Lockdown Reflection
Discussion
Open this up to the collective PH wisdom
I think lockdown has given me time and space to reflect and has brought a few things home that I wouldn't mind getting people's thoughts on
I'm in a classic professional grade large corporate bulls&@£ job with very limited skills or knowledge and I think my sector and role type is in slow (but quickening) decline - its only a matter of time before there is no need for me/my skills.
Not only that but lockdown has laid bare how unfulfilling and stimulating the role is.
It feels like an age old problem but curious to see if others are in the same boat and if anyone has been there and worked your way through it.
Do you cling to the wreckage of the current career for as long as you can or do you try and get ahead of the curve and pivot or retrain?
In terms of retraining/reskilling the only sustainable field seems to be tech/digital in some shape or form but the challenge is that you either have an interest or aptitude in that area or you don't. If you don't, I'm not sure where it leaves you in this modern digital world
I think lockdown has given me time and space to reflect and has brought a few things home that I wouldn't mind getting people's thoughts on
I'm in a classic professional grade large corporate bulls&@£ job with very limited skills or knowledge and I think my sector and role type is in slow (but quickening) decline - its only a matter of time before there is no need for me/my skills.
Not only that but lockdown has laid bare how unfulfilling and stimulating the role is.
It feels like an age old problem but curious to see if others are in the same boat and if anyone has been there and worked your way through it.
Do you cling to the wreckage of the current career for as long as you can or do you try and get ahead of the curve and pivot or retrain?
In terms of retraining/reskilling the only sustainable field seems to be tech/digital in some shape or form but the challenge is that you either have an interest or aptitude in that area or you don't. If you don't, I'm not sure where it leaves you in this modern digital world
Babber101 said:
Open this up to the collective PH wisdom
I think lockdown has given me time and space to reflect and has brought a few things home that I wouldn't mind getting people's thoughts on
I'm in a classic professional grade large corporate bulls&@£ job with very limited skills or knowledge and I think my sector and role type is in slow (but quickening) decline - its only a matter of time before there is no need for me/my skills.
Not only that but lockdown has laid bare how unfulfilling and stimulating the role is.
It feels like an age old problem but curious to see if others are in the same boat and if anyone has been there and worked your way through it.
Do you cling to the wreckage of the current career for as long as you can or do you try and get ahead of the curve and pivot or retrain?
In terms of retraining/reskilling the only sustainable field seems to be tech/digital in some shape or form but the challenge is that you either have an interest or aptitude in that area or you don't. If you don't, I'm not sure where it leaves you in this modern digital world
I started a new role after many months off this year....whilst having lots of free time I got back into coding and looking at new technology and automation and going back to paperwork and chasing people for deliverables in a large bland corporation is feeling very very unfulfilling tbh I think lockdown has given me time and space to reflect and has brought a few things home that I wouldn't mind getting people's thoughts on
I'm in a classic professional grade large corporate bulls&@£ job with very limited skills or knowledge and I think my sector and role type is in slow (but quickening) decline - its only a matter of time before there is no need for me/my skills.
Not only that but lockdown has laid bare how unfulfilling and stimulating the role is.
It feels like an age old problem but curious to see if others are in the same boat and if anyone has been there and worked your way through it.
Do you cling to the wreckage of the current career for as long as you can or do you try and get ahead of the curve and pivot or retrain?
In terms of retraining/reskilling the only sustainable field seems to be tech/digital in some shape or form but the challenge is that you either have an interest or aptitude in that area or you don't. If you don't, I'm not sure where it leaves you in this modern digital world
You're not the only one reflecting in this way, I've not been happy this past couple of months (maybe since end of 2019 really) and although I probably have quite a secure future if I keep on turning the wheel I owe myself the opportunity to see what other options are out there for me so I'm going to give it a go.
Mikees - I'm 40, everyone says I'm young enough to start again but I feel I'm betwixt and between - of an age where I earn a good enough wage to make leaving it hard and just old enough to make learning something completely new (digital/tech) that much harder.
Have dabbled in learning coding and web development which I understood to a certain level and enjoyed to a degree but it made me realise how hard and very very long that retrain Road would actually be.
Apexcult- what are you thinking of switching to?
Have dabbled in learning coding and web development which I understood to a certain level and enjoyed to a degree but it made me realise how hard and very very long that retrain Road would actually be.
Apexcult- what are you thinking of switching to?
Babber101 said:
Apexcult- what are you thinking of switching to?
Something that is a bit more environmentally sustainable or in the third sector, pay back from working in the defence industry perhaps.Ideally I'd like to be self-employed doing a range of hands on things (I have a whole bunch of ideas rattling around in my head).
I'm 38, I've had enough of my job too, more or less. Completely unfulfilled by it.
It's web development.
Only difficulty is I can make a decent day rate from home on stable, multi-year projects and I'm thinking of laughable alternatives like becoming a writer, filmmaker, or other things I've no talent in and certain to leave me destitute.
