A Crossroads In Life
Discussion
Hello all,
I'm not sure if this it should be in here or Jobs & Employment, its sort of half life advice and half career advice I suppose.
I posted in the 'fed up with it all' thread earlier which you can see here:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
and while I do feel a lot better now, the total lack of motivation to come into work has only got worse, mainly because there really isn't enough to do, and conversations with my colleagues suggest that most of the business is like this, has been for decades, and will be for the foreseeable future. Problems take weeks to rectify, everything in general is glacially slow and in the meantime all I'm doing is sitting on my bum in a windowless room not doing a lot. Its almost like actual work is considered to be interfering with the efficient production of risk assessments and meetings.
I seem to have completely lost all self-discipline on the internet since I left school which lead to me not completing my apprenticeship despite the aforementioned lack of actual work interfering; lockdown and WFH just accelerated the process. I have been procrastinating about writing this post since Monday.
I did manage to achieve a DM on the Applied Science course I did so that went well considering.; I rocked up at work at 11 today ffs, and all I've done this week is change a vacuum flange, write down three numbers from a pressure gauge and wasted the rest of the time scrolling through a whole lot of pistonheads and reddit. This has been the same for weeks now for theadd a few paragraphs to my apprentice report
Management are lovely and extremely helpful despite my current state of uselessness, they have been supporting me throughout allowed me to move to production, which lead to an offer on the table for a £21k production operative role going up with experience, which I will accept even if it is just a stopgap. Who knows, maybe it will be better.
I enjoy doing bar work at matchdays and race meetings at weekends and on the evenings, because I get to socialise with people my own age, help customers and interact with people, and I actually get to do work. Helps the time go by quickly and its good fun being around happy people. But I'm pretty sure that's just the part time talking. If I had to do it day-in, day-out it could get old quickly. The low pay and generally being treated poorly in terms of breaks and working hours also puts me off trying it full time as a career.
Now, thats all good, and pretty much the same monetary outcome as completing my apprenticeship, but to be quite honest I'm not sure if leaving is the best idea, or what I should do even if I did leave. Research is a cool field to work in, to be honest if I had enough work to do I would have said my current job is a "dream job". I have considered the forces, my dad was in the army and there is still a lot of "Hurry up and wait" but all the Army/navy lads seem to end up being the person I wish I could be.
My brother has gone off to uni and I'm just feeling stuck here really. Maybe I should just get a stopgap job in customer service and go to Uni? Maybe I just need a better social life and the boring job wouldn't bother me so much? I'm already thinking of doing online dating, and I have gone to taster sessions of my local uni shooting society which were good fun, I couldn't join though because obviously being students they have time to go on a weekly shoot at 1 on a Wednesday afternoon the lucky b
ds 
This has turned into a full on essay Jesus Christ!
Anyway, I know PH is largely populated by older men with a wealth of life experience, I just wanted to ask for your help.
I'm not sure if this it should be in here or Jobs & Employment, its sort of half life advice and half career advice I suppose.
I posted in the 'fed up with it all' thread earlier which you can see here:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
and while I do feel a lot better now, the total lack of motivation to come into work has only got worse, mainly because there really isn't enough to do, and conversations with my colleagues suggest that most of the business is like this, has been for decades, and will be for the foreseeable future. Problems take weeks to rectify, everything in general is glacially slow and in the meantime all I'm doing is sitting on my bum in a windowless room not doing a lot. Its almost like actual work is considered to be interfering with the efficient production of risk assessments and meetings.
I seem to have completely lost all self-discipline on the internet since I left school which lead to me not completing my apprenticeship despite the aforementioned lack of actual work interfering; lockdown and WFH just accelerated the process. I have been procrastinating about writing this post since Monday.
I did manage to achieve a DM on the Applied Science course I did so that went well considering.; I rocked up at work at 11 today ffs, and all I've done this week is change a vacuum flange, write down three numbers from a pressure gauge and wasted the rest of the time scrolling through a whole lot of pistonheads and reddit. This has been the same for weeks now for theadd a few paragraphs to my apprentice report
Management are lovely and extremely helpful despite my current state of uselessness, they have been supporting me throughout allowed me to move to production, which lead to an offer on the table for a £21k production operative role going up with experience, which I will accept even if it is just a stopgap. Who knows, maybe it will be better.
I enjoy doing bar work at matchdays and race meetings at weekends and on the evenings, because I get to socialise with people my own age, help customers and interact with people, and I actually get to do work. Helps the time go by quickly and its good fun being around happy people. But I'm pretty sure that's just the part time talking. If I had to do it day-in, day-out it could get old quickly. The low pay and generally being treated poorly in terms of breaks and working hours also puts me off trying it full time as a career.
Now, thats all good, and pretty much the same monetary outcome as completing my apprenticeship, but to be quite honest I'm not sure if leaving is the best idea, or what I should do even if I did leave. Research is a cool field to work in, to be honest if I had enough work to do I would have said my current job is a "dream job". I have considered the forces, my dad was in the army and there is still a lot of "Hurry up and wait" but all the Army/navy lads seem to end up being the person I wish I could be.
My brother has gone off to uni and I'm just feeling stuck here really. Maybe I should just get a stopgap job in customer service and go to Uni? Maybe I just need a better social life and the boring job wouldn't bother me so much? I'm already thinking of doing online dating, and I have gone to taster sessions of my local uni shooting society which were good fun, I couldn't join though because obviously being students they have time to go on a weekly shoot at 1 on a Wednesday afternoon the lucky b
ds This has turned into a full on essay Jesus Christ!
Anyway, I know PH is largely populated by older men with a wealth of life experience, I just wanted to ask for your help.
