Two Routes...which should I take?
Discussion
Hello All,
So I feel I need to stop fannying around and get on with my life now. I am in my early twenties, recently graduated from University, and now face the biggest decision of my life so far. I am hoping to get some advice from those of you who have far more life -experience than I do.....
Option 1:
I relocate to Canada, specifically Vancouver. I enjoy weight training very much, to the point where I compete seriously in bodybuilding contests and love it. The plan would be to get a work visa and to get my personal training qualifications then find work in the fitness industry there, working as a personal trainer. I have been to Vancouver before and loved it and have some friends there, although I realise it would be very different now as I'd be starting a new life with all the obstacles and troubles that that throws up and not just there for a 10 day jolly.
Of course, I wouldn't HAVE to stick with this career path if I found it wasnt working out for me, but at the moment this is what I'd like to do there.
Option 2:
I also hold an interest in flying. My family is involved in it and I have the opportunity to train as a commercial pilot and fly for an airline as a career. I would train here in the U.K. for 18 months or so and then apply to airlines for a job. I spent a portion of my childhood in Hong Kong and absolutely loved it and have been living there on and off all my life. If I went down this route then I would apply to an Hong Kong based airline and sod off there. That would be the plan.
Obviously, these two career paths are very different, with very different salaries. The sorts of questions I have been asking myself are 'would I be injured and penniless by 50 if I took the personal training route?'(not that I would HAVE to stay in this career in Canada) OR 'would I be bitter and miserable in later life if I took the flying route because I gave up on my number one passion which is the training side of things?'
I plan to fund this myself. I have recently been left a sum of money by a deceased relative. The flying qualification is extremely expensive, but it is a good career with an excellent salary and worth it long term.
I suppose it comes down to 'How important is a high salary to you?' Should I just keep my training as an after work hobby? Is it time to grow up and get a 'proper' career?'
Thanks for any help/your thoughts on the matter...
Maxymillion (self-bukkaked)
So I feel I need to stop fannying around and get on with my life now. I am in my early twenties, recently graduated from University, and now face the biggest decision of my life so far. I am hoping to get some advice from those of you who have far more life -experience than I do.....
Option 1:
I relocate to Canada, specifically Vancouver. I enjoy weight training very much, to the point where I compete seriously in bodybuilding contests and love it. The plan would be to get a work visa and to get my personal training qualifications then find work in the fitness industry there, working as a personal trainer. I have been to Vancouver before and loved it and have some friends there, although I realise it would be very different now as I'd be starting a new life with all the obstacles and troubles that that throws up and not just there for a 10 day jolly.
Of course, I wouldn't HAVE to stick with this career path if I found it wasnt working out for me, but at the moment this is what I'd like to do there.
Option 2:
I also hold an interest in flying. My family is involved in it and I have the opportunity to train as a commercial pilot and fly for an airline as a career. I would train here in the U.K. for 18 months or so and then apply to airlines for a job. I spent a portion of my childhood in Hong Kong and absolutely loved it and have been living there on and off all my life. If I went down this route then I would apply to an Hong Kong based airline and sod off there. That would be the plan.
Obviously, these two career paths are very different, with very different salaries. The sorts of questions I have been asking myself are 'would I be injured and penniless by 50 if I took the personal training route?'(not that I would HAVE to stay in this career in Canada) OR 'would I be bitter and miserable in later life if I took the flying route because I gave up on my number one passion which is the training side of things?'
I plan to fund this myself. I have recently been left a sum of money by a deceased relative. The flying qualification is extremely expensive, but it is a good career with an excellent salary and worth it long term.
I suppose it comes down to 'How important is a high salary to you?' Should I just keep my training as an after work hobby? Is it time to grow up and get a 'proper' career?'
Thanks for any help/your thoughts on the matter...
Maxymillion (self-bukkaked)
I would do the pilot thing while you can. I will always regret not having the wherewithal to knuckle down and do well enough at school to do the training, or the balls to join the RAF to get them to train me. From what I hear rosters are fairly flexible, so you should be able to have enough time to persue your hobbies, and of course when you're staying away you'll be in a decent hotel with a gym.
Pilot>Fitness Instructor.
Pilot>Fitness Instructor.
Thanks for the replies so far...
From what I've heard from the people I've spoken to in the flying world, it is just about moving on up from rock bottom now. Yes, pilots are being/have been laid off, but if I took the flying route, I wouldn't be applying for jobs for another 18 months or so. Hopefully, by then, things will be better.
From what I've heard from the people I've spoken to in the flying world, it is just about moving on up from rock bottom now. Yes, pilots are being/have been laid off, but if I took the flying route, I wouldn't be applying for jobs for another 18 months or so. Hopefully, by then, things will be better.
What is involved in doing the personal trainer qualifications? I'm making a couple of wild assumptions here but I'm guessing its easier and cheaper compared to a CPL, possibly even something that could be done on a part-time or evening classes basis?
If you've got the financial support and opportunity to do a CPL I'd do that now if I were you. I'm pretty sure you'd be able to do the personal training qualification at a later time in your life if you have a change of heart, might be a bit tougher to do it the other way around.
Also, if Canada is where you want to be could you get a piloting job based there?
Also, Pilots uniform is far cooler than some tracky bottoms, trainers and a t shirt!
If you've got the financial support and opportunity to do a CPL I'd do that now if I were you. I'm pretty sure you'd be able to do the personal training qualification at a later time in your life if you have a change of heart, might be a bit tougher to do it the other way around.
Also, if Canada is where you want to be could you get a piloting job based there?
Also, Pilots uniform is far cooler than some tracky bottoms, trainers and a t shirt!
spend your inheritance on coke and hookers - it's what they would have wanted... for PC sake we'll call this your gap year... by then you will have "found yourself" and find it easy to make the decision without resorting to PH 
On a serious note - pilot all the way, train in your spare time - both are hobbies to some and careers to others.. nice work if you can get it.
On a serious note - pilot all the way, train in your spare time - both are hobbies to some and careers to others.. nice work if you can get it.
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