Unsure of career path. Bit of help?

Unsure of career path. Bit of help?

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James2593

Original Poster:

570 posts

136 months

Thursday 20th November 2014
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I'll try and cut to the chase, i'm 21 with a 2:1 degree in business management and average A-levels but I have utterly no idea what career I can pursue.

I am currently working a role in a retail company which I have progressed through the ranks over the past 4 years. I started this job as a way to fund myself through college and then university. After leaving university earlier this year, I have had no clue what job I wanted to do, so I have continued in the same job increasing my hours to full time. While I do like my job, it is definitely not one for life, for starters the pay is unsustainable, after bonus i'm on just shy of £14k. Internal progression is something I want to avoid, as i'm rapidly losing faith in the company, carrots on a stick spring to mind. I want to move on, but I can't seem to find a job that I would enjoy.

My dream job would to be a train driver, but my (suspected) colour blindness is putting up a very good fight to stop this happening. I have had a few tests, with opticians unable to determine how colour blind I am, and if this will effect me passing the medical. I can score around 50% of the Ishihara plates correct, with the weakest being the light colours. As I don't even barely have enough experience to be a train driver now, I was thinking about progressing through the railway, but to get through the tests and interviews only to fail the medical would probably de-motivate me much lower than I am now.

I would like a career that is active and outdoors if possible, the thought of 9-5 at a desk all day would bore me to death.

As much as they aren't a desired job, I feel I would actually like being a bus driver, but the low pay really puts me off. I doubt that in 10-20 years time I would be able to live on £17k.

Money is not a huge motivator, I would rather have a job I enjoy for less money than having a job I hated. Ultimately, money is the reason we go to work, so pay is still a factor in my choices.

SteveS Cup

1,996 posts

159 months

Thursday 20th November 2014
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Have you thought about driving?

Progressing your way up the licence catergories in to HGV's if train driving isn't an option due to your colour blindness?

Salaries can be good and there are various career opportunities within the industry if you want a change (Transport Management / Driving Assessor etc).

STW2010

5,714 posts

161 months

Friday 21st November 2014
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How about trying to find an area of sales which keeps you travelling between sites and dealing with customers? With your background you'll understand both the business talk and the need to demonstrate some customer service.

I'm in the science field (not sales) so can't advise too much on what type of sales or similar would suit, but have a think.

What about a job as a buyer in the retail sector?

James2593

Original Poster:

570 posts

136 months

Saturday 22nd November 2014
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SteveS Cup said:
Have you thought about driving?

Progressing your way up the licence catergories in to HGV's if train driving isn't an option due to your colour blindness?

Salaries can be good and there are various career opportunities within the industry if you want a change (Transport Management / Driving Assessor etc).
HGV driving is something i've thought about, and when younger it is something I wanted to do. But the way the industry is, and its race to the bottom (with pay and working conditions) has made me wonder if it's an industry worth getting into?

E.g: http://www.pistonheads.com/GASSING/topic.asp?h=0&a...



STW, sales isn't my thing. Not sure how to word it, but i'm more of a process and task person than an upfront sales person.

STW2010

5,714 posts

161 months

Saturday 22nd November 2014
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Fair enough if sales isn't for you (I'm the same). Being a buyer wouldn't be quite the same though.

James2593 said:
I would like a career that is active and outdoors if possible, the thought of 9-5 at a desk all day would bore me to death.

How about looking at employers such as the National Trust or the Forestry Commission? When I finished my PhD I was up for being outdoors and making a difference so was looking at jobs where I could contribute to managing sites such as a woodland and visitor centre.

Have a browse through prospects.ac.uk to see if you can find anything which you may not have thought of. It's good that you are not motivated by earning mega bucks; I can certainly vouch for enjoyment over salary.

Well done completing your degree by the way. An accomplishment which is often overlooked by many!

jonnydm

5,107 posts

208 months

Monday 24th November 2014
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Retail experience, like moving around, 2.1 degree...
https://www.aldirecruitment.co.uk/graduate/

The Beaver King

6,095 posts

194 months

Monday 24th November 2014
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Apart from colour blindness, what is your general fitness like?

You could look into the Territorial Army? A mate of mine does it in tandem with his day to day job and loves it.

Goes on all sorts of courses and has done stints abroad (Germany and Cyprus).

It might be a good alternative if you can't find that 'perfect' career.


With regards to the post above mine, Aldi is an interesting one.

My cousin started working for them a few years back. Within 2 years he was a store manager and now, 3 years on, is a area manager.

The pay is very good, but the work is very hard. It has very high staff turnover and most struggle to last 18 months.

NorthernSky

981 posts

116 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
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Hi James,

Perhaps I can give you some perspective based on my experiences. I left uni after a support job, much like you, at 21 in a job paying me enough to live by through uni. 2:1, middle road A levels as well.

I only realized that I had been sleepwalking through uni and not actually asked the biggest question of all - 'what do i really want to do after all this' - until after graduation. Reading your post, I assume you may now be doing the same?

There are, in essence, three paths you could take. Firstly, apply like mad to all the graduate schemes out there. That'll elevate your pay to 24k+. If you are a driven, career - minded person then this may be the thing to do. The benefit is comfortable money, the downside - realizing sooner or later you're not living a great lifestyle with the 9-5 commute, grind and general struggle! The higher you may get, the greater the pressure. I have done this myself and am now at a crossroads, having saved some money... and grown to hate the lifestyle.

You mentioned working outdoors, and as a previous poster mentioned, the national trust/forestry commission seem like good places to apply. My advice, go for these, if you're a hard and committed worker then this'll pay off. You will have a job to be proud of, enough money to live well - if you spend it wisely! - and get to be active. Beats slumping over a desk or driving 3 hours a day.

Lastly - third option. Travel! Having not yet found the answer to the 'what job' question myself, i'm leaning in this direction a lot lately, and having traveled before, think it's the best thing you can ever do. There's a cliche about 'finding yourself' but honestly, it's better to take the time now to contemplate your path in life, but when you have some direction then you'll feel far more confident no matter what you do with your social or work life. No point banging your head against the wall and earning low money with low satisfaction. With your background (and you seem very articulate) you should be fine, just point yourself in a new direction! Your questions might just answer themselves.

Good luck!

James2593

Original Poster:

570 posts

136 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
quotequote all
Thanks all for the responses. I'll definitely look into that Aldi graduate scheme.

Yeah Northern, throughout university I was constantly thinking about what I wanted to do when I finished, but before I knew it the 3 years were over and I still had no idea.

National trust and forestry commission is a good shout! There's no vacancies near me at the moment, but i'll keep checking.