Age 19 career and what do you do ?
Discussion
I am an IT professional with no degree. You don't need one in my opinion. You will need to decide what in IT you want to do. I went down the Business Analyst/Project Manager route which eventually led into other Management roles. There are plenty of courses out there where you can get an official accreditation in not that much time. Send me a PM if you would like more detail, happy to help.
Another option would be to go down the developer route and learn a programming language. Again, loads of courses for this.
Another option would be to go down the developer route and learn a programming language. Again, loads of courses for this.
Jag_NE said:
As your technically minded I would recommend a job at a large manufacturing company. Start on the shop floor if you have to but it shouldn’t be hard to transition into a Quality or Manufacturing Engineering role.
That does sound like a good career path and something you could grow in . Also very interesting so that always helps when working , sure you could diversify into other engineering sectors when you have a good idea of what goes on . LimaDelta said:
Come work on superyachts. If you enjoy fixing stuff, problem solving and are happy talking to people, the work is varied, travel interesting and pay very good compared with most shoreside technical roles.
I have no idea how you would even get into that sort of profession to be honest although it does sound really interesting and paid well from the sounds of it . No experience or outright interest in boats ( beyond the obvious love of looking at yachts the size of my house and above haha) but I wouldn’t turn the opportunity for travel etc down .21TonyK said:
My son was in a similar position where he wasnt sure what he wanted to do, just not what he was doing!
He left school with a couple of A levels (design & history, failed maths). Thought about the Police and went through the first few stages of selection whilst working in food retail where he rapidly became a supervisor managing nights and deliveries. He was earning good very money but hated nights and being on call as a key holder etc
At 19 and completely out of the blue he applied for a job as a trainee chartered accountant and got it. No previous experience but fitted in with the existing team.
Trainee was the key thing for him, not an apprenticeship. He gets paid pretty well still and loves it.
A traineeship would be nice working alongside people who already know what they’re doing well. Sounds like your son is well in there though and I’m envious he’s been able to pull it off successfully ! I think a lot of it is confidence at going for something completely new.He left school with a couple of A levels (design & history, failed maths). Thought about the Police and went through the first few stages of selection whilst working in food retail where he rapidly became a supervisor managing nights and deliveries. He was earning good very money but hated nights and being on call as a key holder etc
At 19 and completely out of the blue he applied for a job as a trainee chartered accountant and got it. No previous experience but fitted in with the existing team.
Trainee was the key thing for him, not an apprenticeship. He gets paid pretty well still and loves it.
LunarOne said:
I worked for 9 years, building up more serious software skills.
Thank you for that reply very detailed I appreciate you going to that effort massively ! It seems you’ve had a great career in something I hadn’t even really thought about , this is what I mean though about not even really knowing what’s out there or available to someone without a traditional pathway . I think if I was offered 100k p.a I’d take it even if I was bored of what I was doing at the time that’s an incredible figure if you know you can do the job competently so congratulations !once I find something that interests me and I can find a future in I’ll definitely look into courses etc in my own time to try and get a better chance at a position . happy fish said:
First of all you sound like a sensible young man . I repair domestic appliances and have done so for almost forty years and have been self employed for at least thirty eight years . The pros of this with the right attitude you can earn a very good living , im not suggesting this but have you considered something such as a plumber gas appliances. The way technology is advancing gas boilers and the associated timers valves etc are becoming more complicated plus there will be big push for heat pump heating systems .
This if you are self employed has many advantages
Very good income
New work place situations daily weekly
The ability to grow a business
Dictating your own hours and days you work.
As an engineer who has been on the road you meet some lovely people ,see some incredible property’s also some absolute dives plus if you need take a couple of hours off you just can.
As you appear quite smart and can work with your hands and problem solve this may be something to look in to as it takes you out of the environment your in .
Sounds like an interesting career I do enjoy getting to meet all different customers and their houses sometimes when stuff needs doing on their end . I think preferably I’d rather get out of using my hands to make a living though that’s just preference I think from what I’ve experienced so far . Definitely would be good to get in ahead of the curve of one of the next big things though for obvious reasons . Thank you ! This if you are self employed has many advantages
Very good income
New work place situations daily weekly
The ability to grow a business
Dictating your own hours and days you work.
As an engineer who has been on the road you meet some lovely people ,see some incredible property’s also some absolute dives plus if you need take a couple of hours off you just can.
As you appear quite smart and can work with your hands and problem solve this may be something to look in to as it takes you out of the environment your in .
H_baz said:
LimaDelta said:
Come work on superyachts. If you enjoy fixing stuff, problem solving and are happy talking to people, the work is varied, travel interesting and pay very good compared with most shoreside technical roles.
