OT: How many 'O' levels/GCSEs did you leave with?

[Asterix]

9 GCSEs, 2 A-Levels (Media Studies & Music Technology). I was originally studying English Lit at A-Level but dropped out because I wanted more time to concentrate on my music (I was working at Tesco at that time as well). I've been in full time work since.

I've never liked learning what other people tell me to learn. When I was 16 I started teaching myself how to design websites and that's what I do for a living now, since leaving a recording studio job last year. I also had a spell trying to sell windows in between.

I don't know what I want to do as a career though. I'm not in love with web development, although I enjoy it.

[dondada]

Well only advice I can say is for people contimplating going to Uni to better their career prospects is to be selective on your course and Uni..... go to a Uni that offers lots of Work Experience opportunities... experience is FAR more important than qualifications.

The days when getting a basic 2:2 or above degree will walk you into practically any job have long gone. I teach 75 third year students all thinking they are going to be Psychologists... wrong, no chance.

I'm now looking into getting jobs in like a project manager type role because there seems to be loads of them... and the only way I am getting interviewed is through "over emphasising" my summer jobs I had as a kid... my double masters qualification means FA. If I get these jobs, I'll be working under people with no A levels.

Here's my list.

Welsh - A
History - B
Technology - C
English Lang - C
English Lit - C
Technology - C
Science C, C.
R/S - C.

Somehow I only sat Nine GCSE's - thats all my school catered for.

A levels;
R/S = C
Psychology = C
BTEC ND in Science (Sports Studies) - Distinction.

Bsc - in Sport Psychology - 2:1

Msc - In Sport Science

Grad Diploma In Psychology.

Mphil In Psychology

PhD in Psychology - Pending.

You win!

Aye, when he gets his PhD 8) Someone I know has just got theirs...it was 'pending' for 10 years!

[jamesmcdonnell]

O Levels 5
CSE 3

A Levels 2
English Lit A
Communication Studies C
(Was doing physics, but without maths was totally lost)

BA English and European Literature 2:1

[Chambers2]

(Was doing physics, but without maths was totally lost)

Totally understood, I'd have been fcuked if I wasn't doing A-level maths

but never put 100% into anything.

I have a similar affliction

[Croydon1]

I could earn about 10k a year more if I was willing to travel to Brum everyday, but fcuk that for a game soldiers cuz it'll put about 2 and a half hours on my working day

I'm in a similar situation to that. I have just finished my degree and got offered a job in Hull for around 10K more than I can earn here but would take me around 1 and a half hours drive commute one way which I don't fancy at all. It's in that location that is too close to move home, and too far too commute to if you know what I mean.

If the job was within an hour away, or miles away that I had no choice but to move then I would take it.

Oh and overall to answer the topic of this post i left with 9 GCSE's (6A-C), an AVCE in business, and a 2.1 degree in international business. which was a pleasant surprise to myself.

[WildWaylon]

A few years ago Britain had far less university students than the other major European counties, so the government upgraded the polys and overnight we had pro rata just as many as they did. A girl I knew failed to get into Uni so went to Loughborough poly instead. While there it became a uni so she effectively got in through the back door. Lets be honest the best universities are the ones that have always been universities. Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, Goldsmiths London etc do still mean something. Derby will take you with a D in art. The people who get the top jobs and earn the top money are those who went to public school. The old boy network still exists among the upper middle classes, jobs for the boys promised even before they get their degees. Young people who will be fast tracked through the civil service, the police, the stock exchange etc. Kids who have parents who can afford to give them the best education and have all the right connections will almost certainly get to the top. They piss me off, in fact the whole system pisses me off.

[dondada]

I havent got 1 single qualification but have lied on my cv saying stuff like i have 10 gcse's 3 alevels and a degree in sport science. I had the bottle to go through with it and now have a top job in recruitment.

Recruitment?

Definitely one of the posts of the year, this!

[Chambers2]

I have a similar affliction

I was going to say we both have an excuse but I've always been like that.

I'm a natural born idle cuunt.

I reckon - I like pot because I'm an idle cuunt rather than I'm an idle cuunt cause I like pot

[Chambers2]

The old boy network still exists among the upper middle classes, jobs for the boys promised even before they get their degees. Young people who will be fast tracked through the civil service, the police, the stock exchange etc. Kids who have parents who can afford to give them the best education and have all the right connections will almost certainly get to the top. They piss me off, in fact the whole system pisses me off.

I totally agree Waylon, the 'jobs for the boys' scenario gets right up my snotbox

[WildWaylon]

I havent got 1 single qualification but have lied on my cv saying stuff like i have 10 gcse's 3 alevels and a degree in sport science. I had the bottle to go through with it and now have a top job in recruitment.

Your employers are idiots for not checking you out. Never heard of anyone getting away with that before, thats quite a confession. Lets be honest though how much of what we learn at school, college or uni is useful in the jobs we do. After passing exams we dump most of the stuff and retain very little. I have found of the subjects taught at school English and maths were by far the most important. If your English is pretty reasonable and you can add, subtract, multiply and divide, it will get you by. I had to do economics at college and found it heavy going and totally impractical. English law was a complete waste of time but some of it was quite interesting. We are forced to learn a lot of things that we will never be able to apply in the workplace. Passing exams gets us interviews, then its up to us to impress the interviewer.

