Complete change of career

[Seany88]

So I want to (kind of already have) pack it all in and retrain as a tradesman. I'm currently thinking that an domestic electrician/gas engineer/plumber would suit me as I think I'd like to be quite hands on and doing something a bit different each day. Plus I get to drive a van!

Given that I was a Pharmacist before this is quite a change for me, I have virtually no relevant friends to fall onto to tell me what I need to do and how to do it so I turn to you guys. I've looked at various qualifications but I'm struggling to find what's what and definitive information on what I need to be competent! Can anyone help please?

I'm quite scared at the moment as I don't know if I've done the right thing so need a bit of encouragement if possible!

[paps]

Wow, already jacked in the old job? That's brave (well done).
I think I would have probably been a bit more cautious and tried to work out what's what before taking the plunge and quitting!

Either way I'd try and get some experience of the different trades, try being a gopher/dogs body for a day or two with a plumber or sparky and see how the job fits with you.
You may find your st scared of frying yourself on a mains cable, or not too keen to work on someone's stinky leaky lav!

I myself have idle dreams of retraining as a locksmith and just working for myself, I know! Way to dream big eh!!!
Anyway it's the simple aspirations that are somewhat more attainable in life.

The only problem is that the grass is always greener, we all look at others and think "I wish I was doing that job".
I know some (poor misguided) people hear about my job and say "wow, I'd love to do that sort of job, how'd you get into that line of work". And I look back at them quizzically and think "are you mad!?!".
But I guess my job can seem quite interesting to people that have never been near it. (I'm a substance misuse worker).

OP, try before you buy is my advice.

[decadent]

I am similar to paps, I love hands on work and would love to work for myself. I have done all of the plumbing in my house and I am pretty good at the electrics but not competent.

I've looked into doing the training for the trades but you seem to have to know someone who will take you under their wing and sign off your competences. This could take a while if you are doing it around your current job or if you've gone into it full time you'll probably earning bugger all. Not good if you are already established with mortgage etc.

After getting that bit of paper you need to go out and drum up some business. Say you want to earn the national average salary, you probably need to earn 30-40% more than that to have an equivlent life style as a PAYE as you need to pay for your tools, your van, cover your own holiday/sick pay and cover periods where you have no work but bills to pay.

All of that lot put me off and I just do it as a hobby now.

Edited by decadent on Tuesday 14th January 10:26

[Seany88]

I have been wondering a lot if I've done the right thing, but I think life as a Pharmacist is so stale and monotonous which is the main thing that's killing me inside. I'd rather not sit on my ass for most of the day and be out doing jobs and having a 'real skill' in case I do decide to move country in a few years.

[Foppo]

If you are a qualified Pharmacist to give that up takes courage.

Inportant job in my opinion you must have studied hard for it.

Just my penny worth.

[iacabu]

I found this thread very encouraging...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

I am currently in the middle of a massive change myself and while I have my worries, I know I've done the right thing and this thread helps to see the light.

[Seany88]

iacabu said:

I found this thread very encouraging...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

I am currently in the middle of a massive change myself and while I have my worries, I know I've done the right thing and this thread helps to see the light.

I read that a little while ago, and yes it got me motivated. I do wonder though if a better paying job which isn't so bad and gives you the financial backing to pursue your hobbies is a better ideal? As surely all jobs have ups and downs and maybe the grass is just greener on the other side?

[TLandCruiser]

I done a complete change of career, its great and I don't look back. I do what I use to do in my spare time as it has always been a hobby too. But now I actually enjoy doing it in my spare time instead of it being a choir like it use to be

[shirt]

by pharmacist do you mean you worked in the shop or graduated with a degree in pharmacy?

i don't want that to sound belittling but if it's the latter you are crazy. just become a locum, sod all work and loads of money. i know several who did this and were earning 60-100k a year straight out of uni depending how many days they worked. one girl worked a month on/month travelling and then landed a gig at a pharmacy in the turks and caicos islands where she still lives.

[decadent]

Seany88 said:

As surely all jobs have ups and downs and maybe the grass is just greener on the other side?

I think so. My current job pays me well enough (more would always be nice), I do a 35 hour week, leave at 430 every day no problem working from home when I like, flexible holidays, flexible hours around personal appointments (don't really need to make the time up as along as I am doing everything I need to). 30 days holiday entitlement + 10 days "study" + bank holidays. Nice enough bunch of people to work with. Decent benefits. Security.

I don't like being behind a desk, but then it's smallish price to pay for the upsides.

[Seany88]

shirt said:

by pharmacist do you mean you worked in the shop or graduated with a degree in pharmacy?

i don't want that to sound belittling but if it's the latter you are crazy. just become a locum, sod all work and loads of money. i know several who did this and were earning 60-100k a year straight out of uni depending how many days they worked. one girl worked a month on/month travelling and then landed a gig at a pharmacy in the turks and caicos islands where she still lives.

I am trying to locum at the moment to tide me over but there seems to be no work! I think the number of pharmacists exploded when they opened 6 new schools of pharmacy a few years ago, which has flooded the marketplace.

