Retraining options / changing career - any experiences?
Discussion
In some ways, this is quite a bit similar to the "I'm stuck in a rut" topic as I'm stuck in a rut too.
I work in the market research industry, as manager handling the data and results (and plenty more besides!). Unfortunately I've come to the conclusion that I have no further prospects here. I'm 32 and have a decade of experience in this field, and previously have believed the carrot that directors have hung in front of me, promising future developmentof the company, opportunities for me, etc.. But I'm still here, doing more and more whilst gaining more and more experience & skills, on a poor salary (mid 20k-ish) in a badly run, family owned business where I feel taken for granted and often undermined by the unprofessional attitudes of the directors.
So just move to another company with all that experience, you say. Problem is that the vast, vast majority of my industry is in London, or the Home Counties. And I'm not, I'm up north. I have roots where I am, in the same region as family, friends, etc., and am looking for opportunities closer to home. As I get to the verge of plonking down a deposit on a 3-series Coupe that I can't really afford, and I notice all my peers (also local!) have careers with progression and opportunities and complain about cuts affecting higher-rate tax payers etc, I realise that I need to do something.
But what? Apart from endless sales & call centre vacancies (I'd be dreadful at sales!), the job opportunities are so limited, and all seem to require something I haven't got. If I look at management jobs they inevitably talk about managing risk, change, PRINCE2, etc. - which is a different world to the managing I do in a small company. If I look at IT/data-type roles they require specialisation, certification, ITIL, etc.. It's very frustrating as I feel as though I am pretty capable in many fields and can learn/pick stuff up incredibly quickly (I have to in my current job!!), yet I have nothing to show for it - either on paper, or in the bank.
I have a science degree and was pretty much a straight-A student at school, but didn't have a clear vision of what I wanted to do. I started out where I am now on a temporary basis after leaving uni to earn some cash, discovered I was pretty good with numbers, computers and data, and kind of stuck with it.
In hindsight (wonderful thing!), I wish I had pursued a higher education and career relating to business or finance, and I'd have probably got qualified as an accountant or suchlike. There appear to be plenty opportunities relating to finance, mortgages, IFAs etc., even in similar small local businesses, let alone the big accountancy firms.
Alternatively, I could look at gaining a Masters degree (would have to be fitted around my job) but I haven't yet really thought about what it would be in - whether MBA, IT-related, or finance/economy-related.
I guess I'm just rambling now, but I'd love to hear from anyone who has any advice, support, suggestions or experience. If I wanted to pursue a career in accountancy or financial services, what's the best way to go about it for an early-thirties guy rather than someone fresh out of uni with a relevant degree?
I work in the market research industry, as manager handling the data and results (and plenty more besides!). Unfortunately I've come to the conclusion that I have no further prospects here. I'm 32 and have a decade of experience in this field, and previously have believed the carrot that directors have hung in front of me, promising future developmentof the company, opportunities for me, etc.. But I'm still here, doing more and more whilst gaining more and more experience & skills, on a poor salary (mid 20k-ish) in a badly run, family owned business where I feel taken for granted and often undermined by the unprofessional attitudes of the directors.
So just move to another company with all that experience, you say. Problem is that the vast, vast majority of my industry is in London, or the Home Counties. And I'm not, I'm up north. I have roots where I am, in the same region as family, friends, etc., and am looking for opportunities closer to home. As I get to the verge of plonking down a deposit on a 3-series Coupe that I can't really afford, and I notice all my peers (also local!) have careers with progression and opportunities and complain about cuts affecting higher-rate tax payers etc, I realise that I need to do something.
But what? Apart from endless sales & call centre vacancies (I'd be dreadful at sales!), the job opportunities are so limited, and all seem to require something I haven't got. If I look at management jobs they inevitably talk about managing risk, change, PRINCE2, etc. - which is a different world to the managing I do in a small company. If I look at IT/data-type roles they require specialisation, certification, ITIL, etc.. It's very frustrating as I feel as though I am pretty capable in many fields and can learn/pick stuff up incredibly quickly (I have to in my current job!!), yet I have nothing to show for it - either on paper, or in the bank.
I have a science degree and was pretty much a straight-A student at school, but didn't have a clear vision of what I wanted to do. I started out where I am now on a temporary basis after leaving uni to earn some cash, discovered I was pretty good with numbers, computers and data, and kind of stuck with it.
