Anything worthwhile I can do with my BA in political science?

[desert monk]

I just finished my degree last week.

To make things worse,
-I am almost 26
-have no relevant experience
-can't speak french
-have a criminal record
-no significant network to draw upon

I'm thinking my only option is to go into a trade. I'm a smart guy, but I have a pretty dark past and don't think I am cut out for anything whitecollar that I can see. I'm just wondering, is there anything worthwhile with lucrative potential that I can easily get into with a social science degree? I'm 99% sure the answer is no, but I thought I'd throw it out here and see what people think.

Before you flame me, yes I know that general degrees are crap. I was going to drop out and get a job but wanted to finish based on principle.

 

[alex52]

Sheriden college do many vocational diplomas which take about two terms. I know many graduates take this route and get good jobs in the end.
You are being too hard on yourself. If you have learned from your past mistakes, people will always give you a chance.

 

[tillithurts]

Judging from your qualifications, You're all set to run for either a provincial or federal seat. Good Luck!

 

[james t kirk]

There's always first year Engineering.

Seriously however, an education of any sort only adds to your resume. Teaching, law, gov't work all come to mind. Foreign affairs is always looking to hire.

BTW, you could sign up for French classes at Alliance Francais or the like and be able to get your point across within a year.

 

[Lou Siffer]

I know of 2 guys with BA in poli-sci that made it to Director and VP levels in healthcare companies. They both started at the bottom and worked their way up.

I think they both should have been fired years ago for incompetence. But they're well spoken, well dressed puppets and their bosses like that.

You too can achieve success!

 

[Mrbig1949]

The vast majority of Poly Sci guys, which was my first degree, go into the civil service, law or teaching. Doesn't look like this is an option for you. Take biz at community college and set yourself up. Your BA will help in the long run as your customers will see you have an education.

 

[Moraff]

I just finished my degree last week.

To make things worse,
-I am almost 26
-have no relevant experience
-can't speak french
-have a criminal record
-no significant network to draw upon

I'm thinking my only option is to go into a trade. I'm a smart guy, but I have a pretty dark past and don't think I am cut out for anything whitecollar that I can see. I'm just wondering, is there anything worthwhile with lucrative potential that I can easily get into with a social science degree? I'm 99% sure the answer is no, but I thought I'd throw it out here and see what people think.

Before you flame me, yes I know that general degrees are crap. I was going to drop out and get a job but wanted to finish based on principle.

Congrats on getting your degree bud.... although it seems strange that you didn't start thinking about what your B.Unemployed degree (sorry, couldn't resist getting just one kick in....) was going to do for you until after you were done getting it. Maybe I'm just too practical-minded but I would have wanted to have some plan in mind before I spent all that money.

If you're ruling out white collar work (and depending on what that criminal record is from you can probably forget getting into civil work.... lots more applicants than spaces these days) I don't see what else you can do with it other than resurface your dartboard.

If you have any aptitude towards the trades going back to school and/or getting hired as a helper with the goal of learning the trade is probably a good thing. I seem to recall a sign on Eglington ave just before you got to the 427 as you headed west advertising that they were looking for HVAC apprentices.....

Good luck.

 

[WhaWhaWha]

Call centre, at a junior management level. They tend to be forgiving of your past, present convictions. In fact they seldom care about your citizenship or legal entitlement to work in the country. On the downside you will be overworked, and never earn your true worth, but if you are sincere about your work ethic, you can advance quickly, and build credentials toward those white collar goals elsewhere within a year or two.

 

[JEFF247]

What would you like to do?

 

[Nickelodeon]

I know of 2 guys with BA in poli-sci that made it to Director and VP levels in healthcare companies. They both started at the bottom and worked their way up.

I think they both should have been fired years ago for incompetence. But they're well spoken, well dressed puppets and their bosses like that.

You too can achieve success!

The first paragraph speaks well about the potential for your degree in general management, based on fact and performance. I would agree with Siffer's comments in this regard.

The second is his personal opinion upon which you can have your own judgment.

