Advice

[s0urc3]

Hi all,

I started college again in September. Last year I left college after a month and started full time work, however I left the job as I thought it was too early for me to be slaving away in an office at 16 (now 17).

I'm having second thoughts yet again about college

I don't have any money apart from Education Maintenance Allowance, so £30 every week, and I'm not finding college very enjoyable. However, gaining A Levels, at least I thought, would better my chances of a job later. But what if I could just get a job now?

I came across a job today in Hein Gericke for Sales people full time and I'm not sure whether to take it or not. Also I used to work in a company that provided IT Solutions and they said I would always be welcome back there so just give them a call, so there is another option.

If you were to find yourselves in my situation, what would you do?

Cheers
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Current: Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird 99 Previous: Honda CBR1000RR 04, Honda CBR1000F 95, Yamaha YZF600R 98, Honda CBR600F 98, Honda CBR600F 94, Kawasaki ER-5 02

[TheShaggyDA]

I was 15 when I left school, and did a number of factory jobs, toyed with joining the army, dossed on the dole, until I "fell" into IT. Been there ever since. However that was over 20 years ago, and I don't know what I would do if I were in your shoes today. Probably the same - I'd start work. Of the people I've interviewed, I'd rather take someone with half an ounce of common sense and some enthusiasm over someone with a pile of qualifications and the social skills of a week old kitty litter.

I kinda regret not going to Uni, but not for the qualifications, rather the experience. But then again, I would not have had the experiences I had by NOT going, so it all pans out in the end.

IMHO, YMMV
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Current: CB500 Previous: CB100N, CB250RS, XJ900F, GT550, GPZ750R/1000RX, AJS M16, R100RT, Enfield Bullet

[i:6e3bfc7581]But still I fear and still I dare not laugh at the madman...[/i:6e3bfc7581]

[s0urc3]

Thanks a lot for the advice mate, it means a lot
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Current: Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird 99 Previous: Honda CBR1000RR 04, Honda CBR1000F 95, Yamaha YZF600R 98, Honda CBR600F 98, Honda CBR600F 94, Kawasaki ER-5 02

[G]

Where do you want your career to go?

I only have GCSEs, yet now have a position comparable to people that have been through Uni.

[Itchy]

me? ,

I'd take the job AND at the same time go to Night school to do your A levels ,

night school is actually better if you want to learn full of older folks who ask questions rather than piss about.

I did this good qualies & work experience ,

its hard though since you are either working or studying , and can demoralise so you must be an expert in psychological self tricks namely Jam tommorow!.

When I did it years ago I had proper benders come weekends to compensate ,

but then I did bugger all weekdays anyway , but watch TV with this girl or that girl a shag and that was it.

oh..... if you do get the HG job , be nice to the Siggi , he probably shops there and give all BCfers your staff discount!
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[Itchy]

[TheShaggyDA]

So declaring bankruptcy and having a clean slate in 2 years isn't an option?
____________________
Current: CB500 Previous: CB100N, CB250RS, XJ900F, GT550, GPZ750R/1000RX, AJS M16, R100RT, Enfield Bullet

[i:6e3bfc7581]But still I fear and still I dare not laugh at the madman...[/i:6e3bfc7581]

[s0urc3]

Thanks guys.

I have 10 GCSE's, 6 B Grades and 5 C Grades so I guess I wouldnt have a problem in getting a job somewhere right now. Not sure if I could handle night school for the A Levels though (hmm might be a slight case of laziness there).

I would certainly give my staff discount to fellow BCFers
Provided your all nice to me

But anyway I guess I'll have to apply and wait to see what happens

Cheers again
____________________
Current: Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird 99 Previous: Honda CBR1000RR 04, Honda CBR1000F 95, Yamaha YZF600R 98, Honda CBR600F 98, Honda CBR600F 94, Kawasaki ER-5 02

[Itchy]

University fees ie £9000 , can't be escaped via bankruptcy any more the government changed the rules a while ago.

and its not free money either as said the stuff creditors lose other people have to make up.

If somebody went bank rupt on me I'd not say oh well fine , I'd be able to write it off on my accounts as a bad debt

but some people might go down a rough pub with a few 100 quid and hire a gang for a severe beating ,

as set by the Dutch business man , hiring goons to beat somebody up is illegal , but if they accidentally get carried away and kill the guy its NOT your responsibility , set a precedent that.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[TheDonUK]

Yes uni is expensive, but Itchy do you think us students sit in our rooms worrying about debt?...

SourceX, I know how you feel, i messed around for 2 years between 16-18 and as a result repeated my a-levels, College is shit basically being an extension of secondary school... However i met some nice people there...

Uni is a whole different kettle of fish, i highly recommend you going. If not for the "over hyped" qualifications, which will help to an extent... but for the social side... Staying in the Halls of residence is great fun.

(Also i love the way that all of us going to uni must lack social skills and real work experience...) During th elast two years of college i worked and did my a-levels, as a result i am not getting a student loan this year and am most likely getting a part time job to fund myself... Im having a great time, meeting loadsa people, hopefully learning a bit too ... And thus far not too much debt...

[Mary Jane]

do it now, before you're 29, have kids and have to worry about supporting more than just yourself, can share rent with roomates, and are young enough to take eating cheap food.

Because when you get to that point after working stupid jobs all your life and you have nothing to show for it, you'll regret not getting a degree.