Life is too short and you are too young (I think) to be stuck doing a job you don't actively enjoy. Your brother going to uni will have made you think about that. It could be a good option but I didn't go and have never missed it.
Do something else for work that you enjoy. If you don't know what that might be then just leave and try something else. Keep moving and trying until you find something which you love.
This assumes you are quite young and no real responsibilities!
Do something else for work that you enjoy. If you don't know what that might be then just leave and try something else. Keep moving and trying until you find something which you love.
This assumes you are quite young and no real responsibilities!
Bloody hell, you want to work hard and play hard, and who can blame you. Get out of that bloody job before it kills all self respect and motivation and drive. Do whatever you fancy. Serve in a bar, or in the forces, or as a rock climbing instructor, or as a cheese taster, or whatever it is that tickles your fancy. Don't like it, keep an eye on opportunities, keep busy, keep engaged with people, and see what comes up. Tell people you are looking for interesting work, and be active and engaging when you do so, and a whole heap of opportunities will come your way. JFDI my man, just do what you fancy, and things will happen to that will make you happy.
You might not end up having an easy life, but by god it will be interesting.
You might not end up having an easy life, but by god it will be interesting.
I forgot to say thanks for the replies, I have been applying for jobs in the meantime, a vehicle handover specialist with BCA would get me out and about, a 4 on 4 off 12 hour shift doesn't sound too bad either. I've also applied for some bar and waiting jobs in the town centre.
Unfortunately I can't finish my apprenticeship, that ship sailed when the transfer process started in August. Did I mention things moved slowly there?
I do have my portfolio of evidence which, in my personal opinion, is good enough to submit so I can show that to potential employers at least.
Unfortunately I can't finish my apprenticeship, that ship sailed when the transfer process started in August. Did I mention things moved slowly there?
I do have my portfolio of evidence which, in my personal opinion, is good enough to submit so I can show that to potential employers at least. No staying power.
That is a massive problem with younger folk these days. They do not have the will and determination to see things through to getting their qualification. If they stick it out, they can THEN make a decision as to what they want to do with it. I always looked on this phase of one's life as putting in the hard graft to get the door key. Once you have the key, you will find that it opens multiple doors.
That is a massive problem with younger folk these days. They do not have the will and determination to see things through to getting their qualification. If they stick it out, they can THEN make a decision as to what they want to do with it. I always looked on this phase of one's life as putting in the hard graft to get the door key. Once you have the key, you will find that it opens multiple doors.
How long left on apprenticeship? It is likely to open doors.
Do not bin an apprenticeship to go and pull pints. It is dull meaningless trivial work and paid accordingly. For every 'head of front of house at the Savoy' there are 10000000 barmen........
You can do some 'look at life' days through the forces whilst working too, then if you like it you can join up AFTER.
Do not bin an apprenticeship to go and pull pints. It is dull meaningless trivial work and paid accordingly. For every 'head of front of house at the Savoy' there are 10000000 barmen........
You can do some 'look at life' days through the forces whilst working too, then if you like it you can join up AFTER.
There is literally a world of opportunities and work out there, infact there is so much demand for right skilled people.
As others have said qualification and education is what will get you access to exciting jobs that engage you. Am 40 soon and even now am still doing Diplomas/Marsters, virtually every addition qualifications I have done has opened more doors for me, so much am now pretty much at a position where I can dicate what my job looks like rather than doing something I don't like.
At somepoint in the near future I'll almost certainly be doing a MBA or similar as that the skill set I need to progress up the career ladder.
If I was in your shoes my efforts would be firmly set on sorting out the apprenticeship or even reapplying, and not looking for low skilled low paid jobs to pass the time.
No one is going to offer you the 'perfect' job, but if you put the work in, get your self qualification/skills your peers don't have, you will set your self up for a much more exciting working future (and higher pay), than just doing the grind.
As others have said qualification and education is what will get you access to exciting jobs that engage you. Am 40 soon and even now am still doing Diplomas/Marsters, virtually every addition qualifications I have done has opened more doors for me, so much am now pretty much at a position where I can dicate what my job looks like rather than doing something I don't like.
At somepoint in the near future I'll almost certainly be doing a MBA or similar as that the skill set I need to progress up the career ladder.
If I was in your shoes my efforts would be firmly set on sorting out the apprenticeship or even reapplying, and not looking for low skilled low paid jobs to pass the time.
No one is going to offer you the 'perfect' job, but if you put the work in, get your self qualification/skills your peers don't have, you will set your self up for a much more exciting working future (and higher pay), than just doing the grind.
Edited by gangzoom on Wednesday 1st December 07:07
OP - come work on super yachts (it's not like 'Below Decks'). You seem technically minded, enjoy work with a purpose, will be around a lot of people a similar age who enjoy getting the most out of life. Fantastic opportunities for career and life progression, travel etc. PM me if you are interested, I've helped quite a few people find their way into the industry.
bearman68 said:
Bloody hell, you want to work hard and play hard, and who can blame you. Get out of that bloody job before it kills all self respect and motivation and drive. Do whatever you fancy. Serve in a bar, or in the forces, or as a rock climbing instructor, or as a cheese taster, or whatever it is that tickles your fancy. Don't like it, keep an eye on opportunities, keep busy, keep engaged with people, and see what comes up. Tell people you are looking for interesting work, and be active and engaging when you do so, and a whole heap of opportunities will come your way. JFDI my man, just do what you fancy, and things will happen to that will make you happy.
You might not end up having an easy life, but by god it will be interesting.
Absolutely the right answer. Get your finger out, do some real work, enjoy life.You might not end up having an easy life, but by god it will be interesting.
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