Oh lord. I am in a sticky situation!!!

Jordie

Jordie

Suspended / Banned
Messages
1,828
Name
Jordie
Edit My Images
Yes
Hey all.

Today came the most awkward moment in my life so far.

The day I enroll into college I am told about a full time kind of apprenticeship type job thats pays 16k PA at junior level.

Basically its for a local advertising marketing company called Think BDW. Although however I want to do the job, I still want to do my A levels and parents etc... want me to do them too.

Although I dont have full details yet on the job, I will be receiving them (well should be) tomorrow.

I will be taught from scratch web design CG graphic design advanced HTML and all that fancy stuff.

When the time comes do I take it or not. I know its too early to be asking that, but its a once in a life time oppotunity!!

:help::help:

Jordie :D
 
Personally I would go to college. There are lots of opportunities in life to learn Web Design/HTML etc, but going back to college to get a-levels is a pain in the arse.
 
College is good, but experience is also extremely important. Is there any way that you could do both together? Study and maybe job share the job? If you want to study then focus your mind on that. You should also speak to a career adviser at college or your previous school for advice.
 
Mhmm thats what everyone else is saying. Although I will have a look round the place (Well I hope to be anyways) when I have the interview (When I get the interview)

Anyways off to bed, eventfull day today >.<
 
KayJay said:
College is good, but experience is also extremely important. Is there any way that you could do both together? Study and maybe job share the job? If you want to study then focus your mind on that. You should also speak to a career adviser at college or your previous school for advice.
Click to expand...

When I get the reply from the bloke I emailed today I could ask that I guess. But obviously I need to be fully informed on the job at hand :D
 
A bird in the hand.................
 
I would stay at college, get something behind you then you can start looking for work.
 
Its only worth doing A levels if you know you have a good chance of getting passes. You also need to consider what you will use them for. If you intend going to uni you will definitely need them or some jobs may ask for them. However if you are only staying on to do them because other people tell you to and you are not committed to working for them, then you may be wasting your time. Dont turn down the chance of a job unless you really want A levels.

Listen to what your parents are saying and why they want you to do A levels but ask them to consider whether a job offer is very valuable in the current climate.Discuss both options with them.

Good luck with your future career

Sue
 
if you don't go to uni a levels are a bit of a waste, maybe talk to some web guys I know there are a few on here and ask how qualifications are seen in the industry - do they care if you went to uni as long as you are certified in all the languages ect - if taking the job limits you long term it might be a bad plan, if it doesn't then maybe not
 
ladysue said:
Its only worth doing A levels if you know you have a good chance of getting passes. You also need to consider what you will use them for. If you intend going to uni you will definitely need them or some jobs may ask for them. However if you are only staying on to do them because other people tell you to and you are not committed to working for them, then you may be wasting your time. Dont turn down the chance of a job unless you really want A levels.

Listen to what your parents are saying and why they want you to do A levels but ask them to consider whether a job offer is very valuable in the current climate.Discuss both options with them.

Good luck with your future career

Sue
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more. I stayed on at 6th form (probably called something completely different these days....man! I feel old!!) to do A Levels I had no interest in because that's what my mum expected me to do. I started off doing 4 A levels, and by the end I was down to 2, both of which I failed. I would have loved to have gone out to work instead of studying for stuff I had no interest in. I did really well with GCSCE's and achieved 11 of them, grades A-C. Not having A Levels didn't stop me going to uni and achieving my career goals. You have to do what you feel is right for yourself - don't try to please everyone else like I did!
 
Its only worth doing A levels if you know you have a good chance of getting passes. You also need to consider what you will use them for. If you intend going to uni you will definitely need them or some jobs may ask for them. However if you are only staying on to do them because other people tell you to and you are not committed to working for them, then you may be wasting your time. Dont turn down the chance of a job unless you really want A levels.

Listen to what your parents are saying and why they want you to do A levels but ask them to consider whether a job offer is very valuable in the current climate.Discuss both options with them.

Good luck with your future career

Sue
Click to expand...

Some very good advice from Sue, i went to college to start A-levels and they weren't for me. I was fortunate to be offered a cadetship offering to pay for all course fees etc and a reasonable bursary to live off. I would be tempted to take the offer if you are sure web design is for you then it sounds like a very good opportunity. You will be earning a good wage and gaining valuable experience, if they are reputable employers and you show potential and commitment there may well be the chance to study for industry approved qualifications that will be relevent. Many of my friends took A-levels and passed with A's and B's but they aren't relevent to the real world.

