What to do? Careers advice!

[smashing]

Hello to all the wonderful people of PH after reading the advice given to other here I though it a good idea to ask what people think.

I graduated in 2010 with a BSc(Hons) Physics with Astrophysics with a 2.2 I worked every holiday during my degree in the I.T sector from moving stuff around in a warehouse building PC’s to setting up a helpdesk from scratch and running that. After I graduated I contracted in London for around 8 months helping to deploy major I.T projects on site which was good fun. Unfortunately that came to an end and I got myself a helpdesk role (granted not the best move but hey, I needed the money).

Since I started my degree I always wanted to work in the defence/energy sector and I did apply to most well known applications but my degree mark meant there was always a “computer said no” response but hey ho I applied anyway (if you don’t ask you don’t get). So about a year ago I was offered a project engineer role which I was over the moon about and was even more happy when I realised the other guy I started with had a 1st ‘s, clearly they had noticed something about me . Anyway a year has past and I am not sure it is where I want to be. The job experience has been fantastic as it was very much a trial by fire, well, more like an inferno and i have learned a LOT but I am not sure that it is the right place for me to be.

The biggest factor I have for this is that there is 0 chance of promotional progress or work abroad for me as it is such a small company and everyone is very much set in their ways. So I am a little bit torn on what to do.
I have tentatively looked at jobs in the oil/gas sector which combines office work analysis and working abroad (which I really like the idea of) but they are few and far between. I have also looked at roles for a large firm in Derby doing pretty much what I do now but with a much better chance of progression, training and pay. I am only 22 so any advice would be greatly appreciated as I know this is mostly waffle but it is nice to put it down in words.

[V88Dicky]

Assuming you have at least 5 GCSEs C and above, including Maths and English, and over 180 UCAS points at A level, and you like the idea of travelling?

Have you thought about Engineering Officer in the RN? They're desperately short at the moment.

[rog007]

Teaching (and currently offering £20,000 bursaries for physics teacher training): http://www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/subj...

DESG: http://www.mod.uk/defenceinternet/defencefor/jobse...

Good luck!

[davepoth]

As a fellow holder of a "Desmond" (Tutu), I can confirm that experience is key if you want to do what you're doing at a different company with better progression. If you've got a good project to your name you are head and shoulders above someone straight out of university, no matter how good their degree. Massaging your CV to reflect that is key.