Academic Thread

[Trilliam]

Really not interested in the finance sector but they seem to be the only big names doing summer internships

Like in all honesty I'd prefer to go with some software developer but it would feel like I'm not making use of my university's name.

So, not like you have to

[Dubby]

But I'm thinking career-wise in the long run, it makes more sense to go with something that will make my CV look impressive, rather than something I'll enjoy, if its gonna be just a few months anyway.

Anyway, I've found a few that aren't in finance (obviously wasn't looking properly before), but there's not really anything fitting what I wanna do in the long run.

[spiderman]

actually re-reading the email i got from kpmg, i think they are also allowing me to move to an alternative programme for 2011 intake (as appose to 2012)

i think ill apply for public sector audit. rather do private sector, but i suppose public sector might be more important. is tax any good? i could apply for that but i think audit would be better.

[RaiKkoNen]

actually re-reading the email i got from kpmg, i think they are also allowing me to move to an alternative programme for 2011 intake (as appose to 2012)

i think ill apply for public sector audit. rather do private sector, but i suppose public sector might be more important. is tax any good? i could apply for that but i think audit would be better.

No idea how KPMG works internally but at EY you get A LOT more exposure client wise than you do in Audit. Audit isn't as boring as people say, but I think Tax is a whole lot more interesting, if you're lucky the majority of projects you get put on will be Corporate, so you get that exposure with bigger clients that some others might not.

At the end of the day it doesn't really matter though because once you get your foot in the door, a lot of inhouse refering goes on, so if some tax guy needs a check, he'll phone you for a ref, and bring you on the project. But this is EY I'm talking about, I'd assume it wouldn't be much different at KPMG. then again EY is pretty liberal when it comes to departments and stuff.

[Guest Yilmaz]

Spiderman, why don't you save yourself two years of sh*t and start the business up immediately? Two years is a long time.

[spiderman]

i suppose because i wanna give the whole career thing a good chance/dont want any regrets.

tbh having a business is much better in terms of the money you can make and the freedom you can have being your own boss. but its more responsibility, more headache and more risk. as you invest your own money you could really lose a lot if your business doesnt succeed and, in most cases, the market is changing all the time you could be making a killing for a while and then be absolutley dead afterwards. then again i suppose with anything the level of skill you have can make you go down the right path. its a bit like poker with a bit more of a skill component and less of a luck component, but not extremely different.

[Guest M12 Part 2]

I'm looking to start my own business alongside my working commitments. Im ahead of schedule in terms of the amount of money I was supposed to have stacked by this point. My only reservation is at this point I'm quite comfortable time and money wise. If I startup now i will be extremely tight on both if something bad was to happen now I'd be ok. If something bad was to happen while I was living at the limit with much less time and money. I'd be f*cked. I'm tempted to chill a bit longer and stack myself a safety blanket. But the nigga in me is screaming push it to the limit.

[Supermalt]

starting a venture myself aswell

[spiderman]

business>>>>

even a simple business can make you decent money. an example my entrepreneurship lecturer told me:

he has a nephew who has been living with him for a couple years - complete drop out and wrong un with about 3 gcses. couldnt get a job or anything worth while academically so his aunt and uncle (my lecturer) set him up with a socks and underwears stall in camden market. he makes about £800 a week profit. pretty good for a kid with f*ck all to his name. obviously the connections and knowledge from his aunt and uncle helped, but still.

so you tell me, isit worth slaving away for qualifications to work for a few years under a company before you see money like that?

its all about capital - financial, social and intangible assets. if you have enough then the business route opens up to you. also depending on the type of business you get into, the room growth could be huge.

[NiNES.]

i really cannot see myself working for anybody when i graduate...

[Wale]

got some lazy african form teacher that aint finished our references for ucas...is January late to send ucas off...bare in mind im doing travel and tourism not sure if its a popular subject in uni

[spiderman]

lol. dont go to uni, real talk.

for about 70% of the people id say its a waste of time. unless your doing a strong degree or really want to go into some specialist art. if your tryna think about earning and having a job/career then most courses wont really get you far anywhere in this current climate. if your really set on something and its a bit practical, look at other things like apprenterships or sponserships.

the whole academic route is way overated. and with stories of mad nights out, gettin lashed and having lots of sex, more and more suckers are gettin sold to the uni idea.

