Stuck in a rut career wise..Suggestions gratefully recieived
Discussion
Hello PH
I have reached a point in my current job where I am fed up and require a change for my sanity and for my future. I will cut to the chase and start by describing my background - apologies for what feels like a long post coming up:
Just about to turn 26. No kids, no house (currently live with my girlfriend at my parents house) - want to settle down soon, so have started to concentrate on paying off overdraft and credit card ready to start saving up for a house deposit. Now, I am one of those people who had no idea as a kid what I wanted to be (formula one driver and spaceman I realised were not reasonable, even as a child) and truth be told I still don't know what I want to do.
Have some decent GSCE's, couple of A-levels and a Degree in Criminology and Sociology at a good red-brick university. Did originally try Engineering but found the Pure Maths modules too much for me especially combined with the freedom and easy access to alcohol and women at uni - which meant I didn't really try, to my shame.
As soon as I turned 16 I had a weekend job (increasing hours during term breaks) at a large clothing retailer, and kept this same job up throughout sixth form and uni, with slight variations in the job role as my experience grew. Didn't like retail much, especially clothing, but it was pocket money, easy and a first job.
I was always told the Police was a good career, so once I left uni my local force were recruiting Detention Officers which seemed an interesting job and it was a way people could gain policing experience which would help them into the regulars. This Detention officer role is the job I have now 2.5 years later. Not long after I started I realised that the Police is not a career for me. Despite my Sergeants constantly telling me I would make an excellent officer due to my personal attributes, I want out. I am a very reliable, dependable, honest and proactive person, and I am never afraid to work (unlike some older colleagues happy to rest on their laurels)
The DO role pays £k mid 20's but has no promotion opportunities as such. I am also worried the longer I stay in the role the less real world skills I can carry over to other sectors. I can see why people say they will stay for a couple of years and move on, but before they know it 20 years have gone. I don't want to end up the same. Onwards and upwards I say. I am willing to travel about the North West for the right job, willing to work longer hours for less money, provided there is a genuine career path with opportunities I can steer myself down and provided it interests me enough. But with my eye on a house deposit, I would figuratively speaking shovel manure all day if it paid well enough.
What really fascinates me are the people who can turn £50 into a thriving business within several years. I would love to do something similar but am currently devoid of ideas for a product or business, at least at the present. Probably lack the balls to implement it as well, although admittedly I don't have much to lose.
I understand that the energy sector will be an important one for the future, especially wind power, and note with interest that Fracking will be up and running soon near Blackpool. Any other suggestions??
I am sorry about the war and peace introduction but if there is even one meaningful reply it would be worth it. Any comments or criticism are welcome by the way, and I can also email my C.V to anyone interested in seeing what can be done with my skills and experience. This isn't a 'gizza job' cap in hand thread, more about collating information that I can look into further.
Kind regards!
I have reached a point in my current job where I am fed up and require a change for my sanity and for my future. I will cut to the chase and start by describing my background - apologies for what feels like a long post coming up:
Just about to turn 26. No kids, no house (currently live with my girlfriend at my parents house) - want to settle down soon, so have started to concentrate on paying off overdraft and credit card ready to start saving up for a house deposit. Now, I am one of those people who had no idea as a kid what I wanted to be (formula one driver and spaceman I realised were not reasonable, even as a child) and truth be told I still don't know what I want to do.
Have some decent GSCE's, couple of A-levels and a Degree in Criminology and Sociology at a good red-brick university. Did originally try Engineering but found the Pure Maths modules too much for me especially combined with the freedom and easy access to alcohol and women at uni - which meant I didn't really try, to my shame.
As soon as I turned 16 I had a weekend job (increasing hours during term breaks) at a large clothing retailer, and kept this same job up throughout sixth form and uni, with slight variations in the job role as my experience grew. Didn't like retail much, especially clothing, but it was pocket money, easy and a first job.
