I completed a commerce degree during the last Labor government , the Keating years. The result was worthless, and did not increase my earning potential during the subsequent decade. It would have been better to have worked for an income for three years, instead of studying.

thats sad , especially if you do not even enjoy knowing what you learnt.

Do an apprenticeship, earn while you learn and by your early 20s start your own business and get a six figure income for life in a worthwhile occupation.

Indeed, very sad Jen. Perhaps a reflection on the discipline you chose and your own lack of interest? Next March marks the 40th anniversary of the start of my first degree, in Science at UNSW. It led me through a wonderful varied and interesting series of careers. The secret is to find something that interests you. It won't be obvious straight away but if you're an honest trier you will find something. HSC students, don't let the advice given above dissuade you. Money doesn't mean everything and the trades are dead ends for most people. Only one in ten will earn a six figure income and usually such a career is accompanied with several bankruptcies. The other nine end up in boring dead end jobs.

"find a job that you love and you will never work a day of your life". Not a easy thing to do but learning how to learn well is a good start because you can switch jobs easily untill you find something that you are satisfied with. Learning is not the enemy it is the means of fulfillment, tafe, uni , online and onthejob - whatever. Feed your brain well as it is the most valuable asset you will ever have. your informed , astute and well honed wits are whats needed to survive in any endevour. How do you get them ? You learn from others of course and in the right way that best suits your capabilities.

Den Isles, my partner is a tradesman and I don't know how you've come to the conclusion that running your own business will get you a six figure income for life. Don't get me wrong, we wouldn't have it any other way - being your own boss gives you a certain amount of freedom. But he certainly doesn't do it for the money.

Maitlander: It depends on how hard you work at your business, how well you promote it and how far you are prepared to go that extra mile for your customers and earn - apart from the money - a good reputation.

Den Isles , hard work is only one part of the formulae, being effective and doing that extra effortlessly means working well for your customers. That is what achieves the good reputation. How do we do that - back to the learning bit again are we not? Even listening to good advice from you is a sensible thing to learn. Listening and taking notice to what we are told by those that know (like you) is the other serious bit of the formulae. Its all about learning well and doing what we learn well. Butcher,baker ,candlestick makers -whatever. Learning ,working and earning well is what achieves the rewards for everybody? Very hard to do if its not something you can enjoy - in fact can be disgusting if you hate what you are doing. Slow learners dont learn to do things they like doing as work that can pay.