Escaping the keyboard/mouse/desk
Escaping the keyboard/mouse/desk
Author
Discussion

bosshog

Original Poster:

1,795 posts

305 months

Wednesday 17th October 2012
quotequote all
I've worked in IT development for about 20 years, and I'm sick to death of tapping away at a keyboard staring at a monitor/phone all day, sat at a desk.

I would describe ,myself as an active person, yet paradoxically I spend at least 40 hours a week sat very still.

I'm SO sick of it.

So I'm trying to think of a career change that would get be out of the desk. Just a pipe dream or has anyone done it?

tyrewrecker

6,419 posts

183 months

Wednesday 17th October 2012
quotequote all
Sales to get out and about, flying around?

ILoveMondeo

9,614 posts

255 months

Wednesday 17th October 2012
quotequote all
Gardener

tyrewrecker

6,419 posts

183 months

Wednesday 17th October 2012
quotequote all
ILoveMondeo said:
Gardener
This, the uphill sort.

Challo

12,641 posts

184 months

Wednesday 17th October 2012
quotequote all
ILoveMondeo said:
Gardener
A friend did this. Worked in offices for 15years. Left his job, started his own gardening company and never been so happy. Earning more money then he ever had before.

Take the leap if you do something your going to enjoy.

bosshog

Original Poster:

1,795 posts

305 months

Wednesday 17th October 2012
quotequote all
tyrewrecker said:
Sales to get out and about, flying around?
I'm crap at selling stuff - don't think I'd do very well!


djt100

1,739 posts

214 months

Wednesday 17th October 2012
quotequote all
I'm in the same boat, I've recently moved over to consultancy side of the business and getting out and about make a massive difference, but i still feel like i;d like to have a career whereby i nearly never had to touch a PC.

hondafanatic

4,969 posts

230 months

Wednesday 17th October 2012
quotequote all
bosshog said:
I've worked in IT development for about 20 years, and I'm sick to death of tapping away at a keyboard staring at a monitor/phone all day, sat at a desk.

I would describe ,myself as an active person, yet paradoxically I spend at least 40 hours a week sat very still.

I'm SO sick of it.

So I'm trying to think of a career change that would get be out of the desk. Just a pipe dream or has anyone done it?
Had the same problem, became an ICT Secondary Teacher...still have to type up lesson plans etc, but the actual day flies by and everyday is completely different. I'm very rarely say at my desk during teaching hours. I love it. smile

tyrewrecker

6,419 posts

183 months

Wednesday 17th October 2012
quotequote all
bosshog said:
I'm crap at selling stuff - don't think I'd do very well!
Porn?

shouldbworking

4,801 posts

241 months

Wednesday 17th October 2012
quotequote all
hondafanatic said:
Had the same problem, became an ICT Secondary Teacher...still have to type up lesson plans etc, but the actual day flies by and everyday is completely different. I'm very rarely say at my desk during teaching hours. I love it. smile
How much retraining did you have to do? cost? presumably a big old pay cut to go with it?

hondafanatic

4,969 posts

230 months

Wednesday 17th October 2012
quotequote all
I had to do a one year PGCE course. I had a £9k bursary for the year and just received a £2.5k golden hello for completing my NQT year. I did take a pay cut but I started further up the pay scale because of my experience.

Although it is a pay cut, I also look it at in terms of holidays and general hours.

I chose to tip my work/life balance more towards life smile I don't have any kids so holidays are exactly that for me.

shouldbworking

4,801 posts

241 months

Wednesday 17th October 2012
quotequote all
hondafanatic said:
I had to do a one year PGCE course. I had a £9k bursary for the year and just received a £2.5k golden hello for completing my NQT year. I did take a pay cut but I started further up the pay scale because of my experience.

Although it is a pay cut, I also look it at in terms of holidays and general hours.

I chose to tip my work/life balance more towards life smile I don't have any kids so holidays are exactly that for me.
Forgive the questions but its a route I may follow.. where did you get the bursary? who was able to advise you about the transition with regard to payscales etc?

ewenm

28,506 posts

274 months

Wednesday 17th October 2012
quotequote all
There are various incentives around at the moment for people to become Maths/Physics teachers. Lots on the department of education website about it. It is something I've been considering.

Another option is to re-train in a trade (plumbing? electrician?).

Just about anything will require you to put in some upfront investment of money and/or time though.

hondafanatic

4,969 posts

230 months

Wednesday 17th October 2012
quotequote all
shouldbworking said:
Forgive the questions but its a route I may follow.. where did you get the bursary? who was able to advise you about the transition with regard to payscales etc?
The bursary was due to the nature of my course. It's not there now as Gove moves away from anything other than core subjects.

The payscale was decided by the council, in my case, Blackpool. (If you watch 999 What's your Emergency on Channel 4, most of the kids are ex-pupils) I didn't have a say in it, but they look through a persons CV and decide how far you can jump up.

smile

shouldbworking

4,801 posts

241 months

Saturday 20th October 2012
quotequote all
hondafanatic said:
The bursary was due to the nature of my course. It's not there now as Gove moves away from anything other than core subjects.

The payscale was decided by the council, in my case, Blackpool. (If you watch 999 What's your Emergency on Channel 4, most of the kids are ex-pupils) I didn't have a say in it, but they look through a persons CV and decide how far you can jump up.

smile
And as if on cue..

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/oct/19/co...

Enquiry has been made.. fully expect to have my 2:2 BEng software engineering rule me out, despite 15 years industry experience!

russ_a

4,721 posts

240 months

Saturday 20th October 2012
quotequote all
I hate it too, the money just keeps me shackled to the desk!

PimpmyHotwheels

365 posts

209 months

Saturday 20th October 2012
quotequote all
Seeing posts on here about people who have had "enough" of IT do worry me being young and trying to get into IT.

shouldbworking

4,801 posts

241 months

Saturday 20th October 2012
quotequote all
PimpmyHotwheels said:
Seeing posts on here about people who have had "enough" of IT do worry me being young and trying to get into IT.
At some point I suspect the perception of the industry will change. At the moment its lumped in with being a cost area like HR, and as such is underinvested and has a hard time trying to get the integration required with the core of the business, which is required in order to get the best results out of it.

That said, if I thought it was going to happen anytime soon I probably wouldnt be looking for the eject button...

rog007

5,828 posts

253 months

Sunday 21st October 2012
quotequote all
shouldbworking said:
And as if on cue..

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/oct/19/co...

Enquiry has been made.. fully expect to have my 2:2 BEng software engineering rule me out, despite 15 years industry experience!
It shouldn't. If you are heading to the maintained sector, you'll need your PGCE and NQT. To get those you'll need to demonstrate to the relevant awarding body that you're able to pass the training, that you're going to make a great teacher and that you really get 'every child matters' .

If you're a natural, you could even head to the new Academies or the private sector and teach without any formal teaching qualification. Good luck!

bosshog

Original Poster:

1,795 posts

305 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
hondafanatic said:
Had the same problem, became an ICT Secondary Teacher...still have to type up lesson plans etc, but the actual day flies by and everyday is completely different. I'm very rarely say at my desk during teaching hours. I love it. smile
If you don't mind me asking: at what age did you do this? what are you teaching?