ちょっと恥ずかしい問題ですけど。。。

i've always been a bit retarded about how to actually do things that lead somewhere... the only careers help i ever had was at school where some computer program told me i should work in a supermarket or library or become an undertaker. ;P
when i went to my university and said i didnt mind what i did as long as it involved travel but didnt involve business, they said they couldn't help until i chose what i actually wanted to do.

So, originally, my plan was to give myself a few years to grow up, then apply for work at the foreign and commonwealth office, since i have a philosophy degree from a good university, which is a good choice for that kind of work. けど、いろいろな事情があったん。and that's not going to happen now.

The only other work that really appeals to me is something real, and involves actually doing something, in a real situation, some kind of field work, or hands on work, or something involving real people. Something like disaster relief, or delivering aid, or working in development, or to do with some social problems somehow. But, in real life, i have 0 skills, and am much better at thinking than practically doing things, so i'd kind of like to balance the 2 somehow. But, i definately don't want to be in academia or office work, since i have little patience with abstract stuff any more.

ok, so... if anyone knows anything about it... here's the things i'm having problems with:
1. what kind of work is there out there like this, and how do i find it?! I've checked numerous charity websites, the un, the red cross, etc, and it doesn't seem easy to find out exactly how to get any job like this at all.
2. presumably i'd have to go back to university to learn some kind of skill, but is there anything that will help me get a job like this barring doing a medical degree? Because, MEXT sponsorships for degree programs only run to 22 years old, & im already 25.
3. how easy are japanese universities on allowing entry to grad students who studied different degrees or subjects originally?
4. any ideas on what i should study, or how to do it, are really, really appreciated!! Or any other suggestions for what to do, since i really dont know exactly what it is i want to do...

sorry for such a random post, but there's so many different people come here, hopefully someone knows something!! ：）

University doesn't teach skills, it teaches you how to think. As you've already got a degree - and a philosophy degree at that - you should now be pretty good at general problem solving. The above post shows you are reasonably good at written communication.

My advice (for what it's worth) ...
- Don't fret, 25 is young. If you were having the same dilemma at age 40, I'd worry.
- As you feel like you don't have any concrete skills, get some. Stay away from more university (especially grad school) until you really know what you want. In the meantime, take some targeted courses at a Tafe or community college.
- Find a mentor. Look around for someone 10 years older who you respect ... and get them to help you.

Don't worry about growing up. I'm 43 with two kids, and the feeling of not being grown up has never left ;-)

I feel, and I don't know why, that KansaiBen from Gaijinpot forums can help you. Ask him, and tell us his answer.

I can relate all too well to your situation, IceCreamさん.

Quote:The only other work that really appeals to me is something real, and involves actually doing something, in a real situation, some kind of field work, or hands on work, or something involving real people. Something like disaster relief, or delivering aid, or working in development, or to do with some social problems somehow.

If I recall, you're located in the UK, right? Here in America, we have the Peace Corps, which is something I've been considering for a while now - basically a government run program that sends volunteers to various locations around the world for things like disaster relief and aid, teaching, and generally showing other cultures that America isn't all about cheese burgers, Hummers and being ignorant dicks.
I really have no clue whether the UK has something similar, but perhaps it's something to look into. EVS, perhaps? I'm sure others here would know more about this sort of thing.

http://www.jobsincharity.co.uk/

futnuh Wrote:University doesn't teach skills, it teaches you how to think.

I think that's the most profound thing I've heard all week. Thank you sir, you just renewed my enthusiasm for my degree! /threadhijack

futnuh Wrote:University doesn't teach skills, it teaches you how to think.

They got rid of that a few years ago around here... Those were the days!

Why dont you try some kind of volunteer orginazation or some kind of live/work abroad program? Go to a few different countries trying doing different things-working with the people, getting your hands dirrty, etc. Build a few skills, make a few connections, see the world, etc. that might help out.

I can't recall all the different orginazations that are out there, but a few words that come up off the top of my head and you shold be able to google are:

Bunrac,

Homes for the homeless

Peace corps

Wolff

intearn abroad

Join the army.

From the gist of your post IceCream i gather you want to work somewhere where you feel you are not creating a further burden to future generations. If so, more power to you

I think you have a great basis for a set of skills that could achieve this. I know you don't seem too keen on a business route but hear me out on this, i think you'd be ideally suited to sales (no, not the door to door stuff).