[Asterix]

Why, its how you come accross in the interview(s). If they see someone who could potentially bring 300k a year into the business why would the check you out?

One very good reason would be to find out if you're honest.

[chesh]

I'm from the 'O' Level days. At my grammar (later, independent) school, we did 8 or 9 (either an additional language or both History and Geography). Mine as follows:

English Lang. - A;
French - A;
German - A;
Latin - A;
English Lit. - B;
Maths - B;
Physics - C;
Chemistry - C.

BTW, I was the first lad in 50 years from my primary school (in the Moss Side area of Manchester) to win a scholarship to the independent school. Otherwise, no way my parents could have afforded the fees. Not meaning to boast, just wanted you to know I'm certainly not from a privileged background.

Subsequently did 'A' Levels in French, German and Latin, followed by a BA (Hons.) in German (with French subsid.) at Durham University. After brief stints in the Inland Revenue and working as a recruitment consultant, have spent the last 25 years as a technical, legal and commercial translator, working from German into English. Have run my own translation company for over 20 years, offering a wide range of languages and subcontracting to a team of freelance translators. It hasn't made me wealthy, but you can't beat being your own boss!

I've come across a lot of highly intelligent people with no qualifications and an equal number of idiots with an alphabet after their name. I learned from my experience as a recruitment consultant that prospective employers are only interested in the most recent entry on your CV. If that's your GCSEs, 'A' Levels or degree, it's your first step on a career path. After that, it's your last job that counts.

[dondada]

I havent got 1 single qualification but have lied on my cv saying stuff like i have 10 gcse's 3 alevels and a degree in sport science. I had the bottle to go through with it and now have a top job in recruitment.

Recruitment?

Definitely one of the posts of the year, this!

Why is that so funny? The only reason i can think of is that you think recruitment is finding pickers and packers for warehouses. Well it is but the level i do is white collar engineering(very high level) So theres nothing really funny about earning in the high 5 figures.

Jesus.

It's funny, you mendacious cretin, because of the irony - i.e. you now work in recruitment yet produced a toilet tissue of a CV in order to be...wait for it...recruited!

If the qualifications aren't important, why the f*ck did you feel it necessary to put them down, then? Because qualifications add to your CV, perhaps?

You might be able to tell that I'm rather irked by this. Mainly because a hell of a lot of people spend money and years getting the likes of the qualifications you lied about having. Some of them on here.

[Asterix]

So are people saying i shouldn't be doing the job im doing and should maybe stick to road sweeping or some manual labour. Is it a bad thing that i took a chance and it paid off?

I think it's great that you're doing the job and well. It's a shame that you lied on your CV but I can definitely understand it (and wouldn't hold it against you). Unfortunately many people hire based on educational qualifications rather than who is best suited to the job. As long as your boss is happy with the job you do, then who cares what qualifications you've got?

[Loynesy]

12 O Levels, all A
5 A Levels, ditto

First class law degree from Cambridge

[WildWaylon]

I havent got 1 single qualification but have lied on my cv saying stuff like i have 10 gcse's 3 alevels and a degree in sport science. I had the bottle to go through with it and now have a top job in recruitment.

Recruitment?

Definitely one of the posts of the year, this!

Why is that so funny? The only reason i can think of is that you think recruitment is finding pickers and packers for warehouses. Well it is but the level i do is white collar engineering(very high level) So theres nothing really funny about earning in the high 5 figures.

The funny side is they did a bloody awful job recruiting you for a job in recruitment. If you cant see that you should have had a better education and passed a few exams. I also find it a bit hard to understand how you manage to mix at such"a very high level". White collar engineers are usually managers, well educated and highly trained, which by your own admission you are not.

[dondada]

Like i said, i came across excellent in the 4 interviews i had and also have an interest in electronic/software engineering add that to the fact i'm good at building relationships via a telephone with blue chip companies and have excellent working relationships with my candidates, i tick all the boxes which make a good recruirment consultant.

I've sent you a pm but it's stuck in my 'outbox'. Sometimes they don't leave - I don't know how to sort it.

[Asterix]

Like i said, i came across excellent in the 4 interviews i had and also have an interest in electronic/software engineering add that to the fact i'm good at building relationships via a telephone with blue chip companies and have excellent working relationships with my candidates, i tick all the boxes which make a good recruirment consultant.

I've sent you a pm but it's stuck in my 'outbox'. Sometimes they don't leave - I don't know how to sort it.

When you send a message it will stay in the outbox until it has been read (by the receiver). At least, that's my understanding of it.

[WildWaylon]

12 O Levels, all A
5 A Levels, ditto

First class law degree from Cambridge

The first part says how you got your place at Cambridge. The second shows you achieved the highest grade in your subject. Quite outstanding to say the least. My wifes cousin didnt do as well on Os and As but did manage to get into Cambridge. Like yourself he got a first class law degree and became a partner in a huge law firm in Nottingham (Eversheds) at just 30. He has just retired aged 55, a multi millionaire, and works part time as a consultant.

