Job stuff

[Mobius]

Hey, I was just wondering where you look/how you go about finding a job. I'm going to be 18 on January 13th and I've decided to quit my A (As) level course and start working.
I live in Hounslow which is a short train journey into central london (sort of Richmond/Kingston/Twickenham area) So in honesty what do you think my chances of getting a job as an errand boy or something in an office are? I've got 8 A-C grade GCSE's but I failed badly on my As levels, and am midway thru failing my A level's and As level retakes. I know I'm only going to get a badly paid job, but I'm a good worker and I've been working part time for 17 months (in Tesco) so I won't be completely new to it.

 

[pcg79]

richmond really isnt central london

 

[Wazzerphuk]

I would advise looking for work in central london if you can help it. Believe me communiting from that area of SW London into central London is a pure nightmare. If you aim for anything in Central London, be prepared to be travelling for about 3 hours a day. Silly, considering the area is no more than 15 miles away from the centre.

 

[Mobius]

richmond really isnt central london

Hehe oops, I mean, I live in Hounslow (which is sort of near Richmond/Twickenham/Kingston area) and I'm looking for a job in central London, or well closer to me if possible but I guess central London is the place to be.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

Hehe oops, I mean, I live in Hounslow (which is sort of near Richmond/Twickenham/Kingston area) and I'm looking for a job in central London, or well closer to me if possible but I guess central London is the place to be.

You won't be saying that after 3 weeks of communiting, believe me. Worst transport links into london are from the SW. Working in Islington was hell for me.

 

[~Yuckfou~]

Why not just go full time at Tescos? After all a shit job is a shit job.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

Don't aim high and you won't be let down !

 

[Damini]

Is everything so irretrevably bad at a-level? You're a bright lad, is there no way you can pull your finger out and turn it around? It seems a waste to walk out so close to the end.

 

[DaGaffer]

Yeah, what she said. Don't give up if you can avoid it. I left school at 16, ended up going to night school and going to Uni later, but its not the easy path.

 

[Mobius]

Is everything so irretrevably bad at a-level? You're a bright lad, is there no way you can pull your finger out and turn it around? It seems a waste to walk out so close to the end.

I'm not really sure, I'm in a right pickle and its entirely my fault. In my first year I took 3 subjects (IT, Geography and English Literature) I dropped IT after 3 months, and by the end of the year I had a U in IT and an E in English Literature. I am now continuing my A level English Literature, and I've dropped Geography and started taking Media (which is actually the first lesson I've ever enjoyed) Media I can pass no problem, but I am retaking the English exam I failed in January. Its about "The Return Of The Native" a book by Thomas Hardy. I never read the book (Missed alot of school and fell behind, then never picked it up) If I can get a decent grade in this exam then I will be back on track, the book we're studying now is not bad, and I'm finding it relatively simple (Howards End, by E.M. Forster)
So I have a month to learn about Return of the Native, we aren't allowed to take the book into the exam like we usually are, so I'm panicking. I try to read it but nothing sticks, its in that annoying old fashioned english language...I don't know if any of you have read it.

Even if I do somehow manage to pass the exam, I'll still only be taking 2 courses, and I'm only in my first year of Media Studies so that requires another year to be finished as an A level. I'm planning on staying another year at 6th form so I would've been there 3 years (quite alot of people do that) so I will hopefully finish with 2 A levels (English and Media) and next year I'll try and complete 1 or 2 half courses so I have an As level or 2.
I just wish I could go back and do it properly, I've really fucked everything up.

 

[Mobius]

I know my grades look shit, but I'm actually quite clever. I was just incredibly lazy last year and bunked alot of lessons, so I deserve everything I got, but I just wish I could fix it. I've tried really hard this year, but this 1 exam I have to retake is just fucking everything up.

 

[Gurnox]

The thing to remember is that it is not the end of the world, no matter how badly you may have 'fucked up'.

As DaGaffer has said, you can always go back and do courses other than A-Levels later on. He's damn right when he says it isn't the easy path though..... Having said that, I had a lot of fun in going back to Uni a little bit older and wiser.

Maybe you should take a year or two out and either work or travel while you think about what you want out of life? It's funny how your enthusiasm for education returns after a few years stuck in a shitty nowhere job.

In terms of office work in Central London, there are always firms looking to take on office juniors. Go see an agency and see what they say.

Edit: And talk to the people at your college.

 

[Clown]

Heh. Are you me?

 

[Hawkwind]

Stick with the education and good luck with the Thomas Hardy book. I personally did not like Hardy and found it hard going. Read it, if you still caant grasp some of it the interent is your friend:

http://www.pinkmonkey.com/booknotes/monkeynotes/pmReturnNative02.asp

http://www.bookrags.com/notes/rn/SUM.htm



These two had a few study note links:

http://www.freebooknotes.com/guides/returnofthenative.htm

http://www.antistudy.com/free_book_notes/Return_Native.php

Good luck and if all else fails you do have the busiest airport in the world just down the road. Lots of jobs always going there. Try the BAA website or any of the major airlines for staff vacancies.