I was always told the Police was a good career, so once I left uni my local force were recruiting Detention Officers which seemed an interesting job and it was a way people could gain policing experience which would help them into the regulars. This Detention officer role is the job I have now 2.5 years later. Not long after I started I realised that the Police is not a career for me. Despite my Sergeants constantly telling me I would make an excellent officer due to my personal attributes, I want out. I am a very reliable, dependable, honest and proactive person, and I am never afraid to work (unlike some older colleagues happy to rest on their laurels)
The DO role pays £k mid 20's but has no promotion opportunities as such. I am also worried the longer I stay in the role the less real world skills I can carry over to other sectors. I can see why people say they will stay for a couple of years and move on, but before they know it 20 years have gone. I don't want to end up the same. Onwards and upwards I say. I am willing to travel about the North West for the right job, willing to work longer hours for less money, provided there is a genuine career path with opportunities I can steer myself down and provided it interests me enough. But with my eye on a house deposit, I would figuratively speaking shovel manure all day if it paid well enough.
What really fascinates me are the people who can turn £50 into a thriving business within several years. I would love to do something similar but am currently devoid of ideas for a product or business, at least at the present. Probably lack the balls to implement it as well, although admittedly I don't have much to lose.
I understand that the energy sector will be an important one for the future, especially wind power, and note with interest that Fracking will be up and running soon near Blackpool. Any other suggestions??
I am sorry about the war and peace introduction but if there is even one meaningful reply it would be worth it. Any comments or criticism are welcome by the way, and I can also email my C.V to anyone interested in seeing what can be done with my skills and experience. This isn't a 'gizza job' cap in hand thread, more about collating information that I can look into further.
Kind regards!
Phew, tough brief, new career for someone with retail background (hated it) nearly three years as a DO (hates it) wanna be entrepreneur (lacks the balls) and a degree (second choice) in sociology....
Can I ask you what you might enjoy, other than money ?
I would guess you have good attention to detail, can manage people well and I assume you are a good communicator too.
Some professions are crying out for quality people, where promotion can be rapid. Call Centres are one such area, as is Human Resources or perhaps apply for the civil service ?
Personally I'd retain as a diving instructor in Bali or the Maldives and spend my life on beaches or surronded by fit young women in close fitting neoprene, but that's just my dream, what is yours ?
Can I ask you what you might enjoy, other than money ?
I would guess you have good attention to detail, can manage people well and I assume you are a good communicator too.
Some professions are crying out for quality people, where promotion can be rapid. Call Centres are one such area, as is Human Resources or perhaps apply for the civil service ?
Personally I'd retain as a diving instructor in Bali or the Maldives and spend my life on beaches or surronded by fit young women in close fitting neoprene, but that's just my dream, what is yours ?
Gargamel said:
Phew, tough brief, new career for someone with retail background (hated it) nearly three years as a DO (hates it) wanna be entrepreneur (lacks the balls) and a degree (second choice) in sociology....
Can I ask you what you might enjoy, other than money ?
I would guess you have good attention to detail, can manage people well and I assume you are a good communicator too.
Some professions are crying out for quality people, where promotion can be rapid. Call Centres are one such area, as is Human Resources or perhaps apply for the civil service ?
Personally I'd retain as a diving instructor in Bali or the Maldives and spend my life on beaches or surronded by fit young women in close fitting neoprene, but that's just my dream, what is yours ?
Haha, yeah, sorry about that.. I don't think I lack the balls per se, I just haven't stumbled across an idea that my realist brain thinks "this is a viable business opportunity so let's expand on it." - usually I think "somehow I don't think that will work."Can I ask you what you might enjoy, other than money ?
I would guess you have good attention to detail, can manage people well and I assume you are a good communicator too.
Some professions are crying out for quality people, where promotion can be rapid. Call Centres are one such area, as is Human Resources or perhaps apply for the civil service ?
Personally I'd retain as a diving instructor in Bali or the Maldives and spend my life on beaches or surronded by fit young women in close fitting neoprene, but that's just my dream, what is yours ?
