Career advice...

[TheCarFather]

I am currently at 6th form and about to get my Distinction* Business diploma certificate and International baccalaureate.

I am very stuck on what to do next, I do not want to go to a normal university.

I have narrowed down my options and come up with two paths for me to take:

( I want to do something in the business world in a job where hard work gets rewarded with progression, ideally something to do with sales).

1) Get an apprenticeship and start from the ground up, perhaps in bookkeeping or something where eventually i would become an account sales manager.

2) get a degree via online university in Business and management, whilst at the same time having 'normal' job ( earning more than I would with an apprenticeship most probably) for three years till I have a degree and then going for a graduate level job.


Thoughts? thankyou

[speedtwelve]

Just an opinion, but is this really what you want to do with your life? I can't think of anything more soul-destroyingly dull. You did ask for career advice after all.... Isn't there anything more dynamic that you'd want to do?

[TheCarFather]

speedtwelve said:

Just an opinion, but is this really what you want to do with your life? I can't think of anything more soul-destroyingly dull. You did ask for career advice after all.... Isn't there anything more dynamic that you'd want to do?

I feel like the other things i'd like to do I couldn't for various reasons.

A psychology/ criminology degree and then go into the police (I haven't studied either before, although I could take one of the degrees with the open university i'm not sure if it'd be too hard).

Sport coaching: Wouldn't pay enough/ hard to even earn decent money.

[speedtwelve]

The criminology/Police/sports coaching ideas certainly sound more rewarding. Money ain't everything. Pick something to do that you'd enjoy and get some satisfaction from, as opposed to a terminally-dull money earner.

[anonymous-user]

TheCarFather said:

1) Get an apprenticeship and start from the ground up, perhaps in bookkeeping or something where eventually i would become an account sales manager.

2) get a degree via online university in Business and management, whilst at the same time having 'normal' job ( earning more than I would with an apprenticeship most probably) for three years till I have a degree and then going for a graduate level job.


Thoughts? thankyou

Option 1, unless the phrase "Would you like to go large for an extra 30p?" comes easily to you.
The saying "Those who go to university are employed by those who didn't" has more than a ring of truth to it.

[Siscar]

speedtwelve said:

Just an opinion, but is this really what you want to do with your life? I can't think of anything more soul-destroyingly dull. You did ask for career advice after all.... Isn't there anything more dynamic that you'd want to do?

There's nothing dull about a business career if that's what you want to do and are good at. If I look back at my past 30 years, the places ive been, the things I've done and my current financial situation it would be hard to see how I could have made a better choice.

speedtwelve said:

The criminology/Police/sports coaching ideas certainly sound more rewarding. Money ain't everything. Pick something to do that you'd enjoy and get some satisfaction from, as opposed to a terminally-dull money earner.

Personally I couldn't imagine enjoying joining the police and sports coaching is very hard to make a living from.

If you want a business career you need to get started somewhere and it really is down to getting a job and working at it. Bookkeeping isn't going to take you into sales directly though, it's a bit of a side track but it is about gaining experience and then progressing.

[Chilli]

speedtwelve said:

Just an opinion, but is this really what you want to do with your life? I can't think of anything more soul-destroyingly dull. You did ask for career advice after all.... Isn't there anything more dynamic that you'd want to do?

I thought exactly the same thing!

OP the world is your oyster.....think of something that will give you a hard-on each night, and that you leap out of bed to do each day. Sales and Book-keeping? Come on man, you can do better than that!

[blippo1984]

Look at the school leaver schemes offered by large businesses, accountancy and law firms.

For example you could spend 5 years at a large accountancy firm, gain a bankable business qualifucation and thenstay ir move on to another business to continue your career.

[kazste]

University isn't for everyone, however you do sound like you do well at school so discount this option with a view to making early contact with a company for holiday work experience and the possibility of graduate scheme.

Why don't you want to go to uni? It's your choice obviously but make sure your wanting to not go for the right reasons. As for a part time course whilst working, make sure you know how much work this would be. At the same time as trying to impress a new employer ie coming in bright and alert plus staying late if needed you would need to fit in 10 hrs or so a week of uni work. I struggled with a HNC and didn't have anyone to impress at work.