Sales in (especially in Japan) is all about relationships. Your strengths seem to tick all the boxes required here. It's real and involves in dealing with people on a regular basis. It requires being hands on and thinking outside the box if you are to succeed.

So i offer up two suggestions:
1. work for a comapny that exports to japan an enviromentally condusive product/service to japan. Tbh i i don't know, but i'm guessing the demand for environmentally friendly products is increasing in japan.
2. (ideally) work for a japanese company that has invented/developed a product/service that will save the environment from the wrath of our western consumerism and then sell it to the rest of the west. eg non-fossil fuel technology. Basically something you believe in.

After a few years you become a specialist in "green" product development/sales then go do a Phd in it part time. After completing your masters you can command great sums of cash (which of course you will donate a large % to worthy organistaions) for doing a job that helps others build a better world.

P.S. just thought of a third option - become a specialist in how retailers in japan can reduce packaging. The kicker here is too become more of specialist in how they can use it as a promotional tool to increase sales so you will be in constant demand. Basically you'd be an enviro-friendly packaging consultant. Imagine promoting and installing signs at registers that say in japanese "Choose the green option - no packaging". Retailers win as they save on packaging and consumers win as they feel they are doing something for the environment.

Umm - i'm starting to ramble - i'll shut up now

IceCream Wrote:The only other work that really appeals to me is something real, and involves actually doing something, in a real situation, some kind of field work, or hands on work, or something involving real people. Something like disaster relief, or delivering aid, or working in development, or to do with some social problems somehow. But, in real life, i have 0 skills, and am much better at thinking than practically doing things, so i'd kind of like to balance the 2 somehow. But, i definately don't want to be in academia or office work, since i have little patience with abstract stuff any more.

I could of written something like that, especially out of high school. After eight straight years of academic BS, I was looking for something more real. Now, I don't really feel comfortable giving advice since I am after all an unemployed 19-year-old, but maybe I can help you ask the right questions.

I think you should definitely look in to to what we call "technical trades" in America: professions that are based around applying technology to real word problems. Techs build, fix, and customize in every industry in the modern world: raising buildings, plumbing the Internet, taking x-rays, creating live TV broadcasts, fixing ocean liners, and more. Unlike mass manufacturing, you're not locked in to doing the same thing over and over because you're clients will have

If machines aren't your cup of tea, there are interpersonal trades as well. Criminal justice, diplomacy, emergency management, sales, etc. As you'd imagine, these tend to be more political than their mechanical counterparts, but at the core, they're still about the application of skill: trades are where the theory meets reality.

The truth is that most people can't be bothered to figure out how to make things happen because their strongest talents lie elsewhere (finance, politics, research, sport, etc.). That creates a huge and diverse market for people who can.

In this market, your earning potential and job stability are determined by your know-how. Especially in fast-moving sectors where new technology is constantly displacing old, know-how is primarily determined by how well you can learn: you can often start from "zero skills" and become competitive in a few years.

Classroom learning is usually only a small part of learning a trade. Most learning is hands-on problem solving under the supervision of a master of the trade. You're not expected to start from anything beyond "zero skills," just show some intelligence and a strong desire to learn. Self-directed learning isn't a bad choice either.

And, you usually get paid to learn, too.

Maybe here are a few ideas to whet your appetite:

http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-us/workin...s/careers/
http://www.nationalparks.gov.uk/lookinga...nteers.htm
http://www.lgcareers.com/careers-az/prot...-services/

If you pursue trades, the hardest part is choosing. There are thousands, even if you eliminate the ones that seem boring. Just go with one. If you hate it, you can switch later.

For example, I'm going into custom plastic fabrication. I'm not sure I'll like it, but I took the apprenticeship because a) it pays, b) it gets me a two-year degree, and c) if I really hate it, I'll have the a) cash and b) credits to change careers.

vosmiura Wrote:Join the army.

0.0

冗談しないでくれ

icecream Wrote:im already 25

I'd imaged you were younger. Don't know why.

futnuh Wrote:University doesn't teach skills, it teaches you how to think.

*sadness*

Burritolingus Wrote:and generally showing other cultures that America isn't all about cheese burgers, Hummers and being ignorant dicks.