As others have said though if you can get a mix of both qualifications and experience you will be in a far stronger position.

The main thing to think about is do you really want to do web design etc, you need to be carefull about this as i wouldn't want you to take the job then find you didn't like it.


Good luck with everything and i hope you make a success of what ever you choose

Andy
 
Last edited:
Again I too have to agree with sue, some very good advice there and from Andy about getting industry approved qualifications.

I did not do A levels, but got an apprenticeship instead. In the last 36 years I have been unemployed for just 6 weeks (4 of which were my choice)

Higher Education is not for everyone. I was just not interested at 16 when I left school, but having (at the time) an apprenticeship and trade I enjoyed I now have a pan full of city and guilds awards.
 
I would go for the job, give it a year's trial. If it works out fine then see about taking A levels at evening classes. If it doesn't work out then you are only a year behind your initial plan and can consider college again.


Steve.
 
First things first, is it a proper apprenticeship as these will give you a qualification. With most apprenticeships it's a day release so you do 4 days at work and 1 day at college to get the relevant qualification.

As has been said, I think you should go for it.
 
After school, I did a year of a 2 year course at college. Realised more learning wasn't for me so got a job. Later in life after having a family and going back to work, I went back to studying as I felt the time was right. I found I was more in the mood to do well because I had chosen to do it, not because I was doing it for other people.

I had a young family and a job and still managed to do 2 A levels at night class along with a string of GCSEs and A/S level courses too.

If you really think you need A levels, could you not take this job opportunity and study in the evening? If I can do it, I'm sure you could.

Good luck with your decision. As has already been said above, discuss it lots with your parents and do what you think is right, not what you think is expected of you!
 
Having done the apprenticeship thing when what I actually wanted to do was go to Uni, my advice would be go with what your heart tells you. Life is far too short for regrets. Do what you want to do, not what other people feel is right for you.
I hated every waking moment of my working life until I gave it up and went back into education at the age of 35. I am now in a job I quite enjoy, learning new things on a daily basis and who cares if the money is not as good?
I followed the career plan I did to make other people happy, and ended up really miserable in the process. If I had the choice to make again.... no contest. People would simply have to deal with disappointment.
 
Stay in education, it's OK, us taxpayers will fund your existence for a few more years and then when you join the ranks of the millions with a qualification in a subject that gives absolutely no benefit to modern society or one that's not of any use to the career path you eventually choose we'll support your struggle to find work.


:D
 
One thing I noticed about their website, under the cgi link they've used a jalbum gallery and template to display their cgi talent. With all their skill you'd think they could come up with something of their own.

Maybe that's what they want you for ;)

p.s. if Advertising is what floats your boat, stay in school, there will always be advertising jobs.
 
Last edited:
If this is the type of career you were veering towards after your education I would leap at the chance if you can get it now, especially if it is on an apprenticeship.

You can always take your A levels at a later time if you wish but if this job is what you want to do then go for it as it might not come up again.
 
digitalfailure said:
Stay in education, it's OK, us taxpayers will fund your existence for a few more years and then when you join the ranks of the millions with a qualification in a subject that gives absolutely no benefit to modern society or one that's not of any use to the career path you eventually choose we'll support your struggle to find work.
Click to expand...

Or you can teach it!


Steve.
 
I have personally been in a similar situation, I was given the opportunity to take a job as a junior software developer with full training given as you describe, the salery was poor but better than nothing, I took it and haven't looked back.

IMO it is much more important to have the experience than the paperwork. Having spoken to both of my employers about this subject previously both have confirmed that they would rather take someone with 2 years real work experience than someone who has studied books for the same period.

A Levels are great if you need them to get to a degree or such like, but there is no replacing experience. One of the other guys who joined the company with me, proceeded to go to evening classes two nights a week to get an A Level in maths. This and distance learning (open University etc) are alternatives to full time education, should you still want the qualifications

The opportunity of employment (especially in current times) is an opportunity that is hard to pass up. I certainly have no regrets in taking the training position i took over 10 years ago.

