Changing Career

[FocusRS3]

Am returning to work after a year off and cant say I'm looking forward to it.

I've working in London for many years in the financial sector but id love to get the hell out and do something i fond more rewarding.

Sadly ive no idea which way to turn, anyone else been through the same process?

[Hoofy]

What skills etc do you have? You say you're in the financial sector but if you do IT or marketing, there are plenty of jobs outside London in different industries.

[Shnozz]

Try reading Screw Work Let's Play by John Williams. Might give you some better idea of what you want to do.

[FocusRS3]

Hoofy said:

What skills etc do you have? You say you're in the financial sector but if you do IT or marketing, there are plenty of jobs outside London in different industries.

Sadly not. I've worked as a money broker for many years. The rewards over the last ten plus years have been very good but the industry has become more electronic so the need for Brokers has diminished.

Most end up hanging on by the skin of their teeth which makes it a pretty depressing existence hence wanting change.

You become somewhat pigeonholed as a Money Broker so its tricky getting into something new.

As a Broker you have to be good at relationship building and maintaining those relationships which I'm sure would work within another sector but what?

Have applied for what i would consider to be similar jobs in terms of account management etc but no dice

[FocusRS3]

Shnozz said:

Try reading Screw Work Let's Play by John Williams. Might give you some better idea of what you want to do.

Tks will take a look. Need a business idea first maybe

[Hoofy]

FocusRS3 said:

Hoofy said:

What skills etc do you have? You say you're in the financial sector but if you do IT or marketing, there are plenty of jobs outside London in different industries.

Sadly not. I've worked as a money broker for many years. The rewards over the last ten plus years have been very good but the industry has become more electronic so the need for Brokers has diminished.

Most end up hanging on by the skin of their teeth which makes it a pretty depressing existence hence wanting change.

You become somewhat pigeonholed as a Money Broker so its tricky getting into something new.

As a Broker you have to be good at relationship building and maintaining those relationships which I'm sure would work within another sector but what?

Have applied for what i would consider to be similar jobs in terms of account management etc but no dice

Could your skills make you a good sales person or maybe in business development? And why have your job applications for account management positions not worked? It might require quite a pay cut, I suppose.

[blueveloce]

I have worked in the city most of my life and recently gave it up to work at a local school as a site team lead (head maintenance) which involves daily running of the school incl fetching/carrying/putting up shelves/repairing locks/cleaning gutters etc.
No cleaning duties are required but the occasional blocked bog needs dealing with but tbh its a great environment and being one of 4 guys working with 40+ women it is lively..

Its half my usual salary but with no mortgage and a decent chunk after downsizing it is now about trying to enjoy work,also as long as i am there for 36 hrs i can pick my start and finish times as there are others to do unlock/lockup or lettings..being 49 yrs old ive a few years left in me and this will do just fine for now....work stress is a thing of the past for me now

[Swampy1982]

FocusRS3 said:

Sadly not. I've worked as a money broker for many years. The rewards over the last ten plus years have been very good but the industry has become more electronic so the need for Brokers has diminished.

Most end up hanging on by the skin of their teeth which makes it a pretty depressing existence hence wanting change.

You become somewhat pigeonholed as a Money Broker so its tricky getting into something new.

As a Broker you have to be good at relationship building and maintaining those relationships which I'm sure would work within another sector but what?

Have applied for what i would consider to be similar jobs in terms of account management etc but no dice

Its good that you are looking at transferable skills and what you can apply to a different industry... I think this is likely your best track, work out what you are good at, what you can convincingly sell to a future employer, then try to match it to something you are passionate about doing (finally hope that the financials are in line with your living requirements!)

Alternatively, if you are really sick of work, look at it the other way around - What is the bare minimum you can afford to live on that will afford you the best possible work/life balance... then pick up a job around that income level. maybe, just maybe you fall in love with it.

[FocusRS3]

Hoofy said:

Could your skills make you a good sales person or maybe in business development? And why have your job applications for account management positions not worked? It might require quite a pay cut, I suppose.

Without question Sales and/or business development would be a perfect fit and something i'd enjoy.

I have never stipulated salary requirements on applications and i applied for a ton of jobs on the usual sites.

I think these days companies want the 'perfect' fit

[Stridey]

Unless they have all closed by cuts, some local authorities have adult career advisors. Kind of like the ones at school, but who actually listen, help and have a genuine interest in the subject. I visited one a few years ago who advised me with suggestions, leading to me enrolling on a degree course as a mature student.
If nothing else they helped focus my mind and were able to take my interests, work experience and ambition in a direction I needed a gentle push towards.
Good luck!

[FocusRS3]

Stridey said:

Unless they have all closed by cuts, some local authorities have adult career advisors. Kind of like the ones at school, but who actually listen, help and have a genuine interest in the subject. I visited one a few years ago who advised me with suggestions, leading to me enrolling on a degree course as a mature student.
If nothing else they helped focus my mind and were able to take my interests, work experience and ambition in a direction I needed a gentle push towards.
Good luck!

Thanks. Did you end up moving into something you enjoy?