 

[Clown]

Honestly, your situation sounds exactly like mine was.
I passed GCSEs easily, and was doing well in my A/S level until I got bored and stupidly messed about, ignored everyone. I got kicked out of that 6th Form because my grades weren't good enough (it was a private school) so I went to a college. Again, I found the work easy. So easy that I never went. And I was having fun not going to class. Got the same grades as before and decided that I would be a bum for a while.

Started 'looking' for work and signed up on the dole. Did that for 6 months, then they put me on a new deal course -> I chose to do the CCNA and A+ for free, while getting paid £150 a week to do it (3 days course, 2 days IT Tech). Some of you might remember me posting it here
Ahh my first sort of job thing.

Still looking for a real job meanwheile, as that was the kind of scheme it was. Found an office job, getting £15k and nice benefits, while being in a £20k bracket. Already got a pay rise, and I only started in February.

Don't do what I did. Go to Uni.

 

[Damini]

I'm not really sure, I'm in a right pickle and its entirely my fault. In my first year I took 3 subjects (IT, Geography and English Literature) I dropped IT after 3 months, and by the end of the year I had a U in IT and an E in English Literature. I am now continuing my A level English Literature, and I've dropped Geography and started taking Media (which is actually the first lesson I've ever enjoyed) Media I can pass no problem, but I am retaking the English exam I failed in January. Its about "The Return Of The Native" a book by Thomas Hardy. I never read the book (Missed alot of school and fell behind, then never picked it up) If I can get a decent grade in this exam then I will be back on track, the book we're studying now is not bad, and I'm finding it relatively simple (Howards End, by E.M. Forster)
So I have a month to learn about Return of the Native, we aren't allowed to take the book into the exam like we usually are, so I'm panicking. I try to read it but nothing sticks, its in that annoying old fashioned english language...I don't know if any of you have read it.

Even if I do somehow manage to pass the exam, I'll still only be taking 2 courses, and I'm only in my first year of Media Studies so that requires another year to be finished as an A level. I'm planning on staying another year at 6th form so I would've been there 3 years (quite alot of people do that) so I will hopefully finish with 2 A levels (English and Media) and next year I'll try and complete 1 or 2 half courses so I have an As level or 2.
I just wish I could go back and do it properly, I've really fucked everything up.

Bollocks, I just wrote a massive spiel and then it all got lost.

Basically, I failed my first year of A-Levels too. I have attempted Psychology, History, English, Maths and Drama at A-Level, and finished up doing English Lit, Drama and Communications Studies. I got a U the first time I tried maths, an N the second time - I worked out at that rate I'd be in my mid twenties before I reached an A, so I gave up. There's no harm in admitting you made a mistake, and changing course. There's a big gulf between a subject at GCSE, and a subject at A-Level, and sometimes you can be marvellous at GCSE then be lousy at A-Level. Trust me, I went from A* maths girl a year early, to U grade Maths A-Level girl.

I also know how frustrating and difficult it can be trying to read a book that doesn't engage you. It feels as if you are simply scratching the surface, reading the words but failing to be emersed in the story, like you are just treading water and understanding little. So, find another way in. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1572700904/102-8307018-9078505?v=glance With the books that you don't take into the exam, you aren't expected to know the book word for word, but simply be able to examine the plot, characters and themes. Listen to the tape, and then hunt down key sections to study in detail. Get hold of past papers to see what they want from you. Confessional here - I didn't read all my books for English Lit, and I still managed to get an A. You need an understanding of the book, and you need to be able to argue your corner. Nothing in English Lit is wrong, as long as you are prepared to defend it.

Secondly, and that first section was me spitting on a tissue and cleaning you, here comes the bad cop part. Quit bitching. Quit whimpering. You're threatening to walk out of your A-Levels why? Because you slacked off, and now you're afraid of the hard work you'll have to put in to pass? Pull yourself together, or else its very likely that somewhere down the line you'll look back on this and bitch yourself ragged about what a lazy cop out you were, and how you wish you'd just sucked it up and got on with it. Trust me, out future selves are uber critical of things like that. You'll want to travel back in time just to kick yourself in the face if you wimp out simply because it looks like hard work. It's not going to be easy, but then since you spent the rest of the time probably playing computer games or looking at porn, then it shouldn't be. You fucked up, but you can put it right, you just need to work at it. It's just a few months out of your life, and its something that you'll carry around with your forever. You'd have to be dead lucky, or related to someone who doesn't mind employing relatives who walk out of their A-Levels, to walk into a decent job in London. Sure, you can get a crummy job, but I think working at your A-Levels would be more enjoyable than commuting to a crummy job in London.