Damn, I was having it all too easy >_<

I think everyone goes through this phase, that's why I decided to add a second degree to see if I could find something in that extra 3 semesters about myself.

With 1 semester left have I gotten anywhere?
No... :|

kazelee Wrote:

icecream Wrote:im already 25

I'd imaged you were younger. Don't know why.

It's that incredibly cute avatar. ^_^

In the read-a-passage-out-loud-so-others-can-tell-you-how-to-improve he sounded a lot younger, so that's prolly why =)

IceCream Wrote:[...] the only careers help i ever had was at school where some computer program told me i should work in a supermarket or library or become an undertaker. ;P

My sister had this brilliant friend who got told she should become a janitor by one of those programs. She's an actuary now.

OK, here are just some recommendations for possible fields to maybe consider, just based on what you wrote in your first post.

Journalism: Depending on the type of journalism you do, this might suit you really well. You could get to travel a lot. You could also work in your interest in helping people and social justice, for example, by reporting on stuff like human rights abuse cases. Your philosophy degree will also probably look really good on your CV because it'll show that you have a background in things like ethics, logic, critical analysis, etc. I know there are people who enter the field without formal training in it. If you were to do a specific journalism degree, you could probably get advanced standing based on your first degree, or enter a master's program. Plus, your knowledge of Japanese could also really work to your benefit and maybe get you a posting reporting on news in Asia.

Law: Philosophy is supposed to be really good preparation for law school. Since you're interested in social justice, human rights law might appeal to you. You could also do legal aid to help disadvantaged people get legal representation.

Medicine: You've mentioned a couple of times that you're interested in medicine. Did you take science and math courses in university? Of course these programs are really competitive, but if you had the prerequisites and could get all the required stuff like letters of recommendation, I'm sure you could get in. If you don't have the prerequisites, I think some schools let you do a qualifying year. Apart from medical research, there are also fields that might appeal to you because you get to work with and help people. There's psychology/psychiatry, speech-language pathology, etc.

Social service work: These jobs can be really taxing emotionally, but good social service workers, like youth counsellors, social workers, and rape counsellors, deserve a tremendous amount of respect. I thought this might appeal to you because you'll be working primarily with people and can really be making a huge difference in people's lives.

Politics: I'd imagine that this could entail more office work/bureaucracy than you might like, but other things about working in politics might appeal to you. You could work with people and get to travel. Working in policy analysis seems cool because you get to focus on the issues that are really important to you and where you want to see changes.

Teaching (K-12): If you like working with kids, then this might be a good choice. I personally think it would be amazing to do arts and crafts, teach kids to read, and just spend your days helping people learn for a living. You could also probably get really useful experience from participating in something like the JET program if you wanted to do this. And you'd probably only need one or two more years of study to get into the field.

Hope that helps.

donjorge22 Wrote:

futnuh Wrote:University doesn't teach skills, it teaches you how to think.

I think that's the most profound thing I've heard all week. Thank you sir, you just renewed my enthusiasm for my degree! /threadhijack

Depends on the field/degree. If you got a graphic design or architecture degree and have no skills, get your money back. If you have a computer science degree with no programming skills, get your money back. If you got an English, Social Science, etc., degree, then this applies. Other degrees fall to one or the other side, and a few in-between.

Imagine a language degree with no skills, but you know how to think about language-acquisition!

kazelee Wrote:

vosmiura Wrote:Join the army.

0.0

冗談しないでくれ

What, it's a possible option for what he said, or not. "work that really appeals to me is something real, and involves actually doing something, in a real situation, some kind of field work, or hands on work, or something involving real people. Something like disaster relief, or delivering aid, or working in development, or to do with some social problems somehow."

Wow, Icecream I think you may be my long-lost just-slighty-younger twin. I just turned 26 last month, I earned a degree in Classical Humanities (Latin, classical history + philosophy), and I'm 4 months into studying Japanese.

I worked for a certain major videogame corporation (one of the big three console makers) testing videogames for three years after I graduated. I denied a promotion offer there and set out on my own because I also want to get my hands dirty for something I believe in (honestly, I think too many people are ruining their short time on this planet with the amount of time they spend gaming).

I devastated both the Navy and Army entrance exams (I'm a pretty good test-taker), and have had recruiters down my throat ever since to attend officer candidate school.

