Struggling with career choices at 30
Discussion
I'm trained mechanically and electrically (engineering apprenticeship), however I feel that I need to get off the tools. I can't be driving around all day as my lower back kills me, and i'd like to progress to more of an office-based role. I'm struggling to think of what to do...
I've thought of the things I enjoy, but obviously I'm not qualified for any of that. I've thought about going into project management but same problem - and I don't even know if i'll like it!
I've even thought of doing an Open University degree, but the thought of doing it for 6 years part time isn't appealing, and then there's the question of will I even stick with it for 6 years? A friend has also told me to not bother because I'm quite old!
I have a lot of experience within the water industry, mainly on the tools, but I know a bit about process and operations. I know quite a bit about cars and it's my passion. I'd like to climb higher but it seems that i've hit a ceiling due to experience and qualifications, and I don't even know what career path I want to take. Any suggestions of what to do to figure this out?
And other than the friendly people on here, is there a professional service who I can speak to to help me realise my future? A friend has previously suggested a life coach to me. Any good?
I've thought of the things I enjoy, but obviously I'm not qualified for any of that. I've thought about going into project management but same problem - and I don't even know if i'll like it!
I've even thought of doing an Open University degree, but the thought of doing it for 6 years part time isn't appealing, and then there's the question of will I even stick with it for 6 years? A friend has also told me to not bother because I'm quite old!
I have a lot of experience within the water industry, mainly on the tools, but I know a bit about process and operations. I know quite a bit about cars and it's my passion. I'd like to climb higher but it seems that i've hit a ceiling due to experience and qualifications, and I don't even know what career path I want to take. Any suggestions of what to do to figure this out?
And other than the friendly people on here, is there a professional service who I can speak to to help me realise my future? A friend has previously suggested a life coach to me. Any good?
Have you spoken to your line manager about progression? Your company might be will to put you through your degree on day release. Yes it'll take the same amount of time but by the end of it you'll have plenty of options. Plenty of graduate jobs out there in engineering fields for example. Tailor your modules more to projects or management and you can progress out out of engineering too. Nothing worth doing is usually easy.
hooblah said:
I've even thought of doing an Open University degree, but the thought of doing it for 6 years part time isn't appealing, and then there's the question of will I even stick with it for 6 years? A friend has also told me to not bother because I'm quite old!
Honestly - you're never too old!Thanks for the replies.
The current situation is that I'm out of work for various reasons. One of those is due to my health. I'm looking for a job that's off the tools but all also doesn't involve me commuting too far. It's proving a bit difficult to find something.
My thinking is exactly that, I'm probably going to be working for another 30 years easily, so the degree is worth doing. The friend I spoke to isn't a close one, but someone who's older and a lot more experienced.
So back to the career choices... How am I supposed to figure out what I want to do? Do I go back to full time education?
It's it possible to do an OU degree full time (3 years) whilst working a full time job?
How do I figure out my future?
The current situation is that I'm out of work for various reasons. One of those is due to my health. I'm looking for a job that's off the tools but all also doesn't involve me commuting too far. It's proving a bit difficult to find something.
My thinking is exactly that, I'm probably going to be working for another 30 years easily, so the degree is worth doing. The friend I spoke to isn't a close one, but someone who's older and a lot more experienced.
So back to the career choices... How am I supposed to figure out what I want to do? Do I go back to full time education?
It's it possible to do an OU degree full time (3 years) whilst working a full time job?
How do I figure out my future?
For the OU, this forum may be very useful for you:
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?...
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?...
hooblah said:
I'm trained mechanically and electrically (engineering apprenticeship), however I feel that I need to get off the tools. I can't be driving around all day as my lower back kills me, and i'd like to progress to more of an office-based role. I'm struggling to think of what to do...
I've thought of the things I enjoy, but obviously I'm not qualified for any of that. I've thought about going into project management but same problem - and I don't even know if i'll like it!
I've even thought of doing an Open University degree, but the thought of doing it for 6 years part time isn't appealing, and then there's the question of will I even stick with it for 6 years? A friend has also told me to not bother because I'm quite old!
I have a lot of experience within the water industry, mainly on the tools, but I know a bit about process and operations. I know quite a bit about cars and it's my passion. I'd like to climb higher but it seems that i've hit a ceiling due to experience and qualifications, and I don't even know what career path I want to take. Any suggestions of what to do to figure this out?
And other than the friendly people on here, is there a professional service who I can speak to to help me realise my future? A friend has previously suggested a life coach to me. Any good?