I suppose the big question is "Is this the type of work you want a career in?" if it is, then I'd take the job and study eveinings for any qualifications you require/want.

As Mal mentioned earlier "A bird in the hand", there is no certainty that after passing your A Levels that you will have a similar opportunity then.
 
With what you are looking to do I say take the job. When I recruit i look at skills and experience first and qualifications after, I am in sales but can see this applying to design. Turn up at a job interview with a good portfolio and you will beat a college boy hands down!! At the end of your college course, you will be looking along with many others for that first break.
 
Find out what qualifications the apprenticeship will get you. I started my apprenticeship straight from school and although I had to attend college on day release for one extra year after I had finished my 4 year apprenticeship, my qualifications are higher than any A level.
If the apprenticeship is in the line of work you want to follow, I'd say go for it. There is nothing to say such job offers will still be there when you finish your A levels. A levels can be taken anytime.
Only you can really answer your question, but how many jobs do you see where they state "Previous Experience Required." Me personally I'm glad I gained my qualifications on the job.
 
Steve Smith said:
I would go for the job, give it a year's trial. If it works out fine then see about taking A levels at evening classes. If it doesn't work out then you are only a year behind your initial plan and can consider college again.


Steve.
Click to expand...

I agree with this advice, you will then have some experience and not be skint should you work, work and save during that first years apprenticeship
 
Hi all,

Thanks for all the advice you have given me. The HR chap sounds like a nice fella. Heres the email he sent me today.

Hi Jordan,

Yes you are correct this is an entry level position and the job would entail everything to do with web from simple graphic creation, building emails and small websites and general updates to our clients websites.

Training would be in house but we can send you on courses if required for specific elements.

The job would mainly be Graphics (Using Fireworks, Photoshop) HTML (Using Dreamweaver) and CSS, all our sites are build using CSS now so this would be a major part of your work.

We are looking for someone who is motivated and can train to be a fully fledged web designer, we would hope this would be a long time commitment for us both as we have lots of systems in place that take some time to learn.

There can also be some boring and mundane work such as data input and graphic resizing but we do feel the position would be varied you may even have to make the tea :-)

If you are interested let me know a little about you and what you have been doing, any web work you have done and your future plans.

Regards,

Chris Hughes
Internet Director
Think BDW
Click to expand...

My dad will have a look at it in a roley mo, but I dunno.

Anyways, a HUGE thanks for all your help, You always give good advice when people need it. Glad I have you guys :D
 
College is forever
A job might well not work out
Then what?
You are stuffed forever.
 
In the current climate I would take a job over any college course. I know of plenty people with loads of qualifications who cannot get a job.

There is no substitute for the experience of actually working IMO.

I left uni after a year to go into a job I wanted to do. I have done well because the job I wanted to do you have to learn how to do it, no amount of qualifications can help you, so guess it depends on the job.

Good luck.
 
If you decide to go and do A-levels it worth remembering all colleges want you to do is go too uni, was just the same when i was at college quite a few years ago, i got my a-levels and tbh they wasnt very happy when i didnt want to go too uni and TBH after leaving and getting a job i felt i had wasted 2 years of my life getting a-levels as no employer seemed to care as they only proved you know answer too questions but not actually know what you are doing.

If it was me i would simply look at it this way. I can get a job now and learn how too do a job i like (i take it something you interested in ) or i can waste a few years then either start at the bottom and do exactly the same as i could have done 2 years ago.
 
Andy said:
I would stay at college, get something behind you then you can start looking for work.
Click to expand...

But he's found work, there are plenty of students leaving uni with no hope of finding a job, if you get a few years of work experience, a completed apprenticeship then go to college you'll be much more attractive to a potential employer than someone who's spent 3 years sitting behind a desk.
 
Go for the job. Then if it doesnt work out, go back to college.
If it does work out, give it a little while and do night classes, or OU, or another distance learning company who provide A-Level courses
 
nilagin said:
Find out what qualifications the apprenticeship will get you. I started my apprenticeship straight from school and although I had to attend college on day release for one extra year after I had finished my 4 year apprenticeship, my qualifications are higher than any A level.
If the apprenticeship is in the line of work you want to follow, I'd say go for it. There is nothing to say such job offers will still be there when you finish your A levels. A levels can be taken anytime.
Only you can really answer your question, but how many jobs do you see where they state "Previous Experience Required." Me personally I'm glad I gained my qualifications on the job.
Click to expand...

