Am I mad?

[Jimmy No Hands]

I'm 22 and I work full time currently for a precision wire manufacturer, in heat treatment. I happened upon it by pure chance and its not particularly what I wanted to end up doing. The money is very good and for my age theres probably nothing much around at entry level that can match it. But I find it very numbing and there's little or no room to progress and what room there is I don't have the motivation to go for it.

I really want to go into car restoration and I know it's fairly specialist but its something I desperately want to do. After a recent visit to the classic car show I got talking to one of the chaps who runs a course at a local college which has been running a very highly regarded course for the past 20 years. It's a full years intense hands on course in some of their work shops and runs over Monday, Tuesday Wednesday so would allow me to work part time at the same time. I don't currently have many outgoings and have no mortgage or children. The fees are fairly steep but I believe saving for them wouldn't be an issue as I would continue to work full time right up until enrollment.

Obviously my biggest concerns are just what opportunities I will have at the end of the course. From lasts years course entrants one chap went on to work for Prodrive and another for Ford. Two went to work at a firm in Switzerland and another runs his own business. Which is all well and good but I suppose mileage may vary as it it is very specialist and just how much can you learn in one year? The course covers panel fabrication and repair, welding, paint refinishing and general mechanics. So it is fairly open in regards to what I could go into afterwards.

Some people tell me I'm mad for giving up my full time position to do this, and others tell me im still young and only live once. So PH, should I stop dreaming and just go for it?

[zaphod42]

Go for it.

In your shoes I'd think about:

• Talking to your boss and seeing if he would consider you on part time / overtime /etc - if he understands your dream he might be surprisingly supportive
• Ask to email/talk directly with some people that have done the course and get them to take you through their highs/lows and push them on the kind of salary they are on now.
• Talk to prospective employers - do they hire from this course, or do they require other experience / portfolio of work first.

[Piersman2]

If I was you, I'd say do it. I've worked for 25+ years now, and sooner or later I'll know what I actually want to do as a career.

If you have a real desire to do something specific, then do it. A year or 2 now of relative pain could mean you spending the 23 years after that doing something you actually have a passion for. That's priceless!

[wolf1]

At 22 with no ties there's no reason not to do it. Your young enough to chase another career path if it doesn't work out, and the worst that could happen is you get a different job but have skills that will last you a lifetime.

[Jimmy No Hands]

Honestly this is the opinion I have of it all and deep down I know what I want to do, I'm just seeking justification. We've been putting off saving for a house deposit as my OH is studying at university for another three years so it is ideal really to do it now.

Edit: It seems to be the older generation of the family who disagree with it and put me off a bit. They think I should be content with having a well paid job in these times and be realistic. But I know if I don't at least try I will regret it.


Thanks chaps.

Edited by Jimmy No Hands on Friday 2nd December 13:17