What did you want to be when you were young?
Discussion
When you were young, what did you want to be? Did you end up being it? If not, what did you end up doing instead? Do you know what you want to be still?
I remember wanting to be a teacher. I was in primary school at the time. I soon grew out of that
I then wanted to follow in my dads footsteps and become an engineer. Trouble was that I was not really mechanically minded or skilled to do such as role. So during secondary school, I switched from CDT To ICT classes and embarked upon a career in IT.
I still work in IT, and have done since the age of 16, and I am now 33. I am not really sure that you could call it IT though, more IT help desk. This is not what I wanted to do, I always wanted to get into the more technical server side of things. Unfortunately for me, I ended up stuck in a job for nigh on 11 years doing help desk supporting some 16bit database. It was my fault, I could've probably left and got into a more technical role, but I was saving for a mortgage, and being poorly paid as it was, I could not afford to take the hit. In hindsight, I should have just done it and dealt with the mortgage later.
I did eventually move into a more technical role, but I was not really allowed to do anything technical - it ended up being more of a catch and dispatch role, so I opted to move on and do the job I do currently, which is as technical as a cucumber.
I am moving again, into a much more technical role, starting at the bottom, but the opportunity to learn a huge amount, which will enable me to eventually move into an even better role.
The problem is, is that I do not know what role that is.
Do I want to continue in IT? Yes. I am not sure that I am as passionate about it as I should be, but hopefully this will not prove to be an issue. I have lacked motivation over the years, but this new role I am moving to is exciting me, and I am very much looking forward to taking it on and making it what I want it to be. I am hoping it will create opportunities for me. I am going to have a lot of spare time as a result, so I am planning on using this positively and studying for various certificates to back up what I will be learning on the job.
I would like to manage, I would like to project manage, I would like to do operation managing, I would not mind looking at contracting role's.
I guess I need some kind of career plan. I have never put one of these together, and I am not sure that at my age it will be that relevant? I am 17 years into a potential 50 year career. Is it too late?
What are your stories?
I remember wanting to be a teacher. I was in primary school at the time. I soon grew out of that
I then wanted to follow in my dads footsteps and become an engineer. Trouble was that I was not really mechanically minded or skilled to do such as role. So during secondary school, I switched from CDT To ICT classes and embarked upon a career in IT.
I still work in IT, and have done since the age of 16, and I am now 33. I am not really sure that you could call it IT though, more IT help desk. This is not what I wanted to do, I always wanted to get into the more technical server side of things. Unfortunately for me, I ended up stuck in a job for nigh on 11 years doing help desk supporting some 16bit database. It was my fault, I could've probably left and got into a more technical role, but I was saving for a mortgage, and being poorly paid as it was, I could not afford to take the hit. In hindsight, I should have just done it and dealt with the mortgage later.
I did eventually move into a more technical role, but I was not really allowed to do anything technical - it ended up being more of a catch and dispatch role, so I opted to move on and do the job I do currently, which is as technical as a cucumber.
I am moving again, into a much more technical role, starting at the bottom, but the opportunity to learn a huge amount, which will enable me to eventually move into an even better role.
The problem is, is that I do not know what role that is.
Do I want to continue in IT? Yes. I am not sure that I am as passionate about it as I should be, but hopefully this will not prove to be an issue. I have lacked motivation over the years, but this new role I am moving to is exciting me, and I am very much looking forward to taking it on and making it what I want it to be. I am hoping it will create opportunities for me. I am going to have a lot of spare time as a result, so I am planning on using this positively and studying for various certificates to back up what I will be learning on the job.
I would like to manage, I would like to project manage, I would like to do operation managing, I would not mind looking at contracting role's.
I guess I need some kind of career plan. I have never put one of these together, and I am not sure that at my age it will be that relevant? I am 17 years into a potential 50 year career. Is it too late?
What are your stories?
A teacher. All the way through school and university, until my final year at university.
I called in on our Professor of German for a chat to say hello after returning from my mandatory year abroad, and the subject turned to where I'd be off to afterwards. So I told him I was planning to do a PGCE. He was rummaging through a filing cabinet at the time, and he just stopped in his tracks! (I don't think I ever saw him lost for words before...) Then he turned back to me, gave me a "WTF?" look and told me I'd be insane to do that because I'd hate it.
Instead, he advised me to go for a job which would allow me to use my language skills, work at my own pace and give me as little contact as possible with the hard-of-thinking.
Fair play to him, he was absolutely, 100% correct. And so I became a translator. Which was my second choice.
I called in on our Professor of German for a chat to say hello after returning from my mandatory year abroad, and the subject turned to where I'd be off to afterwards. So I told him I was planning to do a PGCE. He was rummaging through a filing cabinet at the time, and he just stopped in his tracks! (I don't think I ever saw him lost for words before...) Then he turned back to me, gave me a "WTF?" look and told me I'd be insane to do that because I'd hate it.
Instead, he advised me to go for a job which would allow me to use my language skills, work at my own pace and give me as little contact as possible with the hard-of-thinking.
Fair play to him, he was absolutely, 100% correct. And so I became a translator. Which was my second choice.
Never really had an idea from an early age apart from perhaps a footballer (nowhere near good enough). I had odd ideas of being a gardener as it got time to leave school - but had really bad hay fever so that ruled that out. Went to college and decided on retail management. Then after 2 years Bus and Mgt diploma decided against that... I fancied being a musician/composer but that's just remained a part time hobby.
Eventually while in a clerical job our office got a database and I showed an interest. So I've done data cleansing/reporting since then. Pays the bills and I'm ok financially now without being "wealthy". My personal life is more important than the job, for me. I know many will make their career the focus of their life but that was never me. I'll never be very rich but that doesn't bother me. No debts, so happy.
Eventually while in a clerical job our office got a database and I showed an interest. So I've done data cleansing/reporting since then. Pays the bills and I'm ok financially now without being "wealthy". My personal life is more important than the job, for me. I know many will make their career the focus of their life but that was never me. I'll never be very rich but that doesn't bother me. No debts, so happy.
Also wanted to be a fighter pilot (obviously ignoring the fact that people would be shooting at me) - but it shows how impressionable you are when younger because I was told it was extremely difficult to do and I should be more realistic. It's still something I wish I'd tried to do.
I enjoyed computer software when I was a teenager, and did want to do that for a living - and did / do. However, the world has changed and since I am not located in India or China, it's a much harder place to earn a living these days.
I enjoyed computer software when I was a teenager, and did want to do that for a living - and did / do. However, the world has changed and since I am not located in India or China, it's a much harder place to earn a living these days.
The only thing I have ever really wanted to do was join the Merchant Navy and captain a liner but my eyesight let me down.
Photography was my second biggest interest and I actually got a great job with the Post Office Photography Unit who sent me to art school and everything but I just lost interest slowly and walked after two years.
Since then, some 45 years ago, I haven't had a f
king clue what I want to do...............
Photography was my second biggest interest and I actually got a great job with the Post Office Photography Unit who sent me to art school and everything but I just lost interest slowly and walked after two years.
Since then, some 45 years ago, I haven't had a f
king clue what I want to do...............I wanted to be a scientist. A-levels, degree, bit of time as a research assistant, PhD. Ran out of funding before I'd finished writing up. Fell into working in software development. By the time I finished writing up and got my PhD, I couldn't face the pay cut to work in science. I'd also had time as a postgrad to observe what a stty career it is.
tty career it is.Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff