Well, that's it...the BVC is over and I have nothing to do.
It's been a tumultuous journey. There's been some good points and some low points. I've learn a LOT and I feel a different person coming out of it for sure. I also found the love of my life on the course too, which is something I never expected going into it. But, that massive gem of awesomeness aside I'm left thinking...what was it all for?
I've completed four straight years of further education. 3 years at undergraduate and 1 year on the BVC. I've got good grades which I'm proud of (a 2:1 and undergrad and a 'Very Competent' on the BVC...plus an 'outstanding' in professional ethics...I'm 88% ethical!) but the months have rolled on since it's ended and I've nothing to show for it.
I lived out of my student accommodation till the end, drinking away the last few weeks of my tenancy feeling completely relaxed with the course finished, but then reality struck. I had to move back home. And now...what? It's impossible to get a job. I had a moderately ok pupillage interview with a top London set, but nothing came of that. I'm now left looking for paralegal work, which is proving absolutely fruitless.
The problem is, I'm overqualified and under-experienced. I haven't a hope in hell. What's worse is that any firm that has shown any interest in me and even the slightest inclination to train me further has declined to offer me anything in the end because they're afraid I'm going to stick two fingers and bugger off to do a pupillage. Ha, fat chance in this climate.
So, I've sunk to the lowest of the low and I'm now on the dole. Now, I'm using as I should; I am actively seeking a job (manically seeking a job, actually) . I'm not using it to sponge and I'm not using it to help be be a lazy bum. Most of my peers from the BVC are in the same position. But that's no consolation when you're queued outside your local Jobcentre with the dregs of society in the pouring rain, waiting for the office to be opened and welcome you into their den of ineptitude and ignorance. They have no concept of the professional jobs market, which makes signing on every two weeks a painful experience. It's like drawing blood from a stone.
So that's where I am. I had a decent interview earlier this week for a job in Canary Wharf, which I hope comes to fruition. Aside from that, I'm currently making applications to work as a freelance court advocate to a number of firms and dearly hope that they take me on. If I manage to succeed at that, I'd be in an ideal situation both for now and for future pupillage applications. But, until then, I'm stuck with the dregs...
If anyone else is a similar situation, let me know, it may be comforting to know my misery isn't unique!
Don't let this get to you. As you said, the majority of BVS grads are in the same position. I was there too, and I remember that I was so bored and depressed after my call to the Bar, that I started watching Big Brother for God's sake! ;D
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with that interview!
I'm in exactly same boat - 2:1 and a V.C. (but have got a day job (non-law)).
ReplyDeleteHave you googled 'public sector jobs'? I've seen quite a few positions that are law related and look to be quite interesting, and of course would look great on the old CV.
Chin up
I'll have a look for public sector stuff! Thank's for the tip!
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't sound like you have the right attitude for a job in the public sector, if thats how you talk about other people who sign on. What makes you so different from them? The fact that you're "overqualified"?
ReplyDeleteMaybe you should have got a 1st and an Outstanding? Then you'd have a job and wouldnt have to wait in the rain with "the dregs of society"
The 'dregs' I refer to are of course the ones who play the system a quick buck with no desire to find a job. I genuinely want to find work but cant. That's all I refer to, and the jobcentre staff recognise it as a problem. People abuse the benefits system and that's wrong, they are the 'dregs'. Then, theres people who genuinely want and try to find work, and use the system because its there for them. Those people are not the 'dregs'.
ReplyDeleteAt no point did I suggest I was better than other because of my qualifications, you've misconstrued my point. Perhaps on purpose, perhaps not, but that wasn't the obvious interpretation of what I was saying. That was merely a comment on the state of the professional market at the moment.
The majority of my peers are in the same predicament, we're overqualified for the work we can do, and therefore employers won't take us on. But, on the otherhand, we're underexperienced for the work we need and want. It's catch 22.
I wont dignify that last comment with a response.
I apologise if any offense was caused, but im not sure why because the comment was obviously made in jest.
Fair enough. I didn't misconstrue your point on purpose: why would I?
ReplyDeleteLife isn't easy. Many fall on hard times, and often very unexpectedly. This means that the vast majority of adults who claim JSA are NOT fraudsters or cheats and are very much like you (although a number of politicians and a fair few journos would like to have us believe the opposite).
Your comment (above) shows you are perfectly aware of this, whereas your blog entry (3 September) tarred everyone but yourself with the same brush. I therefore wish you good luck with your search for a job, and I hope you don't have to queue in the rain for much longer.