What would you do if you could change direction?
Discussion
Talking to a few friends over the weekend and I suppose a lot of us are re-evaluating and taking stock of our current situations after the last year.
One thing we were all agreed on was that, looking back, it was perhaps not the wisest path to take going to university for the sake of it and just because that was the natural progression for us Grammar school boys
We say this, because the majority of us are doing OK but in professions that are completely unrelated to our degree.
Those in our extended circle who are doing the best, and further up the ladder, are those in the big law firms or the Oxford maths graduates at IBs, or surgeons. Got there following a specific path with dedicated degrees and subsequent qualifications.
I’m often thinking about how I wish I knew more precisely about what I wanted to do back then.
We are all very early 30s, so I suppose just about in time to change direction if we really wanted to. Perhaps not able to dedicate 10 years to becoming a doctor however
If you gave yourself 3 years or so, what would you do or learn properly to build a life/career out of.... Or did do?
One thing we were all agreed on was that, looking back, it was perhaps not the wisest path to take going to university for the sake of it and just because that was the natural progression for us Grammar school boys
We say this, because the majority of us are doing OK but in professions that are completely unrelated to our degree.
Those in our extended circle who are doing the best, and further up the ladder, are those in the big law firms or the Oxford maths graduates at IBs, or surgeons. Got there following a specific path with dedicated degrees and subsequent qualifications.
I’m often thinking about how I wish I knew more precisely about what I wanted to do back then.
We are all very early 30s, so I suppose just about in time to change direction if we really wanted to. Perhaps not able to dedicate 10 years to becoming a doctor however
If you gave yourself 3 years or so, what would you do or learn properly to build a life/career out of.... Or did do?
Interesting topic. My friends and I had exactly the same conversation over the weekend.
So, I never went to uni, I took an apprenticeship straight out of college and worked my way up (I work in IT). For a long time, I really enjoyed what I do, especially as I really enjoy troubleshooting.
Since the pandemic hit and I can no longer visit sites, permanently WFH has destroyed every last bit of enthusiasm I have for my job. I have honestly lost interest, which has been so hard for me to accept and caused many sleepless nights.
Anyway, if I could do my time again, I would retrain as a mechanic. I would love to have my own garage specialising in modifying cars (think Devil Developments etc). I would honestly love the chance to employ people who are also passionate about cars and more importantly (to me) offer real apprenticeships just like I was offered at a young age. It did me the world of good and I thoroughly enjoy training peeps.
This dream feels completely unobtainable and scary to move away from my comfort blanket of IT.
So, I never went to uni, I took an apprenticeship straight out of college and worked my way up (I work in IT). For a long time, I really enjoyed what I do, especially as I really enjoy troubleshooting.
Since the pandemic hit and I can no longer visit sites, permanently WFH has destroyed every last bit of enthusiasm I have for my job. I have honestly lost interest, which has been so hard for me to accept and caused many sleepless nights.
Anyway, if I could do my time again, I would retrain as a mechanic. I would love to have my own garage specialising in modifying cars (think Devil Developments etc). I would honestly love the chance to employ people who are also passionate about cars and more importantly (to me) offer real apprenticeships just like I was offered at a young age. It did me the world of good and I thoroughly enjoy training peeps.
This dream feels completely unobtainable and scary to move away from my comfort blanket of IT.
PopsandBangs said:
...the majority of us are doing OK but in professions that are completely unrelated to our degree.
This is normal. Getting your degree however allowed you to have that level of choice. Few are lucky/privelaged enough to be able to have a vision of what they really want to do in those formative years. Those that do, like the surgeons you related to, have to follow very defined academic paths from the outset.
But be under no illusion; I know a few quite unhappy medical professionals, some who have gone on to other careers (admittedly still in healthcare, but not patient facing). You’d also be surprised at how many nurses and doctors who finish their initial training do not go on to practice for a wide variety of reasons.
The grass, as they say, isn’t always greener on the other side!
I quite like what I do. The hours and work life balance are horrible, but the rewards are about as good as is possible as a salaried employee in my late twenties. For someone from my ordinary, state school, working class-ish background, it feels like I've done as well as I could. If I was to go back in time, would I do something differently? I wish I spoke more than one language ... maybe I'd have focussed on learning a second language.
PopsandBangs said:
, it was perhaps not the wisest path to take going to university for the sake of it and just because that was the natural progression for us Grammar school boys
We say this, because the majority of us are doing OK but in professions that are completely unrelated to our degree.
I think that's the saddest post I've seen for a long time! I went to Poly and I would not change that for anything. Three years pissing it up in a strange town. Made mates who are still my pals 40 years later.We say this, because the majority of us are doing OK but in professions that are completely unrelated to our degree.
Going away to college (forgetting today's difficulties) should be a formative & enjoyable thing. The subject studied is largely irrelevant.
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
I think that's the saddest post I've seen for a long time! I went to Poly and I would not change that for anything. Three years pissing it up in a strange town. Made mates who are still my pals 40 years later.
Going away to college (forgetting today's difficulties) should be a formative & enjoyable thing. The subject studied is largely irrelevant.
I think this explains exactly why degree's today are worth fGoing away to college (forgetting today's difficulties) should be a formative & enjoyable thing. The subject studied is largely irrelevant.
k all in many cases though...okgo said:
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
I think that's the saddest post I've seen for a long time! I went to Poly and I would not change that for anything. Three years pissing it up in a strange town. Made mates who are still my pals 40 years later.
