I wish I had more of an update for things I have achieved so far this year in terms of choosing my career, but as per usual I’ve just confused myself and am back at square one. Never mind, I know my “dream career” (if such a thing exists) is not going to suddenly appear to me and it just takes experience and practise to find something suitable.

I am going to China in September to teach English. I know I don’t want to be a teacher forever, but it’s a good stop-gap: I’ll make some money, get some “experience”, gain more independence, improve my Chinese and so on. No reason not to go!

After a year, I am considering the 1-year Graduate Diploma in Law in the hope of becoming an Immigration Lawyer. It’s quite a long slog though, and very very expensive. After I do some research talking to various firms and solicitors who are specialists in immigration, I’ll have a better idea (thanks to the staff at the careers office for helping me find suitable links!)

So, we shall see what happens! Good luck to me 🙂

So, I have finally got round to writing this blog. I’ve been meaning to for a while, but you know what it’s like.

Anyway, career news. Unfortunately, not so much. I am a final year student of Chinese and Cultural Studies. I lived in China last year studying at a university in Beijing. I kind of assumed when I graduated I would be in high demand, because, of course, everyone is looking for people who can speak Chinese, right? Wrong. It appears that to be able to use my Chinese in a job, I am going to have to be fluent. And, unfortunately, that’s just not possible in a 4 year degree.

This is my current plan. I will take a job, any job in China and just spend every spare minute I have speaking Chinese, so that I can get somewhere near fluency. I’m thinking of doing a TEFL course this summer and then in September going to teach English in a small town in China. Somewhere where they don’t get many foreigners, a place where the children will point and laugh at my strange appearance. Perhaps after a year or two I’ll be in a position of usefulness to potential employers.

But, I’m continuing to apply for jobs in this country, the problem now is, I don’t actually know what I want to do. It’s kind of been “willy nilly” applications up ’til now, and I can’t take these constant rejections anymore! I think a trip to the careers service is in order…