And now for something completely different
Discussion
I’m in my mid-forties. I have at least 15 years of working life still ahead of me. At the moment having 15 minutes of working life ahead of me depresses me.
I left school at 16 and did an engineering apprenticeship. I then went to university to study mechanical engineering in my mid-late twenties. From the age of thirty I have worked as a Mechanical Design Engineer, initially in staff roles, then latterly as a sub-contractor. Now, in my forties, engineering bores me to death. Unfortunately, depending how you look at it (and trying not to sound ungrateful, I know there are a lot of people struggling out there), I earn quite a good living out of it (IR35 changes may end that) which means that going and doing something completely different is not that easy, particularly with my out-goings at current levels.
I’m looking for inspiration. How many of you, or your family, or your friends have left one job for something completely different? What was the catalyst? Was in planned or did it just happen? Was it successful?
I’m interested in the big leaps. I’m not that interested in “I was a programmer for an IT provider, and now I’m a project manager for said IT provider”. I want to hear “I was a maintenance engineer on an off-shore survey vessel, but I now run an antiques shop”.
Allow me the fantasy that I may actually enjoy going to work one day. Give me some hope. Let the inspiration flow.
I left school at 16 and did an engineering apprenticeship. I then went to university to study mechanical engineering in my mid-late twenties. From the age of thirty I have worked as a Mechanical Design Engineer, initially in staff roles, then latterly as a sub-contractor. Now, in my forties, engineering bores me to death. Unfortunately, depending how you look at it (and trying not to sound ungrateful, I know there are a lot of people struggling out there), I earn quite a good living out of it (IR35 changes may end that) which means that going and doing something completely different is not that easy, particularly with my out-goings at current levels.
I’m looking for inspiration. How many of you, or your family, or your friends have left one job for something completely different? What was the catalyst? Was in planned or did it just happen? Was it successful?
I’m interested in the big leaps. I’m not that interested in “I was a programmer for an IT provider, and now I’m a project manager for said IT provider”. I want to hear “I was a maintenance engineer on an off-shore survey vessel, but I now run an antiques shop”.
Allow me the fantasy that I may actually enjoy going to work one day. Give me some hope. Let the inspiration flow.
very strange you posted this as I just logged on to gain some insight for a change too!!
Like you, I am a Mech Engineer, project manager. I am 33 and have lost all enthusiasm for it! Like you, I earn a decent wage (to my expectations) and I am struggling with the concept of starting again (kids, mortgage, living standards etc all based of my current salary).
I used to really enjoy the problem solving aspects of my job, but I changed and its all gone away.
I am looking to re-learn in my own time and jump ship to Cyber Sec. Planning on doing the CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, Ethical hacking and some CySA.
Entry level jobs seem abundant and progress paths look to be more accelerated than my industry is. I have a friend in the industry and he has told me many times there are more jobs than skilled people to fill them (his company have had openings for a while with no one to fill them). He said there are a lot of mature career changers in the industry, so not flooded with fresh faced grads.
Something else to think about.
Like you, I am a Mech Engineer, project manager. I am 33 and have lost all enthusiasm for it! Like you, I earn a decent wage (to my expectations) and I am struggling with the concept of starting again (kids, mortgage, living standards etc all based of my current salary).
I used to really enjoy the problem solving aspects of my job, but I changed and its all gone away.
I am looking to re-learn in my own time and jump ship to Cyber Sec. Planning on doing the CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, Ethical hacking and some CySA.
Entry level jobs seem abundant and progress paths look to be more accelerated than my industry is. I have a friend in the industry and he has told me many times there are more jobs than skilled people to fill them (his company have had openings for a while with no one to fill them). He said there are a lot of mature career changers in the industry, so not flooded with fresh faced grads.
Something else to think about.
Edited by Rooster2212 on Thursday 4th February 15:15
Friend of mine jacked in the IT contracting lark in his middle-30s, got his Yacht Master qualification, and spent the next few years skippering around the Great Barrier Reef. I was very jealous.
Last I checked however he was back doing IT in the Midlands somewhere, so I guess the grass isn't always that much greener for too long.
Last I checked however he was back doing IT in the Midlands somewhere, so I guess the grass isn't always that much greener for too long.
deckster said:
Friend of mine jacked in the IT contracting lark in his middle-30s, got his Yacht Master qualification, and spent the next few years skippering around the Great Barrier Reef. I was very jealous.