Don't rush into anything, listen to everyone's opinion and advice and make your own decision, good luck.

[santona1937]

I said this to my kids when they were making decisions about their lives;

IT does not matter what you do or how much you get paid, what counts is that you wake up most mornings looking forward to the day, that you enjoy what you do, and that for you as an individual it brings some meaning to your life. If you cannot make that decision yet then continue your formal education while working at various jobs until you can make that decision. If you do that, the worse that can happen is that you end up a well educated well rounded human being with empathy for others, and that in itself should be considered a success.

All my kids ( 5 of them) are self sufficient and happy. As a parent I could wish for nothing more

[Chilli]

swerni said:

You're so right, it's soul destroying
I bloody hate traveling the world, staying in amazing, hotels in incredible cities, eating wonderful food and having someone else pick up the bill.
I hate building long term business relations with interesting people and then getting pissed with them.
Prague this week and Barcelona last week were particularly tough

But hey, it ain't all bad, the pays okay and I choose when and where I work, so if I fancy going for and afternoon ride on the bike, then I can.

Ah, but you must be a really special book-keeper, or even a cracking photocopier salesman...this is what I had in mind for the OP! You know what I mean!

OP, have you tried being a professional golfer, or the pron industry?

[oldbanger]

I personally wouldn't rule out a degree if you want to work in business, as many larger organisations will insist you have one (especially a Russell Group one) just to pass the first paper sift in a management role.

If you are interested in both business and criminology, may I suggest that you consider economics as one option? It's a really versatile subject that touches on both areas.

[TheCarFather]

oldbanger said:

I personally wouldn't rule out a degree if you want to work in business, as many larger organisations will insist you have one (especially a Russell Group one) just to pass the first paper sift in a management role.

If you are interested in both business and criminology, may I suggest that you consider economics as one option? It's a really versatile subject that touches on both areas.

OK thank you for the advice! I will certainly look at economics!

[TheCarFather]

Chilli said:

I thought exactly the same thing!

OP the world is your oyster.....think of something that will give you a hard-on each night, and that you leap out of bed to do each day. Sales and Book-keeping? Come on man, you can do better than that!

I know exactly what you mean but i'm not saying that I would stay in one of these roles and be content, but it's just a stepping stone to bigger and better things, everyone starts somewhere

[TheCarFather]

santona1937 said:

I said this to my kids when they were making decisions about their lives;

IT does not matter what you do or how much you get paid, what counts is that you wake up most mornings looking forward to the day, that you enjoy what you do, and that for you as an individual it brings some meaning to your life. If you cannot make that decision yet then continue your formal education while working at various jobs until you can make that decision. If you do that, the worse that can happen is that you end up a well educated well rounded human being with empathy for others, and that in itself should be considered a success.

All my kids ( 5 of them) are self sufficient and happy. As a parent I could wish for nothing more

I know what you mean about being happy is all that matters. But for me to be happy I want a job that pays well AND I enjoy it. Because for me to enjoy myself in life I think it will matter how much I get paid as this means i'd be able to do more things i'd always wanted to do.

[TheCarFather]

kazste said:

University isn't for everyone, however you do sound like you do well at school so discount this option with a view to making early contact with a company for holiday work experience and the possibility of graduate scheme.

Why don't you want to go to uni? It's your choice obviously but make sure your wanting to not go for the right reasons. As for a part time course whilst working, make sure you know how much work this would be. At the same time as trying to impress a new employer ie coming in bright and alert plus staying late if needed you would need to fit in 10 hrs or so a week of uni work. I struggled with a HNC and didn't have anyone to impress at work.

Don't rush into anything, listen to everyone's opinion and advice and make your own decision, good luck.

The main reason i'd rather do open uni over normal uni would be that it means i'd be able to work at the same time, thus impressing employees. I know it would be a lot of work but I am very self motivated and would look at jobs that don't have so much hours that it would jeopardise my degree result.