In hindsight (wonderful thing!), I wish I had pursued a higher education and career relating to business or finance, and I'd have probably got qualified as an accountant or suchlike. There appear to be plenty opportunities relating to finance, mortgages, IFAs etc., even in similar small local businesses, let alone the big accountancy firms.
Alternatively, I could look at gaining a Masters degree (would have to be fitted around my job) but I haven't yet really thought about what it would be in - whether MBA, IT-related, or finance/economy-related.
I guess I'm just rambling now, but I'd love to hear from anyone who has any advice, support, suggestions or experience. If I wanted to pursue a career in accountancy or financial services, what's the best way to go about it for an early-thirties guy rather than someone fresh out of uni with a relevant degree?
A few ideas that might only involve a little shift in emphasis and for which you'd have a lot of transferrable skills are MI (Management Information) Analysis, Business Intelligence and Market Intelligence Analysis. If you can get a few person specifications, even if you do it by asking for application packs for jobs away from your area, then you can start to see where and how you match up, plus identify areas for potential development.
I've found speculative applications and networking to be a good way of finding jobs. My current and previous employers both considered formal adverts a last resort, advertising on their own website and by word of mouth first.
I've found speculative applications and networking to be a good way of finding jobs. My current and previous employers both considered formal adverts a last resort, advertising on their own website and by word of mouth first.
The re-training / University idea isn't out of this world. A lot of people are doing / having to do it post recession.
I'm a good example. My industry (print) was all great from when I started as a 16 year old in 1988, until about 2005, when a succession of new posts were followed by redundancies as firms went bust. 4 in 4 years...and now the industry is dead.
So I started up two small businesses, which although taught me loads and gave me an income, didn't really fulfill me the way I expected, so I recently sold on as going concern.
I've always been interested in medicine and emergency care though, so at 40 years old I'm currently halfway through and very much enjoying a college 'Access to Medicine' course (kinda like A levels for people who didn't do A levels first time round) and after graduating from that, will start at a University this September doing a FdSc degree in Paramedic Science, which all being well will see me working on the front line as an Ambulance Paramedic in 2015...
And chatting to others in the medical arena, I'm not the only one to have made such a radical change by a long shot.
So, in short - have a good think about what you REALLY want to do, and with a bit of effort and positivity, the world's your oyster!
I'm a good example. My industry (print) was all great from when I started as a 16 year old in 1988, until about 2005, when a succession of new posts were followed by redundancies as firms went bust. 4 in 4 years...and now the industry is dead.
So I started up two small businesses, which although taught me loads and gave me an income, didn't really fulfill me the way I expected, so I recently sold on as going concern.
I've always been interested in medicine and emergency care though, so at 40 years old I'm currently halfway through and very much enjoying a college 'Access to Medicine' course (kinda like A levels for people who didn't do A levels first time round) and after graduating from that, will start at a University this September doing a FdSc degree in Paramedic Science, which all being well will see me working on the front line as an Ambulance Paramedic in 2015...
And chatting to others in the medical arena, I'm not the only one to have made such a radical change by a long shot.
So, in short - have a good think about what you REALLY want to do, and with a bit of effort and positivity, the world's your oyster!
t, but you'll be 1 step above the rest. Oh yes, stats.
You could go for Chartered Statistician through the Royal Statistical Society. www.rss.org.uk/
There's even a distance learning course to help you prepare for the yearly exams.
You could go for Chartered Statistician through the Royal Statistical Society. www.rss.org.uk/
There's even a distance learning course to help you prepare for the yearly exams.
Thanks for the comments guys. I've certainly thought about BI & MI, at least it would be something I could put my years of experience towards learning, rather than starting again from scratch.
Not so sure about stats - last touched upon stats when doing A-level maths and it bored the hell out of me. Whilst none of the things I could pursue as a career are "exciting", stats just left me... cold.
I think a joint approach of quietly researching BI & MI skills whilst tapping into a couple of friends of friends who work in accountancy and finance is called for over the next few weeks!
Not so sure about stats - last touched upon stats when doing A-level maths and it bored the hell out of me. Whilst none of the things I could pursue as a career are "exciting", stats just left me... cold.
I think a joint approach of quietly researching BI & MI skills whilst tapping into a couple of friends of friends who work in accountancy and finance is called for over the next few weeks!
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