Looking for work

[Coyote]

That system is now far too focussed on their own bottom line rather than provide the service that is required.


Drop me a line if you're ever in this neck of the woods. I figure we could have an interesting chat over a beer

Bang on. My Dad, who is a secondary school English teacher so knows about the education system, was long telling me to look at going to Uni carefully. There's a lot of bullshit aimed at sucking you in. The majority of my friends are now at Uni doing courses they either:
- don't know what job they can get from it.
- don't expect to get a job out of it and just want to learn for fun.
- wanting to avoid the real world for a while longer so continue to study.
- feel as though they were expected to go.
- they were enticed by the party lifestyle in Otago.
- and several other reasons I've since forgotten.

Very few had planned on getting a realistic* job with the degree they were aiming to achieve.

*several others want to get dream jobs that they'd be extremely lucky to get.

By far the best example is Media Design Schools. Watch C4 and you'll see several schools advertising their school each ad break. I read some statistic (though you've always got to be cautious with them but I can believe this one) somewhere (brilliant citation, I know) saying 6% of Media School graduates get a job in the field. Cripes.

If I was to go to Uni, it would be to study Physics. However, a Physics teacher at my Dad's school told my Dad that only the top 5% of graduates get a job as a researcher. The rest become Physics teachers, teaching sex ed to year 11's. Fuck that shit, fuck that shit to hell.

This is why I decided to go to Weltec. I've always been a more hands on person and always found it easier to do something rather than learn from a book. However I've now been made to feel like an idiot that's wasted their time since I didn't go to Uni. I'm just another working class shmoe.

Fuck it, my bike looks mint now, and that's all that really matters

[Coyote]

(Yep, nerds like myself and Coyote may end up taking the reins one day. Looking forward to rebuilding after the economic carnage to come. Opportunities and niches will be rife).

Oi! Watch who you call a nerd! You may be right, but still, geez!

[SARGE]

http://jobs.nzherald.co.nz/job/view/ftfvxg/

[Naki Rat]

Okay. Starting to think on the same wavelength

By far the best example is Media Design Schools. Watch C4 and you'll see several schools advertising their school each ad break. I read some statistic (though you've always got to be cautious with them but I can believe this one) somewhere (brilliant citation, I know) saying 6% of Media School graduates get a job in the field. Cripes. Yep, and there's also pretty limited demand for people with doctorates in bone carving

If I was to go to Uni, it would be to study Physics. However, a Physics teacher at my Dad's school told my Dad that only the top 5% of graduates get a job as a researcher. The rest become Physics teachers, teaching sex ed to year 11's. Fuck that shit, fuck that shit to hell. Think outside the square - An ability in physics can go a long way towards an engineering qualification. Competitive field but a profession that can be learnt at tech while working. If it suits you can do an engineering degree somewhere down the line. Use your strengths to their best advantage.

[SARGE]

theres always the dwarf porn industry

[vtec]

Oi! Watch who you call a nerd! You may be right, but still, geez!

Coyote, you are total nerd, look at all the arcade games your are the champ of... nerd. Hehe, that's worse than me. You would love the look of my living room at the moment. 3 desktops 1 laptop 2 tvs 3 printers and one stereo to plug into the desktop with several thousand mp3s on it.

Newest of the desktops is about 5 years old, so I'm not skiting about the value of my equipment, just the nerdiness of it, and 2 of the desktops are in pieces and I only know that 1 of the 3 printers works. The laptop is a nice new one got last year in Aussie for $450AUD. They're very cheap over there.

[balans]

When I read the first post I thought you were refering to Welltec, not Weltec.
As of last Moday I am now looking for a job too. Oil at under $40 a barrel is hitting the service company I worked for pretty hard.

There's a lot of bullshit aimed at sucking you in. The majority of my friends are now at Uni doing courses they either:
- don't know what job they can get from it.
- don't expect to get a job out of it and just want to learn for fun.
- wanting to avoid the real world for a while longer so continue to study.
- feel as though they were expected to go.
- they were enticed by the party lifestyle in Otago.
- and several other reasons I've since forgotten.

If I was younger and mortgage free I would use the current world financial sitiuation as a good excuse to do more study, I bet that masters programs will be pretty full this year.

Uni is fun when you are young, I was in my late 20's when I went unfortunatly.

What you say about uni is part true. But I wouldn't worry too much about studying to get a particular job, you will be amazed at the career choices you will have at the end of your degree, stuff you never even considered before you started. Especially with something like engineering (plenty of physics). And if it's hands on that you want there are plenty of grad jobs that involve field work if thats what you are after. Especially in Oil and Mining, many spend more time wearing PPE than a suit.

[Naki Rat]

Uni is fun when you are young, I was in my late 20's when I went unfortunatly.

....... Especially in Oil and Mining, many spend more time wearing PPE than a suit.

Nothing wrong wrong with doing the Uni thing as a 'mature' student. My most respected work colleague and mentor did his survey degree after having spent a number a years in hands-on work. Learning the theory when you already have years of practical experience under your belt can make for a far wider skill base than would otherwise be the case. And a few years of maturity gives you a far better perspective on the world and your intended place in it.

I spend enough time around the oil industry to know it is knee deep in engineers, screaming out for good ones and makes or breaks graduate engineers very quickly. If you know your stuff, and can handle the pressure, you can go far fast.

[Coyote]

theres always the dwarf porn industry

Sadly I'm not a dwarf.

Coyote, you are total nerd, look at all the arcade games your are the champ of... nerd. Hehe, that's worse than me. You would love the look of my living room at the moment. 3 desktops 1 laptop 2 tvs 3 printers and one stereo to plug into the desktop with several thousand mp3s on it.