Well being on PH I enjoy cars and motorsport primarily. I am aware the motorsport sector can be difficult to get into. I also have an appreciation for other vehicles like planes, motorbikes. I also like a nice piece of design (did product design for A-level)
I'm sorry if I came across as only interested in money, reading back it's a bit embarrassing. That's not the intention. Its a factor certainly, but not the primary one. I think interest will be the main thing for me. I don't think I could sit in front of a computer in a draughty office transferring information from one spreadsheet to the other for example.
The attention to detail, management of people and good communicator are spot on I think. It is needed for the DO role. Thanks to that job I can handle stress now better than I ever could have imagined and have grown to be infinitely more patient than I was when I was 18. For example, I have stressful 'discussions' with people every day that someone not in the policing world may not have even once in half a decade. I'm also adept at picking up things quickly once I have a go. And shift work? No problemo!
I did have a browse for jobs in the fire and rescue service in my several of my local counties, but there were none suitable. There was also a train driver job that piqued my interest until it got to the part about not being able to do it if you have had laser eye surgery.
Thank you for the reply much appreciated.
Ok, well if we are ruling out any role based behind a computer, then that certainly narrows he field.
HGV License ? Certainly requires patience.
Join the Merchant Navy ?
Retrain as a mechanic/plummer/electrician (Always thought Electrician was a good earner and easy to self employed)
I think given your age, what you should be looking for is learning a single skill, which will give you a lifetime of earnings, ideally something where you can in time go self employed.
Lots of trades offer this, get down to the Local Adult college and see if anything grabs you ?
Otherwise I was going to suggest the Prison Service, Sounds like you'd be well qualified for it.
HGV License ? Certainly requires patience.
Join the Merchant Navy ?
Retrain as a mechanic/plummer/electrician (Always thought Electrician was a good earner and easy to self employed)
I think given your age, what you should be looking for is learning a single skill, which will give you a lifetime of earnings, ideally something where you can in time go self employed.
Lots of trades offer this, get down to the Local Adult college and see if anything grabs you ?
Otherwise I was going to suggest the Prison Service, Sounds like you'd be well qualified for it.
seany87 said:
I would hate the prison service as much as my current job tbh, I'd like to escape the criminal justice sector. But otherwise, some good suggestions, thank you. I always regretted going to university now, I should have learnt a trade and started my own business off the back of it.
If it helps, I hired workshop in November, then a mechanic who could also answer a phone, and set up a garage. It's profitable already, although still a couple of months before it'll pay me a wage.Bloody good fun mind.
Buyer. For engineering company.
That's what I do and love it. It's not behind a computer everyday, you get to travel. You get involved in design. You get to work in Motorsport or automotive. The money is good, once you climb the ladder. And you don't need any specific qualifications. A degree in any subject will help progression.
You need to be prepared to move around for the best jobs, but that's ok.
That's what I do and love it. It's not behind a computer everyday, you get to travel. You get involved in design. You get to work in Motorsport or automotive. The money is good, once you climb the ladder. And you don't need any specific qualifications. A degree in any subject will help progression.
You need to be prepared to move around for the best jobs, but that's ok.
Bertrum said:
Buyer. For engineering company.
That's what I do and love it. It's not behind a computer everyday, you get to travel. You get involved in design. You get to work in Motorsport or automotive. The money is good, once you climb the ladder. And you don't need any specific qualifications. A degree in any subject will help progression.
You need to be prepared to move around for the best jobs, but that's ok.
Sounds great - is there a specific site / recruiter for these roles? I've never seen an advertisement for a role like you've described.That's what I do and love it. It's not behind a computer everyday, you get to travel. You get involved in design. You get to work in Motorsport or automotive. The money is good, once you climb the ladder. And you don't need any specific qualifications. A degree in any subject will help progression.
You need to be prepared to move around for the best jobs, but that's ok.
I don't know how the police service works at a career level exactly but I always think there must be some fascinating jobs in there! Can't you manoeuvre into one? My own tale is kinda similar except I started lower down the food chain as a yts then at 25 realised i needed to pull my finger out. 22 years later still in the same industry, some roles were dull others great, liked some, learned from all. Applied myself and got much further, just my two penneth!