[Loynesy]

Decent firm Eversheds.

I am partner in a big US law firm, split my time between London and New York. Hope I don't have to work until 55 though!!

[Deserter]

12 O Levels, all A
5 A Levels, ditto

First class law degree from Cambridge

The first part says how you got your place at Cambridge. The second shows you achieved the highest grade in your subject. Quite outstanding to say the least.

Absolutely - can't deny a touch of envy regarding those who make it to Oxbridge, while being full of admiration for those who make it purely on talent and dedication rather than connections.
I got 8 O-levels - variety of A, B and C grades. Then got A-levels in History (A), Politics (B) and English Lit (B). Went on to do Politics at Warwick Uni (II;I), but if I have one regret beyond the standard one of winging it all without applying myself properly, it's that I didn't grow up in an environment where you were encouraged to believe that anything was possible.
In my home town there were only four comprehensives, two of which were OK, two of which were shocking. And while the college was fine, there was nobody among the teaching staff who either explained why you should be striving to try and get into the likes of Cambridge or Oxford or who actually made you feel it was possible even if you wanted to. In fact, I'd go further and say the inference was that the Oxbridge scene was for those from public school and that we shouldn't even entertain the notion of going there. The same small-minded view applied to their outlook on careers.
Now, being older and wiser, I know my own capabilities enough to know I could have got there and while part of the reason was undoubtedly a lack of application on my part due to immaturity, another part was that I wasn't surrounded by either peers who'd push me on through an aspirational or competitive element, or mentors, either at home or in the classroom, who would encourage you to strive for those heights. Instead it was an environment which I'm sure many of you are familiar with, whereby you should be 'happy with your lot' and not get aspirations above your station.
It took me time and travel to realise my capabilities but I still get frustrated at the thought of how much natural talent this country wastes through everything from poor teachers who remain 'bullet-proof', through to the legacy of the class system.
Just out of interest, I'm seriously considering doing an MBA at the moment (in addition to my full-time job rather than leaving the job to take the MBA) and wondered if anyone else has either done one or has any insight into the process?

[Loynesy]

Not trying to big myself up, but I certainly didn't get into the university I did because of school or connections. Tough comprehensive in the West Midlands, in its 103 year history, no-one had been to Oxbridge, in my year only 4 went to university at all.

Just had parents who were loving and supportive about learning and education; like someone else on here earlier posted, my father had passed his 11+ but couldn't go to Grammar School as his parents couldn't afford the extras - so rather than being plonked in front of mindless TV, they'd help me with my homework, read with me and be encouraging of a desire to learn.

[J]

went to aq conmp as well biggest in europe at the time 3thousand kids!
ten gcses 4 a's 3 b's 3c's

then found out what my dick was for and fecked my a levels right up.

[Deserter]

Not trying to big myself up, but I certainly didn't get into the university I did because of school or connections. Tough comprehensive in the West Midlands, in its 103 year history, no-one had been to Oxbridge, in my year only 4 went to university at all.

Just had parents who were loving and supportive about learning and education; like someone else on here earlier posted, my father had passed his 11+ but couldn't go to Grammar School as his parents couldn't afford the extras - so rather than being plonked in front of mindless TV, they'd help me with my homework, read with me and be encouraging of a desire to learn.

Fella, apologies if you felt there was an inference that you were one of those as that certainly wasn't my intention and my respect for what you've achieved has only grown based on the circumstances you've outlined.
However, as you and I both know there are a number of people who make it to Oxbridge based on connections rather than academic ability and while I don't blame them for taking advantage of the opportunity I do wish we did more to encourage children/students to grasp the opportunities available to them.
Did you find it hard to adjust to the environment based on where you came from? The reason I ask is that one of my closest friends came from a working-class, single-parent family in Belfast and made it into Oxford but quit in the first year as he found it so difficult, not just in terms of the outright snobbery he experienced at the hands of a minority, but just because it was so different to everything he'd experienced beforehand. Being the type of man he is, however, he returned the following year and graduated successfully.

[stujones]

Aye, when he gets his PhD 8) Someone I know has just got theirs...it was 'pending' for 10 years!

Yes, still very much an "if" I get my PhD...... they don't just hand these out regardless of the institute - as I know.

And its a bloody waste of time aswell, just cause I am a stubborn bastard that I am persevering.... seeing the finish line now mind.

10 years? Must have had some problems, must have moved institutes (as I have done) cause I think it is 7 years maximum allocation for Part time.

With Psychology its all changed... before a PhD in Psychology was the pinnical... but now you need an Msc in a "specialist" area. So if you wanted to work as an educational Psychology - an Msc in Education Psychology is more important than a PhD in Psychology (even if the area you are researching is in Education) - again... as I have found out.

Like I said... essentially a waste of time if you want to be Chartered in an area - cause you can do that just with an Msc... just hoping that with the PhD some company/business/institutute will sponsor to get me an Msc in a specific field.

Just money grabbing sods!