Training Suggestions for 21 Year-Old Son
Discussion
Hi all.
My son is looking for another employable skill. He left college with a couple of A-levels and completed an apprenticeship as a chef. He's currently in that line of work and hopefully is about to receive a job offer in a decent restaurant.
He's not an academic and has no interest in getting a degree. He recognises that whilst working as a chef will probably mean he'll always have a fair chance of work somewhere, he also recognises that the hours are usually bad and the pay fairly poor.
He lives at home with us, and if he wanted to he could spend a few years training to do something else instead. There are traditional trades to learn of course, but I'd very much welcome the thoughts of the PH minds.
I've no doubt that someone out there would say "If I were 21, and could live rent free for a few years, what I'd train for is...."
Thanks all.
My son is looking for another employable skill. He left college with a couple of A-levels and completed an apprenticeship as a chef. He's currently in that line of work and hopefully is about to receive a job offer in a decent restaurant.
He's not an academic and has no interest in getting a degree. He recognises that whilst working as a chef will probably mean he'll always have a fair chance of work somewhere, he also recognises that the hours are usually bad and the pay fairly poor.
He lives at home with us, and if he wanted to he could spend a few years training to do something else instead. There are traditional trades to learn of course, but I'd very much welcome the thoughts of the PH minds.
I've no doubt that someone out there would say "If I were 21, and could live rent free for a few years, what I'd train for is...."
Thanks all.
Crush said:
Has he considered staying within hospitality and getting on the management courses of a brewery / restaurant chain?
Glad you're not forcing him down the academic route, a lot of parents have this silly belief that a university degree is vital for jobs
A good question, though he worked for Waitrose part-time and whilst he knew about their own management programme, he never seemed that interested in such a move. I will mention it again though. Thank you.Glad you're not forcing him down the academic route, a lot of parents have this silly belief that a university degree is vital for jobs
mph1977 said:
biggest problem will be training funding as he;s allready had 2 bites of the FE cherry with a levels and an apprenticeship .
Yes I understand there will be training costs but I'll pay them. He's an only child and he'll inherit the money one day regardless. Equally, he can pay me back one day...Once again, thanks to you all.
He does like being a chef, and he's pretty good. What he doesn't like is the very anti-social hours and pretty poor pay (current and potential).
Why did he train to do it? Partly because he does like his cooking, partly because he wanted to learn a new skill and not have a gaping hole on his CV and partly because of the likelihood it would bring of always find some kind of work.
He's a good lad. Honest, hardworking, considerate and polite. He's very driven when he has a goal, but he's a little lacking when there's a broader picture. For example, he'll be all over researching about the tree surgery suggestion, but he wouldn't have considered starting this thread.
(As a side-point I've found that to be common with some young people. They know Facebook etc. backwards but don't seem to know how to research things or use the internet to its full extent).
Computers? He's not technically minded. He loves science, but I don't seem him as a coder. 944fan, could I ask what you do in the IT industry that didn't need a degree?
Once again though, thanks all. I shall point him at this thread later and show him what can be found and suggested on one web page, on one forum, in one day...
He does like being a chef, and he's pretty good. What he doesn't like is the very anti-social hours and pretty poor pay (current and potential).
Why did he train to do it? Partly because he does like his cooking, partly because he wanted to learn a new skill and not have a gaping hole on his CV and partly because of the likelihood it would bring of always find some kind of work.
He's a good lad. Honest, hardworking, considerate and polite. He's very driven when he has a goal, but he's a little lacking when there's a broader picture. For example, he'll be all over researching about the tree surgery suggestion, but he wouldn't have considered starting this thread.
(As a side-point I've found that to be common with some young people. They know Facebook etc. backwards but don't seem to know how to research things or use the internet to its full extent).
Computers? He's not technically minded. He loves science, but I don't seem him as a coder. 944fan, could I ask what you do in the IT industry that didn't need a degree?
Once again though, thanks all. I shall point him at this thread later and show him what can be found and suggested on one web page, on one forum, in one day...
944fan said:
I started as a developer and am now IT Director. Worked in development for about 11 years, then senior and upwards. Some places will demand a degree but my view is they are not very good for something practical like IT. I have seen two many grads who have the academic IT knowledge but cannot apply it to the real world.
Networks in an area that is a but more hands on science type. Not something I know a great deal about but there a plenty of industry qualifications that can be got (CCNP, A+) which will be favoured over and above a degree.
There is also the IT Apprenticeships. Not had any experience as yet but might be taking one on in the future.
There is a big skills gap in IT but there is also a massive lack of people with a personality. A few years ago developers were locked in a room and didn't speak to anyone outside of the IT department. These days they sometimes need to be client facing and certainly need to interact with the entire workforce so having a personality can be just as important.
Thanks for that. He'll read this thread later but my feeling is very much that he's not the IT sort. I know that's a bit of a sweeping statement but then again, who knows?...Networks in an area that is a but more hands on science type. Not something I know a great deal about but there a plenty of industry qualifications that can be got (CCNP, A+) which will be favoured over and above a degree.
There is also the IT Apprenticeships. Not had any experience as yet but might be taking one on in the future.
There is a big skills gap in IT but there is also a massive lack of people with a personality. A few years ago developers were locked in a room and didn't speak to anyone outside of the IT department. These days they sometimes need to be client facing and certainly need to interact with the entire workforce so having a personality can be just as important.
Pinger23 said:
http://www.neilson.co.uk/recruitment/summer/hotel-...
If I could go back I'd like to do a ski season - its a bit late for ski but what about summer?
I always book skiing with Neilson and the young staff are fantastic, they work really hard but look like they enjoy it.
Would he like to try working in a different environment/country but still be a chef?
That's another fair suggestion, but he does have a girlfriend here in the UK (she's at Bath Uni, we live in Somerset). They like to see each other fairly regularly of course. Once she's completed her degree I think such things might be more attractive.If I could go back I'd like to do a ski season - its a bit late for ski but what about summer?
I always book skiing with Neilson and the young staff are fantastic, they work really hard but look like they enjoy it.
Would he like to try working in a different environment/country but still be a chef?
Thanks for that.
DuraAce said:
Chef? Has he thought about joining the armed forces? Lots of opportunities.....
There was a time was he was pretty certain he wanted to join the armed forces but without a degree he'd be going in as infantry and whilst he'd cope with the training I don't think it's something he's prepared to do.I'll be honest and say that had he passed three A-levels he *might* have gone to Uni and would probably have got a degree. The problem though would be that he'd most likely have achieved an 'average' degree in a subject like Geography and he really didn't want 30k of debt hanging over him. There's nothing academic that he's passionate about, and I think you've got to have passion for something when studying to that level.
These are all very insightful and helpful suggestions though, which he will be made aware of. For now I think he'll keep his options open and work hard at being a chef, and do some of his own research.If it were me at 21, I'd be all over the skiing/holiday rep stuff but he's very much a home-loving lad and not really a party type.
Once again, thanks to you all.
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