Age 19 career and what do you do ?

[crofty1984]

H_baz said:

That’s brilliant thank you very much , it’s a small 3 man garage owned by my dad so I have got more experience with the full process than perhaps others. I enjoy being creative with words opposed to tick boxes for sure and have no problem with dealing with customers and trying to explain things in a less technical sense that’s easier to digest . Obviously problem solving is a large part which I also enjoy because it’s a great feeling when you do find a solution . I have no problems being given problems from people above me and I’m not scared of people being in charge/overseeing what I’m doing . I haven’t ever had to stay away for work but I wouldn’t have a problem with that as I still live at home so no dependents. I do enjoy teamwork actually it’s nice to have people to talk things through with . Repetitive work isn’t a huge problem if it’s remotely interesting to me but by its nature obviously gets boring . Hope that can help a bit I really appreciate all of this

I say this as a guy just leaving a 14 year career as a sales engineer, but - Sales engineer?
You can visit various sites, get to know your regulars, explain to them how and why your stuff works and how it will solve their problem, variety, a decent bit of autonomy whilst still being in a team, a fair bit of "office work" that you like, problem solving, even a little project management sometimes. Depending on the job, even the opportunity for international travel/secondments.

I will tell you this though, when times are rough it can be REALLY stressful. Looking at a target of £40k for the month with only £5k in the bank and not being sure where the rest will come from can get you down. There's also the need to be able to get into a business and maintain your relationships with existing customers. Though that will be reduced if you're mainly internal sales. It's probably one of the best paid careers in engineering.

Personally, I struggled with the sales part, it never came naturally to me, I was always more on the technical/project delivery side. Though if it's of interest, feel free to PM me, I'd like to think I've had a pretty varied career.

I would also second whoever suggested engineering team in a factory. It's not mind-numbing production line button-pressing, it's making sure that production line still runs, and you can move up the ranks if you show aptitude.

[toon10]

I've been an office worker for over 20 years. I went straight to College to study IT, then University and then a career in IT. I'm working from home permanently now which is way better than being in an office. I hate it but it pays well and it's all I know. Given how many people I speak to about their jobs, I don't really know anyone who loves working. It's better to be well paid doing something you hate rather than poorly paid, still doing something you hate.

If you're mechanically minded, young with no ties then one role you might want to look into is a service engineer of some sort? We employ people your age via an apprenticeship and then after 2 years, they're getting good pay and a decent lifestyle. Our guys learn how to fix and service our products and then they are given a laptop and company van to travel sites and service kit. It's varied, you get paid to drive and get good expenses when away. You get to work one day a week at home to do you admin (service sheet submissions, etc.) and I even think they plan their own jobs so you can choose to squeeze lots of work into your working day to free up other days, etc. If I were any good with a spanner and younger, I'd rather be doing that. Just the thought of doing 2 hours work and 4 hours travelling to and from and getting paid sounds great to me!

[crofty1984]

snotrag said:

Loads of good advice here, and if you dont want to spend your life being a mechanic, dont do it, get out.

100%, and then more than that. You're 19, mortgage free, no kids, you sound smart, fk it, you can do ANYTHING! Get a job in a bar in Maurituis for a year if that's what you fancy. Or get on a training course for some IT company if you want. The days of getting an apprenticeship at the factory because your dad worked there and then retiring from that same place 50 years later are long gone.

Enough money is important, but more than that doesn't necessarily make you much happier. OK, at some point you'll probably need to buy a house and wot not, but find out doing what you enjoy first. I said in my post above I'm leaving my current job. It's a great place to work and a really supportive team, but ultimately I've been chasing the wrong thing. My last job search was almost "as much money as I can feasibly make that I could reasonably get". This time around, I've figured out how much I need to live on, and looked for a job that I would enjoy that still allows me to pay my bills. It's been a significant pay cut, but I don't regret my decision. The fact that you have so few bills means you can do almost anything you fancy, and don't be scared to search around at this point in your career.

[ben_h100]

Have you considered the forces? Highly technical organisations and some ‘proper’ engineering jobs available (I’m RAF but would recommend the Royal Navy).

Training, quals, experience, travel - all paid for.

