'So what will you be doing after University?'

Like many of you reading this, you will have experienced or will be experiencing the hell that is third year. Along with the horrendous assignments and exams, you have the dreaded 'So what will you be doing after University?'. I do not know. To put it short and sweet, I literally have not got a clue. You have possibly seen that I am a Criminology student and as many of you may know, it is classed as one of those jobs which people take for the fun of it because it sounds interesting. However, I decided to study Criminology as I wanted to become a tutor or teacher in the prison sector, not an easy gig especially when I realised half way through second year, I did not want to do post graduate study in order to become a teacher. Honestly, I never thought I would say this but I am sick of education. I just know I'm going to come back to this in a few years time and will have picked to do a postgraduate degree, I just know it.

In my mind there are 6 possible things that I can do after university:

1. Postgraduate study - As mentioned above, there is a chance there to do post graduate study as I predict myself a 2:1. My problem is, what would I do postgraduate study in? Would it be stick to what I wanted to do when I decided to study Criminology and go into post compulsory education training? Or do I go into something like Primary Education (something I have always wanted to do, alongside Midwifery but this will be a completely different post) or Social Work? Do I go with what my heart says now and study statistics, something which I despised in school but absolutely love now? 
2. Postgraduate jobs - The competition for postgraduate jobs are like no other. Most of the country who do not know what they want to do in life will more than likely be applying for the same graduate jobs and schemes and will not be able to get past the online assessments, because they're that bloody daft! I'm not being funny but giving me a 4 statements in a scenario or to best suit my personality but giving the teeniest tiniest most background information to the scenario is bizarre, I'd do different things in certain situations! Surely, the main aim of a candidate is to know there are differing situations in the world and all answers are not concrete and static in nature? When I see these types of candidate sorting, I think may fortune favour the brave because I am not brave and I am out. Those tests eat me alive, especially when you get the rejection letter. I'm not scared of rejection, I'm really not. If anything, I build upon it but I much prefer to go into a job where the employees can see me for who I am rather than choosing one statement out of 4 (most of which I wouldn't even do in the first place) in extremely basic situations.
3. Job - Get a job! Simple as that. Whether it's carry on the job you are doing and increasing your hours or going for a promotion, it seems the easiest way to get a job. Whilst I love the place I work, I do hope that I can put my degree to some use and go out into the field. I'm currently in the middle of several applications for jobs within the Government, so hopefully all goes well. To be frank, and some people might question, yes some of these job applications do include those dreaded statements as mentioned above but I find you are more likely to be called to interview as there is a smaller influx of potential employees!
4. Volunteer - If you know the area you are wanting to work in, go and volunteer or get some vital experience. Doing something like this gives you time to do something you love doing, or seeing whether you love the job and potentially apply for some jobs. It also takes away some of the heartbreak of applying to jobs and either not hearing back or getting rejected as you are able to apply when there are less of an influx of prospective candidates. If I was sure in the direction I wanted to go, this would definitely be my step!
5. Take time off - Why not?! Most people who are finishing university have never had a break from education since they were 4 (oh wow, that is a long time..) and deserve time to find themselves, especially after being divulged in all of those books, and taking time to find out where you want to go in life. Go travelling, spend time with family, the world is your oyster.
6. Be Your Own Boss - If I had the money to do this and an idea, this would be a winner. Many times I have thought about starting my own market stall or online store after I finish university but then I think, have I wasted my 3 years at university? In a nutshell yes but also no. 

In regards to being your own boss and whether you have wasted your time at university of your degree, you have to remember, at university you gain a valuable insight to your course and all it has to offer in order to get you ready for the world of work.. BUT it also allows you to learn new skills, skills that if you had never took the course, you would never have experienced. Criminology has made me a lot more open and understanding of why people do certain things and also my knowledge of theory and history has grown. I hated history in secondary school and wanted nothing to do with it past GCSE, however through Criminology I have learnt to love something I really despised learning about and taught me about second chances in a very sneaky and small way.. life can be like that sometimes. You really do grow up during your degree and learn vital lessons and skills, so not using your degree in your life is not a dumb thing to do.

If you're going through university hell right now, just know I'm there with you! If you're about to go into third year, start your dissertation plans now because life catches up with you pretty quickly and you will be left in the lurch, a lot like I am. I have loads of things I wish I could say but will keep it for another day, another vlog. Happy studying,

Amyleigh x