Newest of the desktops is about 5 years old, so I'm not skiting about the value of my equipment, just the nerdiness of it, and 2 of the desktops are in pieces and I only know that 1 of the 3 printers works. The laptop is a nice new one got last year in Aussie for $450AUD. They're very cheap over there.

Being the arcade king doesn't necessarily class me as a nerd. I'm just good with my hands.

That is impressively nerdy. I'm fortunate to be using a newer computer, but it's still very much outdated. And I'm using a 9 year old keyboard that has turned yellow and I still have the 9 year old computer speakers pumping my beats which have to be moved around to get both speakers working. And it's my parent's computer, not mine.

[Coyote]

When I read the first post I thought you were refering to Welltec, not Weltec.
As of last Moday I am now looking for a job too. Oil at under $40 a barrel is hitting the service company I worked for pretty hard.

If I was younger and mortgage free I would use the current world financial sitiuation as a good excuse to do more study, I bet that masters programs will be pretty full this year.

Uni is fun when you are young, I was in my late 20's when I went unfortunatly.

What you say about uni is part true. But I wouldn't worry too much about studying to get a particular job, you will be amazed at the career choices you will have at the end of your degree, stuff you never even considered before you started. Especially with something like engineering (plenty of physics). And if it's hands on that you want there are plenty of grad jobs that involve field work if thats what you are after. Especially in Oil and Mining, many spend more time wearing PPE than a suit.

What's Welltec?

I'm keen to get into work rather than continuing to study just so I can get some money behind me.

I'm pretty keen on engineering and I might just do that. However I need to be 21 first since I didn't get Uni entrance.

[Naki Rat]

What's Welltec?

I'm keen to get into work rather than continuing to study just so I can get some money behind me.

I'm pretty keen on engineering and I might just do that. However I need to be 21 first since I didn't get Uni entrance.

Welltec - all those computer skills and you've never heard of Google

No UE is not an issue. What's the point of heading off to varsity to clock up debt doing something you may not even be suited to when you could be getting paid work experience from day 1, working on some relevant tech qual's and possibly be looking at your employer sponsoring part of your Uni studies later if you show promise?

Large companies provide scholarships, include block courses in employment contracts and generally pull strings to help the right people. Again it's about supply and demand - lack of graduates being addressed by putting resources into the system that produces them. It may not be as obvious as apprenticeships or cadetships but it works just the same, while effectively putting the onus and wasted effort of sorting out the chaff back on the tertiary sector.

[SARGE]

Sadly I'm not a dwarf.
.

WORLDS TALLEST DWARF..

ya gotta have a hook son....

[balans]

No UE is not an issue. What's the point of heading off to varsity to clock up debt doing something you may not even be suited to when you could be getting paid work experience from day 1, working on some relevant tech qual's and possibly be looking at your employer sponsoring part of your Uni studies later if you show promise?

I was studen loan free within 6 months of graduating, and had a deposit for a house within a year. It all depends on your priorities, a student loan can be a very good investment in your future.

A degree or similar qualification not only gives you the knowledge you learn from your classes but also demonstrates your ability to stick with something and an ability to absorb and use information. Even with my engineering qualification I've used very little of specific subjects I learnt while at uni, it was the 'soft' skills like time management, meeting deadlines, problem solving, group project management, professional and technical writing skills etc... that I've found really valuable.

A lot of big companies require a degree to get your foot in the door for the traning you mentioned. In my experience you tend to move a lot faster in a graduate development programme than working your way up from the shop floor. But I suppose it all depends on the individual, the industry you go into, and the economic climate at the time.

Some companies websites have a page with profiles of their senior managers like this: http://www.fletcherbuilding.co.nz/about/seniormgmt.aspx
It's a good way to learn about other peoples paths to success and get an idea of the value of different life experiences.

A solild trade is also a very good way to go, as is the military if you are that way inclined.

[HungusMaximist]

Nice thread.


I fully agree with Balans on his post, I've been getting a lot of people saying to me that having a degree these days is a like having a drivers licence to drive, it's like a ticket to get yourself through the door. Dependent on what industry you get into some companies won't even look at your application if you don't have a degree or a qualification. A lot of the times it's the self-discipline, personal development and life skills that you learn through your studies that matters the most because whatever the technical knowledge you gain or the fancy academic results you have, it's only going to matter a small fraction to the interviewer.

These days especially with the bigger corporations, psychometric testing and personality tests has become a huge part of the recruitment process to determine if the new recruit is gonna be happy chappy and integrate well with the others staff. It's nothing new because nearly every job ad will mention that they're looking for an excellent communicator, good people skills, written skills, etc....

All I can give is that you gotta keep pro-active (positive thinking bro!) in life and look at it this way money, wealth, happiness, and women are just by products of your personal success and will naturally gravitate towards you because of it.

[vtec]

Nice thread.
All I can give is that you gotta keep pro-active (positive thinking bro!) in life and look at it this way money, wealth, happiness, and women are just by products of your personal success and will naturally gravitate towards you because of it.

Dated this super hot chick the other day, she said she was attracted by "ambition" to me that means she's not looking for someone to be happy with she's looking for money... gold digger. And sadly you're right. I have most fun and am happiest when I'm not working. I look at so many poor bastards who have been ruined by their ambition and their determination to climb the corporate ladder, it takes the spark out of them, and replaces it with often ruthless joylessness. More generalisations... Sorry, I think I'm the generalisation king.