Career change success stories
Discussion
Left school, started apprenticeship as a Lithographic Printer, qualified, recession came and factory closed down!!!!! Never worked in the industry again.
After 3-4 years doing odd jobs joined the West Mids police, 11 years, last 6 on traffic, loved it, hated the politics and what it was becoming.
Used my finances to train as a commercial pilot (already had a private licence for GA) completed that in 18 months whilst still in the police, applied everywhere started working for a company in Asia, nearly 10years later, Captain on heavy jet and loving it.
After 3-4 years doing odd jobs joined the West Mids police, 11 years, last 6 on traffic, loved it, hated the politics and what it was becoming.
Used my finances to train as a commercial pilot (already had a private licence for GA) completed that in 18 months whilst still in the police, applied everywhere started working for a company in Asia, nearly 10years later, Captain on heavy jet and loving it.
Not myself, but my wife had various minimum/low paid jobs, Nursery Nurse, elderly carer, beauty therapist etc. Then our 2nd child was born last year, so took the full year off and we managed fine financially, so I encouraged her to push herself, to take the time to do something she really wants to do. She starts university in September, studying to be a criminal psychotherapist.
r1flyguy1 said:
Left school, started apprenticeship as a Lithographic Printer, qualified, recession came and factory closed down!!!!! Never worked in the industry again.
After 3-4 years doing odd jobs joined the West Mids police, 11 years, last 6 on traffic, loved it, hated the politics and what it was becoming.
Used my finances to train as a commercial pilot (already had a private licence for GA) completed that in 18 months whilst still in the police, applied everywhere started working for a company in Asia, nearly 10years later, Captain on heavy jet and loving it.
Good man; that’s what I’m aiming to do when I leave the RAF.After 3-4 years doing odd jobs joined the West Mids police, 11 years, last 6 on traffic, loved it, hated the politics and what it was becoming.
Used my finances to train as a commercial pilot (already had a private licence for GA) completed that in 18 months whilst still in the police, applied everywhere started working for a company in Asia, nearly 10years later, Captain on heavy jet and loving it.
i done my apprenticeship in carpentry and joinery when i left school at 18, done that for 7 years then started another apprenticeship in the oil and gas industry as a process operator although it was tough to get in. i think you could say that it was a success and its a completely different career
ben_h100 said:
r1flyguy1 said:
Left school, started apprenticeship as a Lithographic Printer, qualified, recession came and factory closed down!!!!! Never worked in the industry again.
After 3-4 years doing odd jobs joined the West Mids police, 11 years, last 6 on traffic, loved it, hated the politics and what it was becoming.
Used my finances to train as a commercial pilot (already had a private licence for GA) completed that in 18 months whilst still in the police, applied everywhere started working for a company in Asia, nearly 10years later, Captain on heavy jet and loving it.
Good man; that’s what I’m aiming to do when I leave the RAF.After 3-4 years doing odd jobs joined the West Mids police, 11 years, last 6 on traffic, loved it, hated the politics and what it was becoming.
Used my finances to train as a commercial pilot (already had a private licence for GA) completed that in 18 months whilst still in the police, applied everywhere started working for a company in Asia, nearly 10years later, Captain on heavy jet and loving it.
I've changed career path a few times, at the heart of it - my success (if you want to call it that) has been taking risks and making it work. I've worked in retail, entertainment, insurance and banking.
- I started off in accounts out of college and began training in accountancy, found it dull
- Retrained as a mainframe programmer which I enjoyed
- Then realised everyone else had 30 years more experience than me and I couldn't compete
- Retrained into IT Service Management which I loved
- Kind of evolved that over time into a troubleshooter / program manager / chief of staff capability and I spend my time fixing problems for businesses, which is really interesting.
Along the way I've been made redundant twice near the Y2K aftermath, temped to pay the bills, worked nights coding at the same time for another company until I landed a decent ft role again, taken some risks jumping into ITSM before it was a "thing" then jumping to a bank role in the midst of the banking crisis, then quit to set up my own business with no client in-hand.
- I started off in accounts out of college and began training in accountancy, found it dull
- Retrained as a mainframe programmer which I enjoyed
- Then realised everyone else had 30 years more experience than me and I couldn't compete
- Retrained into IT Service Management which I loved
- Kind of evolved that over time into a troubleshooter / program manager / chief of staff capability and I spend my time fixing problems for businesses, which is really interesting.
Along the way I've been made redundant twice near the Y2K aftermath, temped to pay the bills, worked nights coding at the same time for another company until I landed a decent ft role again, taken some risks jumping into ITSM before it was a "thing" then jumping to a bank role in the midst of the banking crisis, then quit to set up my own business with no client in-hand.
krisdelta said:
- Retrained as a mainframe programmer which I enjoyed
- Then realised everyone else had 30 years more experience than me and I couldn't compete
There's a fair chance you'd be worth your weight in gold now! The mainframes are largely still there in many big organisations, and they can't migrate away from them and turn them off because most of those people with 30 years experience have retired, so nobody understands how everything is linked together any more! - Then realised everyone else had 30 years more experience than me and I couldn't compete
Kermit power said:
krisdelta said:
- Retrained as a mainframe programmer which I enjoyed
- Then realised everyone else had 30 years more experience than me and I couldn't compete
There's a fair chance you'd be worth your weight in gold now! The mainframes are largely still there in many big organisations, and they can't migrate away from them and turn them off because most of those people with 30 years experience have retired, so nobody understands how everything is linked together any more! - Then realised everyone else had 30 years more experience than me and I couldn't compete
Edited by cat with a hat on Thursday 26th April 07:48
Graphic Designer > Marketing Manager (charity sector) > Advertising Exec ..... I'm now 51 and an international behaviour change communication specialist for the global Solid Waste Management sector; UK and international specialising in post-conflict, low income and emerging economic regions.
