Career options for space degrees

[????]

Hi all,

I'm currently studying Physics with Astronomy and Space Science in my final year. I've decided not to go for the Honors degree so I will be graduating with a general one in a few months. I'm sorry to admit that I didn't enjoy studying this (although I love the astronomy side of it a lot!).

However I have no money to study anything else so I'm really confused as to what I can work as after I graduate. I tried looking up career options but they're always so vague. Can somebody just give me any ideas of what I can actually go for and get a job in? Even if its just short term things until I can figure out what I want to do with my life...
Its really getting me down.. =(

Thanks

 

[fss]

You can get jobs pretty much anywhere if you can convince the hiring manager you're qualified. The professionally-certified jobs like licensed engineering positions are probably out of play, but beyond that there isn't much stopping you.

 

[fasterthanjoao]

Even if its just short term things until I can figure out what I want to do with my life...
Its really getting me down.. =(

Work in a bar? A shop? An office? If you're just looking for a distraction until you can figure things out then I would specifically suggest against looking for a career orientated job. That, and without the honours degree you won't be qualified for most graduate positions and if you didn't enjoy physics then surely the plan will be to mostly avoid those types of jobs (though obviously just having a degree opens up some non-physics options too, you would probably need time to consider these more carefully).

Why not just apply for any jobs you think you won't mind doing? Do you have any hobbies that you could potentially get a job through (e.g. work in a bowling alley)?

Try and find anything you can see yourself doing for a few months at least, that way you have time to properly think about your future, and re-evaluate your options. Life is not a race, there's no need to panic - don't worry that you aren't sure about your future, most of us have been in a similar boat at some point.

In terms of thinking about your future, if you are really starting from scratch then think about the following: were there any parts of your undergraduate experience that you enjoyed? What were they? Think about the priorities in your life. I find that all too often people get hung up on money and prestige rather than thinking about what makes them happy, particularly in the sciences where people that have always considered themselves smart feel some sort of moral obligation to go get a degree, PhD and try research (perhaps I am ranting). Is money your main concern? Work hours? What sort of things do you enjoy doing?

 

[????]

Thank you! That is really good advice :-)
and I do know you're right of course. I just worry mostly about the financial implications.
Basically I went into this because I was good at it (exactly like you said), but I've slowly realized my interests are in completely different fields altogther. Not even close to physics or math.. To do something I'm interested in would require starting from scratch so I guess I just want to be sure if I should do that.

Also I would definitely have to work for awhile to save up money and really think about what I wanted to do. So I guess I just don't want the last few years to be wasted and that's why I'd like to be able to put what I've learned to use in a job rather than going back to bars etc..
I dunno- I'm just a mess!
Thanks for the help and advice though. It was nice to have someone reassure me that its not as bad as I sometimes think..

As far as my degree goes; the only part I've really enjoyed has been the astronomy aspect of it. But I can't see that as ending up to be more than just a hobby in the future...

I dunno.. :-s
Thanks for the help though, I really appreciate it =)