Worried that I failed my recruitment test

[Paraiyar]

So as a lot of you probably know, I've been in the process of applying for the NZ Navy for a while now. Yesterday I had my recruitment test. I've been worrying about the physical aspects of this test, the beep test in particular. As a result, I trained hard on this. My physical results, while not overly impressive and certainly not my best, ended up being sufficient for a pass. What has me really worried is the aptitude test(s). It was honestly nothing like what the small sample booklet on the website made it seem, full of much longer tests, most of which I didn't finish (though from what I could gather, this was the case for a lot of people) with a lot of maths that got harder and harder (my Algebra isn't too great). They said I will know within 48 hours how it's gone.

The real killer here is that if I don't pass this then I can't resit for 6 months. This hits hard because I'm already 25 and if I were to pass then I won't be going to the training camp until the July intake so god knows what intake I'd end up on if I had to wait that amount of time to resit. Going on a later intake means there is a good chance I wouldn't get to shipout properly for god knows how long due to the time you have to spend at the base after you complete the 3 month intake training. I really don't want to be shipping out for the first time at 28, I've already left this late enough in life as it is. 

I've really pushed hard this year to try and get things together but now I'm wondering if it's not meant to be. A lot of people my age already seem to have a career path sorted and are in or have been in long term relationships. I just wonder if there is something wrong with me that things just don't seem to be coming together for me.

 

[Serephina]

Paraiyar,you have so much time still ahead of you.It's fantastic that some people have things all sorted out but from my personal experience I have known quite a few people who have completely changed career paths when they were over 40 years old and some people who have been in a long term relationship at a young age seperate or get divorced. The thing is I think people are in a minority if they have it all figured out at the age that you are now,so there is absoloutely nothing wrong with you,you just haven't found out what it is you want to do just yet. Good luck with the tests and I hope it's positive news for you. I guess I am a strong believer that if something isn't meant to be,there is often something a lot better round the corner.

 

[lifestream]

I sat the same aptitude test (in a completely different field from yours) every year for five years before I finally got a place.  What seemed to do the trick for me was answering everything in the numerical reasoning section as quickly as possible by going against the directions and making wild guesses and picking whatever seemed closest.  Even then I finished with very little time to spare, where in the other sections I was finished by the halfway mark.  Someone who sat the test before me advised me to do this, as the numerical reasoning section is not actually designed to test your numerical reasoning, it's to see how you react under pressure.  I know this is too late to help you now, but if you have to sit the test again it might be useful.

If this is really what you want to do with your life, than don't let age or algebra deter you from it.

 

[Tuathaniel]

I've really pushed hard this year to try and get things together but now I'm wondering if it's not meant to be. A lot of people my age already seem to have a career path sorted and are in or have been in long term relationships. I just wonder if there is something wrong with me that things just don't seem to be coming together for me.

Let me start by saying that if this is any indication of something being wrong with you, then something is definitely wrong with me too. So at least we can share in the misery together. 

25 isn't that old, and neither is 28, so I wouldn't stress too much about this. Just stick to the plan for as long as you can, or feel that it might be going somewhere, and if it doesn't work out, make a new one. 

I'm currently 34, still trying to find my career path. I've had a degree in nursing for 8 years, but a couple of years back I realized I actually hate my profession. I hate shift work, and the crappy pay for all that hard labour, and I hate wearing scrubs (the shirts are made of a heavy fabric material, which triggers the muscle inflammation in my shoulder). And the constant stress and time pressure really doesn't go well with my depression and anxiety. 

Last year, I tried cutting down on work hours so I could become a full time student towards a new career. And I failed spectacularly. Half my courses I didn't understand at all, one I sort of understood (but it couldn't put enough hours into it because of work and focusing so hard on the other two), and the fourth was good. My exams ended up being three fails, and one A (I have no idea how that happened). Demotivated, I still attempted the spring semester this year, but I couldn't keep up at all, and decided this wasn't meant to be. So I quit.

This autumn semester I've cut down on my work hours even more (now barely earning enough to pay my bills), and enrolled in a new study program. I've been struggling a lot with one of the courses here as well, and I'm pretty sure I failed the exam I had last week. Everything just seems so hopeless. 

