25 with no career prospects, feel like a waster
Discussion
Do you interview well?
Interviewing well is almost as important as being able to do the job in question. In fact, I've probably got jobs in the past I shouldn't have because I did ok in interviews. Lots of tips on this forum about that, but worth getting familiar with before you're in a room with someone.
Interviewing well is almost as important as being able to do the job in question. In fact, I've probably got jobs in the past I shouldn't have because I did ok in interviews. Lots of tips on this forum about that, but worth getting familiar with before you're in a room with someone.
okgo said:
Do you interview well?
Interviewing well is almost as important as being able to do the job in question. In fact, I've probably got jobs in the past I shouldn't have because I did ok in interviews. Lots of tips on this forum about that, but worth getting familiar with before you're in a room with someone.
Yea I can't say ive ever had a bad interview apart from one. Always study the company and ask an array of questions when prompted. Interviewing well is almost as important as being able to do the job in question. In fact, I've probably got jobs in the past I shouldn't have because I did ok in interviews. Lots of tips on this forum about that, but worth getting familiar with before you're in a room with someone.
Did drop a b
k once when I asked what the salary would be, was given a vague answer so i kept asking in different ways before finally dropping it (it was listed as between 18-22k).Learnt from that mistake, wait to be offered the job before negotiating the salary
Seen the Army mentioned. I would second that. I was working in dead end retail and joined the Army. Best thing I ever did. I got medical discharge which really sucked as I loved it all. Gets you a trade, pays for college/university. So many options and life skills. Down side is war and you will have no life at all. Get treated like dirt day in and day out and next to nobody in the civilian world will give two hoots about your service. Big choice.
Edited by burritoNinja on Thursday 21st July 15:51
johnwilliams77 said:
RWD cossie wil said:
Pass me my largest tarring brush!! 
That's a pretty shocking/ narrow view you have of the forces there. Granted (with all due respect to the guys that do it) certain roles like infantry, weapons operators etc don't have a direct path back to civilian jobs, but join as an engineering trade & you will get probably the best training going.
I joined the RAF at 18, did pretty well at GCSEs, never really got enthusiastic about further education, as I'm not an academic type learner. Instead I got years of top quality training as an aircraft engineer, I went to some amazing places (Rio, Canada, Ascension Island, USA, & plenty more), went to some utter dumps (Iraq, Afghanistan, Scotland etc), made some great mates, generally had a good time, obviously had some crap times as well (show me a job without them?)..
Fast forward 12 years, I left the RAF at 30, completed all of the technical exams required to hold a civilian engineering licence for mechanical, electrical & avionic systems & got a job working for a cargo airline.
A few years later, I joined a company that contract to the RAF supplying brand new Airbus A330 refilling/ transport aircraft, I get to fly all over the world as an engineer, I'm responsible for certifying the aircraft as safe to fly, carrying out any maintenance or repairs that are required etc.. Putting 280+ people up in the sky is a pretty big responsibility when the decisions fall on your shoulders. It pays (very) well, and I can't see me moving for a long time.
Again, this isn't about trumpet blowing, but join the correct branch/trade of the forces & take advantage of the huge amounts of training & sports available & you are set for life. I can't imagine going to the same dreary, dull office every day for 20 years, or standing behind a counter being nice to bell ends who think that they can treat retail staff like dirt for 30 years!
I'm 36 in a few weeks, there are people I went to school with who have never worked outside a ten mile radius of where they went to school!
Can you share how well it pays? Ignore anyone accusing you of willy waving as its a genuine question and they're clearly jealous !That's a pretty shocking/ narrow view you have of the forces there. Granted (with all due respect to the guys that do it) certain roles like infantry, weapons operators etc don't have a direct path back to civilian jobs, but join as an engineering trade & you will get probably the best training going.
I joined the RAF at 18, did pretty well at GCSEs, never really got enthusiastic about further education, as I'm not an academic type learner. Instead I got years of top quality training as an aircraft engineer, I went to some amazing places (Rio, Canada, Ascension Island, USA, & plenty more), went to some utter dumps (Iraq, Afghanistan, Scotland etc), made some great mates, generally had a good time, obviously had some crap times as well (show me a job without them?)..
