Jobs for people who don't want to go to university?

[spacechimp]

I got pretty good A-level results and am at uni studying civil engineering but I don't like it.

Obviously I don't have great prospects in the short term, but what can I aim for? There must be something to do other than shelf-stacking at Tesco or waiting at Costa.

[sophie_1003]

It depends what you want to do and whether you're willing to do other courses? Tesco actually offer pretty good training and you can get up to (I think) department manager before you need any qualifications higher than a levels.

[mosesg]

Can you not change your Uni course to a different one? How far on are you in the course as you could come out with an HND instead of a degree which would count as a higher qualification than A-Levels. You could also check to see if any companies offer apprenticeships, sometimes learnign a job from the floor up job is better than learning it at Uni. You need to sit down and think what you really want to be, maybe go and see a careers advisor, but don't give up uni till you have a clearer picture of what you want to do, or you will be wasting all the hard work you put into doing your a-levels. Good Luck

[spacechimp]

I'm sure I could change course, but I wouldn't know what to change it to, so I feel that I may as well earn money whilst I'm working out what I'd rather do, instead of wasting money learning about something that doesn't really interest me. And then, if I like working, why bother to go back to uni?

I've only been here a week but I really don't like it at all, and I don't have enough money to become an alcoholic. Anyway, not paid my tuition fees yet, but I have to do that tomorrow, so need to make a quick decision.

I'm at an all right uni, but it's not top of the rankings or anything, so if I do drop out it's not as if I've thrown any great opportunity away (unless tuition fees double after the election...)

I'd like a job on the merit of my A-levels, but I don't know if there are any 'intelligent but not very highly qualified' options out there...(?)

I thought maybe something like an accountancy apprenticeship, but that doesn't really grab me much more than civil engineering does.

[Mrs Y]

Just bear in mind that you don't necessarily have to decide now what you want to do for the rest of your working life. Some people don't realise until they're in their 20's, 30's, 40's or even later what really grabs them; why not try a few different things that appeal to you now and put Uni on hold until you find something that you're really passionate about?

I got good results at school, and was advised to go to Uni but was unsure what to study. I spent a while (well, 12 years!) in administrative and secretarial roles and have only recently discovered something that I am truly passionate about. I am now in my first year studying for a BSc in Midwifery, at the grand old age of 30!

Don't beat yourself up too much about not loving Uni; if Civil Engineering isn't for you, then surely it's better to cut your losses now than to spend three years studying something you don't like and ending up deep in debt doing a job you don't enjoy? Good luck, whatever you decide, and I'm sure the right career is out there waiting for you!

[buildersmate]

I also studied engineering (electronics) at university and expected a build a career on it. I came out of after 3 years working designing circuits and switched into production line management. From there I became a projects manager (in engineering industry) where a knowledge of electronics was helpful but not essential, eventually moving into HR. From there I moved into management consultancy, where I have been for the last 15 years.
The early years do not force your options down.

[mosesg]

Spacechimp didn't realise you had just started, if you are quite certain you don't wnt to do this course yes get out now before it costs you money. Perhaps you could go to one of the recruitment agencies and see what sort of work would be aavailable for you, most of the recruitment concultants are quite hepful and friendly and will help guide you, and you could always start out with a temping job. that is how I got into my career, I took a 6 month's temping job and have been in the same industry now for 20 years nd have progressed through various roles and I appear to have a better understanding of my job than some of the grauates, I know things that can only be gained by experience and not found in a book, so maybe worth a try. Good Luck in whatever you decide to do.

[Addy123]

Make a list of what you currently have and include anything you feel you can bring to the table as well as yur current qualifications.
What hobbies do you have and what skills do those hobbies give you.
What are you currently good at?
Would you prefer a manual job (electrician etc) or do you want something more along the lines of sales etc?

Once you have a list of the good make one of the bad, what are the areas you still need to develop, do you want to develop them and if so how? At uni or hands on in the workplace?

What would you definately NOT do for aliving.

This should you start making decisions about what to look for and where?

I actually don't put great store in degrees when i am employing people. They're a nice thing to have, but I base my decision overall on the ethics that person displays in interveiw that i can't get from a degree.
Are you a team player or do you prefer working alone, hard working, honest, passionate about something when it interests you? Do you want to know what you will be doing every day, or would you rather have a variety of tasks over the week?

There are jobs out there, it's a case of finding something that you want to do
Good Luck!