So I totally get your "everyone else has everything figured out and I can't even get a profession I want" feeling. It's a really sucky and demotivating feeling to have. On my worst, darkest days, it actually makes me contemplate killing myself, because I'm obviously a failure who'll never succeed at anything in life. But I try to throw off those thoughts, and instead make backup plans. Because deep down, I can't really stop hoping that somewhere out there is a job that was made for me. I just need to find it. And maybe I need to endure some **** and push a little harder before I get there. 

 

[Paraiyar]

Well it turns out that I apparently did okay enough to pass. So I've got an interview for an Electronic Warfare Specialist role on the 14th. So I'm over that hurdle at least. Thanks everyone.

 

[AmytheTemperamental]

Congrats <3

 

[beautiful loser]

Way to go, P!  We knew you would pass

 

[Tuathaniel]

Yay! Sorry you can't join the loser club after all (not sorry).

 

[Sci-Fi]

Congratulations, Navy is nothing to shake a stick at and the fact that you passed is a great accomplishment.

 

[SofiasMami]

Oh, that's exciting! Good for you!
Good luck with your interview and your future - I'm sure you'll do fine.

 

[Paraiyar]

Thanks everyone for all the comments, I really appreciate it.

Now I just have to focus on knocking this interview out of the water.

 

[TheRealCallie]

Congrats! And good luck in the interview

 

[EveWasFramed]

Awesome news! I bet you're so very relieved.

 

[Paraiyar]

I've really pushed hard this year to try and get things together but now I'm wondering if it's not meant to be. A lot of people my age already seem to have a career path sorted and are in or have been in long term relationships. I just wonder if there is something wrong with me that things just don't seem to be coming together for me.

Let me start by saying that if this is any indication of something being wrong with you, then something is definitely wrong with me too. So at least we can share in the misery together. 

25 isn't that old, and neither is 28, so I wouldn't stress too much about this. Just stick to the plan for as long as you can, or feel that it might be going somewhere, and if it doesn't work out, make a new one. 

I'm currently 34, still trying to find my career path. I've had a degree in nursing for 8 years, but a couple of years back I realized I actually hate my profession. I hate shift work, and the crappy pay for all that hard labour, and I hate wearing scrubs (the shirts are made of a heavy fabric material, which triggers the muscle inflammation in my shoulder). And the constant stress and time pressure really doesn't go well with my depression and anxiety. 

Last year, I tried cutting down on work hours so I could become a full time student towards a new career. And I failed spectacularly. Half my courses I didn't understand at all, one I sort of understood (but it couldn't put enough hours into it because of work and focusing so hard on the other two), and the fourth was good. My exams ended up being three fails, and one A (I have no idea how that happened). Demotivated, I still attempted the spring semester this year, but I couldn't keep up at all, and decided this wasn't meant to be. So I quit.

This autumn semester I've cut down on my work hours even more (now barely earning enough to pay my bills), and enrolled in a new study program. I've been struggling a lot with one of the courses here as well, and I'm pretty sure I failed the exam I had last week. Everything just seems so hopeless. 

So I totally get your "everyone else has everything figured out and I can't even get a profession I want" feeling. It's a really sucky and demotivating feeling to have. On my worst, darkest days, it actually makes me contemplate killing myself, because I'm obviously a failure who'll never succeed at anything in life. But I try to throw off those thoughts, and instead make backup plans. Because deep down, I can't really stop hoping that somewhere out there is a job that was made for me. I just need to find it. And maybe I need to endure some **** and push a little harder before I get there. 

You may hate the profession and you have good reasons for wanting to leave but to me, nursing is certainly not what I would consider to be an occupation of a failure. You sacrifice your own wellbeing for the good of people in your community. I don't think of someone who does that as having failed.

 

[NightHawkJohn]

Just wanted to say congrats for passing .

 

[Serephina]

Congratulations Paraiyar

 

[MisterLonely]

Was going to write that worrying isn'tgoing to change anything at this point, I've leaned to not worry after the factof things I can't change, but since you alreadygotyour results and they are positive i'd just like to say ...congratulations!

 

[Augusto]

Congrats, Paraiyar! You accomplished really impressive thing.