Fast forward 12 years, I left the RAF at 30, completed all of the technical exams required to hold a civilian engineering licence for mechanical, electrical & avionic systems & got a job working for a cargo airline.
A few years later, I joined a company that contract to the RAF supplying brand new Airbus A330 refilling/ transport aircraft, I get to fly all over the world as an engineer, I'm responsible for certifying the aircraft as safe to fly, carrying out any maintenance or repairs that are required etc.. Putting 280+ people up in the sky is a pretty big responsibility when the decisions fall on your shoulders. It pays (very) well, and I can't see me moving for a long time.
Again, this isn't about trumpet blowing, but join the correct branch/trade of the forces & take advantage of the huge amounts of training & sports available & you are set for life. I can't imagine going to the same dreary, dull office every day for 20 years, or standing behind a counter being nice to bell ends who think that they can treat retail staff like dirt for 30 years!
I'm 36 in a few weeks, there are people I went to school with who have never worked outside a ten mile radius of where they went to school!
As a permy you are looking anywhere between 40k for a small company/ new licence holder up to about 70k if you work for the right company, then you can add on overtime, company bonuses such as staff travel etc..
If you go contracting you are anywhere between £28ph- £45ph + VAT depending on what you are working on & where. Plenty of people earning 6 figures if you are willing to travel & work the hours.
I was in a similiar dilemma to OP a few years ago, having only worked crappy retail jobs and only really having a passion for computers. I managed to land a crappy apprenticeship that was really half arsed and not really suitable to me. I knew I didn't have a future in that company and so I needed to start again (again). Luckily the BTEC and other quals I got from my day release at college allowed me access into a foundation year at a reasonably good university.
The prospect of being 29 when I graduate was a little scary, as was knowing I was so far behind in life compared to other people my own age. However the thought of being back at my apprenticeship place or another awful retail job was terrifying and this gave me the motivation to work hard at uni.
I'm still there now doing a course similiar to computer science but more specialized. I am in the top 3 in my class and have gained friends, life experience and have become a lot more confident than I was at home. My course also exposes me to numerous employers in my industry who I and my peers get to regularly converse with. The idea is that the employers will become more familiar with us when we apply for placements and graduate jobs. Some of the opportunities these employers have are truly amazing and involve a huge amount of responsibility. Obviously getting a job like this isn't guaranteed but I feel my future is a lot brighter than it was before I moved to uni.
Also you'd be amazed how much "help" you will be entitled to if you do decide to go to uni. If you are 25 the student finance company will only consider your income when they determine what you are entitled to. This means that you are almost certain to be getting almost 8k a year, and you only have to pay back around 3.5k. Plus if you choose a good uni you could be looking a very generous bursary that does not need to be repaid unless you drop out. I am honestly earning almost 12k a year most of which will never need to be repaid. I still work part time as I have realised this is my ticket to a free house deposit (sorry taxpayers).
If you want to do optometry just get out there and do it, there's no reason for you not to.
The prospect of being 29 when I graduate was a little scary, as was knowing I was so far behind in life compared to other people my own age. However the thought of being back at my apprenticeship place or another awful retail job was terrifying and this gave me the motivation to work hard at uni.
I'm still there now doing a course similiar to computer science but more specialized. I am in the top 3 in my class and have gained friends, life experience and have become a lot more confident than I was at home. My course also exposes me to numerous employers in my industry who I and my peers get to regularly converse with. The idea is that the employers will become more familiar with us when we apply for placements and graduate jobs. Some of the opportunities these employers have are truly amazing and involve a huge amount of responsibility. Obviously getting a job like this isn't guaranteed but I feel my future is a lot brighter than it was before I moved to uni.
Also you'd be amazed how much "help" you will be entitled to if you do decide to go to uni. If you are 25 the student finance company will only consider your income when they determine what you are entitled to. This means that you are almost certain to be getting almost 8k a year, and you only have to pay back around 3.5k. Plus if you choose a good uni you could be looking a very generous bursary that does not need to be repaid unless you drop out. I am honestly earning almost 12k a year most of which will never need to be repaid. I still work part time as I have realised this is my ticket to a free house deposit (sorry taxpayers).
If you want to do optometry just get out there and do it, there's no reason for you not to.
