Career change at 23...too late?
Discussion
Hi all, I'm looking for a bit of advice or the next steps I should take on my new career path I'm wanting to take.
Right, for the past 5 years I've spent my time in music college (principle studies were drums) which included a 2 year BTEC course and now have just completed a degree course.
But during my final years my new found passion was car body repair and spray painting. I applied for a 'level 2' Body repair course at the 'South Leeds Center' college for this year, but for some reason (they didn't send a letter or anything, I had to take it upon myself to ring THEM up and find out) I didn't get a place after taking part in the taster week. That really put me back.
So far I've been driving round car repair shops in the Leeds area offering to work for FREE if they train me up but the 10 or so shops I've asked have declined.
So now I'm starting to wonder if I'm just too old to get on the courses and even too old to apply for any apprenticeships (due to Government funding etc).
Any help with the next steps or info would be very much appreciated.
Cheers, Andy.
Right, for the past 5 years I've spent my time in music college (principle studies were drums) which included a 2 year BTEC course and now have just completed a degree course.
But during my final years my new found passion was car body repair and spray painting. I applied for a 'level 2' Body repair course at the 'South Leeds Center' college for this year, but for some reason (they didn't send a letter or anything, I had to take it upon myself to ring THEM up and find out) I didn't get a place after taking part in the taster week. That really put me back.
So far I've been driving round car repair shops in the Leeds area offering to work for FREE if they train me up but the 10 or so shops I've asked have declined.
So now I'm starting to wonder if I'm just too old to get on the courses and even too old to apply for any apprenticeships (due to Government funding etc).
Any help with the next steps or info would be very much appreciated.
Cheers, Andy.
Are you serious????
Your 23 for gods sake! I'm on my 3rd career (4th which was second but I won't mention it
)
16-19 apprenticeship as a lithographic printer, college day release and B-TEC national diploma gained, I qualified and the company I worked for went into recession, (early 90's) couldn't find a 'like' job, so found my 2nd career,
25-36 joined the police, 11 years, last 6 in traffic, loved the job not the politics, during which home studied, self financed aviation training.
36- present, flight crew and hopefully my final career as I love it
Your never too old, have passion, the want to succeed and enthusiasm, I'm sure you will find your chosen path.
r1
Your 23 for gods sake! I'm on my 3rd career (4th which was second but I won't mention it
)16-19 apprenticeship as a lithographic printer, college day release and B-TEC national diploma gained, I qualified and the company I worked for went into recession, (early 90's) couldn't find a 'like' job, so found my 2nd career,
25-36 joined the police, 11 years, last 6 in traffic, loved the job not the politics, during which home studied, self financed aviation training.
36- present, flight crew and hopefully my final career as I love it
Your never too old, have passion, the want to succeed and enthusiasm, I'm sure you will find your chosen path.
r1
not too late. My wife has a BMus from leeds, and is now a company director (and no, she isnt and she hasnt... 
). I am on my second career after redundancy in 2010. It can be done. But it isnt easy and needs an open mind from you. Whatever you do (I worked my way up from a call centre after being in a role consumate with owning and running my own Aston) work hard, do it right, engage with the company ethos and get noticed. It takes time, but cream always rises to the top/ can get another job elsewhere.
). I am on my second career after redundancy in 2010. It can be done. But it isnt easy and needs an open mind from you. Whatever you do (I worked my way up from a call centre after being in a role consumate with owning and running my own Aston) work hard, do it right, engage with the company ethos and get noticed. It takes time, but cream always rises to the top/ can get another job elsewhere. Cheers guys, Yeah like you all said I'm probably jumping the gun thinking it's too late but if I can't get the chance to train etc it's going to be a tough one to gain a job placement (I didn't think it was going to be easy but at least given a chance).
Doesn't help that your mates have all found their careers which they all studied for at college etc. B*stards.
BoRED- Hell, I've been playing for 10 years, been in a few bands but I'll tell you this: You DON'T make money being in a band. Probably 1 in 10,000 bands get a lucky break. But I have started teaching a kid so I haven't stopped all together.
Doesn't help that your mates have all found their careers which they all studied for at college etc. B*stards.
BoRED- Hell, I've been playing for 10 years, been in a few bands but I'll tell you this: You DON'T make money being in a band. Probably 1 in 10,000 bands get a lucky break. But I have started teaching a kid so I haven't stopped all together.
mph1977 said:
your biggest problem is going to be funding as you've had a fairly big bite of funding with your recent studies...