Last I checked however he was back doing IT in the Midlands somewhere, so I guess the grass isn't always that much greener for too long.
What a career break that is thoughLast I checked however he was back doing IT in the Midlands somewhere, so I guess the grass isn't always that much greener for too long.
Rooster2212 said:
deckster said:
Friend of mine jacked in the IT contracting lark in his middle-30s, got his Yacht Master qualification, and spent the next few years skippering around the Great Barrier Reef. I was very jealous.
Last I checked however he was back doing IT in the Midlands somewhere, so I guess the grass isn't always that much greener for too long.
What a career break that is thoughLast I checked however he was back doing IT in the Midlands somewhere, so I guess the grass isn't always that much greener for too long.
Chemical Engineer here, that moved in to the commodity trading side of the business. Realised fairly early on that I was a good engineer but didn't love it the way my peers did. Switched to the supply and trading side of the business and never looked back. So much more dynamic and interesting.
Is there an opportunity to for you to make a similar switch?
Is there an opportunity to for you to make a similar switch?
BIG MOLE said:
I’m in my mid-forties. I have at least 15 years of working life still ahead of me. At the moment having 15 minutes of working life ahead of me depresses me....
....From the age of thirty I have worked as a Mechanical Design Engineer. Now, in my forties, engineering bores me to death.
You are not the only one. I continue to be mystified how some people can do it for decades, into their 70s.....From the age of thirty I have worked as a Mechanical Design Engineer. Now, in my forties, engineering bores me to death.
I never became a contractor as, although the money would have been better, doing jobs that involved "turning the handle on the sausage machine" to produce deliverables for the next x years filled me with dread.
It was bad enough before, but during the current pandemic, I can't see any way out.
rog007 said:
Teaching?
Teaching engineering?
Actually, over the years, a number of people have told me that they think I would make a good teacher.Teaching engineering?
I can't see me working in a school though. I don't particularly like kids and I don't particularly like teachers.
I have considered working in an FE college. I even applied for a role and got offered an interview just after I graduated. However, the money was woeful and I wanted to be able to buy my own house so I didn't take it any further. But in the future, working in FE or HE, teaching CAD, design etc could be an option.
My biggest problem is money. I earn a good living by most standards, but I also have a big(ish) mortgage. I am not going to say to my wife and kids "we've all got to move out of the house that we've just spent the last 2 years building so that I can go off on some flight of fancy". I think that as long as I continue living in this house, I will have to keep doing whatever earns me the most money. However, my kids are 16 and 12, so the eldest will be going to university in a couple of years which may open some options and my wife is very supportive and feels my pain.
But I still want to hear your tales of inspiration. I think that the earliest that I will be able to do something about it is at least 5 years away but I need something to keep my hope up.
Not a dig at you personally, I wish you well and hope you find something, but these threads pop up all the time. I read them and almost every one of them has the sentiments - I want to change my career and/or industry but I must maintain my current "living standards". The two things seem unlikely to go together so perhaps the change needs to be more holistic.
What kids and families need is to be together and for their dad to be happy, or at least contented. You've gotta have an income but everything after that is up to you. The barriers people create are in their own minds, possibly partly in comfort so they don't actually ever have to change anything, as the much maligened as-is situation is like a comfy old pair of slippers with holes in them. Should have been thrown out years ago, but they just fit so nicely.
I hope this doesn't read as a go at you. It's similiar to something I said to a friend bemoaning his own situation last year.
The house, the cars, the stuff, it can all be "sized" to fit with your new and preferred career. Don't use them as a barrier to stop yourself from 'being happy'.
What kids and families need is to be together and for their dad to be happy, or at least contented. You've gotta have an income but everything after that is up to you. The barriers people create are in their own minds, possibly partly in comfort so they don't actually ever have to change anything, as the much maligened as-is situation is like a comfy old pair of slippers with holes in them. Should have been thrown out years ago, but they just fit so nicely.
I hope this doesn't read as a go at you. It's similiar to something I said to a friend bemoaning his own situation last year.