A degree really is not the be-all. At my work we are in a team of 15 and we all have university education but not one person is working in what they studied for. I work in a financial sector for a university and 4 of my fellow workers are qualified teachers. Rest are nearly all IT related degrees.
So how are you getting on now?
- Modifying and working on my car. Nothing too intense. Installing new lights inside and out, installing ICE, cosmetic changes (no painting). Servicing i do all the basics like oil changes etc. The reason i do it is because its satisfying improving my own car. Would i enjoy doing it day to day on a low salary (as most mechanics are, generally)? Not at all. Especially being under pressure by a manager to do things in time, being told to up sell and con customers, working in the cold etc. So ruled that out.
- Same as above but with my motorbike. Wouldn't pursue as a career for the same reasons.
- The gym. I go at least thrice a week. But that is limited to a gym instructor who typically earns minimum or slightly over. Or a personal trainer who is self employed, and everyone i've spoken to said its a very tough market to crack, with most having second jobs just to pay the rent.
- Video gaming. Enjoy playing, wouldn't enjoy slaving at a computer week in week out to make animations.
- Travelling. Not even been to many places but do enjoy the odd motorcycle camping trip.
And that is about it. I do like watching stuff like Dragons Den and the Apprentice, seeing in its most basic form how businesses are run.
Its so difficult growing up as one of the kids who just doesn't have a passion for anything. I knew people who knew from 12 years old what they wanted to be, and worked to get it.Seems like part of the problem is that you're focussing on money; the chances of you finding something you love doing and making a high wage (in the short term) are incredibly slim.
As suggested above, try and find something you enjoy doing (there must be something?!?) and then find a way to make money from doing it. If you do enjoy it, chances are you'll be good at it, and you won't mind grafting to a point where the decent money will come.
EazyDuz said:
bhstewie said:
hstewie said: At 25 given a free reign I would like to think I'd be asking my past self "What do I enjoy doing enough that I could spend lots of time doing it in return for money?" and then pursue it assuming it's reasonably practical and you don't yearn to be a geologist or something that is essentially a sodding massive gamble.
It's a cliche but if you can find something you enjoy and you get paid for it, you never really feel like you've done a days work.
Well my hobbies are:It's a cliche but if you can find something you enjoy and you get paid for it, you never really feel like you've done a days work.
- Modifying and working on my car. Nothing too intense. Installing new lights inside and out, installing ICE, cosmetic changes (no painting). Servicing i do all the basics like oil changes etc. The reason i do it is because its satisfying improving my own car. Would i enjoy doing it day to day on a low salary (as most mechanics are, generally)? Not at all. Especially being under pressure by a manager to do things in time, being told to up sell and con customers, working in the cold etc. So ruled that out.
- Same as above but with my motorbike. Wouldn't pursue as a career for the same reasons.
- The gym. I go at least thrice a week. But that is limited to a gym instructor who typically earns minimum or slightly over. Or a personal trainer who is self employed, and everyone i've spoken to said its a very tough market to crack, with most having second jobs just to pay the rent.
- Video gaming. Enjoy playing, wouldn't enjoy slaving at a computer week in week out to make animations.
- Travelling. Not even been to many places but do enjoy the odd motorcycle camping trip.
And that is about it. I do like watching stuff like Dragons Den and the Apprentice, seeing in its most basic form how businesses are run.
Its so difficult growing up as one of the kids who just doesn't have a passion for anything. I knew people who knew from 12 years old what they wanted to be, and worked to get it.
As suggested above, try and find something you enjoy doing (there must be something?!?) and then find a way to make money from doing it. If you do enjoy it, chances are you'll be good at it, and you won't mind grafting to a point where the decent money will come.
Fastpedeller said:
Do you look like a famous person? -or with minor mod eg hairdo, not plastic surgery! could you? Big money to be made opening fetes etc if you look the part and are prepared to put in some effort/research.
Cracking advice this. Particularly if you have white hair, a long white beard and a ruddy complexion. Although you only have a three day window of opportunity till next year. I run a small business sorting out auto electronics. I have a business partner, and a mechanics that helps us out. We are flat out, nearly all the time, and after 5 fairly lean years, we are just starting to make some money.