I also thought about teaching in Japan, but that's not really a career, it's really just another "interesting but kind of just something to do to fill the time" goal that I'm trying to avoid.

I co-founded a media company which I now work for, but we all agreed going in to this that we only wanted to promote companies and organizations we believed in. Unfortunately, the reality is that the only way to be a profitable, functioning company is to sell out hard and take whatever you can get, even when you despise the message you are sending. Rather than do this, we are disbanding in pursuit of more noble ends. The other two founders are each preparing to go their own way (one has decided to attend medical school, the other runs a very popular youtube channel and is going to try to make that his full-time job).

So what do I do now? And how does Japanese fit in to any of this? I don't know! Honestly, I worry that I might have worked through Heisig and the Kana, and logged 250+ hours of J-tv, just because I'm too confused about what goal I should be shooting for.

Sorry to hijack your thread, but our education and desires are so remarkably similar that I had to say something. You're not alone sister. Believe me.

*Edit - Changed "brother" to "sister" - my bad.

mattimus Wrote:You're not alone brother. Believe me.

Lawl.

vos Wrote:What, it's a possible option for what She said, or not. "work that really appeals to me is something real, and involves actually doing something, in a real situation, some kind of field work, or hands on work, or something involving real people. Something like disaster relief, or delivering aid, or working in development, or to do with some social problems somehow."

Maybe we're thinking about two different armies. Either way, it's giving up a lot (having your entire perspective on life be warped to suit the needs of a handful of individuals).

nestor Wrote:Recently with Aijin's 'in the middle of eating something' avatar, I feel like I'm supposed to pay extra attention to what's said, like it's the kind of intimate conversation you'd have with a friend over a meal.

I've always found it ominous. Maybe it's the lighting or something.

nest0r Wrote:

kazelee Wrote:

nestor Wrote:Recently with Aijin's 'in the middle of eating something' avatar, I feel like I'm supposed to pay extra attention to what's said, like it's the kind of intimate conversation you'd have with a friend over a meal.

I've always found it ominous. Maybe it's the lighting or something.

Maybe you're just afraid of intimacy!

Well, after all, she is an "Aijin". So I think anyone would be afraid to be "intimate" with her.....lol....

If you don't know what "aijin" means look it up.... :-p

Either Nestor erased its post or you're putting words in its mouf chamcham.

If Nestor did type that. It is right. I fear intimacy. God, someone help me.

*breaks down in tears*

If chamcham typed that. Naughty you.

kazelee Wrote:Either Nestor erased its post or you're putting words in its mouf chamcham.

If Nestor did type that. It is right. I fear intimacy. God, someone help me.

*breaks down in tears*

If chamcham typed that. Naughty you.

nest0r realized that sometimes people post actual pictures of themselves as their icons, you never know. Plus 'intimate' is a loaded word to some. Bleh.

I'm in Hull working as a social worker. There's loads of work to be done here : /
But yeah, more education. The great thing about social work though is that it is a practical degree, and opens you up to a mass of those social types of jobs.

IceCream Wrote:the only careers help i ever had was at school where some computer program told me i should work in a supermarket or library or become an undertaker. ;P ...

The only other work that really appeals to me is something real, and involves actually doing something, in a real situation, ... But, i definitely don't want to be in academia or office work, since i have little patience with abstract stuff any more.

What about getting a library degree, since the computer suggested it? It's one to two years for a master's, and you could look for work immediately. It's also less abstract and more practical than other academic things. Or you could get a teaching degree and work with real (small) people.

The military sounded like a decent idea. If you want people to tell you what to do, that might be just the thing. But also, the military tends to spend a lot of time on humanitarian missions like sending hospital ships to disaster stricken areas. Some of it would be really hard, but it'd also be very real.

What about JET? Have you already done that? A few years running around with Japanese kids could really help your Japanese and also give you some time to earn money while thinking about what you want to do in the future.

IceCream Wrote:presumably i'd have to go back to university to learn some kind of skill, but is there anything that will help me get a job like this barring doing a medical degree? Because, MEXT sponsorships for degree programs only run to 22 years old, & im already 25.

MEXT sponsorships for research students and graduate degrees go up to 35. Maybe it's the undergrad program you are thinking of, but you should be applying for a research program if you already have a university degree. Once in, you'd apply for a master's. But if you want to get away from academia, this does not seem ideal.