Discussion
You need to spend a day or two thinking about other options. At the moment, you probably only let it mill around in your head while you're commuting. Actually sit in the garden with a cold pint, pen and paper, no distractions, write down everything that comes to mind, even the silly ones. Then evaluate each one.
If you want to improve things in your current place, then perhaps speak to your boss about being interested in new challenges/projects (ie don't say, "I'm bored here; working for you depresses me!"). Perhaps write down ideas about how you'd improve/grow the company.
If you want to improve things in your current place, then perhaps speak to your boss about being interested in new challenges/projects (ie don't say, "I'm bored here; working for you depresses me!"). Perhaps write down ideas about how you'd improve/grow the company.
Edited by RemainAllHoof on Monday 4th July 18:47
TBH I don't know why your skills limit you to SME. You could be using those skills in a blue chip company. Perhaps it is time to speak to a recruitment consultant who can review your skills and compare them to the requirements of a big company.
Have a look on Totaljobs.com and focus on central London.
Have a look on Totaljobs.com and focus on central London.
Edited by RemainAllHoof on Monday 4th July 19:16
I don't know the industry very well, but from the sounds of the situation, it might depend on whether you're prepared and able to take a bit of a cut in pay/relative seniority for a few years to broaden your skill set.
Typically with technical careers the hard part is to make the leap to a more business orientated role while still making the most of your technical skills. Whether you go down a pre-sales, management or some other route to this is something you need to think about in the context of your industry and your own desires and ambitions.
If you're not prepared or able to take a cut or a sideways movement, how about starting your own business?
Typically with technical careers the hard part is to make the leap to a more business orientated role while still making the most of your technical skills. Whether you go down a pre-sales, management or some other route to this is something you need to think about in the context of your industry and your own desires and ambitions.
If you're not prepared or able to take a cut or a sideways movement, how about starting your own business?
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Is it more scary than being in the same industry for the next 30 years? Perhaps taking a pay cut for 5 years while you develop new skills in a different industry is better? Think how you will feel rather than just the money. I was in a well-paid job but realised the only thing getting me out of bed in the morning was the people I worked with and the enjoyment of the drive getting to the office. I decided to start my own business and get the hell out of there; this involved seriously changing the way I spent money in order to not take a salary for a few years and live off my savings. I am much happier now.As for you starting your own business, if your head hasn't already been buzzing with more ideas than you can write down then I would suggest it isn't for you.
I know exactly how you feel - up until November last year I was in exactly the same situation (it could almost have been me writing that post!).
Unfortunately my hand was forced by the company I'd been with for nearly 12 years going under and all the staff being made redundant at a day's notice. In January I started work for another company in the same industry but with a different position (Technical Sales instead of Test Technician) but decided that really wasn't for me, so looked around and switched industries but still ended up in another desk job, which I've realised is not my thing. So, I'm now trying to get back to working in a techy position... For all that I thought I didn't like the place I'd been at for all that time, I'd give anything to be back there now!
If you're really set on making the move, get your CV on all the websites, contact all the technical recruitment agencies you can, and just keep on it. Good tech staff seem to be in short supply, and many of your skills will be transferable even if you think they aren't! A good agency will be able to match you up with potential positions that may suit.
Good luck!
Unfortunately my hand was forced by the company I'd been with for nearly 12 years going under and all the staff being made redundant at a day's notice. In January I started work for another company in the same industry but with a different position (Technical Sales instead of Test Technician) but decided that really wasn't for me, so looked around and switched industries but still ended up in another desk job, which I've realised is not my thing. So, I'm now trying to get back to working in a techy position... For all that I thought I didn't like the place I'd been at for all that time, I'd give anything to be back there now!
If you're really set on making the move, get your CV on all the websites, contact all the technical recruitment agencies you can, and just keep on it. Good tech staff seem to be in short supply, and many of your skills will be transferable even if you think they aren't! A good agency will be able to match you up with potential positions that may suit.
Good luck!
Check out my post in this thread regarding applying direct:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
You find yourself in a place that thousands of others find themselves in too. It is not unusual and is in fact nearly anticipated for someone with ambition and hitting the second phase of their working lives. There are as many options as there are people. But there are options, and ways of helping to identify them too. Coaches, mentors and supportive employers can add huge value. HTH further; PM me if interested. Good luck!
rog007 said:
You find yourself in a place that thousands of others find themselves in too. It is not unusual and is in fact nearly anticipated for someone with ambition and hitting the second phase of their working lives. There are as many options as there are people. But there are options, and ways of helping to identify them too. Coaches, mentors and supportive employers can add huge value. HTH further; PM me if interested. Good luck!
Are coaches and mentors effectively just moral support? (Not meaning it disparagingly, just unaware of the concept 
)If it gives me a different view of my options etc, then I may be interested in something like this.
Coaching is…
"a process that enables learning and development to occur and thus performance to improve. To be a successful a Coach requires a knowledge and understanding of process as well as the variety of styles, skills and techniques that are appropriate to the context in which the coaching takes place"
Eric Parsloe, The Manager as Coach and Mentor (1999) page 8.
Mentoring is...
"off-line help by one person to another in making significant transitions in knowledge, work or thinking"
Clutterbuck, D & Megginson, D, Mentoring Executives and Directors (1999) page 3.
With coaching, the focus is generally on development/issues at work and is usually over a shortish period, whereas with mentoring, the focus is on career and personal development and is usually over a longer period of time. It is usual to find a coach external to your organisation and who does not need intimate knowledge of your sector, whereas a mentor is often someone in your organisation, or at least in a similar industry.
These are proven and valuable tools. You can research further via the usual search engines. Hope this helps.
"a process that enables learning and development to occur and thus performance to improve. To be a successful a Coach requires a knowledge and understanding of process as well as the variety of styles, skills and techniques that are appropriate to the context in which the coaching takes place"
Eric Parsloe, The Manager as Coach and Mentor (1999) page 8.
Mentoring is...
"off-line help by one person to another in making significant transitions in knowledge, work or thinking"
Clutterbuck, D & Megginson, D, Mentoring Executives and Directors (1999) page 3.
With coaching, the focus is generally on development/issues at work and is usually over a shortish period, whereas with mentoring, the focus is on career and personal development and is usually over a longer period of time. It is usual to find a coach external to your organisation and who does not need intimate knowledge of your sector, whereas a mentor is often someone in your organisation, or at least in a similar industry.
These are proven and valuable tools. You can research further via the usual search engines. Hope this helps.
Just as a bit of an update that may or may not help your decision-making; I've managed to get a couple of interviews and been put forward for a few jobs by agencies but yesterday decided that enough was enough and that I hated the desk job, so had a meeting with the manager and basically said that it wasn't working out and the job wasn't for me, even without something else to go to. They've now asked me to give them a few days to see if they think they can use me in a role better suited to my skills/abilities, which I wasn't expecting!
So, it may be worth taking a leap of faith...?
So, it may be worth taking a leap of faith...?
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