My single biggest wish is to have someone young and enthusiastic come knocking on my door and asking to come and work for me. I'd love to start to be able to pass on the skills I have to someone younger and enthusiastic, and with the right 'head'. I'm coming up to 50 now, and my partner is nearly 60, so we would be keen for someone to take the business forward in a few years.
We've tried employing a few people, and they can't seem to make it past the first week without being late, or failing to turn up altogether.
So there are opportunities out there - you just got to make it happen.
My single biggest wish is to have someone young and enthusiastic come knocking on my door and asking to come and work for me. I'd love to start to be able to pass on the skills I have to someone younger and enthusiastic, and with the right 'head'. I'm coming up to 50 now, and my partner is nearly 60, so we would be keen for someone to take the business forward in a few years.
We've tried employing a few people, and they can't seem to make it past the first week without being late, or failing to turn up altogether.
So there are opportunities out there - you just got to make it happen.
Both of my parents left education with poor grades, let down by the system and didn't apply themselves, they're really clever people really (sadly only a small percentage of this got passed to me)
My mum didn't go to uni until she was in her late 30's, 10 years after graduating shes doing extremely well in the NHS.
Dad went to college in his early 30's, gained a huge amount of applied skills through diplomas and certificates and is now doing well too.
Just because you missed the whole school-6thform-uni-graduate job train at the start, doesn't mean you will never be able to get an education and career.
On the flipside of the education=job side, a friend I went college with dropped out of uni early and bounced around retail jobs before taking a sales/delivery job for a while, eventually his attitude got him headhunted and now hes a regional salesman earning the same I am after graduating! So maybe try a different entry-level job than retail and apply yourself, work your way up.
My mum didn't go to uni until she was in her late 30's, 10 years after graduating shes doing extremely well in the NHS.
Dad went to college in his early 30's, gained a huge amount of applied skills through diplomas and certificates and is now doing well too.
Just because you missed the whole school-6thform-uni-graduate job train at the start, doesn't mean you will never be able to get an education and career.
On the flipside of the education=job side, a friend I went college with dropped out of uni early and bounced around retail jobs before taking a sales/delivery job for a while, eventually his attitude got him headhunted and now hes a regional salesman earning the same I am after graduating! So maybe try a different entry-level job than retail and apply yourself, work your way up.
EazyDuz said:
I just didnt try at college, mixed with the wrong crowd, was easily influenced.
The Access to HE course as i said is designed for people who dont have A levels, and you dont even need GCSE's to do it. Its not as if they design the course for people who got AAA at A level, its a chance for people to get into uni.
The work will ramp up but its not anywhere near impossible, especially considering i'll have loads of time to study for it.
I can always bail on the course if something better comes along (i.e. BG apprenticeship), but its a good failsafe in the mean time and something to aim for.
I have also just been accepted for another interview for an IT role too, things are looking up
Sounds to me like you don't really have a passion for anything other than success which will get you nowhere.The Access to HE course as i said is designed for people who dont have A levels, and you dont even need GCSE's to do it. Its not as if they design the course for people who got AAA at A level, its a chance for people to get into uni.
The work will ramp up but its not anywhere near impossible, especially considering i'll have loads of time to study for it.
I can always bail on the course if something better comes along (i.e. BG apprenticeship), but its a good failsafe in the mean time and something to aim for.
I have also just been accepted for another interview for an IT role too, things are looking up
To be blunt you just need to find something you will be happy becoming the best at even if its not well paid.
I gave up UNI to work in an electrical store which I loved as I love tech. Clearly this wasn't well paid but I became one of the best in the company at what I did and learnt to sell the associated insurance. When money became an issue a couple of years later I graduated to Kitchen sales, and then cars.
I still love working in a shop even if its not the stereotypical shop.
2 of my friends have recently started an electrician apprenticeship at 25. Obviously the pay isn't amazing at first but it you get to learn a trade and can then continue with the company or go your own way.
I did an engineering apprenticeship, was lied to about the possibilities I had for growth in the company and was just used for cheap labour. Asked if I could continue education after getting a HNC and was told no. Left that and got an entry level job at an IT company doing shifts, spent the evening and night shifts reading the documentation meant for the analysts. Just over a year on and I'm now an analyst myself, the only one with no form of university education.
