where we could go to get such advice? Would be hugely grateful for any advice/suggestions.
Sue
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Re: Careers advice for sons - help!
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Hi Sue_Pur,
My son is going through the same thing but unlike your son, doesn't have a degree as he didn't want to go to University for one reason and another. To cut a long story short, he had a dream to be a fighter pilot all his life but then fell ill when taking his 'A'levels and was diagnosed with Crohn's diseas (infammatory bowel disease) which meant he couldn't apply for the RAF. Dream now shattered, son doesn't know what he wants to do (apart from make a lot of money!) and has driven by me and my OH almost to the point of divorce in frustration with him. I too have tried to find some sort of careers advice but have failed to come up with any help whatsoever. He is not a lazy lad and is very motivated and got really good grades but has just lost his way and at the moment is working part-time in Next (he's not impressed but at least it's money) and is waiting to hear if he has been successful in getting on a Management Training Programme with a local supermarket but he is only motivated by the salary. I am now of the opinion that we should just leave him to find his own way, knowing that he isn't the sort of lad who will just sit around and let's face it, who really knows what they want to do at this age??? I have had advice from friends whose children have been through the same thing and some of them have swopped careers several times before finding the right one. I am a great believer that once you are in some sort of employment, opportunities come up when you least expect them that lead on to other things. Sorry, it's not really answered your question but I thought I would just share that we are in the same boat!
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Re: Careers advice for sons - help!
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It's far easier to get another job when you've already got one! A history degree indicates a certain set of skills in interpreting information. One thing I remember history being suggested as entry point for was Human Resources or Personnel Management. What about public relations?
JustJules is your son practical or does he want an office based career? There are numerous apprenticeship schemes for a whole variety of practical careers that offer college training whilst working. They don't pay a lot during training but we all know what the likes of plumbers, electricians, garages charge for their qualified staff!
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Re: Careers advice for sons - help!
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Hi Sue_Pur (great name and welcome to the forum). Could the Careers Advisory Service at your son's Uni help (don't think that it matters when he graduated)? If not, advise him to try contacting your local Uni/HE Institution and enquire about whether they might be able to give some post graduate guidance. The other option would be to see if there is an Adult Careers Guidance Service in your area - should be able to find that out on the net. My recommendation would be for him to try the Uni route first as they are the experts on guidance for graduates.
Sweetpeasue
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Re: Careers advice for sons - help!
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ChrissiFi, son is totally not practical! He also doesn't want to be desk bound either! All he wants to do is fly and even though he has his private pilots licence, he needs a commercial licence to fly helicopters, which is what he really wants to get into. Unfortunately, the Police and Air Ambulance tend to use ex-service personnel that are already qualified as it's around £68,000 to get the licence! He also fancies himself as a bit of an Entrepreneur - he watches too many Dragons Den programmes but seriously does think he will be a millionaire one day, bless him!!!!
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chilla
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(member)
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02/10/2008 12:19
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Re: Careers advice for sons - help!
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If the careers people Connexions or whatever is available at uni are not able to help, I could usggest a private careers counsellor.
I used one and she was great. Cost me about £250.00 and you could either deal with her over the phone, by e-mail or see her. Basically did a really weired 2 hour test and then got the results translated into careers that suit your personality type. I was really surprised by how accurate it was and once she suggested certain jobs I had lightbulb moments. She is in Tewkesbury (I'm in Runcorn) but with the e-mail and phone it was straightforward.
If anyone wants her details, I'd be happy to pass them on.
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Re: Careers advice for sons - help!
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Just Jules - You've probably already investigated this but just in case. The son of a work colleague has become a pilot for BA without going to uni. He started his training with Thomsons of all people and spent some time (at his family's expense!) in New Zealand to complete his training. Then flew their charter jets out of the UK and has now moved to BA flying scheduled flights all over the world. I don't think it was a cheap route but worth it in the end.