I have no idea how you would even get into that sort of profession to be honest although it does sound really interesting and paid well from the sounds of it . No experience or outright interest in boats ( beyond the obvious love of looking at yachts the size of my house and above haha) but I wouldn’t turn the opportunity for travel etc down .
is it quite a good business at the moment ? 21TonyK said:
My son was in a similar position where he wasnt sure what he wanted to do, just not what he was doing!
He left school with a couple of A levels (design & history, failed maths). Thought about the Police and went through the first few stages of selection whilst working in food retail where he rapidly became a supervisor managing nights and deliveries. He was earning good very money but hated nights and being on call as a key holder etc
At 19 and completely out of the blue he applied for a job as a trainee chartered accountant and got it. No previous experience but fitted in with the existing team.
Trainee was the key thing for him, not an apprenticeship. He gets paid pretty well still and loves it.
My son got 3 A*s at A level, a 1st Masters in Chemistry, and then did 2 years in cancer drug research. Hated it. Then did a a years teacher training. Then a year as a Chemistry teacher. Hated it. He's now in his 2nd Year.as a trainee auditor with.one of the big 4 firms. He loves it. He left school with a couple of A levels (design & history, failed maths). Thought about the Police and went through the first few stages of selection whilst working in food retail where he rapidly became a supervisor managing nights and deliveries. He was earning good very money but hated nights and being on call as a key holder etc
At 19 and completely out of the blue he applied for a job as a trainee chartered accountant and got it. No previous experience but fitted in with the existing team.
Trainee was the key thing for him, not an apprenticeship. He gets paid pretty well still and loves it.
H_baz, you mentioned that you found college 'a bit slow'. Is that because the course was pitched at a lower academic level than you can manage, or you just didn't like being at college? It is almost a fact of life that if you are going to get a decent job with an employer, with prospects of moving up the ladder pay and responsibility-wise, that some amount of post-school further education will be required.
What are your views on doing:
What are your views on doing:
- An NVQ/ONC/HNC on day release from work
- Going to college full time for an NVQ Level 3/HND/Foundation degree
- Going to university to do a full time degree.
For office based I am Claims Broker, I am just about to retire after 34 years dealing with insurance claims. I have mainly avoided the fields that might become repetative like Motor and Household and dealt with Pollution, Catastrophy/Windstorm, Medical Malpractice, Casualty, Financial & Professional. For the last fourteen years I have specialized in Fine Art, Jewellery and Specie claims.
Basically we insure bullion dealers, jewellery shops, amoured cars and ATM's, art galleries, museums, private collections, diamond processing, Fine Art shippers and packers, auction houses etc. I sit in London and handle a variely of losses all round the world which means I get to see my fair share of armed robberies, damage art and lost and stolen jewellery. Personally I perfer the art side as that appeals to me more than the jewelley, although that can be interesting in it own way.
Problem is a few of the big brokers are outsourcing the claims roles to Mumbai and the Covid situation has driven home that people don't need to sit in an office in London to do the job. To be honest the City will never be the same again.
If you look at it try to get into someting interesting with a smaller broker like Aviation/aerospace, Marine (as it big cargo and cruise ships), kidnap and randsome etc.
Basically we insure bullion dealers, jewellery shops, amoured cars and ATM's, art galleries, museums, private collections, diamond processing, Fine Art shippers and packers, auction houses etc. I sit in London and handle a variely of losses all round the world which means I get to see my fair share of armed robberies, damage art and lost and stolen jewellery. Personally I perfer the art side as that appeals to me more than the jewelley, although that can be interesting in it own way.
Problem is a few of the big brokers are outsourcing the claims roles to Mumbai and the Covid situation has driven home that people don't need to sit in an office in London to do the job. To be honest the City will never be the same again.
If you look at it try to get into someting interesting with a smaller broker like Aviation/aerospace, Marine (as it big cargo and cruise ships), kidnap and randsome etc.
GliderRider said:
H_baz, you mentioned that you found college 'a bit slow'. Is that because the course was pitched at a lower academic level than you can manage, or you just didn't like being at college? It is almost a fact of life that if you are going to get a decent job with an employer, with prospects of moving up the ladder pay and responsibility-wise, that some amount of post-school further education will be required.
What are your views on doing:
Hi GliderRider, for me personally I think it was geared for a lower academic level than would suit me , not in a boastful way but i quickly picked things up that took others a few lessons to get their head around . I fully accept further education is a necessity if you are to end up higher up in the chain but I couldn’t see the point in university etc if I wasn’t sure of what I wanted to do or if it would even lead to a job in the end regardless. As such for the right job I would be more than happy to continue education alongside the job and earnings side , got to pay for my car some how :biglaughing: .What are your views on doing:
- An NVQ/ONC/HNC on day release from work
- Going to college full time for an NVQ Level 3/HND/Foundation degree
- Going to university to do a full time degree.