[TheShaggyDA]

But would it be better getting a degree, THEN working stupid jobs all your life with nothing to show for it?
____________________
Current: CB500 Previous: CB100N, CB250RS, XJ900F, GT550, GPZ750R/1000RX, AJS M16, R100RT, Enfield Bullet

[i:6e3bfc7581]But still I fear and still I dare not laugh at the madman...[/i:6e3bfc7581]

[benc]

stay at college you dont want to be working in hg all your life. Its my job that you have applied for at hg, i left there to go back to uni because i realised i had no qualifactions and stood fuck all chance of getting a good job.
if you really do want to leave college get a apprenticeship or a job with alot of training. one of my firends is earning over 30k a year at 19 after doing his apprenticeship.

[LustyLew]

I left school with similar results to you, B's and C's.

I went to College for 3 weeks (college not 6th form at school). I found it not what I was led to believe it was. Full of emo's and druggies.

I quit after 3 weeks seeing how poor the facilities were. I had a part time job in Home base, so went full-time. Worked in various stores, got seconded to test the website then got taken on permanently as I had picked up knowledge. Was shown how to build SQL servers and all kinds of cool stuff.

I'm still in IT now. Not earling the most fantastic wage, but a good £4k more a year than the graduates we employ!

Graduates can talk technical but they dont have the experience when the shit really hits the fan, they just stare and 'analyse' things.

If you think that working is for you, then go for it and dont look back. if you're unsure, get a part time job and give it until the end of term (not far away now). You may start to make mates and wonder why you ever though of quitting college!

Good luck in whatever you choose.
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Like a Yorkie - I'm not for the girls

[R1stu]

I was looking at the same HG job too! went in there the other day to look at gloves and end cans!

Si said give in 15% of what he wants!


Apparntly Im a good customer and always shop there!

Apart from the fact last time I went there was over 2yrs ago!
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Carbon closet tart! https://www.bikepics.com/members/r6stuk/02r6/
Stolen bike. 2000 R1: https://www.bikepics.com/members/r6stuk/00r1/
Current bike 1991 Honda ST1100 Pan European, 1986 Honda cb350sg (Finished)

[fast_tzr]

When you say college, do you mean 6th form or college(silly question I know, just this thread has confused me a tad)
I'm still at secondary school in year 11, and from what I can see the majority ofthe people going to college are the chavvy ones who are going nowhere in life and do f-all work in school. Really these days I think A-levels are the bare minimum for a reasonable job, but if you are at college maybe consider 6th form instead?

[Mary Jane]

[TheDonUK]

[Resurrection]

[fast_tzr]

[Clanger]

I went the education route as a mature student - not needing all the qualifications they tell you, you need at 18. I thoroughly enjoyed Uni, but made the wrong choices when I came out, fell back into the career I was in before I went, earning no more money.

Now I want to change my career direction entirely, all that education has done nothing to advance it, I still dont have the right pieces of paper to do the job I want.

Best advice I can give is listen to your heart...go with what will make you happy now. There is nothing stopping you becoming a mature student later on (when you've saved up), and changing direction...life isnt always about how much money you can make... well some of us think that way...I'd rather be happy in my job than not.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[markandmindy]

Why is it that going to Uni is seen as the be all and end all? whatever happened to vocational qualifications, apprenticeships and the like? We get some complete asswipes at our place coming straight into work with their business school MBA's and shit, totally fuck up the workplace with their new-fangled ideas and piss off at the end of their contract and leave us to pick up the pieces. I've got vocational qualififcations, in fact I've got 2 HND's which I did as day-release through work. Earn whilst you learn, you've got the security of a job as you go through tech and you get to meet some really good people there too. the lecturers seem to prefer the day-release types as well, at least they are committed to getting a good qualification as opposed to just killing time and dossing about. Find out what you really want to do first then decide, don't just drift aimlessly through life going from one job to another. it doesn't look good on your CV and it isn't good for your maorale either.

[Andy C]

Why not work aswell a bit and do college?? I was also on the £30 a week allowece and then worked 15-20hours lifeguaring (last year, not at uni)

So was pulling in £100-£140 a week roughly, was able to drink, run a SV, fuel (up to 250miles a week) and have a laugh. I wasnt rolling in it but just was carefull with my money.

I didnt really have any overheads to pay (apart from the bike) and was fine for money. I didnt get handouts from the parents either.

Just because its not £250 a week doesnt mean its not enough
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99 RS125 --> 02 SV650s --> 03 Speed Four --> 92 RXS100 --> 93 CB400sf --> 01 CB600f Hornet

[treesey200]

IMO I would stick it out and go to college and get some further qualifications. You may be skint for a couple of years but you can always do the normal student thing and get a part time / weekend job to get by.

After you have been to college you WILL be in a much better positon to thinkyou about what you want to do. Then make the decison if you want to go to uni or in the workplace, but by that time you will have extra qualifications that will appeal to employers etc.

As for the full time job in Hein Gericke i would NOT take it. It may seem like a bikers dream to work in a place that is bikes and stuff all day long but at the end of the day it is just another shop job that can be "dead end" and not offer you any chances in the future.

If the college thing is really not for you then there is no real problem getting another full time job. BUT dont just get any job try for a job that provides training and qualificaions for example a modern apprentiship or something like that. as u will get paid and have lots of options in the future.

let us no what u decide

Helen

[Itchy]