It's much easier to do well at something if you have a genuine interest!
I did an engineering apprenticeship, was lied to about the possibilities I had for growth in the company and was just used for cheap labour. Asked if I could continue education after getting a HNC and was told no. Left that and got an entry level job at an IT company doing shifts, spent the evening and night shifts reading the documentation meant for the analysts. Just over a year on and I'm now an analyst myself, the only one with no form of university education.
It's much easier to do well at something if you have a genuine interest!
Aside from all the good tips already mentioned you have to remember that formal education isn't the be all and end all.
There is little point returning if you do not have the desire and application nor the interest in what you are studying. Furthermore, studying for the sake of studying, whilst I would advocate that when young, is a bit short-term if you have no plan on where you go next.
Retail jobs and the like may have a transient workforce or age profile like the OP describes and you may not fit in but you'll quickly find that whatever place of work you are in there will be a diverse range of people all wanting different things from the company.
It sounds like what OP is missing is a plan, that's not the same as an ambition to get a super high paying job in the next 3 years, but a timeline and objective of where you would like to be. Against this you need to figure out what you need to do.
There is little point returning if you do not have the desire and application nor the interest in what you are studying. Furthermore, studying for the sake of studying, whilst I would advocate that when young, is a bit short-term if you have no plan on where you go next.
Retail jobs and the like may have a transient workforce or age profile like the OP describes and you may not fit in but you'll quickly find that whatever place of work you are in there will be a diverse range of people all wanting different things from the company.
It sounds like what OP is missing is a plan, that's not the same as an ambition to get a super high paying job in the next 3 years, but a timeline and objective of where you would like to be. Against this you need to figure out what you need to do.
I notice this thread is a few months old so it's a little bump.
I'm 26, have rubbish C, D and E grades in my A-levels and quit Uni after scraping the second year. I never bothered to study/revise hard and I regret that now. People who got AAA were the ones who would study every evening after school going over what they had learnt in class and revised religiously for exams. I played games instead! I've been working on my Father's successful farm for the past 6 years but I'm not sure if I can see myself here forever.
I'm in a similar situation to you I think but I'm on an OK wage working on the farm. I've always liked the idea of working in the Police and then specialising in a specific dept. within the Police such as the dog handling unit but with a starting salary of £20k and small increases over the years, not to mention the amount of work that they have to go through, what incentive is there? It's terrible pay!
I have however recently applied to be a Special Constable which could potentially be very good for me depending on if I get in. I've worked very hard on my application and I'm determined to work for this if I'm fortunate to get an interview/assessment day. I'm also determined to better my A-level grades which I failed to work for when I was 18 so I've bought some revision books and I'll be studying them in my spare time with the hope of retaking them in summer 2018.
If I'm able to get AAC or whatever then it'll prove that I can do these things if you work for it. The only barrier is you and that's what I've realised. My fiancée thinks I'm going through a young-life crisis! I'm taking one step at a time.
I'm 26, have rubbish C, D and E grades in my A-levels and quit Uni after scraping the second year. I never bothered to study/revise hard and I regret that now. People who got AAA were the ones who would study every evening after school going over what they had learnt in class and revised religiously for exams. I played games instead! I've been working on my Father's successful farm for the past 6 years but I'm not sure if I can see myself here forever.
I'm in a similar situation to you I think but I'm on an OK wage working on the farm. I've always liked the idea of working in the Police and then specialising in a specific dept. within the Police such as the dog handling unit but with a starting salary of £20k and small increases over the years, not to mention the amount of work that they have to go through, what incentive is there? It's terrible pay!
I have however recently applied to be a Special Constable which could potentially be very good for me depending on if I get in. I've worked very hard on my application and I'm determined to work for this if I'm fortunate to get an interview/assessment day. I'm also determined to better my A-level grades which I failed to work for when I was 18 so I've bought some revision books and I'll be studying them in my spare time with the hope of retaking them in summer 2018.
If I'm able to get AAC or whatever then it'll prove that I can do these things if you work for it. The only barrier is you and that's what I've realised. My fiancée thinks I'm going through a young-life crisis! I'm taking one step at a time.
Edited by Prohibiting on Friday 23 December 14:52
Should have thought about that before you decided to sack it all off shouldn't you?