The house, the cars, the stuff, it can all be "sized" to fit with your new and preferred career. Don't use them as a barrier to stop yourself from 'being happy'.
deebs said:
Not a dig at you personally, I wish you well and hope you find something, but these threads pop up all the time. I read them and almost every one of them has the sentiments - I want to change my career and/or industry but I must maintain my current "living standards". The two things seem unlikely to go together so perhaps the change needs to be more holistic.
What kids and families need is to be together and for their dad to be happy, or at least contented. You've gotta have an income but everything after that is up to you. The barriers people create are in their own minds, possibly partly in comfort so they don't actually ever have to change anything, as the much maligened as-is situation is like a comfy old pair of slippers with holes in them. Should have been thrown out years ago, but they just fit so nicely.
I hope this doesn't read as a go at you. It's similiar to something I said to a friend bemoaning his own situation last year.
The house, the cars, the stuff, it can all be "sized" to fit with your new and preferred career. Don't use them as a barrier to stop yourself from 'being happy'.
I agree with this sentiment exactly, I see a lot of people not necessarily unhappy, but bored or just dislike their work. They always say they need to keep all the outgoings as that is the only way they can live. It is surprising how much of that stuff you really don't need. You may want it, and that is fine if you really want to hate working for next 25 years. Life is short, make the most of it.What kids and families need is to be together and for their dad to be happy, or at least contented. You've gotta have an income but everything after that is up to you. The barriers people create are in their own minds, possibly partly in comfort so they don't actually ever have to change anything, as the much maligened as-is situation is like a comfy old pair of slippers with holes in them. Should have been thrown out years ago, but they just fit so nicely.
I hope this doesn't read as a go at you. It's similiar to something I said to a friend bemoaning his own situation last year.
The house, the cars, the stuff, it can all be "sized" to fit with your new and preferred career. Don't use them as a barrier to stop yourself from 'being happy'.
I think it is natural to want to retain the good aspects of life whilst changing the tedious, boring, meaningless or unsatisfying parts.
A lot of people could live well on a lot less income, but somebody with a family on an unremarkable, albeit above average, income taking a voluntary 50-75% drop would be a big change and could require a big change in lifestyle for many people.
A lot of people could live well on a lot less income, but somebody with a family on an unremarkable, albeit above average, income taking a voluntary 50-75% drop would be a big change and could require a big change in lifestyle for many people.
Edited by MC Bodge on Friday 5th February 12:29
I haven’t made the jump yet, but at the age of 35 I’m already planning it. Currently in IT/Cyber and planning to get a house with land and/or outbuildings (ideally north Wales, where I’m originally from) and setup a glamping/hillwalking business.
I have roughly 4 years left in my current job (RAF) until I can do it, but right now I’m saving like mad, planning more trips for after lockdown so that I can build up more experience for the mountain leader side of things, and doing some general research on the sector. Nothing too in depth yet, as it’s still a way off, but I like to plan things.
The idea is not to completely give up working in my current field, but to gradually reduce the amount of IT work so that by the time Im in my mid 40s I’ll be doing 1 or 2 days a week IT, possibly some sort of consultancy/projects role, and the rest of the week running my own business. The income from that, coupled with the RAF pension should pay the mortgage and provide a reasonable lifestyle. Wife can work remotely which is a bonus.
The main driver for me is that I don’t want to work in an office for the rest of my days.
I have roughly 4 years left in my current job (RAF) until I can do it, but right now I’m saving like mad, planning more trips for after lockdown so that I can build up more experience for the mountain leader side of things, and doing some general research on the sector. Nothing too in depth yet, as it’s still a way off, but I like to plan things.
The idea is not to completely give up working in my current field, but to gradually reduce the amount of IT work so that by the time Im in my mid 40s I’ll be doing 1 or 2 days a week IT, possibly some sort of consultancy/projects role, and the rest of the week running my own business. The income from that, coupled with the RAF pension should pay the mortgage and provide a reasonable lifestyle. Wife can work remotely which is a bonus.
The main driver for me is that I don’t want to work in an office for the rest of my days.
ARHarh said:
deebs said:
Not a dig at you personally, I wish you well and hope you find something, but these threads pop up all the time. I read them and almost every one of them has the sentiments - I want to change my career and/or industry but I must maintain my current "living standards". The two things seem unlikely to go together so perhaps the change needs to be more holistic.
