Starting a career from scratch wanting ideas
Discussion
Podie said:
Sparky or plumber would probably be a decent option.
If you're a desk bound type, project management.
Yes this interests me too but how the hell to achieve it. Traditional apprenticeships seem to be aimed at under 25s. Some other routes in such as electrical domestic installer courses seem like a good way to achieve a qualification and lighten your wallet, but not actually be able to get a job because they all want the time served variety.. and I doubt doing such a course over 35 weeks would provide sufficient experience or confidence to go self employed. If you're a desk bound type, project management.
I've just done it although I'm 27 so I guess a bit younger than you.
I graduated in 2010 with a 2:1 in Geography (fat lot of use in a recession!) and worked in banking for five years but hated it. I'm just coming to the end of a MA in Planning and started a full time job a month ago. I had the luxury of having 2 job offers and since starting work, I've had a number of recruiters approach me.
Go for a job/sector with a skills shortage and go for it!
I graduated in 2010 with a 2:1 in Geography (fat lot of use in a recession!) and worked in banking for five years but hated it. I'm just coming to the end of a MA in Planning and started a full time job a month ago. I had the luxury of having 2 job offers and since starting work, I've had a number of recruiters approach me.
Go for a job/sector with a skills shortage and go for it!
sparks_E39 said:
I've just been left a couple of grand by a grandparent who sadly passed, seriously thinking about buying a Van and a mower/gardening tools and getting my name out there. I just don't know if it will bring in enough.. I need to really earn £22-£25k minimum... I'm 29 and a bit fed up.
I think it would take a while to establish any business. I don't know what area you are from but in my area I don't see how clearing £500 a week average all year around would be achievable just from gardening because there are so many people advertising similar services. But maybe if you are going to branch out into handy man, man with van, etc, etc. GlenMH said:
Are you in an area where loads of people are installing wood burners? Or lots of Victorian houses? If so, then chimney sweep. 90 quid for 45 mins work and I had to book him 6 weeks in advance....
Not a bad shout that, though how many people actually use their chimneys in Victorian houses? I know I don't, and neither do any of m neighbors I don't think.okgo said:
Not a bad shout that, though how many people actually use their chimneys in Victorian houses? I know I don't, and neither do any of m neighbors I don't think.
If you have got a wood burner, you are supposed to get them swept annually. A place over the back of ours has got 3...VolvoT5 said:
I'm seriously considering signing up for an AAT level 2 certificate, has anyone got any experience?
Yes, I lost my job last September (aged 23) and decided to start afresh and I started AAT level 2 in January and I completed it about a month ago, and start level 3 in September.It's quite easy, but necessary to give you a good understanding of the basics in accounting. I'd recommend it
Let me know if there's anything else you'd like to know about it!
chrisb92 said:
Yes, I lost my job last September (aged 23) and decided to start afresh and I started AAT level 2 in January and I completed it about a month ago, and start level 3 in September.
It's quite easy, but necessary to give you a good understanding of the basics in accounting. I'd recommend it
Let me know if there's anything else you'd like to know about it!
Hi, thanks for the input. I'm only 30 btw, I don't know why I put 30 - 40s in my OP!It's quite easy, but necessary to give you a good understanding of the basics in accounting. I'd recommend it
Let me know if there's anything else you'd like to know about it!
Well I have no experience of accounting whatsoever, but I have been working through a free taster tutorial which I have found reasonably interesting. I've studied at University level before (but dropped out) so I know I can study, but I think level 2 appears to be the right starting point based on my lack of background experience.
I'm torn between the idea of attending a local college (circa £1000 and takes a full year) or distance learning via Kaplan or similar agencies which appears to be slightly cheaper with perhaps the possibility of completing in less than a year. Some sources even suggest it is possible to just buy the books, home study and pay for the exams separately.
Anyway, how did you go about it college or online learning and have you managed to find any work or work experience?
I have to say I'm also confused at the number of accounting qualifications and professional bodies out there. But my understanding is you can do AAT 2 & 3 which are for assistant or bookeeper roles, but only by moving on to AAT 4 and MAAT or possibly some kind of conversion to ACA is what is required to be a full accountant.