There's a certain logic to the transitions but I do often think, as I'm traipsing over some landfill somewhere, how I actually got here!
There's a certain logic to the transitions but I do often think, as I'm traipsing over some landfill somewhere, how I actually got here!
StevieBee said:
international behaviour change communication specialist for the global Solid Waste Management sector; UK and international specialising in post-conflict, low income and emerging economic regions
Now THAT'S a job title! Does it basically mean you tell people how to shovel sh*t?!Left school and went to work in Banking. Long hours, hard work etc and boring meant I decided to leave and go to Uni. Law degree, qualifications etc then went to work for someone for a couple of years and I am now a self employed lawyer. Not sure it is a "success" as such but I do what I enjoy doing now.
Antony Moxey said:
StevieBee said:
international behaviour change communication specialist for the global Solid Waste Management sector; UK and international specialising in post-conflict, low income and emerging economic regions
Now THAT'S a job title! Does it basically mean you tell people how to shovel sh*t?!
It has been said that I 'talk rubbish' but, er, yeah....that's kind of it, although immeasurably more interesting than it may appear. Off to Zanzibar next week to help the locals develop a campaign to promote clean streets, organise beach clean-ups and other related stuff. Then when I'm back, off to Runcorn to convince people to recycle their food waste.Hmm. I’ve rolled with the punches since I was a teen - had many totally unforeseen and unplanned career changes. I always knew I’d be ok, but had no idea how. Bear in mind this is being written on the 21:22 from Kings Cross after a few drinks.
Background: born in 1980 and raised in Dagenham, Essex. Father was a mechanic, mother a housewife. Both ‘blow ins’ from the East End. Neither my siblings or I went to university - I only remember one teacher even mentioning it (and Mr Swanwick was about 22) with no encouragement to “better” oneself at all.
Consequently, I left school at 15 (this is a stat that annoys my wife, a Doctor, immensely - the joy of an August birth date!) but with a bunch of A-C grades. Being of solid working class stock (and such was the mindset of the time - plus the influence of my breadwinning father : housewife mother) - I became an apprentice bricklayer. That lasted about 10 months before I realised is was essentially a) slave labour and b) unless you were the boss - averagely paid.
So, having waked off site on the Friday (wages on YTS equivalent £50 PW, travel costs about £55 PW) I landed a job at an electrical wholesalers (CEF if you know it) as a warehouse assistant. In about 3 years I was the youngest Sales Rep for them in the country - 21 years old with a company Mondeo! Result.
That lasted for a while, then I got bored / too big for my boots and left. With nothing else to go to. Luckily, i could prove my sales records from tax returns, wageslips etc, so got a job fairly easily in recruitment. 18 months of that, and......
Bald to this! Making £10k per placement for someone else???’!!! No. So, I set up my own agency. Which went ok for a year (ish) until I was headhunted by an old school friend to move to Prague and set up the finance arm of the .com he was working for (he asked me because I was registered at companies house as the FD of my little agency).
So, that takes us up to 2004. Sorry for boring you all - it’s been a long, drink-y day. Happy to clue you in on the next chapter (hint: Belfast, challenger bank, IPO) if there’s an appetite.
Matt
Background: born in 1980 and raised in Dagenham, Essex. Father was a mechanic, mother a housewife. Both ‘blow ins’ from the East End. Neither my siblings or I went to university - I only remember one teacher even mentioning it (and Mr Swanwick was about 22) with no encouragement to “better” oneself at all.
Consequently, I left school at 15 (this is a stat that annoys my wife, a Doctor, immensely - the joy of an August birth date!) but with a bunch of A-C grades. Being of solid working class stock (and such was the mindset of the time - plus the influence of my breadwinning father : housewife mother) - I became an apprentice bricklayer. That lasted about 10 months before I realised is was essentially a) slave labour and b) unless you were the boss - averagely paid.
So, having waked off site on the Friday (wages on YTS equivalent £50 PW, travel costs about £55 PW) I landed a job at an electrical wholesalers (CEF if you know it) as a warehouse assistant. In about 3 years I was the youngest Sales Rep for them in the country - 21 years old with a company Mondeo! Result.
That lasted for a while, then I got bored / too big for my boots and left. With nothing else to go to. Luckily, i could prove my sales records from tax returns, wageslips etc, so got a job fairly easily in recruitment. 18 months of that, and......
Bald to this! Making £10k per placement for someone else???’!!! No. So, I set up my own agency. Which went ok for a year (ish) until I was headhunted by an old school friend to move to Prague and set up the finance arm of the .com he was working for (he asked me because I was registered at companies house as the FD of my little agency).
So, that takes us up to 2004. Sorry for boring you all - it’s been a long, drink-y day. Happy to clue you in on the next chapter (hint: Belfast, challenger bank, IPO) if there’s an appetite.
Matt
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