The cul-de-sac of youth work???

I never got involved in youth work to get a degree, I did a degree so I could get a job in youth work. This is my stock answer when I talk about my CYM experience to anyone bothered enough to listen, and it is true, however the nature of my degree is vocational. It has lead me down a path which does what it says on the tin - namely that I am a trained youth worker doing youth work.

Anyone about to embark on a CYM degree or equivalent is well warned to expect that in a few years in the Christian sector at least - you may be facing a bit of a head scratcher of what to do next...

Now I frequently get asked 2 questions in my job 'Will you ever train for the ministry?' and 'What will you do after youth work?' The former drives some of my colleagues up the wall, but I want to focus on the latter here.

What will I do next? Well before I answer that, I want to give you a very brief history of my experience in youth work.

I have both voluntary and paid experience in Council youth work, detached work, working with Travellers, private sector, sheltered housing and church based work. I have my degree and am studying for a Masters in Inclusion and Diversity and training to become a Lay Reader with my Diocese.

The reason I reveal that is so it gives you a context to understand where I am currently at with my career. Where do I go next?

Let me explain, before I go on - this is by no means me saying 'I have so much experience, where will I choose to use my vast experience and knowledge next?' (note the sarcasm). No I am currently at a fork in the road.

Where are the jobs for a graduate of 3 years in Northern Ireland? Where are the JNC level 3 jobs? They are not in the Christian sector anyway. At least not in the last 2 years that I have been working here, and if they are they are usually have external forces which drive the appointment process.

This leads to the obvious scenario whereby the Christian sector continually produces enthusiastic youth workers, trains them up and loses them to the statutory sector after a few years. Not necessarily a bad thing I suppose - afterall the more Christian youth workers in the statutory sector there are the better.

The 'brain drain' on the Church is a relatively new thing. Never before has so much energy been put into training youth workers - both through OCN (youthlink course) and the new CYM course. It is these organisations which need to be at the forefront of recognising the importance of their own courses and leading the discussion in this area on shaping what a career in youth work in the Christian sector looks like.

Thats something which needs to happen now so there is incentive for future graduates and those with experience to stick with the Christian sector in the future. However I am still left with my initial question... Where do I go - what do I do?

The fork I face is to stick where I am (I am not planning to move, but my contract is up next Summer), choose a different career altogether, or (if I want to move up the pay bracket in youth work) it'll probably be applying for a funded fixed term post outside the Christian sector.

If I can get an interview for one that is...