[ReverendCounter]

Take a look at this OP - Trainee Air Traffic Controller:

"On joining as a Trainee Air Traffic Controller, you’ll get a basic salary of £17,000, along with an attractive benefits package"

"we also provide a weekly payment of £60* to help you cover your expenses. You may also be eligible to claim a further £1,000* on completion of your initial college-based training:"

"Once you’ve completed and passed all of your training (college and unit), your salary will rise to £37,014* – £41,253* and, with increments, you could potentially earn over £100,000*"

https://www.nats.aero/careers/trainee-air-traffic-...

[InitialDave]

toon10 said:

If you're mechanically minded, young with no ties then one role you might want to look into is a service engineer of some sort? We employ people your age via an apprenticeship and then after 2 years, they're getting good pay and a decent lifestyle. Our guys learn how to fix and service our products and then they are given a laptop and company van to travel sites and service kit. It's varied, you get paid to drive and get good expenses when away. You get to work one day a week at home to do you admin (service sheet submissions, etc.) and I even think they plan their own jobs so you can choose to squeeze lots of work into your working day to free up other days, etc. If I were any good with a spanner and younger, I'd rather be doing that. Just the thought of doing 2 hours work and 4 hours travelling to and from and getting paid sounds great to me!

Yep, service/repair on industrial equipment - whether on a site's maintenance team, or working as a service technician for an equipment supplier - is a good shout, particularly if you want the variety of the latter.

[Tlandcruiser]

H_baz said:

Hello everyone, 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 . Not in a negative way but I just don’t think it particularly suits me and what I see for my future . I would like an office based job I think but I haven’t got a clue about what precisely as it’s not really what anyone in my family does bar one person( which is why I’ve asked here). I can learn quickly and I would say get my head around new things quite well. I would appreciate input from people in such positions and the job title and description etc. Thank you for reading and any help is hugely valued.

Edited by H_baz on Saturday 17th April 11:48

I would recommend that you join the Navy or RAF, even if you served 5 or 6 years, the opportunities that it would provide for you will be fantastic. You may even stay longer. Lots of interesting career options

I was in the Army and although I’m no longer serving, I deeply miss it. After I left I ended working within the oil and gas industry travelling the world.

Edited by Tlandcruiser on Tuesday 20th April 18:42

[H_baz]

Thanks for the suggestions of forces etc but unfortunately I can’t due to medical issues so that puts an end to that , otherwise it would be intriguing. I have found sales engineer roles that sound interesting but they seem to require further education so could be out of my reach.

[Cyder]

I work for an OEM at the R+D facility.

There are a number of guys who ha e joined as apprentice technicians then become technicians and transferred across to the offices later as test engineers or in design roles.

[Tlandcruiser]

H_baz said:

Thanks for the suggestions of forces etc but unfortunately I can’t due to medical issues so that puts an end to that , otherwise it would be intriguing. I have found sales engineer roles that sound interesting but they seem to require further education so could be out of my reach.

How about the royal fleet auxiliary or merchant navy? They won’t require the same medical standards as the forces

Edited by Tlandcruiser on Wednesday 21st April 19:44

[LunarOne]

H_baz said:

Thanks for the suggestions of forces etc but unfortunately I can’t due to medical issues so that puts an end to that , otherwise it would be intriguing. I have found sales engineer roles that sound interesting but they seem to require further education so could be out of my reach.

Many jobs "require" a degree, but I can tell you that in reality it's not the case. Sure, if you want to be a doctor or a lawyer, then it's a prerequisite, but many professional technical roles don't. A degree is really just a way of proving that you have the ability to knuckle down and read, learn on your own and regurgitate what you've learnt in writing. It weeds out the academically inadequate, and allows employers to take for granted that they can set you some tasks and expect that you'll apply yourself to learning how do do them. What you actually learned during your degree course is often largely irrelevant. The fact is that you learned suitably complex subject matter within the required time.

Judging by what you've written in the thread so far, and by your opening post in particular, you're clearly one of the ones who could demonstrate the right aptitude. It's something that not everyone has. Of course there will be many employers who will not entertain you as a candidate, but there are as many who will. Go for what you want and don't let the lack of a degree hold you back!

[Roaringopenfire]

You write really well. I always think attitude determines altitude so you will go far.
Clearly an office job can mean anything. Two thoughts from me:
1. Build on your skills and try to migrate to be a service manager at a decent main dealer. That could lead to sales or management.
2. Get an IT apprenticeship then try to focus on boom sectors like cloud, 5G and artificial intelligence. There's a skills shortage in many areas of IT.
Good luck!