No experience But want to change my career at 23

No experience But want to change my career at 23

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Discussion

mph1977

12,467 posts

167 months

Saturday 1st August 2015
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Asterix said:
mph1977 said:
DuraAce said:
Join the military?
about the only way a graduate will get the training the OP wants , as no civvie street training provider is going to touvh the OP unless they self fund ...
...but not as an Officer, they're basically admin bods and workshop managers. If you really want to get to play with the kit then you need to start off as a ranker. Officers don't do any trade training.
Did i say anything aobut the OP going for a commission, the Military will try and direct the right graduates towards a commission but for some trades ( admittedly more on the signals and intelligence side of things, plus the Health professional trades where tere are OR and SNCO posts) the OR entrants are often well educated...

Recruiters will try and put well qualified people off OR entry at times becasue they know that the well qualified early - mid 20s entrant is going to end up carrying the 17- 19 year olds from thesink estates who have to be taught to clean both their rifle and their gun and one end of a iron from the other ...


Asterix

24,438 posts

227 months

Saturday 1st August 2015
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Indeed. I'd been Royal Anglian Reserve before applying for the Regs and wanted to stay Infantry. However, after taking the aptitude tests I was heavily persuaded to take a trade as I was eligible for everything.

They also have roles to fill and will steer candidates towards those that are below strength and also suitable.

AlexC1981

4,904 posts

216 months

Saturday 1st August 2015
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If you want to study engineering make sure you like maths. I did an Advanced GNVQ in Engineering back when they were all the rage.

The modules went something like this: Maths, Additional Maths, Further Maths, Advanced Maths. Even modules with interesting sounding names like Mechanical Engineering were actually all maths.

fking hate maths.

ben_h100

1,546 posts

178 months

Monday 3rd August 2015
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RAF - Aircraft or Weapons Tech.

Decent training and pay, good fun and can set you up for life.

Plus you will be treated like an adult compared to the Army.

drophead

1,056 posts

156 months

Monday 3rd August 2015
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Jaska said:
Jeni19 said:
Good question..Well I did psychology because it was the easiest thing I could do because my parents wanted me to go to uni. I never had much guidance so I really didn't know what I was doing at 18/19.... just went with the flow. But I've always been curious to find out how things worked, I even fixed my Mac desktop I bought second hand from a computer fair.
I have an A in maths from GscE s, and at uni I always used to get top grades for statistics. More than my lab reports.
And I will only stay in the UK because theres no place like home.
Hate to go OT but this is exactly what is wrong with the UK, why do we have a culture that causes people to spend 3 years and £30k+ on something that they dont actually know if they want to do? Especially in this case where someone has A's in maths, uses hands on electronics etc. No wonder we have a skills shortage!

I did the exact same thing OP, but somewhere in the second year realised I quite liked my degree subject after all so have stuck with it since - Do you not think there's a career for you in Psychology at all? Sounds like you have your mind set though.
I am too in the same boat OP! Only I'm 25 and have already done a good number of years in the Marketing field. It brought me no joy and made me quite bitter at the world as it really wasn't what i wanted to do.

I am now currently trying to get my foot through the door into a specialised part of the automotive industry such as car restoration or motorsports. It's proving difficult but doing something you enjoy day in day out is far better than doing something you detest the least just because it pays more.

robinessex

11,046 posts

180 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
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Two words. Engineering degree. Start from there. Two choices. Pay for it yourself, seek a job when you qualify. Or. Find someone to sponsor you, not easy, but you will gain lots of practical experience. Start writing to just about every engineering company you can find. You'll have a job at the end of your degree though. Don't forget, engineers are a chronic shortage in the UK, so that helps the learning/job situation. Future pay prospects. Structural engineers are pretty well paid, especially of you go contract. Circa £40+/hr in the UK, 50% more if you go to the continent. The Oil/Gas industry pays the most though. Unfortunately though, you will not get the £1M bonuses the very important bankers/hedge fund managers get each year. Sorry, Nothing to stop you investing (gambling) on the money markets like them though. !!!

Edited by robinessex on Tuesday 18th August 11:24

GlenMH

5,204 posts

242 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
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AlexC1981 said:
If you want to study engineering make sure you like maths.
OP you mention an A at GCSE in Maths. What did you do at A level?

