Liz's job log: 2

The story so far... Liz recently graduated from the University of Glamorgan with a degree in journalism. She is 21 and from Barry, South Wales.

Do I have to decide? 

Week three of my training with the Claims department and I am LOVING it! Yes, me - the ultimate student, actually loving the Monday to Friday working week. It’s not so bad actually. I think I just looked on it as the dreaded future when I didn’t know what I was doing, where I was going and any thoughts I had about my plans after graduation were shooed away by the thought that surely by that time I’d know exactly what I was doing and I’d know exactly where I was going. As you can probably guess, as graduation day loomed I still had no idea. I felt there were too many options for me after university, do I go on and do a Masters? Is it worth it? Do I take a gap year? Travel? Start my career (well, attempt to)? It took me a long time to stop distracting myself, to stop avoiding the situation and to stop making excuses as to why I hadn’t yet made a decision! Tell me if I’m alone in this, but at 21 - can’t I just bum around a bit longer?

Only 21

Over a Thursday night curry, some friends and myself were discussing our current job situations and how we were far better off as students - we just didn’t realise it at the time. It occurred to me that every single one of us sat at the table was still unsure as to what exactly we were going to do with the rest of our lives, but couldn’t quite figure out why we had to decide at only 21. What is the rush? It’s a well-known fact (ask anyone older than yourself) that no-one knows what they want to do at 21, or whatever age you emerge from university, just as you didn’t know at 16, 18 or at any other important stage throughout your academic career. We’ve all got dreams and we’ve all got ambition but the majority of my friends are also very realistic. At 21 there’s going to be a good chance that you will not have landed that dream job straight from university, but you may just be fortunate enough to be starting out in the career area of your choice, albeit for a pittance. But that is the way forward. It’s the experience you need - so what if you’re getting paid almost nothing for working all day every day? The experience you’re getting meanwhile will be priceless. And luckily I have parents who don’t charge rent….yet.   

Career choices

If I wanted to make my career in insurance (and from what I can see there is major earning and career opportunity potential) then some might say securing a job with a well-known and well-regarded insurance company would be ideal. I’ll be honest with you, a very motivating talk from the CEO of the company almost made me want to forget about writing and being a journalist and sign on the dotted line! (Honestly, he was so inspirational I actually left the room thinking I LOVE THIS JOB!) But as you will probably know, I do not have plans to begin a life-long career in insurance but to be a journalist (who I might add, have one of the highest car insurance premiums of any occupation). That’s not to say there aren’t those who would like to make a career out of insurance and that wouldn’t be the worst choice from what I’ve seen. 

Whatever you decide to do while you’re waiting to figure out what it is you actually want to do is not a waste of time. I’m learning so much in training at the moment that I know it’s going to benefit me in a load of other areas, not just work related! (For a start I will be an insurance whiz kid! I refer you to my previous comment.)

Ups and downs

Deciding what to do after university was never going to be easy for me, and I go through ups and downs quite often. Sometimes I feel really positive about my choices but there are other times when I get a bit disheartened. I’m told this is natural? Sharing these ups and downs will help not only me, but hopefully anyone else reading this, and show them they aren’t alone in this very confusing post-grad stage. My hope is that this blog will show me (as well as you lot who choose to read this), that I’m progressing and most of all, that I’m doing as much as I can to work my way into journalism, without the need to go and spend something ridiculous like £8,000 on a Masters degree that may end with me in the exact same position as I am now. I haven’t quite ruled out going back to university though! I’m constantly trying to add to my experience and skills that I could offer a potential employer in the journalism and media industry; even just writing this blog helps! I’ve also started writing some short reviews for a website that reviews new music, films and gigs, which helps me test out my writing skills and adds to that all-important portfolio that is finally starting to grow!

• Read Liz's job log: 1 

Suggestions to editorial@prospects.ac.uk