Day release would be my preferred option as I enjoy gaining experience more than just getting the theoretical side , helps me to understand things more . University wouldn’t be my cup of tea for the reasons I mentioned above unfortunately .
I think that roughly answers that , really appreciate all of the help
Cotty said:
If you look at it try to get into someting interesting with a smaller broker like Aviation/aerospace, Marine (as it big cargo and cruise ships), kidnap and randsome etc.
I hadn’t even thought of insurance though the specialisations you listed do sound interesting. I’m sure you could move around a bit , like you have done , to keep it fresh and you moving forward career wise . Thank you that’s another one for consideration . A500leroy said:
Maybe consider going into Motorsport to mix roles and aim to go towards F1/formula e?
Hello A500leroy , I do know of someone in the field relatively well but I don’t think it would be for me particularly. I’d like to get out of the trade entirely into something new as much as I love cars although the travelling aspect related to motor sport would be the main appeal for me . Thank you ! Get out of the motor trade asap it's sole destroying any passion for cars will vanish the politics, bulls
t, badly run management, low pay long hours expensive tools that you never stop buying. Then you have the vehicles themselves which are getting worse every year, your body pays badly too.
MOT testing is as bad huge amount of older tester leaving include techs as they have had enough many 50-55 years old are broken by being in the trade 30+ years. I'm 28 12 years in and am finished with it by 30 I'm out of there and not looking back. Get into engineering railways, aerospace etc etc your young enough to change paths don't wait till you are a lot older and become stuck in a dead end job.
t, badly run management, low pay long hours expensive tools that you never stop buying. Then you have the vehicles themselves which are getting worse every year, your body pays badly too.MOT testing is as bad huge amount of older tester leaving include techs as they have had enough many 50-55 years old are broken by being in the trade 30+ years. I'm 28 12 years in and am finished with it by 30 I'm out of there and not looking back. Get into engineering railways, aerospace etc etc your young enough to change paths don't wait till you are a lot older and become stuck in a dead end job.
https://autoste.com/topic/44951-job-offer-aircra...
That's a u t o s h i t e dot com.when it gets auto corrected by PH software.
te.com/topic/44951-job-offer-aircra...That's a u t o s h i t e dot com.when it gets auto corrected by PH software.
OP you sound a bit like me, hopefully a bit of my experience might help.
I'll not dwell on qualifications too much as I went to Uni at the height of Blairs 'everyone should get a degree' push and whilst it has all worked out for me, I think these days there are more options and perhaps better ways to acheive the same as me.
My highlighted career history goes a bit like
- Work experience, 16, various - mechanic, like you. Considers mechanical type apprenticeship. Made best decision of my life and avoided that.
- A levels, scraped through.
- Degree in Engineering Design - scraped through, was OK but looking back perhaps not best use of my time but times have changed and now there are other options (this is good for you). This, however, included a placement year at a vehicle manufacturer I'd actually considered going to as an apprentice at age 16. This placement year which was 100% the most worthwhile bit of the 4 years and made it worth it. Got a job offer to go to once degree complete.
- Finished Uni right in time for worldwide financial crash. Impeccable timing. Job offer rescinded as company skint.
- Junior design engineer at lighting company (sheet metal work).
- Slightly less Junior Design Engineer at lighting company 2.
- Finally got the job I was promised at Vehicle manufacturer. Started as body design engineer.
- Got 'spotted' and moved to the Reliability Engineering Side. Did this for a good few years and really, really developed.
- Eventually managed to transfer from Reliabilty Engineer in Automotive, to Reliability Engineer in Aviation - a big step up.
- Now - I am settled into the world of Aviation and work as a Technical Trainer.
Now, all my career I have experienced the 'office/shop floor divide'. I've been on both sides. There are people (some on here, I bet) who will never get over the image of the posh clean office lot, who don't seem to do anyhting other than push pens around and drink coffee all day, whilst they slave away for less pay in worse condtions breaking their back.
Equally, there are plenty of people who wouldnt now which end of a screwdriver to hold if you handed them it, who see 'that lot' on the factory floor grunting and never working 1 second past clocking off time, and dont have an ounce of understanding of what they do.
The key, to the most interesting careers, is to be able to do both.
In most of my roles I've been what might be called an 'office' role, yet I dont weat a shirt and shiny shoes - I need my boots on, to get stuck in,
As for what industry - again, there is lots of really interesting stuff out there. Firstly - automotive. People think its either working as a mechanic in a garage, motorsport, or fitting 900 door handles a day in a Nissan factory. Theres much more than that and much more than cars. Commerical vehicles, truck, bus, plant (JCB!), trailers, specialist conversions etc etc.