What kids and families need is to be together and for their dad to be happy, or at least contented. You've gotta have an income but everything after that is up to you. The barriers people create are in their own minds, possibly partly in comfort so they don't actually ever have to change anything, as the much maligened as-is situation is like a comfy old pair of slippers with holes in them. Should have been thrown out years ago, but they just fit so nicely.
I hope this doesn't read as a go at you. It's similiar to something I said to a friend bemoaning his own situation last year.
The house, the cars, the stuff, it can all be "sized" to fit with your new and preferred career. Don't use them as a barrier to stop yourself from 'being happy'.
I agree with this sentiment exactly, I see a lot of people not necessarily unhappy, but bored or just dislike their work. They always say they need to keep all the outgoings as that is the only way they can live. It is surprising how much of that stuff you really don't need. You may want it, and that is fine if you really want to hate working for next 25 years. Life is short, make the most of it.What kids and families need is to be together and for their dad to be happy, or at least contented. You've gotta have an income but everything after that is up to you. The barriers people create are in their own minds, possibly partly in comfort so they don't actually ever have to change anything, as the much maligened as-is situation is like a comfy old pair of slippers with holes in them. Should have been thrown out years ago, but they just fit so nicely.
I hope this doesn't read as a go at you. It's similiar to something I said to a friend bemoaning his own situation last year.
The house, the cars, the stuff, it can all be "sized" to fit with your new and preferred career. Don't use them as a barrier to stop yourself from 'being happy'.
If somebody in a similar position was moaning to me about it I'd administer a swift kick in the knackers, in the hope that it would shock the out of their malaise, followed by sitting them down and explaining to them how lucky they are. This would, no doubt, be followed by the consumption of alcohol which in turn would be followed by enthusiastic, but out of tune, singing. The perfect evening.
I know what I have to do. If I want to live a life where I have the freedom to do, within reason, what I want to do for a job then I'm probably going to take a massive drop in income which means reducing my out goings. As I don't run an expensive car (I drive a £500 snotter), don't go on expensive holidays, don't privately educate my children and don't live a lavish life in any real way, the only area where I can make a significant change to my outgoings is reducing my mortgage to little or nothing. This may happen in a few years time, but given the 2 years of s
t I (and everyone else) went through to build our house, I would like to live in it for a while. Christ, I'm lucky to live in a fantastic house in a great part of the country and to have designed and built it myself, a dream for many. ARHarh, your comment about not needing much, I couldn't agree more. When we were building the house, the 4 of us lived in a small, 2 bedroom, rented flat just around the corner. I think this was a bit of a turning point for me. I come from a pretty working class background where money was often tight. I didn't want to live like that, and since I left school my whole life had been working towards getting on, earning more, having more. Anyway, after a while of living in this modest abode I suddenly realised "I think I'd be just as happy living here as in the 5 bedroom place down the road that is causing me sleepless nights". It wasn't very comfortable for 4 of us but I could certainly see me and Mrs Mole living like that in a few years time.
When I wrote my original post I almost made a comment that I wasn't looking for advice. I left it out as it seemed a little arrogant, but the truth is that I know the changes I have to make first before I can start doing something for a living that may actually interest me. I was just hoping to hear some interesting stories of people who had decided to do something completely different and how things had panned out for them.
Do you need the money, there is no point trading your life away just for more money that you really don’t need.
I thought that I ‘needed / wanted it’, then realised in my mid 20’s I don’t and took a £70-80k pay cut.
Instead of spending £4-500 a weekend we now spend £100, instead of three £4K holidays a year we take (obviously not now) a couple of £1k holidays, or holiday in the uk.
Instead of fancy meals we go to Wetherspoons or a little local pub.
We used to spend £500+ a month on lease cars but have bought older nicer cars instead.
Now I’m 32, work 4 days a week (35H), earn a lot less than I did but whilst I am a tad bored and fancy a change I am immeasurably happier.
I have more time with my wife, family and friends, more savings, more free time, more hobbies and less work.
Money isn’t everything, you (and your family) can easily adapt, the deciding factor is whether you want to.
We didn’t have much money growing up and when i think back, my memories aren’t how fancy or expensive something was, but who / what / where and when.