Only you can decide; any support can only facilitate that decision making process. Drop me a PM if you’re still no further forward and I can give you a couple of pointers.I've thought of the things I enjoy, but obviously I'm not qualified for any of that. I've thought about going into project management but same problem - and I don't even know if i'll like it!
I've even thought of doing an Open University degree, but the thought of doing it for 6 years part time isn't appealing, and then there's the question of will I even stick with it for 6 years? A friend has also told me to not bother because I'm quite old!
I have a lot of experience within the water industry, mainly on the tools, but I know a bit about process and operations. I know quite a bit about cars and it's my passion. I'd like to climb higher but it seems that i've hit a ceiling due to experience and qualifications, and I don't even know what career path I want to take. Any suggestions of what to do to figure this out?
And other than the friendly people on here, is there a professional service who I can speak to to help me realise my future? A friend has previously suggested a life coach to me. Any good?
Vaud said:
hooblah said:
A friend has also told me to not bother because I'm quite old!
You have up 40 years work ahead of you.Friends who tell you not to advance yourself are probably not great friends!
Your friend is talking b
ks.I started an OU degree at 27 and took 7 years as I had to miss part of one year due to very heavy work commitments at the time. I was among the youngest of all the students I met on my courses.
It’s not easy but it’s very rewarding and, believe it or not, is highly regarded by many employers.
Yipper said:
OU has very little credibility with elite employers or top execs. It's where middle-aged plodders go to waste time but look respectable.
Do a degree with a university brand that people recognise, like London or Oxford. And do it fast.
Quit trolling. That is a massive generalisation and not true in my experience (source: top UK employer)Do a degree with a university brand that people recognise, like London or Oxford. And do it fast.
Yipper said:
OU has very little credibility with elite employers or top execs. It's where middle-aged plodders go to waste time but look respectable.
Do a degree with a university brand that people recognise, like London or Oxford. And do it fast.
You really are a tedious, trolling, clueless pillock.Do a degree with a university brand that people recognise, like London or Oxford. And do it fast.
The sooner you’re banned for posting your unhelpful bilge all over PH the better.
PorkInsider said:
Yipper said:
OU has very little credibility with elite employers or top execs. It's where middle-aged plodders go to waste time but look respectable.
Do a degree with a university brand that people recognise, like London or Oxford. And do it fast.
You really are a tedious, trolling, clueless pillock.Do a degree with a university brand that people recognise, like London or Oxford. And do it fast.
The sooner you’re banned for posting your unhelpful bilge all over PH the better.
PorkInsider said:
CaptainSlow said:
Whilst the posting stye isn't especially diplomatic...he has a point in this instance.
No. He doesn’t.The OP in this thread isn’t going to be jacking in his current job and going off to do a degree at Oxford, is he?
PorkInsider said:
Yipper said:
OU has very little credibility with elite employers or top execs. It's where middle-aged plodders go to waste time but look respectable.
Do a degree with a university brand that people recognise, like London or Oxford. And do it fast.
You really are a tedious, trolling, clueless pillock.Do a degree with a university brand that people recognise, like London or Oxford. And do it fast.
The sooner you’re banned for posting your unhelpful bilge all over PH the better.
PorkInsider said:
Yipper said:
OU has very little credibility with elite employers or top execs. It's where middle-aged plodders go to waste time but look respectable.
Do a degree with a university brand that people recognise, like London or Oxford. And do it fast.
You really are a tedious, trolling, clueless pillock.Do a degree with a university brand that people recognise, like London or Oxford. And do it fast.
The sooner you’re banned for posting your unhelpful bilge all over PH the better.
For the OP - I've just turned 30, and I'm currently half way through the first year of a degree in Economics & Maths via the OU.
I, too, wasn't sure I wanted to do it part-time and finish at 36, so I'm doing it at full-time equivalent speed. It's a lot of work to fit around a fairly demanding full-time job, but I'm really enjoying it so far.
hooblah said:
So back to the career choices... How am I supposed to figure out what I want to do? Do I go back to full time education?
It's it possible to do an OU degree full time (3 years) whilst working a full time job?
How do I figure out my future?
It's possible to do an OU degree that fast, but you'll be working a lot - basically almost all your free time outside work. If you can cope with the drain of that and the lack of social life, then do it.It's it possible to do an OU degree full time (3 years) whilst working a full time job?
How do I figure out my future?
I did an OU degree over 6 years (finished last Autumn) and it is a fair amount of work, but very rewarding. It's also easy to change what you're studying if you realise you're on the wrong track, often without losing much progress.
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