VolvoT5 said:
Hi, thanks for the input. I'm only 30 btw, I don't know why I put 30 - 40s in my OP!
Well I have no experience of accounting whatsoever, but I have been working through a free taster tutorial which I have found reasonably interesting. I've studied at University level before (but dropped out) so I know I can study, but I think level 2 appears to be the right starting point based on my lack of background experience.
I'm torn between the idea of attending a local college (circa £1000 and takes a full year) or distance learning via Kaplan or similar agencies which appears to be slightly cheaper with perhaps the possibility of completing in less than a year. Some sources even suggest it is possible to just buy the books, home study and pay for the exams separately.
Anyway, how did you go about it college or online learning and have you managed to find any work or work experience?
I have to say I'm also confused at the number of accounting qualifications and professional bodies out there. But my understanding is you can do AAT 2 & 3 which are for assistant or bookeeper roles, but only by moving on to AAT 4 and MAAT or possibly some kind of conversion to ACA is what is required to be a full accountant.
Hi, no worries! Happy to help.Well I have no experience of accounting whatsoever, but I have been working through a free taster tutorial which I have found reasonably interesting. I've studied at University level before (but dropped out) so I know I can study, but I think level 2 appears to be the right starting point based on my lack of background experience.
I'm torn between the idea of attending a local college (circa £1000 and takes a full year) or distance learning via Kaplan or similar agencies which appears to be slightly cheaper with perhaps the possibility of completing in less than a year. Some sources even suggest it is possible to just buy the books, home study and pay for the exams separately.
Anyway, how did you go about it college or online learning and have you managed to find any work or work experience?
I have to say I'm also confused at the number of accounting qualifications and professional bodies out there. But my understanding is you can do AAT 2 & 3 which are for assistant or bookeeper roles, but only by moving on to AAT 4 and MAAT or possibly some kind of conversion to ACA is what is required to be a full accountant.
If you're reasonably smart, I'd say to do distance learning. I started by doing distance learning through Kaplan and sat one exam this way, then got lucky and found some experience and I've started an apprenticeship. I personally intend on studying to level 4 AAT and then moving onto ACCA to become certified chartered or ACA and become chartered. It depends what my company will pay for me to do! College was quite slow paced for my liking, so if you think you'll struggle then go to college.
It was tough to find work as I had extremely little office experience before. If you have decent MSO skills you should be able to get a job.
chrisb92 said:
Hi, no worries! Happy to help.
If you're reasonably smart, I'd say to do distance learning. I started by doing distance learning through Kaplan and sat one exam this way, then got lucky and found some experience and I've started an apprenticeship. I personally intend on studying to level 4 AAT and then moving onto ACCA to become certified chartered or ACA and become chartered. It depends what my company will pay for me to do! College was quite slow paced for my liking, so if you think you'll struggle then go to college.
It was tough to find work as I had extremely little office experience before. If you have decent MSO skills you should be able to get a job.
My OH is doing exactly as this. She has just done her Level 2 as home learning and wrapped it up in about 6 months with minimal studying. She starts Level 3 in September but has opted for evening classes as apparently the difficulty jumps up a notch. After that, she does the same for Level 4 and then onto 'day release' for ACCA.If you're reasonably smart, I'd say to do distance learning. I started by doing distance learning through Kaplan and sat one exam this way, then got lucky and found some experience and I've started an apprenticeship. I personally intend on studying to level 4 AAT and then moving onto ACCA to become certified chartered or ACA and become chartered. It depends what my company will pay for me to do! College was quite slow paced for my liking, so if you think you'll struggle then go to college.
It was tough to find work as I had extremely little office experience before. If you have decent MSO skills you should be able to get a job.
She has the advantage in that she works as an Accounts Assistant at a FTSE company and works directly with the accountants, so she gets taught a lot of stuff by them. MSO is a big one, as Chris mentions; she absolutely annihilates me on Excel and I consider myself reasonable with it....
She started off as a temp in Credit Control, showed an aptitude for it and was poached by the accounts team.