Thankyou

[Siscar]

TheCarFather said:

I know exactly what you mean but i'm not saying that I would stay in one of these roles and be content, but it's just a stepping stone to bigger and better things, everyone starts somewhere

Exactly. When I look back at the people I was at school with, there is one who went into accountancy, he teamed up with someone and between them they have spent the past 30 years building a group that is US based and a Fortune 100 company. He was paid over $6m last year and has homes in London and New York, heavily involved in cricket and other things that he loves.

I have a friend who is a BA pilot, when he started he thought it was great, today he's counting down time to retirement. He does short haul these days having grown to see the job as being incredibly boring.

My wife's friend's husband is a police inspector, never would you meet such a twisted man, bitter about all sorts of people and things.

Another friend is now a partner in one of the top accountancy firms, currently based in Sydney with a brilliant lifestyle, lives in Rose Bay, has his own yacht, an ex-boss of mine also lives in Rose Bay, has a view across his infinity pool over the harbour direct to the Opera House and Bridge - all based on a hugely satisfying business career.

Personally I went into IT, started a company 20+ years ago, earned a lot of money, been able to do a lot of things that matter to me - watching Rugby around the world, I've driven most modern supercars, travelled to pretty much everywhere I want to.

So yes, if you are passionate about doing something that may earn you buttons then go for it, but being able to start and build a business has been hugely satisfying and given me the money to ensure that I can do pretty much anything I want to.

[santona1937]

Note that most folks who are happy and making good wedge are doing something they enjoy. Money itself can come and go, if you really enjoy something you will earn enough to do what you wish, because you will be very good at it. The money is almost immaterial.
I happen to do something I am passionate about, because of that I make a decent living, have traveled a lot of the world for work. I wake up most mornings looking forward to the day. I don't live to work, but work is bound up in my life in a way that I do not notice, because I love what I do.
It took a long time to earn anything approaching a reasonable ( above average) income- 15 years or so, but it was worth it.

[anonymous-user]

swerni said:

Chilli said:

speedtwelve said:

Just an opinion, but is this really what you want to do with your life? I can't think of anything more soul-destroyingly dull. You did ask for career advice after all.... Isn't there anything more dynamic that you'd want to do?

I thought exactly the same thing!

OP the world is your oyster.....think of something that will give you a hard-on each night, and that you leap out of bed to do each day. Sales and Book-keeping? Come on man, you can do better than that!

You're so right, it's soul destroying
I bloody hate traveling the world, staying in amazing, hotels in incredible cities, eating wonderful food and having someone else pick up the bill.
I hate building long term business relations with interesting people and then getting pissed with them.
Prague this week and Barcelona last week were particularly tough

But hey, it ain't all bad, the pays okay and I choose when and where I work, so if I fancy going for and afternoon ride on the bike, then I can.

Done all that, but with less PowerPoint, thank god.

[anonymous-user]

swerni said:

Crossflow Kid said:

swerni said:

Chilli said:

speedtwelve said:

Just an opinion, but is this really what you want to do with your life? I can't think of anything more soul-destroyingly dull. You did ask for career advice after all.... Isn't there anything more dynamic that you'd want to do?

I thought exactly the same thing!

OP the world is your oyster.....think of something that will give you a hard-on each night, and that you leap out of bed to do each day. Sales and Book-keeping? Come on man, you can do better than that!

You're so right, it's soul destroying
I bloody hate traveling the world, staying in amazing, hotels in incredible cities, eating wonderful food and having someone else pick up the bill.
I hate building long term business relations with interesting people and then getting pissed with them.
Prague this week and Barcelona last week were particularly tough

But hey, it ain't all bad, the pays okay and I choose when and where I work, so if I fancy going for and afternoon ride on the bike, then I can.

Done all that, but with less PowerPoint, thank god.

PowerPoint would meant carrying a laptop, someone else's job.
I just need to ensure I'm the last person at the bar.

Thing is, all those plus points you mention aren't the sole remit of "business" people.
Many careers, trades and professions offer the same chances and opportunities, but without the dullness of waffling on about year on year growth and comparing this quarter with the same period last year.