Manufacturing (of many, many kinds), Civil, Marine, Railway, Automotive, Aviation etc.. There are loads of options and loads of interesting roles out there but its very hard at 16 to know how to find them, I remember being in your position.
Loads of good advice here, and if you dont want to spend your life being a mechanic, dont do it, get out. That doesnt mean you will never do anyhting interesting, technical or practical again!
Hope this helps.
I'll not dwell on qualifications too much as I went to Uni at the height of Blairs 'everyone should get a degree' push and whilst it has all worked out for me, I think these days there are more options and perhaps better ways to acheive the same as me.
H_baz said:
I have been working as a mechanic since 16 and would say I now have a rough idea about garage life but don’t think it’s particularly for me
I love cars (and anything mechanical!) and tinkering, building stuff is my biggest hobby. I've built engines, welded up rotten chassis, learnt to paint, all sorts. I've got masses of tools, I'm alwys daydreaming of engine swaps and rebuilding suspension etc. I can think of nothing worse, however, than earning a crust by changing other peoples oil and brake pads, against the clock, for someone else to make a profit. So I totally understand that. My highlighted career history goes a bit like
- Work experience, 16, various - mechanic, like you. Considers mechanical type apprenticeship. Made best decision of my life and avoided that.
- A levels, scraped through.
- Degree in Engineering Design - scraped through, was OK but looking back perhaps not best use of my time but times have changed and now there are other options (this is good for you). This, however, included a placement year at a vehicle manufacturer I'd actually considered going to as an apprentice at age 16. This placement year which was 100% the most worthwhile bit of the 4 years and made it worth it. Got a job offer to go to once degree complete.
- Finished Uni right in time for worldwide financial crash. Impeccable timing. Job offer rescinded as company skint.
- Junior design engineer at lighting company (sheet metal work).
- Slightly less Junior Design Engineer at lighting company 2.
- Finally got the job I was promised at Vehicle manufacturer. Started as body design engineer.
- Got 'spotted' and moved to the Reliability Engineering Side. Did this for a good few years and really, really developed.
- Eventually managed to transfer from Reliabilty Engineer in Automotive, to Reliability Engineer in Aviation - a big step up.
- Now - I am settled into the world of Aviation and work as a Technical Trainer.
Now, all my career I have experienced the 'office/shop floor divide'. I've been on both sides. There are people (some on here, I bet) who will never get over the image of the posh clean office lot, who don't seem to do anyhting other than push pens around and drink coffee all day, whilst they slave away for less pay in worse condtions breaking their back.
Equally, there are plenty of people who wouldnt now which end of a screwdriver to hold if you handed them it, who see 'that lot' on the factory floor grunting and never working 1 second past clocking off time, and dont have an ounce of understanding of what they do.
The key, to the most interesting careers, is to be able to do both.
Benbay001 said:
Have you considered a mechanical role in a factory?
I am mixed skilled (mostly electronics though) and spend about 40% of my time sat behind a computer and the rest either at my work bench or working on equipment around the site.
I am mixed skilled (mostly electronics though) and spend about 40% of my time sat behind a computer and the rest either at my work bench or working on equipment around the site.
Jag_NE said:
As your technically minded I would recommend a job at a large manufacturing company. Start on the shop floor if you have to but it shouldn’t be hard to transition into a Quality or Manufacturing Engineering role.
This is a good advice. As per my comment above, these are the kind of jobs that bridge that gap. Quality engineering, production Engineering etc, or Reliability Enginerering as I have done. You wont be tied to a computer, but you wont be working yourself to an early grave gridning your knuckle down every day. You might be out on the road a bit, or dealing with customers or suppliers etc. In most of my roles I've been what might be called an 'office' role, yet I dont weat a shirt and shiny shoes - I need my boots on, to get stuck in,
As for what industry - again, there is lots of really interesting stuff out there. Firstly - automotive. People think its either working as a mechanic in a garage, motorsport, or fitting 900 door handles a day in a Nissan factory. Theres much more than that and much more than cars. Commerical vehicles, truck, bus, plant (JCB!), trailers, specialist conversions etc etc.
edc said:
If you like technical aspects and happy dealing with customers and explaining things then some sort of technical pre or post sales may suit.
Another great idea, and something I have also done a lot of - see also Reliability Engineering. Being the 'technical sidekick' to sales and customer service, this was something I really used to like. Coming up with solutions. Manufacturing (of many, many kinds), Civil, Marine, Railway, Automotive, Aviation etc.. There are loads of options and loads of interesting roles out there but its very hard at 16 to know how to find them, I remember being in your position.
Loads of good advice here, and if you dont want to spend your life being a mechanic, dont do it, get out. That doesnt mean you will never do anyhting interesting, technical or practical again!
Hope this helps.
Edited by snotrag on Tuesday 20th April 10:49
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff