Difficult career development choices

hi, thanks for the response. The problem I had sitting at computers for long periods was the eyestrain and the boredom with the work I was doing as a finance assistant at the time of the placement. Although I still get strained eyes sometimes, I have all I need on my home PC to prevent this - a 22 inch monitor, screen magnification software and accessibility settings, all very useful as I am visually impaired. I also sometimes use text to speech software if I need to. Although I had the screen magnification, large monitor and settings customised how I needed them, I found 37 hours per week staring at a computer screen that rarely changed views just ended up being too much. The good thing about what I am doing now, and my MyLot membership, is that I can come and go, start and stop whenever I need to, so I rarely suffer from the same effects. My reason for choosing not to continue in accountancy was partially because of the eyestrain, but also a lack of interest with the field. I found the work disinterested me and I could not imagine continuing a degree in a subject that no longer interested me, even though I would then be a degree level graduate. Sorry if I was not clear regarding the reason I was told the company could not retain me. They said that they were having to cut costs to pay extra for some demolition work and reconstructions of buildings. The company, to set the scene, was a University. I am choosing not to name that University in case anyone who works there is reading this. So anyway, they said that as I was not planning to complete the course, of which this placement was a major part being a fixed-term 1 year contract, they did not consider they had much of a duty to retain me for the remainder of the term. My conclusion that careers guidance was more like me was based on a lengthy process of careers guidance, including a plethora of psychometric tests, interpretations, discussions of careers options and conduct of careers information research. All of this showed I am more likely to be best in a career with plenty of human contact, not too much routine or computer operation, and a good variety in the work. Although two options were seen as better for me, I dismissed these because of the salary structures and lack of interest in the work. Adult guidance worker was my preferred choice and was only third on the list so a pretty good match. I am now doing the level 3 NVQ in advice and guidance, which is the main starting qualification for careers advisers in the UK. To get onto this qualification, you ahve to be in a paid or voluntary position in advice and/or guidance, however you're supposed to have the level 3 NVQ already in order to get paid work in the field. I could have started out as an administrator in an advice/guidance provider, but this way I would have to be an admin worker for 5 years then do the NVQ when I could gain promotion to a relevant position, so it would take 5-6 years or more to get where I want to be. The way I am doing it now seems to be better, even though I am currently reliant on state benefits. I get to do some good for the community by volunteering, and get to start the NVQ and be in the market for looking for paid employment in about a year. Hopefully that clarifies some of the reasoning and background to what went on and also that what decisions I made have not been made lightly, but have been made with great consultation and guidance, and, I have to say, an awful lot of sleepless nights!