OP. I live I the North West and I am also stuck in a job rut but I'm 12 years older than you and have 2 kids. It only seems a short time ago I was 26!
My advice would be try and be brave and maybe take some risk before responsibility catches up with you! I wish I had. I had a bloody good time at the expense of my career, so no regrets, as my life is pretty much perfect apart from my career.
I had a great job in IT but I took redundancy in 2008 and I got caught out in the recession!
I do wonder if being in the north west limits our career opportunities, so why not have a look further afield?
Now is the time to try to reach for your dream job. If it goes tits up its not the end of the world and you can try something else or go back to what you did.
Good luck!
My advice would be try and be brave and maybe take some risk before responsibility catches up with you! I wish I had. I had a bloody good time at the expense of my career, so no regrets, as my life is pretty much perfect apart from my career.
I had a great job in IT but I took redundancy in 2008 and I got caught out in the recession!
I do wonder if being in the north west limits our career opportunities, so why not have a look further afield?
Now is the time to try to reach for your dream job. If it goes tits up its not the end of the world and you can try something else or go back to what you did.
Good luck!
How about a sales rep for a large Truck parts business in the Manchester area. Challenging with different people and situations each day. Once you learn the product knowledge bit the career progression is great.
Decent basic with a decent bonus system, phone and company car.
We struggle to find decent people as the people already in jobs tend to stay were they are and when you advertise a sales job in a truck business you get ex truck drivers applying but what we are looking for is a proffesional, structured, process type person withe good people skills. We can teach the sales and product bit
No guarantees but PM me and I will explain more
Sogra
Decent basic with a decent bonus system, phone and company car.
We struggle to find decent people as the people already in jobs tend to stay were they are and when you advertise a sales job in a truck business you get ex truck drivers applying but what we are looking for is a proffesional, structured, process type person withe good people skills. We can teach the sales and product bit
No guarantees but PM me and I will explain more
Sogra
Edited by Sogra on Saturday 19th January 18:12
Edited by Sogra on Sunday 20th January 11:47
What are your IT skills like? IT security is a growing sector which pays well and I can only see it getting larger as the years go by. Companies will outsource most of their IT functions, but they will definitely keep security in-house.
I'd have thought your background in Criminology and Sociology would get you on to the bottom rung of the ladder.
I'd have thought your background in Criminology and Sociology would get you on to the bottom rung of the ladder.
Sorry about the late reply, I have been on a set of nights recently and I am all out of kilter!
Sogra, you have PM
WindsorRob said:
I don't know how the police service works at a career level exactly but I always think there must be some fascinating jobs in there! Can't you manoeuvre into one? My own tale is kinda similar except I started lower down the food chain as a yts then at 25 realised i needed to pull my finger out. 22 years later still in the same industry, some roles were dull others great, liked some, learned from all. Applied myself and got much further, just my two penneth!
Most internal vacancies, when they appear only apply to constables, not staff. Staff ones come up very rarely and its usually for things like cleaners/bottom grade admin staff. I would like to move out of the organisation as well tbh and try my hand elsewhere, nobody likes being stuck on a sinking ship.CzechItOut said:
What are your IT skills like? IT security is a growing sector which pays well and I can only see it getting larger as the years go by. Companies will outsource most of their IT functions, but they will definitely keep security in-house.
I'd have thought your background in Criminology and Sociology would get you on to the bottom rung of the ladder.
I am not truly specialised in anything but I, like most of the youth of today, have no trouble working a computers programs once I spend a few minutes playing around. I spend half my shift on various things like PNC and other police related programs, not to mention the blood, sweat and tears that went into thousands of pages of essays at university. IIRC IT security is to do with hackers and firewalls - If so, my IT knowledge doesn't stretch that far.I'd have thought your background in Criminology and Sociology would get you on to the bottom rung of the ladder.
Sogra, you have PM
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