 

[keepmovingforward]

in this world its really about who you know. get to know someone...get in the door. and work your bottom up. ideally...u really dont want to cut yourself short or already assume that going into a whitecollar position is something you wont enjoy.

based on my experience...and it varies from person to person. make a connection with someone and try the white collar thing and do a night school trade at a college. its gonna suck...but atleast you wont be in your 30s without options. in life i find its all about having options.

to give u an idea about my background. im 25. i was in highschool taking all advance courses and i wanted to do a joint program at college and university. because i knew this...i decided to stop taking advance courses in grade 12 and did "just enough" to get into college...surely enough...i realized marketing was something i didnt want to do. because of this i half ass'd college..graduated but didnt end up going to university because i wasnt interested in marketing anymore. after a few years into the work force...i realized i now know what i want to do and how its important for me to have a degree which i was at York yesturday and i realized that because there were so many things i didnt take that i really limited my options.

i think the only realistic thing for me to do now is to go back to college and redo some courses and finish the joint program just to get a degree. and because of the time i've wasted...i might be looking at graduating in my late 20s...only because im still going to be working fulltime.

like its not like life is bad. im an account manager aka sales. lol...making about 100K. but that can all be gone in an instant because i work for a small company with an owner that is looking into retirement. so at some point i would probably want to get into a directors position or somewhere along the line so i would need a degree.

so my point really is...dont just drop the "white collar" career you've worked for just because one day you woke up and just decided you didnt want it. go for both and try the white collar thing and see if its something you want to do.

 

[punter]

What is on your criminal record? That should not affect you unless your employer does a background check, so DO NOT volunteer this information if you ever want to work.

 

[Lou Siffer]

The first paragraph speaks well about the potential for your degree in general management, based on fact and performance. I would agree with Siffer's comments in this regard.

The second is his personal opinion upon which you can have your own judgment.

Absolutely right. My personal opinion of the 2 who should be fired is based on the fact that they have maneuvered their way into positions that they have never bothered to acquire the proper skills for. Don't get me wrong, I like the fact that they're there. It means they need my services more and more.

To be a little more helpful...

Don't focus on the negatives. You just earned your degree! That's great, I never did. Regardless what degree you have, you have just proved your ability to learn and complete assigned tasks. That's 90% of what employers such as myself want. You won't be able to walk into any job requiring a high degree of skill or training but, assuming you have good communication and organizational skills, you should be able to get a decent entry level position and work your way up the ladder. Just be sure to learn everything you can on the way up.

Pursuing a trade, as suggested by vsailor, is a great way to go if that's what interests you. I know quite a few people who started as labourers/apprentices for construction/electrical/plumbing companies and now have their own businesses and do very well. The key is to go into it with a plan, not just to get a paycheque that you can cash each week.

The best question asked in this thread, so far, is "What do you want to do?" Don't be in a rush to make the big bucks. Find what you really want to do and then become really good at it. The money will come.

You're only 26
You have good communication skills and the ability to learn
You're enthusiastic
You have a university education

Go kick some ass.

 

[SkyRider]

I know a lady who has a B.A. and decided to take a one year college (not university) course in interior decorating and is now making over $100,000 (actually $125,000) a year doing interior decorating.

 

[einar]

You can certainly join some level of government, if you wish. Good luck and congratulations for the degree completion.

 

[Captain Fantastic]

Learn these words...

"Would you like fries with your order, sir?"

Kidding. (Mostly... you do sound a bit negative for someone who has his whole life ahead of him.)

The world is your oyster. Find something you like and put all of your efforts towards it - learn the business inside and out, take specialized training, make friends/contacts, be confident, positive and respectful. Generally, good things tend to follow.

 

[Cassini]

If you are a people person, go into sales.

If you are skilled with your hands, go into a trade.

If you are skilled with your hands, like sales, and are good at business, go into a trade with the plan of operating your own contracting company.

If you are unskilled and anti-social, not sure.

 

[moresex4me]

Try to get a pardon to expunge the criminal record. I don't know the details on how, or how long you have to wait to apply for one, but if you've kept your nose clean, completing a degree will help you get one.

Then apply wherever. All kinds of companies out there hiring entry level managerial prospects with BA's. Get in, do the MBA part-time, let them pay for it.

 

[Never Compromised]

Unless you apply for, and are granted a pardon any Civil Service career other than a FLO will be denied to you.

You will NOT be allowed to run for a political party, or to be ministerial staff (ie political staff on the Hill or at the Pink Palace)

You will not be allowed to practice law at any of the larger law firms if you decide to become a lawyer.

Most junior/entry level positions in the white collar world, including sales, will probably not be closed to you.

Go look for a job, and see if you can't work in the day, and take a college course part time in the evenings. Do not lie about your past record. If you are caught in a lie, people will assume you have not changed.

 

[fuji]

-have a criminal record

How long ago? When will you be eligible for a pardon? Depending on what it was there may come a day when you can really put that behind you.