Sue_Pur - My son gave up a job he was doing really well in (twice promoted etc) because he wanted to play guitar in a band. He did that for four years and is now back in the world of 'real' work and doing a part-time degree. I agree with others that in the end they find their own way through. I never had a clue what I wanted to do but as someone else said opportunities opened up for me when in different jobs. History is a good degree to have in his back pocket so lots of doors should be open. I like the idea of the one to one career counselling and may suggest to my son !
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Re: Careers advice for sons - help!
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Hi Gillian, yes we've explored that route to. We even offered to re-mortgage to fund him as one of his friends went to New Zealand to do it too. He doesn't want to fly commercial planes because he said it would be too boring sitting flying up in cloud - he wants some action i.e. helicopters but unfortunately the licence is double what commercial is. He wants to find a job that will make him loads of money so he can then afford the training himself - we've given up for now!
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Re: Careers advice for sons - help!
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JustJules, it might be an idea for your son to find out if his health problems would prevent him getting a commercial licence if he hasn't already. I know someone who's trying to go down the army route to get his licence and has been told that the health checks for a commercial licence are very strict. I think he will find that commercial flying, even with helicopters outside of the services is going to be routine repetitive trips most of the time (taking staff out to oil rigs is probably as exciting as it gets). Has he considered working for a company that operates helicopters as that would give him an insight into what commercial work is actually about. I don't like to be blunt but I certainly would advise against remortgaging for any reason.
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Re: Careers advice for sons - help!
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I read a book called "What Colour is Your Parachute" - it helps you look at what you want out of life, what skills you have and includes several references to online "career tests" - it was pretty useful and is probably not too disimilar in its approach to what a career guidance counsellor might offer (not that I've been to one, so I could be wrong). The book is by Richard Nelson Bolles. I would highly recommend it. I bought the book and started exploring other careers, but then I was offered a change of job with the company I was working for, so in the end did not make a big move.
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Re: Careers advice for sons - help!
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Hey girls, guess what???!!! Just had a phone call to say that son has got a job that he applied for (again, he was lured by the salary...) as Assistant Trainee Store Manager for Aldi. He has no retail experience but managed to secure the position out of 5,000 applicants so I am really proud of him. If he makes a go of it he can progress to the likes of Tesco but at least for now he will be working towards a career. The starting salary is £24k and he's only 21 - my other son who is 30 is pig sick as that's his salary and he's been working hard as an Accounts Manager for that for the last 10 years! At least now he will get some money behind him to pursue his real dream.
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Re: Careers advice for sons - help!
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Sue_Per, I have sent you a pm (private message). Just click on the flashing envelope at the top (blue bar next to User Options) to open.
Sweetpeasue
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Re: Careers advice for sons - help!
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Oops sorry, meant to add a message for JustJules too. Good news about your son. Bet he's thrilled.
Sweetpeasue
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Re: Careers advice for sons - help!
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As an ex careers adviser, I would say that a history degree is a good general subject, but will probably mean he will need to take either a postgraduate vocational course or apply for training posts. He won't be able to apply for apprenticeships as he is too old.
He needs to think about his strengths and interests.
He is still entitled to go back to the university guidance sesrvice, but is too old for Connexions. the next step should be adult guidance service, which should be free, if he is unemployed. A well as giving advice they should be able to offer interest and aptitude guides which will help.
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Re: Careers advice for sons - help!
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Thank you everybody - that was my first post and I love this forum already! Some really helpful suggestions there...
Will now look into how to get pretty flashing flowers and things like you all have!
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Re: Careers advice for sons - help!
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I found myself in a similar position years ago, and took a completely different path than everyone else was suggesting. I went abroad to work for six months, and took stock earnt some money and then came back refreshed and started my onw business. Maybe seeing a bit of the world out there would broaden his outlook on life.
Lovely Lady.
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Re: Careers advice for sons - help!
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Quote:
Thank you everybody - that was my first post and I love this forum already!
You will soon be wondering what you did before 
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Loo
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(member)
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30/10/2008 13:03
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Re: Careers advice for sons - help!
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Welcome to the Forum Sue_Pur. Will send you a pm on the piccies.
Loo
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