Giving up a relatively well paid job to go to Uni?

[ben_h100]

Hi all,

I'm contemplating leaving my job. To cut a long story short I've been doing this (RAF Technician) for almost 6 years. The pay is good and the job is secure, but recently I've had the naggling thought in the back of my mind that it's not what I want to do for the next 15-20 years. Added to that, defence spending cuts are taking the positive sides off things and there is no guarantee I will have a job in 3 years time. I have a feeling that I'm fed up of the `nomadic` lifestyle as well. So I'm looking around in advance as to what else I could do with my life.

I have a couple of A-Levels and an AS, an Advanced Modern Apprenticehip as well as a NVQ lvl 3 in electronic engineering, and a BTEC at the same level.

I have seen there is a scheme for ex service leavers to get into teaching, and this is something that is playing on my mind as I loved school as a kid. However, I think the only subject I would want to teach is something along the lines of outdoor education - which I have no formal quals in.

The idea is to look at going to Uni, and on the side use my skills gained in the RAF to supplement my (much lower) finances.

The other option is to work in civvie street in a similar role (eg airfield equipment tech), however I may get stuck in a rut there as well.

Has anyone ever been in the same boat? Or would anyone be willing to look at my CV and offer advice? I'm 25 now and think that if I'm going to take this step I need to get my arse into gear and further my research as to my potential options.

Thanks for your time!

[rog007]

"...there is no guarantee I will have a job in 3 years time"...or anywhere else at the moment! Think carefully, as your timing may not be the best! http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews...

How about doing a degree whilst still serving then making a decision? Happy to go over cv if you PM it to me. But remember, it's a generic cv until you start targeting specific jobs then you have to re-profile it to highlight your competencies for that role. Good luck!

[Mr Sparkle]

Do you need a degree to do what you need when you leave the service or will your experience suffice? In the long run do you think it will be better to going to Uni, ie it will cost around £25k and you will not be earning much for three years so a cost of around £100k is not total unrealistic in some cases.

I had this choice a few years ago and gave up a promotion (I was 21) and company car (S2000) to do a structural engineering degree but I wish I hadn't, in financial terms I am now far worse off and will be for the foreseeable future.

If you do decide to go to Uni though make sure you visit the uni and have a very good look around the town, see what the night life is like/pubs are like, what the local people are like, places to go, sports etc.

[shirt]

what degree course are you thinking of? I'm struggling to see the benefit of a degree to a career in outdoor pursuits and I'd wager your raf experience will transfer to(at least) graduate level engineering roles.

[tank slapper]

Have you thought about looking at OU degrees? You need not leave your job to do it, and I believe that forces personnel can get some sort of funding assistance with it. Depending on your current qualifications, it may be possible to get some credit for them towards a degree.

[VPower]

Just to say that we have had two Ex-RAF Technicians where I work as Instrument Technicians and they have been the BEST we have ever had!

One is now our C&I Engineer!

Look for a Job in the Oil/Gas Industry as an Instrument Technician if you really want out.

After 4 so called Inst Techs that did not know one end of an electronic instrument from the other, you would be snapped up if we had a vacancy now!


Good Luck!

[S1MMA]

Mr Sparkle said:

Do you need a degree to do what you need when you leave the service or will your experience suffice? In the long run do you think it will be better to going to Uni, ie it will cost around £25k and you will not be earning much for three years so a cost of around £100k is not total unrealistic in some cases.

I had this choice a few years ago and gave up a promotion (I was 21) and company car (S2000) to do a structural engineering degree but I wish I hadn't, in financial terms I am now far worse off and will be for the foreseeable future.

Uni should fit in with a plan for your career. Having a degree means you are more liley to earn more over the lifespan of your career, and end up in a more senior role. If you want to stay as a grass roots tech then having a degree probably won't help you and will just put a dent in your finances for 3 years, and at least a year or so after the degree to get started again.

On the other hand, if you want to become a professional or want to advance into senior management these days having a degree is probably a good idea. Not to say that those without a degree are any worse or better, but there is a stigma attached with being a school leaver in the upper echelons of management. Whether you like it or not, agree with it or not, that's the truth.

Mr Sparkle, giving up a "promotion" at 21 to study for an engineering degree sounds like a good decision as long as you went to a good uni, got a good grade in your degree (2.1 or above) and applied your degree to your next role. I don't know what you did with yourself after the degree but if you're not happy maybe you should try to make a change or apply yourself more. I don't think having the degree or having had some financial difficulties at uni is the problem.... I paid off my student loan 3-4 years after graduating and am in a great position at work and in life because of my degrees. If I left school at 18 and got a job, I would be no where near where I am now.

Mr Sparkle said:

If you do decide to go to Uni though make sure you visit the uni and have a very good look around the town, see what the night life is like/pubs are like, what the local people are like, places to go, sports etc.

I think this starts to explain a lot. It all depends on your goals. If you [b]purely[b] want to enjoy uni and have a good time, then the above matters. I was more interested in the course, the standard of the uni, how it was percieved by employers, their specialism in my subject, etc... etc... not about how much a pint of beer cost and if I could regularly chat up fit local birds without getting my face kicked in by roudy farmers. You didn't mention anything about studying in your post above........ I'm not saying that you shouldn't enjoy uni, but at the end of the day if you spend 3 years off your head in a below par institution and score less than 60% av then don't expect the world to open their arms and throw money at you when you leave. So think about what you want to achieve in your career, and financially what your goal is before selecting a course and university (being realistic that you will have a chance to get in, what grades did you get in your A levels/As level?).

[ben_h100]

Thanks for the replies, they have given me a few things to think about.

I'll look at some of the things suggested and reply in the morning.

Ben

[anonymous-user]

If you can obtain a place to study a rigorous academic subject at a reputable university, you need not see the course purely in career terms, as study for a degree can be life enhancing in many ways other than improving your earning potential.