I thought that I ‘needed / wanted it’, then realised in my mid 20’s I don’t and took a £70-80k pay cut.
Instead of spending £4-500 a weekend we now spend £100, instead of three £4K holidays a year we take (obviously not now) a couple of £1k holidays, or holiday in the uk.
Instead of fancy meals we go to Wetherspoons or a little local pub.
We used to spend £500+ a month on lease cars but have bought older nicer cars instead.
Now I’m 32, work 4 days a week (35H), earn a lot less than I did but whilst I am a tad bored and fancy a change I am immeasurably happier.
I have more time with my wife, family and friends, more savings, more free time, more hobbies and less work.
Money isn’t everything, you (and your family) can easily adapt, the deciding factor is whether you want to.
We didn’t have much money growing up and when i think back, my memories aren’t how fancy or expensive something was, but who / what / where and when.
Edited by Lord.Vader on Wednesday 10th February 15:37
Lord.Vader said:
Do you need the money, there is no point trading your life away just for more money that you really don’t need.
I thought that I ‘needed / wanted it’, then realised in my mid 20’s I don’t and took a £70-80k pay cut.
Instead of spending £4-500 a weekend we now spend £100, instead of three £4K holidays a year we take (obviously not now) a couple of £1k holidays, or holiday in the uk.
Instead of fancy meals we go to Wetherspoons or a little local pub.
We used to spend £500+ a month on lease cars but have bought older nicer cars instead.
Now I’m 32, work 4 days a week (35H), earn a lot less than I did but whilst I am a tad bored and fancy a change I am immeasurably happier.
I have more time with my wife, family and friends, more savings, more free time, more hobbies and less work.
Money isn’t everything, you (and your family) can easily adapt, the deciding factor is whether you want to.
We didn’t have much money growing up and when i think back, my memories aren’t how fancy or expensive something was, but who / what / where and when.
Well said. Many of us have got into a rut of believing that more money results in a happier life, it doesn't. I know too many who have been very materialistic and incredibly status conscious, only to end up divorced and bitter.I thought that I ‘needed / wanted it’, then realised in my mid 20’s I don’t and took a £70-80k pay cut.
Instead of spending £4-500 a weekend we now spend £100, instead of three £4K holidays a year we take (obviously not now) a couple of £1k holidays, or holiday in the uk.
Instead of fancy meals we go to Wetherspoons or a little local pub.
We used to spend £500+ a month on lease cars but have bought older nicer cars instead.
Now I’m 32, work 4 days a week (35H), earn a lot less than I did but whilst I am a tad bored and fancy a change I am immeasurably happier.
I have more time with my wife, family and friends, more savings, more free time, more hobbies and less work.
Money isn’t everything, you (and your family) can easily adapt, the deciding factor is whether you want to.
We didn’t have much money growing up and when i think back, my memories aren’t how fancy or expensive something was, but who / what / where and when.
Edited by Lord.Vader on Wednesday 10th February 15:37
A couple of family members have had the following career paths
Procurement Manager (CIPS qualified) (left after 3 years)
Teacher (PGCE) (left after 6 weeks)
IT hardware engineer for an SME (left after after 5 years)
Own IT business - doing it for 15 years and loves it
Second person
Electronics Assembly (about 5 months)
Bouncer (5 years)
Cake shop - doing it for 12 years and loves it.
The bouncer --> cake shop owner was a massive surprise. he's your typical 6ft 5" with a shaven head (no goatee) and just started making cupcakes one day, and then branched out from there. Possibly it was the first job where he felt really appreciated and that's why he's doing it. i think he's got 2 shops at the moment and the profit margin on those things is ridiculous
Procurement Manager (CIPS qualified) (left after 3 years)
Teacher (PGCE) (left after 6 weeks)
IT hardware engineer for an SME (left after after 5 years)
Own IT business - doing it for 15 years and loves it
Second person
Electronics Assembly (about 5 months)
Bouncer (5 years)
Cake shop - doing it for 12 years and loves it.
The bouncer --> cake shop owner was a massive surprise. he's your typical 6ft 5" with a shaven head (no goatee) and just started making cupcakes one day, and then branched out from there. Possibly it was the first job where he felt really appreciated and that's why he's doing it. i think he's got 2 shops at the moment and the profit margin on those things is ridiculous
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