Edited by The Beaver King on Tuesday 2nd August 13:48
VolvoT5 said:
sparks_E39 said:
I've just been left a couple of grand by a grandparent who sadly passed, seriously thinking about buying a Van and a mower/gardening tools and getting my name out there. I just don't know if it will bring in enough.. I need to really earn £22-£25k minimum... I'm 29 and a bit fed up.
I think it would take a while to establish any business. I don't know what area you are from but in my area I don't see how clearing £500 a week average all year around would be achievable just from gardening because there are so many people advertising similar services. But maybe if you are going to branch out into handy man, man with van, etc, etc. sparks_E39 said:
Indeed, but I hear so much about people setting up then being booked out for 4 months. Even seen it on here a few times. Gardeners always seem to be in strong demand.
Every tradesman I ever deal with seems to either:-1. Clearly be too busy to even bother returning calls/giving a quote.
2. If I am lucky (see 1) then cannot fit in the work for months on end.
That seems to apply across almost every trade so not quite sure what the Mail is on about insofar as our abundance of foreign workers leaving no jobs left for the English.
Yes Gardeners are - but only in the summer months when the grass needs cutting every week or autumn leaf collecting.
You either need to make enough in the summer months to cover the winter or find something else to focus on for the winter months.
Window cleaning is another possibility - it's not as easy as it looks
You either need to make enough in the summer months to cover the winter or find something else to focus on for the winter months.
Window cleaning is another possibility - it's not as easy as it looks
swerni said:
At the right moment, I want to (if I can ) become a postman.
It's the best exit strategy I have at the moment.
I've actually applied for a couple of postie jobs now and I'm waiting to hear back, fingers crossed. I was surprised that the money is reasonable enough for the level of skill involved (basically none), though apparently they have a high turn over of staff ?It's the best exit strategy I have at the moment.
Also considering investigating getting a class 2 or class 1 LGV license. I'm very decisive.
VolvoT5 said:
burritoNinja said:
I feel IT is hard to get into. I have nearly completed my computer science degree and I hold some professional certifications such as CCNA, Network Security and also ten years experience within web development
...
Sounds tough, but then every industry sounds tough these days. What you are saying seems to reflect a bit on the research I've done in that many of these roles want tons of experience and professional certs even for entry level. I'm wondering if CISCO CCNA 1 is worth doing as it is something offered by local colleges or even via the Open University, not that I've any real interest in going down the University route again. ...
IDK, I think I am more of a fixer than an inventor or creator.
My view of the IT world is that most young people are pushed into it as it's seen as a growing market, certainly I was out of school.
In reality it's an over-saturated market full of people with similar levels of qualifications (MCPs etc) doing 1st/2nd line support because the top jobs are very much over-applied for and usually take someone from their support teams to move up.
Career progression is therefore limited and slow, and the lower end is full of people who know enough to f
k it up but will also work for low money.7 years in that industry and I was struggling to break a salary mark that is 10k below what most decent hands on Engineering/Technician jobs START at in Industry.
There is also a massive shortage of intelligent young people being trained in Engineering fields, and most companies struggle to find good skilled workers willing to get dirty these days.
Of course, I now work with CNC machines which uses some of my IT knowledge, but the money is definitely easier to earn in Engineering and hands on jobs than it is sat in an office!
OP - do any of your interests/hobbies relate to any career paths that may be open to you?
VolvoT5 said:
swerni said:
At the right moment, I want to (if I can ) become a postman.
It's the best exit strategy I have at the moment.
I've actually applied for a couple of postie jobs now and I'm waiting to hear back, fingers crossed. I was surprised that the money is reasonable enough for the level of skill involved (basically none), though apparently they have a high turn over of staff ?It's the best exit strategy I have at the moment.
Also considering investigating getting a class 2 or class 1 LGV license. I'm very decisive.
Posties are well paid because most people see it as a bit of a dead-end job, I guess in summer it's not too bad (apart from getting attacked by dogs), but I would imagine winter is a bit harsh. On the plus side, plenty of exercise and fresh air brings health benefits
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