Going away to college (forgetting today's difficulties) should be a formative & enjoyable thing. The subject studied is largely irrelevant.
I think this explains exactly why degree's today are worth fGoing away to college (forgetting today's difficulties) should be a formative & enjoyable thing. The subject studied is largely irrelevant.
k all in many cases though...I’d buy a modest place with land in the Julian Alps and a dozen or so adventure bikes to rent out and expand from there. That would keep me busy between my own projects, riding and racing.
If I had my time again I’d have done an apprenticeship rather than uni, worked on a rotation mining or offshore until my mid 30s, then actioned the above.
If I had my time again I’d have done an apprenticeship rather than uni, worked on a rotation mining or offshore until my mid 30s, then actioned the above.
The reality is that when you started out (ie 16 years old), everyone was doing the A-level, uni, grad programme route and if you don't really know what you want to do, it's not a terrible path to pursue in order to build a career, pay for nice cars, enjoy life, start a family etc. But ultimately, it's going to leave you a bit unfulfilled when you step back and realise all you've done is completed the accounts or sold pointless products/services for whatever business you work in, and that's why a lot of guys end up getting a motorbike/divorcing/chasing young ladies/buying a soft top/whatever.
So here's where you are right now.
What next? Well, you could retrain in a more "rewarding" career eg teacher, doctor, but is this necessarily going to be fulfilling?
I would have a look at what you've done over the last few years, what you enjoy, what skills and quals you've built up. Then see if you can get a broad crossover of as many things as possible.
That's my solution and it's working for me.
So here's where you are right now.
What next? Well, you could retrain in a more "rewarding" career eg teacher, doctor, but is this necessarily going to be fulfilling?
I would have a look at what you've done over the last few years, what you enjoy, what skills and quals you've built up. Then see if you can get a broad crossover of as many things as possible.
That's my solution and it's working for me.
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Of course they are...but it's been thus for a generation.
They aren't though, if you do a good one at a good uni. Going to a good uni doesn't exclude you from having pissed up fun as per your post. The difference is it likely gives you far more options at the end of your years there.That would be my only advice (I didn't do go college or uni) to my son, 100% do it, but if you're going to, and you'll inherit the same debt whether its Cambridge or Bolton (maybe, but it's not just good unis charging 9k per year), so may as well make it count eh
okgo said:
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Of course they are...but it's been thus for a generation.
They aren't though, if you do a good one at a good uni. Going to a good uni doesn't exclude you from having pissed up fun as per your post. The difference is it likely gives you far more options at the end of your years there.That would be my only advice (I didn't do go college or uni) to my son, 100% do it, but if you're going to, and you'll inherit the same debt whether its Cambridge or Bolton (maybe, but it's not just good unis charging 9k per year), so may as well make it count eh
). Folk who've done a degree whilst holding down a job/living life shows application.2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
As an employer the only degrees that impressed me were those gained through Open University. As long as you turn up once in a while at regular Universities they dish out a degree (you've got to be a proper numpty to fail ). Folk who've done a degree whilst holding down a job/living life shows application.
What are you employing people into?). Folk who've done a degree whilst holding down a job/living life shows application.My point being a s
t uni doing a nothing degree and getting a nothing mark = basically, nothing. Go to a good uni, do a good degree, get a good mark = you'll probably get an interview in most things you apply to, the same cannot be said of the former. And for good reason, there's just too many of them.okgo said:
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
As an employer the only degrees that impressed me were those gained through Open University. As long as you turn up once in a while at regular Universities they dish out a degree (you've got to be a proper numpty to fail ). Folk who've done a degree whilst holding down a job/living life shows application.
What are you employing people into?). Folk who've done a degree whilst holding down a job/living life shows application.My point being a s
t uni doing a nothing degree and getting a nothing mark = basically, nothing. Go to a good uni, do a good degree, get a good mark = you'll probably get an interview in most things you apply to, the same cannot be said of the former. And for good reason, there's just too many of them.
Also worth remembering that getting an education is a good thing in and of itself. It makes you a better, more well rounded human being.
Does it have to translate into pounds and pence to be valuable? There are other types of value. Definitely the social side but also the freedom to get stuck into something that (hopefully) you’re actually interested in.
You’ll never get that again as, even if you work in a job related to your degree, there’s always other stuff, admin, getting in the way.
Does it have to translate into pounds and pence to be valuable? There are other types of value. Definitely the social side but also the freedom to get stuck into something that (hopefully) you’re actually interested in.
You’ll never get that again as, even if you work in a job related to your degree, there’s always other stuff, admin, getting in the way.
Chainsaw Rebuild said:
I am seriously reconsidering retraining and joining the merchant navy.
That's what I did in my mid/late 20's. Glad I did as I enjoy what I do, money was crap while doing the cadetship though!If I could change anything it would be to have started earlier and work harder to gain my tickets faster!
I’m a lawyer with a good degree from a good university.
If I had my time again (and had the aptitude) I would have become a management consultant.
I would still have ended up working in businesses, but I would have done my “business” learning early on and found a way to monetise that knowledge earlier (and also have a CV that speaks of more transferable skills...).
If I had my time again (and had the aptitude) I would have become a management consultant.
I would still have ended up working in businesses, but I would have done my “business” learning early on and found a way to monetise that knowledge earlier (and also have a CV that speaks of more transferable skills...).
Edited by OMITN on Tuesday 16th February 18:01
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