Career change

[cmvtec]

Hi all,

Firstly, i've never posted on this part of the forum before so please go easy on me!

Current situation is:

Male, 29 years old. Good GCSEs, but no real results at A-level (I was sick of not earning money when I was that age). I've been in automotive QA for 11 years. Starting as a QA inspector, then into a technician position, then I was seconded to a role in Paris under the guise of "European Product Development Engineer". I returned to my previous technician position after and was promoted to "junior quality engineer". I left that company after 5 years and I've held a Quality Technician position at my current employer for 5 years.

I'm becoming increasingly disenchanted with my job and I really want to do something different, but I've only ever known this type of work. Wages aren't terrible (£25-30k with shifts and bits of overtime) which isn't bad for oop North.

I have been on the cusp of promotion to engineer a couple of times, however the management at my current employer changes frequently. We've been through three quality managers in five years and three production managers in two. Every time my skills have been recognised by a manager... they've left the business. I've had several subsequent offers to jump ship, but haven't taken these up because deep down I think I've recognised that i want to do something different.

I don't have any role specific qualifications but I do have a good amount of knowledge and experience, and I think, some good transferable skills.

I am able to communicate well, written and verbally, as well as flexibility and ability to lead and work as a team and I'm self motivated as I've worked as the only person at my level in my department. I have good analytical skills and ability to read technical drawings etc.

I'm really just wondering if anyone more in the know than me has moved out of this type of manufacturing role into a different area completely? How did you go about it? I'm not really in a position to take a large pay hit, which also muddies things somewhat.

Any advice/insight gratefully received. Apologies for the big post!

Cmvtec

[kurt535]

what are your interests in life?

and yep, genuine question

[rog007]

Similar question; what do you really want to do? What realistic career has caught your interest or you’ve viewed from afar and thought I’d love to do that?

[cmvtec]

Hi Guys,

Apologies for lack of reply so quickly, I've been thinking about this more and more over the last few weeks.

I think* I would like to get into some sort of building control/surveyor kind of role. I do know that would require some formal qualifications but it would also encompass some skills I already have.

I'm thinking HNC and developing from there. I believe I could do an HNC on a part time basis whilst maintaining my current position. I only work four days a week at the moment.

Could anyone offer any insight? I promise I'll reply sooner than six weeks.

[Benrad]

I'd suggest thinking more about what kind of role you want than what industry you want it to be in. You say you've been thinning a lot about it but has that thinking been structured and constructive?

I'm a similar age, although more formal qualification and led experience in industry and I found reading a couple of books really helpful to get me thinking longer term, in my case staying in the same company but deciding how to shape my career

Strength Finder 2.0 (search for it on Amazon) - helps you identify what you're good at and what types of roles you'll excel at and therefore enjoy

Winning Formula, David Coulthard - just found this quite inspirational to be honest

Best of luck

[Vaud]

Whatever you choose, try ringing round some local (small) firms - and try via your local Facebook town/city group... find someone who will let you shadow them for a day or two to see what the work is really like...