[dave_s13]

Seany88 said:

shirt said:

by pharmacist do you mean you worked in the shop or graduated with a degree in pharmacy?

i don't want that to sound belittling but if it's the latter you are crazy. just become a locum, sod all work and loads of money. i know several who did this and were earning 60-100k a year straight out of uni depending how many days they worked. one girl worked a month on/month travelling and then landed a gig at a pharmacy in the turks and caicos islands where she still lives.

I am trying to locum at the moment to tide me over but there seems to be no work! I think the number of pharmacists exploded when they opened 6 new schools of pharmacy a few years ago, which has flooded the marketplace.

I also think that for every story you hear about someone living the life or Riley there are ten (or more) people just getting by.

Ask any group of professionals/tradesman "..Should I retrain and do your job?"... if they've been doing it long enough I bet the majority respnse would be to try something else. You can't win really.

I know a chap who was a mechanic who then retained to be a plumber and is now able to work with gas. He has to work feckin hard, the work is physically demanding on the old bones. Money is Ok I think but it's directly proportional to the amount of hard graft applied.

Sparky that did my house extension was similarly dispondant, very boom and boost, it smooths out to earning a slightly above average salary over a career I reckon. His knees were buggered from all crawling about and he said he would pack it in tomorrow if he could.

If you are a qualified pharmacist at least you can always fall back on that....Have you thought about switching to the dark side and selling opiates to crack-heads? Good money in that they say.

[Seany88]

dave_s13 said:

I also think that for every story you hear about someone living the life or Riley there are ten (or more) people just getting by.

Ask any group of professionals/tradesman "..Should I retrain and do your job?"... if they've been doing it long enough I bet the majority respnse would be to try something else. You can't win really.

I know a chap who was a mechanic who then retained to be a plumber and is now able to work with gas. He has to work feckin hard, the work is physically demanding on the old bones. Money is Ok I think but it's directly proportional to the amount of hard graft applied.

Sparky that did my house extension was similarly dispondant, very boom and boost, it smooths out to earning a slightly above average salary over a career I reckon. His knees were buggered from all crawling about and he said he would pack it in tomorrow if he could.

If you are a qualified pharmacist at least you can always fall back on that....Have you thought about switching to the dark side and selling opiates to crack-heads? Good money in that they say.

I did recently finish watching Breaking Bad...now where to get hold of that methylamine...

[note that is a joke don't report me!]

[Eric Mc]

How many career changes have you had in recent years?

You have another thread about not receiving money for the sale of a business?

Do you really know what you want to do in life?

[shirt]

Seany88 said:

shirt said:

by pharmacist do you mean you worked in the shop or graduated with a degree in pharmacy?

i don't want that to sound belittling but if it's the latter you are crazy. just become a locum, sod all work and loads of money. i know several who did this and were earning 60-100k a year straight out of uni depending how many days they worked. one girl worked a month on/month travelling and then landed a gig at a pharmacy in the turks and caicos islands where she still lives.

I am trying to locum at the moment to tide me over but there seems to be no work! I think the number of pharmacists exploded when they opened 6 new schools of pharmacy a few years ago, which has flooded the marketplace.

aye to be fair the ones i know all graduated in 2003 and had a good run at it before the glut.

it is not uncommon to want to work with your hands. i am an engineer and much prefer being on site to sitting at my desk. however when you think of starting over [i would make furniture if i could] then it is always with rose tinted specs. the comfort of a regular salary is hard to shrug off.

however if pharma isn't enjoyable for you [have you tried for a career in hospital? totally different job] then good luck moving into something that is. its st turning 30 and realising you've been treading water career-wise.

[Seany88]

Eric Mc said:

How many career changes have you had in recent years?

You have another thread about not receiving money for the sale of a business?

Do you really know what you want to do in life?

Eric its been a slow, agonising process. I graduated, spent a year in hospital while qualifying then went straight into locum work for 2 years. I then set up my pharmacy business, got another one then decided I didn't want that life and sold it all last year.

The past year I've been taking a time out, doing a bit of travelling etc but I really feel I need to decide what I want to do in life as this situation can't last forever...

[Seany88]

shirt said:

aye to be fair the ones i know all graduated in 2003 and had a good run at it before the glut.

it is not uncommon to want to work with your hands. i am an engineer and much prefer being on site to sitting at my desk. however when you think of starting over [i would make furniture if i could] then it is always with rose tinted specs. the comfort of a regular salary is hard to shrug off.

however if pharma isn't enjoyable for you [have you tried for a career in hospital? totally different job] then good luck moving into something that is. its st turning 30 and realising you've been treading water career-wise.

Tell me about it...I look around and I see friends progressing up the corporate ladder and I'm wondering what's happened to my life

[Eric Mc]

Why are you so disillusioned with the area in which you have expertise?

What is the problem with that business sector?

[dave_s13]

Eric Mc said:

Why are you so disillusioned with the area in which you have expertise?

What is the problem with that business sector?

You can't post on PH all day long.

Someone might get the wrong tablets!!

[Seany88]

Eric Mc said:

Why are you so disillusioned with the area in which you have expertise?

What is the problem with that business sector?

Monotonous, no challenge, NHS going down the drain, 'expert' but not a readily transferable skill such as electrician etc