Four years at uni, for what?

lucy7 · 10-04-2009, 08:10

My son, age 22 will finish uni this year.
Four years ago, he decided to study Quantity Surveying.
A good choice at the time, buidings going up all over the place and all that!

Now as you all know, thats all gone pear shaped.
The industry is getting rid of people, not taking them on.

Any ideas of what work he should be looking for, as all the posts he has applied for so far, he has not even recieved anything back from them.

We all are very concerned.

10-04-2009, 08:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucy7

My son, age 22 will finish uni this year.
Four years ago, he decided to study Quantity Surveying.
A good choice at the time, buidings going up all over the place and all that!

Now as you all know, thats all gone pear shaped.
The industry is getting rid of people, not taking them on.

Any ideas of what work he should be looking for, as all the posts he has applied for so far, he has not even recieved anything back from them.

We all are very concerned.

Do what they all do, go and work in MacDonalds.

**Damien** · 10-04-2009, 08:43

The market will return, he might have to look at other jobs if he can in the meantime. Hopefully one that is in some way linked to the degree. He is not the only person graduating into a poor job market.

The important thing to remember is that the four years are not wasted. He is more employable already, in any field, simply because he has a degree, and the experience itself would have been a good one to have. So try and keep positive about it. Keep searching for jobs, don't write off the degree and remember that eventually he will get the job he wants. A lot of time it's persistence that makes the difference when people graduate!

In the meantime here is a list of related jobs:
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/p/types_o...lated_jobs.jsp

popper · 10-04-2009, 09:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucy7

My son, age 22 will finish uni this year.
Four years ago, he decided to study Quantity Surveying.
A good choice at the time, buidings going up all over the place and all that!

Now as you all know, thats all gone pear shaped.
The industry is getting rid of people, not taking them on.

Any ideas of what work he should be looking for, as all the posts he has applied for so far, he has not even recieved anything back from them.

We all are very concerned.

what do you mean "for what?", there are lots of UK people that would love to have had that same chance, but cant afford it.

he rather than you needs to expand his long term view....., for instance, he could do another degree in a related subject thats got prospects for the near future (4years+), or just expand your thinking, and do this and related searchs, and follow them up.

http://search.virginmedia.com/result...y+Surveying%22

tenders are always happening even in this downturn, and the EU rules are far better these days for UK firms looking to expand into the full EU markets, he could hitch a wild ride in that massive market place.

just because the Uk might be seeing a lowering of Quantity Surveying and related spend in your area, doesnt mean all the EU countrys are doing the same, theres always more places to expand and rebuild....

you and he have to think far better and longer term, especially at a mear 22 years old.

10-04-2009, 09:29

I thought uni was for sex drugs parties and a bit of learning on the side lol lol

**Hugh** · 10-04-2009, 09:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by popper

what do you mean "for what?", there are lots of UK people that would love to have had that same chance, but cant afford it.

he rather than you needs to expand his long term view....., for instance, he could do another degree in a related subject thats got prospects for the near future (4years+), or just expand your thinking, and do this and related searchs, and follow them up.

http://search.virginmedia.com/result...y+Surveying%22

tenders are always happening even in this downturn, and the EU rules are far better these days for UK firms looking to expand into the full EU markets, he could hitch a wild ride in that massive market place.

just because the Uk might be seeing a lowering of Quantity Surveying and related spend in your area, doesnt mean all the EU countrys are doing the same, theres always more places to expand and rebuild....

you and he have to think far better and longer term, especially at a mear 22 years old.

The government have withdrawn funding for ELQ (equivalent or lower qualification - so if he has already done a degree, there will be no funding for another degree, only a Masters or PhD).

ELQ

lucy7 · 10-04-2009, 09:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by popper

what do you mean "for what?", there are lots of UK people that would love to have had that same chance, but cant afford it.

he rather than you needs to expand his long term view....., for instance, he could do another degree in a related subject thats got prospects for the near future (4years+), or just expand your thinking, and do this and related searchs, and follow them up.

http://search.virginmedia.com/result...y+Surveying%22

tenders are always happening even in this downturn, and the EU rules are far better these days for UK firms looking to expand into the full EU markets, he could hitch a wild ride in that massive market place.

just because the Uk might be seeing a lowering of Quantity Surveying and related spend in your area, doesnt mean all the EU countrys are doing the same, theres always more places to expand and rebuild....

you and he have to think far better and longer term, especially at a mear 22 years old.

Thank you for your response, even though as it does come over as a tad aggressive!!

Most do have the chance of doing a degree now, you just get yourself in debt, unless you have a parent funding you of course.

Damien, I have thanked personally, the link is appreciated.

Jon T · 10-04-2009, 09:43

As an ex-supervisor of a team of "back to work/new deal" trainees, which I know is a lot different from this situation, but it has it's similarities, I have to say that he needs to look at what "transferable skills" he has, i.e. those which he has learned while doing his degree that aren't specific to quantity surveying and could be useful in another occupational area.

If he hasn't already, he needs to gain some experience of the real working world, I see far too many fresh University graduates that have got no idea at all how to function in the real world of work.

10-04-2009, 09:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucy7

Thank you for your response, even though as it does come over as a tad aggressive!!

Most do have the chance of doing a degree now, you just get yourself in debt, unless you have a parent funding you of course.

Damien, I have thanked personally, the link is appreciated.

ooooerrrr perks for Damien lol

**Russ** · 10-04-2009, 09:48

Could teaching be an option?

**Hugh** · 10-04-2009, 09:56

They prefer you to have a year out between degree and PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate of Education) to get some "life experience", preferably working with children (Teaching Assistant, etc).

**Rob** · 10-04-2009, 10:44

When I first saw the title of this thread, I was expecting the degree to be in a general subject which didn't really align itself to any particular career, and which to an employer would simply say "I'm educated". But in this case the degree is very vocational.

Unfortunately the entire contruction industry is in a mess at the moment. The number of surveying firms that have had major redundancies, with a number going to the wall, is unprecedented. Few if any firms are recruiting, and those that do have the pick of coandidates. The graduate is at the bottom of the pile as without any experience, they are next to useless for the first few months of their employment whilst they are shown the ropes. With many job seekers someone with a little experience is now likely to take that pay cut and junior position rather than take no job at all. All of which is of little comfort.

Have the RICS careers (which they seem to promote so heavily to members) got any suggestions? It may well be that a paid job may not be available in the industry for a while, but is there any voluntary or work experience shadowing that could be done for a while in conjunction with a part time / weekend job somewhere else?

downquark1 · 10-04-2009, 10:53

I don't know the exact syllabus for QS but wouldn't a math related career be possible, such as accounting?

Halcyon · 10-04-2009, 11:29

Hi Lucy, I can understand how you must feel.
With the costs of University going up all the time you do feel pretty annoyed when you finish and can't find work.
I was in a similar situation in 2005 and even if there are not many offers at the moment maybe see if he can do some voluntary work. It will certainly look good on the C.V. and fill any gaps.

Does his Uni not have a job bank or some career centre that can offer advice?

Good luck and although it is depressing at the moment, tell him not to give up as he will get there in the end.

lucy7 · 10-04-2009, 11:36

Thanks for all the responses, some very good food for thought.

I would direct him to this thread, but he may then check all my other postings out on other topics, and would see me a whole new light!!

I have rung him and read some out though.
I think I worry more, as thats what Mums do best!

The uni so he says are not being much help though.
In the end he will just have to dig in deep, and something will turn up, maybe not as a QS, but as several have said, he can easily go off on a tangent.

Many thanks all.