Aye, I read up that the government pay the full amount for apprentices aged up to 19 or 20 I think, then they only pay half which the company would have to pay the other. So I can see why companies wouldn't want to take on the older entries.Well...I'm off to go try 2 more body shops tomorrow while I'm out and about and see what they offer if anything.
gretsch drummer said:
Cheers guys, Yeah like you all said I'm probably jumping the gun thinking it's too late but if I can't get the chance to train etc it's going to be a tough one to gain a job placement (I didn't think it was going to be easy but at least given a chance).
Doesn't help that your mates have all found their careers which they all studied for at college etc. B*stards.
BoRED- Hell, I've been playing for 10 years, been in a few bands but I'll tell you this: You DON'T make money being in a band. Probably 1 in 10,000 bands get a lucky break. But I have started teaching a kid so I haven't stopped all together.
yeah you've got lots of time, the only think that will hold you back is if you give up. Doesn't help that your mates have all found their careers which they all studied for at college etc. B*stards.
BoRED- Hell, I've been playing for 10 years, been in a few bands but I'll tell you this: You DON'T make money being in a band. Probably 1 in 10,000 bands get a lucky break. But I have started teaching a kid so I haven't stopped all together.
See if any of the national chains have apprentice placement programs and be prepare to move to get the job you want.
My career history....
16 to 25 - Weapons Engineer (RN)
25 to 33 - Building Service/Facilities Management
33 to 40 - Applications Support (IT)
40 to 46 - Business Analysis (IT)
While 3 and 4 are both in IT, its an entirely different skill set, and I needed to get professional qualifications (Prince2, ISEB, ITIL etc).
In short you are never to old to change careers.
16 to 25 - Weapons Engineer (RN)
25 to 33 - Building Service/Facilities Management
33 to 40 - Applications Support (IT)
40 to 46 - Business Analysis (IT)
While 3 and 4 are both in IT, its an entirely different skill set, and I needed to get professional qualifications (Prince2, ISEB, ITIL etc).
In short you are never to old to change careers.
Just saw this. I'm a year away from completing my music degree (also playing drums) When i leave I'll have just turned 23. Having had an insight in to the state the industry is in, and just how hard sustaining a career in it can be, I'll be looking to pursue a totally different career choice as well. I know session players who have had the most amazing careers, and still struggle to play the bills or have moved back in with parents. It's a shame how down hill things have gone.
I'm in the final year of my 4 year apprenticeship. Started when I was 21.
Dropped out of a degree in zoology, now in the oil and gas industry.
I guess it's just a case of seeing what's around. I was lucky I guess in that my course was funded fully by the industry so age wasn't so much of an issue.
Try and think about where else you could start off instead of just local garages.
As an example I have an eco-hippy friend who did a degree in something eco. Couldn't find a job anywhere until it was suggested he look at bigger companies. He wasn't going to find a job in conservation of the sort he was thinking of (walking around in bamboo shoes, looking after the little birdy-wirdies). He now works as a sort of environmental focal point for a much bigger very non-eco-friendly company and seems very happy with it.
Do any haulage companies need anyone? Surely when a lorry hits an animal (regular occurance?) some companies will fix it themselves?
Bus companies? I'm sure there must be others, at least to start with until you have experience?
Dropped out of a degree in zoology, now in the oil and gas industry.
I guess it's just a case of seeing what's around. I was lucky I guess in that my course was funded fully by the industry so age wasn't so much of an issue.
Try and think about where else you could start off instead of just local garages.
As an example I have an eco-hippy friend who did a degree in something eco. Couldn't find a job anywhere until it was suggested he look at bigger companies. He wasn't going to find a job in conservation of the sort he was thinking of (walking around in bamboo shoes, looking after the little birdy-wirdies). He now works as a sort of environmental focal point for a much bigger very non-eco-friendly company and seems very happy with it.
Do any haulage companies need anyone? Surely when a lorry hits an animal (regular occurance?) some companies will fix it themselves?
Bus companies? I'm sure there must be others, at least to start with until you have experience?
Drums- Aye, I realised in about the 2nd year aswell that there's no way in hell I'm going to make a living out of music. The easiest (well not that easy)/best way for making a bit of money is to go into teaching. I'm currently teaching 1 kid every week. It pays for my petrol so not too bad. But I've no idea how most music graduates make any money these days.
Sam- Cheers Sam. I haven't actually asked any of the 'big guys' yet. I know there's the Leeds 'First' bus depot near the town centre. So that'll be my next port of call if I don't get anywhere with the place I'm ringing up tmorrow.
Cheers all.
Sam- Cheers Sam. I haven't actually asked any of the 'big guys' yet. I know there's the Leeds 'First' bus depot near the town centre. So that'll be my next port of call if I don't get anywhere with the place I'm ringing up tmorrow.
Cheers all.
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