Yeah same here. Really depends on what you want i.e A level history, or English isnt realy going to help much if you want to be a Mechanic, just as A levels in electrical engineering is no use if you want to be a English teacher.

If the job is the field you want to work in then it could be idea, but if its not where you wnat to be working then think about A-levels or apprenticeships in the field you want to work in.
 
Due to the email I received today. The pay wasnt brilliant the hours are long. 11-12k a year 40 hour weeks (9am - 6pm)

Hopefully I can go tgo them after college and see what happens. And plus I will loose what friends I have, even though I prefer the company of adults :D
 
Jordie said:
Due to the email I received today. The pay wasnt brilliant the hours are long. 11-12k a year 40 hour weeks (9am - 6pm)

Hopefully I can go tgo them after college and see what happens. And plus I will loose what friends I have, even though I prefer the company of adults :D
Click to expand...
40 hrs a week isn't long hours, my basic working week is 37.5 and 11-12k whilst first starting out while training isn't too bad.
(9-6 is 45hrs by the way) Perhaps you'd be better going to college or starting school again. :lol:
 
Last edited:
nilagin said:
40 hrs a week isn't long hours, my basic working week is 37.5 and 11-12k whilst first starting out while training isn't too bad.
(9-6 is 45hrs by the way) Perhaps you'd be better going to college or starting school again. :lol:
Click to expand...

Would imagine its 1hr lunch break a over a 5 day week would be 40hrs

My basic week is 42.5hrs but on average i do 50-65hr weeks. But payes pretty good. But got to start some where.
 
Hi Jordie, 40-45hrs a week is the norm and you get used to it quickly. Don't let the fact that the moneys not "great" stop you from pursuing something you want. The fact is most jobs are 8 or 9am till 5pm (not all i know but too many to list)

the money is never gonna be anything special for an entry level position, but its something you'll have to accept. Even with a highly relevant degree in IT my sister can't get a job and the ones advertised were "only 14-15k". The experience will lead to higher wages and higher positions and higher wages etc etc.

Money isn't everything and you can live of £12k, with no mortgage or kids to spend it for you.

I was on £8k when i started........

Andy
 
On the face of this situation, I'd say take the job if that's what you really WANT to do. As said, qualifications can be achieved and revisited part time, or full time if the job really doesn't work out. At the very least, it'd give you very valuable experience that would immediately put you ahead of others in the real world work place.

When I was at school, there was no option open to me other than going on to Sixth Form to study A levels. My parents were notnopen to discussion on the subject. I got very good GCSE results, but I just wasn't interested in school anymore. Doing A levels for 2 years was a horrible time of my life, I hated being at school (I think college would have been better), but I figured I needed to make the best of what I was stuck doing. I got 3 good A levels (maths, biology and chemisty) and have done absolutely f-all with them. Before my results were out I'd been offered a sales job based on my personality and the way I'd pitched myself to that company, and I never looked back.

I appreciate that some roles need and expect certain qualifications, but in my experience, having great qualifications but being knocked back even for interview because you have no experience is a very bitter pill to swallow.

Best of luck with your choices, don't let anyone rush of push you into the wrong thing.
 
Oh, and as for the hours versus the pay thing, suck it up! They sound quite reasonable - if you ever get the chance to work for yourself, the idea of a fixed working week goes out the window. Working on a private collection of cars last week saw me do 45 hours graft in 3 days, not including travelling etc!
 
Sorry missed this yesterday otherwise I'd have said sooner


TAKE THE JOB!

My son had the opportunity of Uni or getting a job in IT. He took the job, got on the job training (MSCE, Cisco etc), then got poached to his current company on a significant payrise.

3 years on, he's got his own place, a decent car whilst friends coming out of Uni are struggling to get a job, or are getting lower wages than he has, plus have £12-20K+ debt.


You can always take A levels again if you need them, most colleges allow you to do them on day release or evening classes, but to be honest if you've experience it counts everytime.
 
Well I wasnt fended away by the money and apparently "Im not ready for full time work" according to the parents :(

Anyways to late to turn back, lets hope I can get another oppotunity like this again :)

Thanks again for all the help :D You lot do know how to help someone :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top