Spec me a 'Job'

[Jimmyarm]

Ok maybe more a 'career'.

A bit about me;

30 this year.
6 B's, 2 C's etc for GSCE's
No College (at that part of education)

Have most of my DIP CII
Will have a load of Apprenticeship qualifications for Automotive VNQ2 this September.

Worked as a commis chef before and for 2 years after leaving school.
Got fed up with hours/pay and went to an employment agency looking for an office job. Fell into Insurance, worked as a commercial underwriter for RSA/Allianz until the start of last year when I was made redundant (so 9 years)
Mate had just started an independant garage and started working with him doing an 'apprenticeship as a mechanic, his business went tits up and luckily I managed to get work with one of his old friends who had also recently opened his own place.

I was looking for a way out of Insurance when the redundancy notice was issued so it was a bit of a blessing in disguise for me, a decent payout and something on a plate to walk into which obviously I had an interest in. Insurance is as boring as it gets although the money was good (£27k a year when I left which is pretty good considering how completely non interested I was in the job).

I'm really enjoying working as a 'mechanic', being hands on and fixing things is something I love and I get to play with and drive cars all day but, and the big but is, its never going to make me 'rich'. Most main dealer mechanics aren't on much more than £25k a year + bonus. RAC/AA guys make a fair wedge but they have to put in a lot of hours to do it (not something I have a problem with but a lot of those hours are sitting around).

I need a job that involves 'fixing' stuff, is manual or has a manual element, is not constantly doing the same thing day in day out (this is probably the most important as I get bored & lose motivation quite quickly which in turn affects my performance) and has decent prospects of earning £50k + a year to support my coke and hookers habbit, that redundancy money didn't last long !

So, any ideas ?

[hornetrider]

Use your payoff to go towards premises and tools to start your own business? The real money is in being the organ grinder.

Just an idea.

[Jimmyarm]

hornetrider said:

Use your payoff to go upwards premises and tools to start your own business? The real money is in being the organ grinder.

Just an idea.

Was just about edit and put a bit about this in.

Without another 5+ years of experience its not an option, I simply don't have the practical experience required to do it nor the 'customer base' at present.

It is a longer term goal if I stay working as a grease monkey but its by no means easy having been involved in a few start ups over the years with friends etc, most of which haven't worked out and actually making any money out of a small business seems to be very difficult in the motor industry.

I guess I feel like I haven't properly found my calling yet, there must be something out there that I would enjoy, excel at and make a decent wedge from ?

[lawrence567]

What about something like a mobile mechanic?
Kit your van out & offer to go to peoples homes / work places to fix stuff?
It's almost like an RAC style job, i would use someone like that if they were competitive as it saves hassle getting a lift too & from the garage.
You could also offer a local roadside recovery service for say if people break down on their way to work etc.
As your also just a 1 man band you could be extrememly competitive with your pricing, as apart from your initial outlay of buying a van & pimping it out with the relevant gadgets you would'nt have that much in running costs as you could fix any van problems yourself & you already have all the tools!
If you use my idea i'd like to have some free fixing time as i own a French car and i will be needing it