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You are here: Experts > Health/Fitness > Self-Improvement/Self-Help > How to Get What You Want in Life > Career/life direction
Expert: Jacky Tustain - 10/22/2009
Question
QUESTION: Hello. Thank you for volunteering! I am interested in you particularly because you are from the UK... maybe a sign!
I am 25 years old and nearing the end of a grueling course (JD). Basically, I did the pragmatic thing. I went to undergrad where I studied history and loved every day of my life. This is because (1) I was around a lot of brilliant people endlessly (2) I studied something I loved and (3) life was fun and (4) I felt proud of myself for being at a particularly reputable university.
Then I went to law school. Misery ensued. I went into this to give myself options. I particularly wanted and still want to return to London. I am in love with London because (1) I love the history in a way that is hard to express in words and (2) I loved living in the compact city. I went on a study abroad program (three actually, in highschool, college, and post-grad) to London and struggle to stand being away from it.
Strange right?
But therein lay a problem. Knowing I had this love, I studied and built myself into something I did not love. I do not like what I am doing and am frustrated with my course. I am lonely, not proud of myself, and discouraged. I wanted to do this to get back to London. Now I am finding I would have to do a job I would not like to do that (securities law or tax law are in demand). I feel defeated because I gave up history to do this to get back, and now I see how hard it really is. I feel like I am being pinched at all ends. I know it seems odd that I love a place so much, but I cannot imagine living elsewhere. But it seems unnatural to keep killing myself doing something I hate to get their.
So, I am wondering if you have any advice on how to turn my JD into work in the UK. I am very serious about moving. I have gotten into several MA programs over the years but have never been able to get funding to do them. I do not qualify for a Tier 1 as the UK does not recognize my JD as a valuable degree. So I am left with looking for a job that will issue a Tier 2 visa. Any advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated. Very few people empathize with this problem.
Thanks!
Jen
ANSWER: Hi Jen,
I may need to answer this in two phases. Firstly I need you to clarify what a JD and an MA is and if you can also explain a little more about the tier 1 and tier 2 visa and what the implications of this are to you I will hopefully be able to give you a better answer.
Before you launch into that though I will suggest you think a little about what is making you feel like this. Is it truly London you love or was it the college life you had over here?
What is it you hate about the work you are studying for? Would there be another angle to come from that would change the way you feel about it? Could you study for something else and be creative about funding - i.e. take a job and study outside of work time?
Although we are in a recession there are still lots of job opportunities out there and high demand for various skills. You may want to consider some psychometric/personality tests to identify the type of work that suits you.
If you can get back to me with some specifics I will see if I can help you further. I will add that I am not an expert in visas and careers, my focus is more on personal development so my answer may still be a little vague for your needs - however I always answer as best I can!
Jacky
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thanks Jacky!
I am studying to get a Juris Doctorate (lawyer degree). So I already have a BA. This is a very valuable degree in the US, not as much in the UK (it is treated like an LLB, though I am an inch away from having a doctorate).
I have also gotten into several Master's programs. This is essentially a step down, but in fields of study I prefer.
I love London for a couple reasons:
1. The history. I am a life-long British history fanatic. This is my passion. I love history to an extent most do not understand. I wear my hair long in a medieval style, I only read history books, and become uncomfortable in places without a lot of history (I have been known to shake at LAX airport, I have learned to control this over time). That sounds bizarre I know, but I am grounded in history, especially British history, in a profound way.
In London, I am endlessly excited that I am stepping around ghosts and the living remnants of my favorite subject.
2. The compactness. I love how everything in London and within most British towns. I love that everything is at my fingertips and I am surrounded by what I love.
My love of London is definately not relevant to something having to do with university friends. I have studied in London three times with different groups of persons. Every time I thought I died and went to heaven just because I was subsumed in what I loved. I have also lived in New York, China, and The Netherlands in between my London lives and everyday have thought about how to return to London for good.
Now here's the hitch: The JD is worth a lot in the US, but it seems to only be valuable in the UK if an American lawyer is in the finance sector. Well, my life would be great if I was a finance corporate type, but I am not and it seems like a lie to force myself to be, even with this means to an end.
So, I am looking into other means to make this happen. Tier 1 means a highly skilled person may get a visa just because they are highly skilled, but I do not qualify as I do not have high past earnings (obviously! I have been in school!)
Tier 2 means I would get a British job. This is what I would want to hinge my bets on. Hard part is what I mentioned: my skills only translate readily into a sector which I do not love.
I recognize that you are not an immigration expert. But I think maybe you could advise me on how to fufill by unquenchable desire to return with the fact that I have chosen a pragmatic route which is really not what I love. Believe me, I would love to teach British history in Britain. This desire was hardly enough to entice the government to replace a readily available British person to do so.
Thanks!
Jen
Answer
Hi again Jen,
OK, I'm getting a better idea. Rather than go into the immigration issues I'll focus on the ways to help you look into your options.
Your first thought is to clarify what your long term goal is. Part of this is obviously living in London or somewhere similar in Britain. You would also like to include British History in your vocation. Try to make your goal SMART.
The best way to achieve a goal is to work out an action plan. These are the steps you need to take to get to the long term goal. You may want to work out some mini goals to get the great end goal.(See http://www.becandolifecoaching.com for more details about goals and action plans.)
These mini goals may need to be compromises - however you need to decide how much of a compromise you are willing to make to get what you want in the end.
What would help you would be to research and work through your options as detailed in several potential action plans on paper to see what paths are open to you. I do believe you have several options and I think that is what is stopping you. For example, working on getting to England now and then trying to sort the job may mean you end up spending 20 years caught in a corporate lawyer trap you'd hate whereas spending 3 more years where you are working and studying for a more ideal (i.e. UK appropriate) qualification may make things a lot easier once you get here. However each option will have pros and cons.
While doing this you need to factor in the time it will take, the potential costs and the inherent risks. Also consider the pros and cons of your plans.
If you can then find a way to apply weightings to your options one plan will seem to be preferable or make more sense. You can then start to work through it to get to your long term dream goal.
Hopefully that will help you to gain some mental clarity and space and make the best choice for you and maybe one day we'll meet in England!
Jacky
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