I suggest getting Maths and Physics A levels before looking at engineering degrees - as Alex says, there is lots and lots of maths involved. Make sure the A levels have mechanics in them and not stats as that will be far more useful in engineering.

a311

5,789 posts

176 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
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A lot of the first year of any engineering degree is spent getting everyone's maths up to a similar standard. It will be a bit of a shock if you've haven't done or used much much of it since GCSE.

HayesDC2

285 posts

131 months

Wednesday 19th August 2015
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I did an apprenticeship straight out of school, with 4 a levels in maths, physics, chemistry and business.

Got onto a level 3 course which was the highest one offered through the apprenticeship agency and then spent the best part of 1.5 years just sat about while the rest of the class that had probably about 10 gcse qualifications (all in p.e. probably) between them tried and failed to comprehend the maths and physics based questions.

As has been said apprentice pay is pretty poor, I did the full 3 years and got a HNC, then began studying for a HND all the while working full time 4 days with 1 day at college. This was on about £4.50 an hour which was depressing to say the least.

After I asked for my pay to be reviewed and got a very firm no I handed in my notice, now work for an IT company where I'm very happy and my previous years of training are pretty irrelevant but they didn't cost me anything and I still have them should I need them in the future.

In short apprenticeships can be good as a means of obtaining qualifications and hands on experience which will be much more desirable to employers but it's important to carefully choose the company you decide to join.

Jeni19

Original Poster:

11 posts

104 months

Wednesday 19th August 2015
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Thanks guys I appreciate the feedback.
Thanks for sharing your experience....it broadens my perspective.

I'm thinking of just doing a generic job with the degree I have and make enough to go back to education one day....just feel so old...in psychology there was a paper published saying we lose a percentage of our brain capacity as we age but let's not generalise.
you're right, maths and physics are essential so it's a necessity. I have to go back.
Also there are numerous fields to help me get an insight into the automotor industry...such as insurance, car rentals, selling parts etc. start somewhere small as a side thing first.


Wish me luck...any further advice or story sharing is always welcomed!!!! smile

Jeni19

Original Poster:

11 posts

104 months

Wednesday 19th August 2015
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Gargamel said:
Jeni

Hi,

I googled Engineering Apprenticeships, I looked on the Indeed link - there are around 5000 hits

http://chj.tbe.taleo.net/chj01/ats/careers/requisi...

Like this one

Crack on - there is nothing holding you back. Get on a recognised scheme with a decent sized employer, don't piss about under cars - that's a weekend hobby.
You are awesome...I'm definitely looking into it
Thanks

audi321

5,156 posts

212 months

Thursday 20th August 2015
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I would go straight back to uni and do your mechanical engineering degree. The longer you leave it the harder it will become. I mean before you have a family etc settle down, get a mortgage etc, etc. If you can afford it, do it now.

Shame you didn't find PH's 3 years ago for this advice wink Surely you knew fairly early on in your phycology degree it wasn't for you??


a311

5,789 posts

176 months

Thursday 20th August 2015
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There's a trainee Project Manager in our place with a Psychology degree. As discussed in another recent thread Project Management is hard to get a break into it seems, but are well paid and don't necessarily need a technical background.

Disappointing to hear about the other poster experience with their apprenticeship. This is pigeon holing but I reckon apprenticeships are for those who are a bit more vocationally focused rather than academic. I reckon generally you're better off going into a apprenticeship at 16 rather than doing A levels. I think A levels are a stepping stone for uni, and in an apprenticeship you'd normally do an ONC, HNC, HND anyhow. A good mate went and did an electricians apprenticeship then went to uni after not long out of his time for his electrical engineering degree. Teachers etc thought he was nuts at the time but has done well for himself. He's a PM for a big engineering contractor who do big projects, airports, schools etc. He went to uni at 22, you're 23 not 33 so wouldn't worry about being too old, sure you'll be in the minority but there'll be people older than you and hopefully more mature to knuckle down and not (as) interested in getting smashed down the union 7 nights a week.

Will stand by my statement on the previous page:

There's absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to be on the tools and being a tradesman/technician. The difference between this and being 'an engineer' is do you want to be the person doing the job or the person, running and planning the job?