It's web development.
Only difficulty is I can make a decent day rate from home on stable, multi-year projects and I'm thinking of laughable alternatives like becoming a writer, filmmaker, or other things I've no talent in and certain to leave me destitute.
Babber101 said:
Mikees - I'm 40, everyone says I'm young enough to start again but I feel I'm betwixt and between - of an age where I earn a good enough wage to make leaving it hard and just old enough to make learning something completely new (digital/tech) that much harder.
Have dabbled in learning coding and web development which I understood to a certain level and enjoyed to a degree but it made me realise how hard and very very long that retrain Road would actually be.
Apexcult- what are you thinking of switching to?
That could have been me talking, I'm in very much the same boat. For what it's worth I'm toying with learning a trade or moving into something like renewable energy. Have dabbled in learning coding and web development which I understood to a certain level and enjoyed to a degree but it made me realise how hard and very very long that retrain Road would actually be.
Apexcult- what are you thinking of switching to?
I'm not driven by money I want to do do something outside of the rat race.
When I was younger I always thought my plan b would be to learn a trade (plastering, tiling etc) get a van and be in control of my own destiny.
Have done a few renovation projects but as I have gotten older I don't think I could tolerate the physical demands, being dirty/dusty all day and constantly chasing invoices.
Always dreamt of self employment in some capacity but not sure the current economic environment is too welcoming.
I think self employment requires a specific skill/knowledge/ability to succeed - which leads me back to retraining as something.
Have done a few renovation projects but as I have gotten older I don't think I could tolerate the physical demands, being dirty/dusty all day and constantly chasing invoices.
Always dreamt of self employment in some capacity but not sure the current economic environment is too welcoming.
I think self employment requires a specific skill/knowledge/ability to succeed - which leads me back to retraining as something.
768 said:
I'm 38, I've had enough of my job too, more or less. Completely unfulfilled by it.
It's web development.
Only difficulty is I can make a decent day rate from home on stable, multi-year projects and I'm thinking of laughable alternatives like becoming a writer, filmmaker, or other things I've no talent in and certain to leave me destitute.
Indeed, there is always the issue that the grass is greener. I have hopped back and forth between being a hands-on techie and a hands-off management type. Whichever job I happen to be doing, I always wish I was doing the other one!It's web development.
Only difficulty is I can make a decent day rate from home on stable, multi-year projects and I'm thinking of laughable alternatives like becoming a writer, filmmaker, or other things I've no talent in and certain to leave me destitute.
Babber101 said:
In terms of retraining/reskilling the only sustainable field seems to be tech/digital in some shape or form but the challenge is that you either have an interest or aptitude in that area or you don't. If you don't, I'm not sure where it leaves you in this modern digital world
I don't work in that industry but always felt IT/tech/digital fields may be so quickly evolving that you are always having to upskill to the latest thing and if not risk getting left behind. Also super competitive. What about more traditional fields such as law, engineering (civil? see below), accountancy, medicine, teaching..?
Construction industry has a multitude of roles from civil engineering to architecture to building surveying, project management, planning, quantity surveying etc and although is innovative is also not an industry that changes at the pace of digital/tech. The skills you learn (which there are many and almost endless) should be relevant and applicable for a long time without risk of a new fad making your knowledge redundant.
T1547 said:
I don't work in that industry but always felt IT/tech/digital fields may be so quickly evolving that you are always having to upskill to the latest thing and if not risk getting left behind. Also super competitive.
What about more traditional fields such as law, engineering (civil? see below), accountancy, medicine, teaching..?
Construction industry has a multitude of roles from civil engineering to architecture to building surveying, project management, planning, quantity surveying etc and although is innovative is also not an industry that changes at the pace of digital/tech. The skills you learn (which there are many and almost endless) should be relevant and applicable for a long time without risk of a new fad making your knowledge redundant.
Yes this is very true and it's accelerating. As you note with fads, you also have lots of dogma and fanaticism which can be limiting, e.g. if you specialise in Technology A and the biggest local firm has a Chief Architect who only believes in Technology B you may be out of luck - especially if she or he job-hops and switches several firms in the area over to Technology B (then runs away before the mess unfolds ... I have seen this happen!). There are a lot of bluffers in the industry who have done a 6-week course on the latest-and-greatest so they can spew all the necessary buzzwords but when it comes to actually doing the work they are hopeless - unfortunately the best bluffers are able to continually switch horses and keep ahead of the disasters that follow in their wake.What about more traditional fields such as law, engineering (civil? see below), accountancy, medicine, teaching..?
Construction industry has a multitude of roles from civil engineering to architecture to building surveying, project management, planning, quantity surveying etc and although is innovative is also not an industry that changes at the pace of digital/tech. The skills you learn (which there are many and almost endless) should be relevant and applicable for a long time without risk of a new fad making your knowledge redundant.