[Dubby]

for real, uni is overrated, unless you're hitting the top 30 unis or have connects to get you a job when you get out I wouldn't bother

I'm not saying you shouldn't, I'm saying I personally wouldn't in that position - everyone can make of life whatever they want with a bit of effort

[Bardissimo]

for real, uni is overrated, unless you're hitting the top 30 unis or have connects to get you a job when you get out I wouldn't bother

I'm not saying you shouldn't, I'm saying I personally wouldn't in that position - everyone can make of life whatever they want with a bit of effort

c/s

i'm beginning to this now; actually going to uni has changed my views alot

[Wale]

so what this talk about having degree would get you more chances of having a job and going into management..than just leaving college with a level

[Supermalt]

so what this talk about having degree would get you more chances of having a job and going into management..than just leaving college with a level

end of the day all thats been said is personal talk, we dont know ur own situation.

if uni will help ur career go for it, if u will gain an advantage entering the work now. do it.

labour saying 50% of young people should be in uni was and is f*ck*ng retarded.

\\\\

lol @ my rents sayin i should do a masters and apply now (i know their slyly pushing for a phd, lol f*ck off)

im i going to EAT these certificates ffs

i know they have good intentions but anything>>>being over qualified

pissing me off thinking about it

[Dubby]

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2011/jan/13/grim-threat-british-universities/

[spiderman]

tbh the job market for high end jobs is waaay to saturated. so unless your looking to go into a mediocre job (which in half the cases you could of got by other routes) or your lookin to go to a top uni and get a masters and/or get a PhD to compete for those top end jobs, uni isnt for you.

i gurantee you a lot of people will feel like they wasted 3-4 years of their lives when they cant get jobs in the end. whether the so called "good times" were worth the physical debt and time is then a personal opinion. but its pretty wasteful imo to spend all that time and money if all your really getting is "memories".

thats assuming you had a good time at uni. my time was mostly f*ck*ng sh*t and i cant wait to get out of jail, so to speak.

[Grafter]

the good thing about gaining a university education particularly to masters level is that it makes you an international player

puts you in a position where theres a greater possibility for you to join international organisations and work abroad

[spiderman]

it all comes down to what you wanna do in the end and specifically where you wanna end up working.

the problem is tho that most, if not all people, when doing their ucas haven't got a definate idea of where they wanna work. some dont even have a clue. its a bit silly really, at 18 to decide what it is you want to do for the rest of your life. your probably not mature enough to make a decision like that let alone well informed enough. also things change over time, especially during the transition from being a teenager to being in your 20s.

[Grafter]

true but if you don't have a clue what you want to do at 18, a university degree is a good start because at least it is a qualification

you could not go to uni and do odd jobs, or start a career that you dont particularly want to but you end up making it to manager and in the end its good money but then thats the only thing you can do

18 is a young age, and generally we don't know what we want to do but life is short and its always been instilled in me to give yourself options, as many as possible

[spiderman]

i hear that. same with me really, always had it in me to have as many options as possible. maybe cos im gettin on a bit though my opinions are becoming more cynical as i gotta pick the specific option and discard others.

true say uni gives you possibilities. but its the image of loads of unemployed graduates suffering in the wake of the recession that just makes it seem like it doesnt add up. i suppose it just comes down to the individual and a bit of luck/timing in the job market.

also your general philosphy towards your occupation - isit about doing what your good at? doing what makes you the most money? doing what you enjoy?

that compared against your philosphy on work-life balance - i.e. how much are you willing to sacrifice, or is it even a sacrifice and to what extent. of course its all relative

im sure theres some books on all that crap.

[gunnerman]

As long as companies are still recruiting, then the existence of a sea of unemployed graduates has no effect on my decisions.

[Dubby]

It appears my group are still slacking on this software project.

*sighs*

If only this was a solo project. Don't think its fair being put with 4-year students 'cause this year only means 10% to them whereas it its 20% for me if I go for the 3-year.

[Dubby]

So last night I emailed the group ... and then just now I see this in her status ".....SPE successfully ignored!....." (SPE = Software Product Engineering = our group project)

I should cave her face in.