[Hoofy]

FocusRS3 said:

Hoofy said:

Could your skills make you a good sales person or maybe in business development? And why have your job applications for account management positions not worked? It might require quite a pay cut, I suppose.

Without question Sales and/or business development would be a perfect fit and something i'd enjoy.

I have never stipulated salary requirements on applications and i applied for a ton of jobs on the usual sites.

I think these days companies want the 'perfect' fit

Ah, so they want someone with experience? Might have to start near the bottom or (and I'm sure you've probably done this) edit your CV so that it highlights relevant skills and makes your previous roles sound more like what they want. Bit frustrating but I'm sure there are plenty of suitable jobs out there for you.

[Shnozz]

FocusRS3 said:

Shnozz said:

Try reading Screw Work Let's Play by John Williams. Might give you some better idea of what you want to do.

Tks will take a look. Need a business idea first maybe

Not really. I found it a useful book in examining what it was I was really after. Its a case of chicken and egg sometimes.

[FocusRS3]

blueveloce said:

I have worked in the city most of my life and recently gave it up to work at a local school as a site team lead (head maintenance) which involves daily running of the school incl fetching/carrying/putting up shelves/repairing locks/cleaning gutters etc.
No cleaning duties are required but the occasional blocked bog needs dealing with but tbh its a great environment and being one of 4 guys working with 40+ women it is lively..

Its half my usual salary but with no mortgage and a decent chunk after downsizing it is now about trying to enjoy work,also as long as i am there for 36 hrs i can pick my start and finish times as there are others to do unlock/lockup or lettings..being 49 yrs old ive a few years left in me and this will do just fine for now....work stress is a thing of the past for me now

Sounds interesting and we are not a dissimilar age.

We have over the years been pretty sensible with cash and paid off mortgage etc plus we have been looking into downsizing so the finances we can make work. Also we are not 'show offs' that need the latest designer rubbish or waste money.

I've signed up to another firm now but I'm open minded about it all, just trying to think of an alternative if i don't like it or it doesn't work out.

[FocusRS3]

Hoofy said:

Ah, so they want someone with experience? Might have to start near the bottom or (and I'm sure you've probably done this) edit your CV so that it highlights relevant skills and makes your previous roles sound more like what they want. Bit frustrating but I'm sure there are plenty of suitable jobs out there for you.

I've changed a fair bit with my CV and have tended to tailor make it to suit various roles. I've no issue going green just nothing came back.

I've a mate that is getting involved with a Diamond miner next year, sounds scary but it may have legs so some form of investment in that may get me involved and at least focus my mind again.

Cant help at times thinking that my career didn't end up going the way i envisaged but maybe that's most people

[blueveloce]

FocusRS3 said:

Sounds interesting and we are not a dissimilar age.

We have over the years been pretty sensible with cash and paid off mortgage etc plus we have been looking into downsizing so the finances we can make work. Also we are not 'show offs' that need the latest designer rubbish or waste money.

I've signed up to another firm now but I'm open minded about it all, just trying to think of an alternative if i don't like it or it doesn't work out.

I didnt think it was a job i could stick with but the teaching staff are so grounded and approachable that its a pleasure to deal with them,ok im not banking the same as before but i still have £700pcm disposable income to play with so im happy.Whatever you decide to try give them the same probation time as they give you (i actually said that in the interview to them) and if its not for you try something else.

[FocusRS3]

blueveloce said:

I didnt think it was a job i could stick with but the teaching staff are so grounded and approachable that its a pleasure to deal with them,ok im not banking the same as before but i still have £700pcm disposable income to play with so im happy.Whatever you decide to try give them the same probation time as they give you (i actually said that in the interview to them) and if its not for you try something else.

Wise words. Those thoughts are in my mind too

[Hoofy]

FocusRS3 said:

Hoofy said:

Ah, so they want someone with experience? Might have to start near the bottom or (and I'm sure you've probably done this) edit your CV so that it highlights relevant skills and makes your previous roles sound more like what they want. Bit frustrating but I'm sure there are plenty of suitable jobs out there for you.

I've changed a fair bit with my CV and have tended to tailor make it to suit various roles. I've no issue going green just nothing came back.

I've a mate that is getting involved with a Diamond miner next year, sounds scary but it may have legs so some form of investment in that may get me involved and at least focus my mind again.

Cant help at times thinking that my career didn't end up going the way i envisaged but maybe that's most people

Guess the focus was too much on the salary rather than what you were offering society. Sorry to get all socialist on you. Good luck, anyway.

[FocusRS3]

Hoofy said:

Guess the focus was too much on the salary rather than what you were offering society. Sorry to get all socialist on you. Good luck, anyway.

Tks will update the thread as and when.


Salary wasn't important TBH, an opportunity to do something new that i could get stuck into was more important.

Anyway tks all for the chat

[eltax91]

I work in IT sales. Have done security for years and recently took a slight detour into selling anti fraud software.

We would give our hind teeth to swap our traditional tech sellers out for people who are good at relationships and have a finance background! So, my advice is take a look at the fraud software space:-

RSA (no EMEA roles currently, I work there)
CA arcot
ThreatMetrix
Experian
Cardinal commerce
Etc etc