I think at 40+ you are probably going to struggle with medicine (7 years+ to qualify? Nearly time to retire by then!).
If you were focussed you could probably qualify as an accountant in 2-3 years but you need to convince a firm to take you on, so you'd be competing with 24 year old newly qualified accountants (or, if you need a job while you train, 21 year olds who will work for peanuts!). Same challenge with law - the academics is only half the battle, the other is finding a firm to take you on.
I suspect the way in to one of those alternative careers would be if you could blend it with your existing skills and knowledge. An accountancy firm might be more interested in taking someone on who could also write the code to interface to other systems (or to automate manual tasks. Just have to grin and bear the VBA.)
The trouble with re-training is that surely once you have done that training you are plopped right back to the bottom of the pile and have to work your way up again. Usually after a lifelong career you are on Big Money which reflects say 40-50 years of wisdom vs none after re-training?
This imho will be a massive problem for today's 20 year olds who may find technology disrupting their careers forcing them to effectively reset (career and salary) and start again on a perhaps a regular basis?
TX.
This imho will be a massive problem for today's 20 year olds who may find technology disrupting their careers forcing them to effectively reset (career and salary) and start again on a perhaps a regular basis?
TX.
It's a good point TX - the new norm may be resetting every 10/15 years by retraining and starting again.
That will be a challenge though given the way most people have traditionally structured our lives with ever increasing financial obligations as they progress/age - house, cars, family holidays, kids etc etc
It will take some getting used to for most people
That will be a challenge though given the way most people have traditionally structured our lives with ever increasing financial obligations as they progress/age - house, cars, family holidays, kids etc etc
It will take some getting used to for most people
Babber101 said:
When I was younger I always thought my plan b would be to learn a trade (plastering, tiling etc) get a van and be in control of my own destiny.
Have done a few renovation projects but as I have gotten older I don't think I could tolerate the physical demands, being dirty/dusty all day and constantly chasing invoices.
Always dreamt of self employment in some capacity but not sure the current economic environment is too welcoming.
I think self employment requires a specific skill/knowledge/ability to succeed - which leads me back to retraining as something.
A lot of the tradesmen round here are successful as they run their business with the help of their partners - they do the work, the partner does the money side of things and probably handles ordering stuff (and I've seen at least one pop by when her partner was working to deliver some parts to him). Run it as a team and I think you are onto a winner, especially if the partner is a stay at home mum, I think they fit the paperwork in round kids etc.Have done a few renovation projects but as I have gotten older I don't think I could tolerate the physical demands, being dirty/dusty all day and constantly chasing invoices.
Always dreamt of self employment in some capacity but not sure the current economic environment is too welcoming.
I think self employment requires a specific skill/knowledge/ability to succeed - which leads me back to retraining as something.
768 said:
I'm 38, I've had enough of my job too, more or less. Completely unfulfilled by it.
It's web development.
Only difficulty is I can make a decent day rate from home on stable, multi-year projects and I'm thinking of laughable alternatives like becoming a writer, filmmaker, or other things I've no talent in and certain to leave me destitute.
Have to agree with this. I’m 35, in software development and looking to plan my escape.It's web development.
Only difficulty is I can make a decent day rate from home on stable, multi-year projects and I'm thinking of laughable alternatives like becoming a writer, filmmaker, or other things I've no talent in and certain to leave me destitute.
There only seems to be a limited set of people that can stick it much past 40. The plodders that can tolerate the more tedious roles and the true geeks who somehow still find it interesting.
I think retraining to it later in life would be a big gamble. I guess it works for some.
Anyway...back to my “just one more year” drudgery...
OP, this was pretty much me a year or two back. Held middle management roles in retail for a decade, salaries and benefits were good but hated it in all reality. Wife was in the same boat but at a more junior management level.
Took the opportunity to apply for a franchise business 2 years ago, it took around 12 months end to end before we opened the first site on the 1st of March this year. We've been through 2 lockdowns but thankfully due to a lot of hard work, good recruitment and using the skills I had we've turned a decent profit. Both myself and my wife left our jobs to start this business but we quickly realised working together was never going to suit us. We've just utilised some of our cash to make our first property investment and my wife's keen to run that arm of the business.
If you can rustle up a decent sum of money through borrowing, refinancing or any other means I'd definitely give Franchising a look.
Took the opportunity to apply for a franchise business 2 years ago, it took around 12 months end to end before we opened the first site on the 1st of March this year. We've been through 2 lockdowns but thankfully due to a lot of hard work, good recruitment and using the skills I had we've turned a decent profit. Both myself and my wife left our jobs to start this business but we quickly realised working together was never going to suit us. We've just utilised some of our cash to make our first property investment and my wife's keen to run that arm of the business.
If you can rustle up a decent sum of money through borrowing, refinancing or any other means I'd definitely give Franchising a look.
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