Why do you deserve to be paid anything more? You're of no use to anyone as you are now beyond how much you can carry, and to add, you've not shown any signs of wanting to learn, or dedication to a cause by quitting. I'd say to get £20k with how you appear on paper would be the stuff of Dick Turpin on your behalf.
The sense of entitlement is hilarious.
Why do you deserve to be paid anything more? You're of no use to anyone as you are now beyond how much you can carry, and to add, you've not shown any signs of wanting to learn, or dedication to a cause by quitting. I'd say to get £20k with how you appear on paper would be the stuff of Dick Turpin on your behalf.
The sense of entitlement is hilarious.
Op, seriously join the forces. I have worked with lots of lads who loved it and got a lot out of it. If I had to choose between being in retail or the forces, it would take me about a minute to be googling for the recruitment centre. Perhaps join the TA first? then you can kind of try before you buy.
Prohibiting said:
I notice this thread is a few months old so it's a little bump.
I'm 26, have rubbish C, D and E grades in my A-levels and quit Uni after scraping the second year. I never bothered to study/revise hard and I regret that now. People who got AAA were the ones who would study every evening after school going over what they had learnt in class and revised religiously for exams. I played games instead! I've been working on my Father's successful farm for the past 6 years but I'm not sure if I can see myself here forever.
I'm in a similar situation to you I think but I'm on an OK wage working on the farm. I've always liked the idea of working in the Police and then specialising in a specific dept. within the Police such as the dog handling unit but with a starting salary of £20k and small increases over the years, not to mention the amount of work that they have to go through, what incentive is there? It's terrible pay!
I have however recently applied to be a Special Constable which could potentially be very good for me depending on if I get in. I've worked very hard on my application and I'm determined to work for this if I'm fortunate to get an interview/assessment day. I'm also determined to better my A-level grades which I failed to work for when I was 18 so I've bought some revision books and I'll be studying them in my spare time with the hope of retaking them in summer 2018.
If I'm able to get AAC or whatever then it'll prove that I can do these things if you work for it. The only barrier is you and that's what I've realised. My fiancée thinks I'm going through a young-life crisis! I'm taking one step at a time.
You'll need a degree to be a police officer of any kind shortly.I'm 26, have rubbish C, D and E grades in my A-levels and quit Uni after scraping the second year. I never bothered to study/revise hard and I regret that now. People who got AAA were the ones who would study every evening after school going over what they had learnt in class and revised religiously for exams. I played games instead! I've been working on my Father's successful farm for the past 6 years but I'm not sure if I can see myself here forever.
I'm in a similar situation to you I think but I'm on an OK wage working on the farm. I've always liked the idea of working in the Police and then specialising in a specific dept. within the Police such as the dog handling unit but with a starting salary of £20k and small increases over the years, not to mention the amount of work that they have to go through, what incentive is there? It's terrible pay!
I have however recently applied to be a Special Constable which could potentially be very good for me depending on if I get in. I've worked very hard on my application and I'm determined to work for this if I'm fortunate to get an interview/assessment day. I'm also determined to better my A-level grades which I failed to work for when I was 18 so I've bought some revision books and I'll be studying them in my spare time with the hope of retaking them in summer 2018.
If I'm able to get AAC or whatever then it'll prove that I can do these things if you work for it. The only barrier is you and that's what I've realised. My fiancée thinks I'm going through a young-life crisis! I'm taking one step at a time.
Edited by Prohibiting on Friday 23 December 14:52
sparks_E39 said:
You'll need a degree to be a police officer of any kind shortly.
Really? I honestly find that hard to believe and I'm specpital if that would ever be implemented... Just did a little google and it's not for definite. Realistically though I think they should increase the minimum requirements to A-levels, e.g. grades BBC.
Edited by Prohibiting on Friday 23 December 16:46
Prohibiting said:
sparks_E39 said:
You'll need a degree to be a police officer of any kind shortly.
Really? I honestly find that hard to believe and I'm specpital if that would ever be implemented... Just did a little google and it's not for definite. Realistically though I think they should increase the minimum requirements to A-levels, e.g. grades BBC.
Edited by Prohibiting on Friday 23 December 16:46
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