Advice on what to do..

Hey all,
Bit of a weird one hear folks, just looking for a bit of advice on what to do with my year/life really..

Bit of backround info first..

I'm 21 and have (almost) completed 2 years of a 4 year construction related degree.
I've failed first year and have now to repeat an exam externally to fully complete 2nd yr..
Failing college has drained my self confidence massively.
Since failing, I've been unemployed all summer, doing nothing, procrastinating over what to do with myself while i await the exam and placement for 3rd year beginning next June. (yet to be organised)
It doesn't help that my cv looks empty with having failed the 2 years of college and my only work experience coming from working in a factory.

I feel now that I want to get myself out of this rut and achieve something for the year.
But with no qualifications and no relative work experience, i'm wondering could anybody offer any adivce on what to do?

Thanks in advance for any help that may be offered.

Why do you think you failed the exams? Was it because you didnt go to all your lectures, do your tutorials, study in the evenings and prepare properly for the exams, or was it because the subject matter was a bit beyond you?
If its the first one, dont let that affect your self confidence - in the future you will just need to be more disciplined and work harder (even if you'd rather be relaxing watching football). If its the second one, maybe you need some grinds to catch up on the information.

As regards being unemployed, when is your exam for second year? If it is soon, just knuckle down and study to be sure you pass it. If its not for a few months yet, you could get a part-time job to have some experience, while studying aswell.

Its not the end of the world if your CV looks empty, work-wise. You are a full-time student, so its normal that you dont have much work experience. Your placement is not starting till June. What are you doing between now and June? You have 7 months to pass your exams and get some work experience on your CV..

Talk to a tutor in your college too - they are there to help, especially if you show willing to work hard. They can help you with advice on how/where to get a placement too. They'll know that you are not the first person to fail exams.

Good luck!

Hi,
Thanks for the reply..
I failed because i stupidly didn't attend many lectures and only studied a couple of days in advance of the exams. I was very lazy throughout that period and couldn't motivate myself to go to college most days.
I know I will pass my repeat exam which is in May so I don't have to worry about it just yet. I'm more concerned about getting a job and perhaps some experience for now.
Could anybody maybe offer any advice on how to go about getting that first proper job without experience?

I'm aware of a couple of engineering grads who hit a sort of a slump mid-way through their degree. As in failed exams, had to repeat etc.
Most if not all of them, learned basic CAD and looked for a junior job in engineering firms in order to learn as much as possible in the space of time it took to get to the repeat exams. Ok, they were in junior positions but were allowed to learn plenty on the job, they managed to earn a bit of money and pay their way and also clock up valuable experience.
Start knocking on doors!

I regularly recruit staff (in a different sector) and would quite honestly not be expecting a 21 year to have any relevant experience, so I wouldn't worry unduly about it. Companies hiring staff this young would generally be prepared to take someone on that shows a bit of enthusiasm and has a bit of cop on and then train them in the role. Salary will not be great starting but you need to get your foot on the ladder and who knows what it might lead to eventually. Getting a job might also give you the focus you need to concentrate on your exams

hey dude..if u don't go to lecture and only study before exam..u only got urself to blame! i know being in college always makes u miserable....all the alcohol..hot chicks...but u need to work it to get wat u want..remember no pain no gain...u already in college doing ur degree..why not finish it first...if u can survive a degree..u can survive anyting...so stick with it and don't have the 2 yrs totally wasted. so go to all ur lecture..while enjoying the alcohol and meet some hot girls why u can...b'cse u will miss the best time of ur life once u start working some day

Jason

Are you studying Waterford? I was in a similar situation, failed 3rd year. That was in 1992, when jobs were very hard to come buy. I got two jobs to tie me over and get to 4th year, both with construction companies, went back to college and passed with flying colours. The additional experience gsined in my year out was actually a bonus - emoployers thought more of the fact that I'd failed an exam and managed to make the most out of the year out. Surely you can get something - the construction industry had never been more bouyant, approach some of the big developers / contarctors and you might get a position as a banks man, chain man with a s iet engineer, clerk etc - something to keep your foot in th door.

Since graduating college, I'm on my 3rd post grad course - never failed an exam since!! (although I'll be opacking the books away after this course!)

It's all about self confidence and setting yourself bite sized goals - don't waste the time you've invested to date, and don't leave without a qwualification under your belt. It will open doors for you, and you may enhance it as you go through your career.

There's been some great advice offered here, so thanks to all who have contributed..

The CAD idea sounds good. I should get practicing and see what comes of it..

It's also reassuring to hear that employers don't expect much experience from somebody in my position.

My worry though is that any firm I apply to will be majorly concerned about my failing 2 years of college. How do I explain it?
I've got absolutely no excuse and I feel very ashamed to talk about it.
Is there any way to sweeten it up to prospective employers?
Jeez, I really need to be a bit more optimisitic

hey dude...that is a consequences in daily life..
try not put down the year of graduation /leaving cert date on ur C.V...hope they won't ask u about it.maybe u can get away

jason-- said:

My worry though is that any firm I apply to will be majorly concerned about my failing 2 years of college. How do I explain it?

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Better to hit the difficulties of college early on, rather than later in your course! Shouldn't be too difficult, most people have some difficulties adjusting to the freedom of college compared to school - it is the ususal problem of youth - "just enjoying myself too much" should be enough of an explanation! With the sub-text, "but I've learnt my lesson and am going to buckle down now."