If you want help with your English Lit, I will help out. I'll even try to read the books you are doing (if they don't hurt too much). And if all you really want is help finding a job in London, then I'll shut up, but really it does sound like you need a kick in the arse.

 

[oblimov]

is it not possible down in england for you to retake your a levels at a college or something similar?

If i were you m8 i would resit my a levels with the next intake, your only 18 so it wouldnt make much difference getting the grades a year later or so, or is it 2 years per a level again?

Either way like a few have said shit jobs are shit forever whereas education is everything imo and if you go back and learn from your mistakes you will no doubt come out with decent grades and then you can go to uni etc and b4 you know it youll come out into a job paying at least double what the shit ones would. Plus youll have the options to gradually improve your career etc instead of working a checkout for 10 years and then maybe getting a manager position for a few grand less than a grad salary

 

[Rubric]

I left school at 16 with similar GCSE results as my parents were too mean to let me stay on. I did YTS for 11 months with a subsidary of HSBC they then took me on full time. I was there for 10 years working my way through the ranks but never really enjoyed it. Ended up going bankrupt with personal debt stupidity and then got the sack.

I've been working at a local estate agents for the last month for crap money but the work was a piece of piss. I start a new job as a sales consultant tomorrow though which is 4 days a week out of the office and i'm looking forward to it, although for the first time i am a little nervous.

I used to say university was a waste of time when my career was going well and my mates were leaving uni with debt and getting jobs worse paid than mine. But i ended up with more debt and feel like i have wasted 10 years.

If i were you i would decide want you want to do with your life long term and work towards that. Just make sure its going to be something you enjoy.

 

[Tilda]

I agree with Lou 110%.
She's right, as always
Stick with your A levels, and all the other stuff she said

Tilda

 

[~Yuckfou~]

No Don't!!

We need people like you, burgers don't cook themselves you know!

 

[PLightstar]

I see you have two paths ahead of you, you could finish your As levels btw I didn't do to brillantly and now im head of IT at my place of work. Or you could go for the management course in Tesco I know that doesn't sound to great but my friend did it and is on £20K a year and expecting a rise at Christmas, but I would finish your course then decide what to do, I was lucky leaving it all to the last minute, decide what area you want to enter into over the next few months.

 

[SilverHood]

I'd stick with the A-levels to be honest. It's another 6 months maximum - you can easily get your act together, and sort yourself out. An hour of revision a day will go a long way, as my teachers said. Shame I didn't listen, and bombed in my A-levels. Still got into Uni, and actually having fun and learning stuff. And the stuff is easier to learn than the stuff I did at college.

Anyway, having two grade E's at A-level is a lot better than having nothing.
Just write it on your CV as 2 A levels, and in a few years, no one will care.

Can always do the the Job in 6 months time if you still want to.

 

[Tom]

Mobius if you expect to get a good job from your Media studies, don't. PM me if you want help on this.

 

[UKTwister]

Im doing My A-levels now after getting 4B's at AS. I wouldnt call myself smart at all but i put a lot of effort in (especially maths) to revise the subject, go over every past paper ever made and it paid off.

Basically my advice is carry on, work your absolute arse off for the next 6months or so. If you fail then you've tried your best!

 

[GReaper]

Take a look into what jobs you'll be able to get with your current qualifications, would it allow you to get a decent job which you'll enjoy? Perhaps once you've got some goal to reach, some job that you feel that you'd enjoy but requires some more qualifications then you'll put in some more effort to go for it.

Put some effort into those A Levels! You've said yourself you can get 2 A Levels and some AS levels. You're finding the module you're retaking to be awkward, put in some effort to get a decent grade for it, but why not put in a lot more effort into other modules to raise your overall grade? I'm not sure of the exact details of your course (what modules give what percentage of your overall grade etc.), however surely a good mark in one can make up for a bad mark in another?

So you've failed one exam, at least you've got the option to retake it. Just put in some more effort this time.

 

[Mobius]

You're right, Lou...I do need a kick up the arse!
I've decided I'm going to dedicate December to revising, splitting my time between Return Of The Native and Howards End. A girl in my class got an A in "The Native" exam, without reading the novel so I guess it can be done (she is going to Oxford though)
I hope it works, I've never revised for anything in my life, it was all so easy before this. I don't really have a choice now, I told my mum I was going to work my arse off to get into Uni last night and she had the happiest smile on her face I've ever seen in my life, so I better hold her to my word.

Thanks for the links btw.

 

[Brynn]

I had four resits for my 2nd year, that means i only passed two exams, i was fucking livid. Because i only failed them by 4-8 marks at the most.

Over the summer this year, i set aside two months and worked my ass to the bone, and studied, then when the resits came round i passed them.

Im not trying to brag incase people see my post like that. I was just saying i failed a ton of exams and just worked hard for it.

It may be boring work studying, but when you pass it you will feel happier about it