If it's the latter go back to uni, if the former go for the apprenticeship.

Good luck.

Jeni19

Original Poster:

11 posts

104 months

Sunday 23rd August 2015
quotequote all
audi321 said:
I would go straight back to uni and do your mechanical engineering degree. The longer you leave it the harder it will become. I mean before you have a family etc settle down, get a mortgage etc, etc. If you can afford it, do it now.

Shame you didn't find PH's 3 years ago for this advice wink Surely you knew fairly early on in your phycology degree it wasn't for you??


Yes true...I will do it as soon as I can afford it! smile
Well I did know Psychology may not be for me but I'm the type of person that doesn't like leaving something Unfinished. It's a bachelors in science with a lot of lab reports, collecting data from people and statistics, so the skills has helped me in other ways.

I definitely agree wish I had found this page 4/5 years ago! Oh wel no point dwelling on the past biggrin

Jeni19

Original Poster:

11 posts

104 months

Sunday 23rd August 2015
quotequote all
a311 said:
There's a trainee Project Manager in our place with a Psychology degree. As discussed in another recent thread Project Management is hard to get a break into it seems, but are well paid and don't necessarily need a technical background.

Disappointing to hear about the other poster experience with their apprenticeship. This is pigeon holing but I reckon apprenticeships are for those who are a bit more vocationally focused rather than academic. I reckon generally you're better off going into a apprenticeship at 16 rather than doing A levels. I think A levels are a stepping stone for uni, and in an apprenticeship you'd normally do an ONC, HNC, HND anyhow. A good mate went and did an electricians apprenticeship then went to uni after not long out of his time for his electrical engineering degree. Teachers etc thought he was nuts at the time but has done well for himself. He's a PM for a big engineering contractor who do big projects, airports, schools etc. He went to uni at 22, you're 23 not 33 so wouldn't worry about being too old, sure you'll be in the minority but there'll be people older than you and hopefully more mature to knuckle down and not (as) interested in getting smashed down the union 7 nights a week.

Will stand by my statement on the previous page:

There's absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to be on the tools and being a tradesman/technician. The difference between this and being 'an engineer' is do you want to be the person doing the job or the person, running and planning the job?

If it's the latter go back to uni, if the former go for the apprenticeship.

Good luck.
That's very helpful...you've broken things down to two routes, hence simpler to understand.. i will go back to uni. Creating and bringing a plan to life is something I've always thought of doing.
Your advice is great
Thanks. I do need all the luck I can get biggrin

WJNB

2,637 posts

160 months

Sunday 14th February 2016
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If I was your age even if in a good job I'd get out of the UK, & get out of Europe fast. Don't ask why just read the papers & read up on 20c European history.
America or Australia & if you learn a language your options will be greater, but whatever GO NOW.
Remember this advice in years to come.

audi321

5,156 posts

212 months

Monday 15th February 2016
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WJNB said:
If I was your age even if in a good job I'd get out of the UK, & get out of Europe fast. Don't ask why just read the papers & read up on 20c European history.
America or Australia & if you learn a language your options will be greater, but whatever GO NOW.
Remember this advice in years to come.
Talk about scaremongering!

Vaud

50,289 posts

154 months

Monday 15th February 2016
quotequote all
WJNB said:
If I was your age even if in a good job I'd get out of the UK, & get out of Europe fast. Don't ask why just read the papers & read up on 20c European history.
America or Australia & if you learn a language your options will be greater, but whatever GO NOW.
Remember this advice in years to come.
What an odd bump for a 5 month old thread!

elanfan

5,516 posts

226 months

Wednesday 17th February 2016
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audikentman

632 posts

241 months

Wednesday 17th February 2016
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OP whats the latest?

I worked in the motor trade from before I left school, Saturday job, sweeping up, pumping petrol (that shows how long ago) did that for 20 years before I got out.

Low pay, 5-6 days a week, no real job security, no pension, SSP when sick.

Now a traindriver, I wish I'd come on the railway from school.

Descent pay and conditions, 4 day week, better in work security, pension, paid sick.

If you want to get into engineering why not look at the railway?