Change of direction

[Ry_B]

To set the scene:

I am 21, have about 10 or 11 C GCSE's, have a pass at Applied ICT (A level i think, or equivalent) and have worked for a bank for the last 3 years, I really fancy a change of scenery and to get into something I enjoy.

I am good with computers and obviously also into cars. What job combines these two together?

If not a job with both, what would be interesting to get into? I feel like I am stuck in a rut at the moment, I would be happy to quit my bank job and go to learn something elsewhere, even for a paycut, as long as it meant a proper career in the end!

Thanks for any advise

[Ry_B]

I've just thought of something that I may also be interested in, photography. What kind of jobs can you get in that sector, and what qualifications would be needed?

[don4l]

Ry_B said:

I've just thought of something that I may also be interested in, photography. What kind of jobs can you get in that sector, and what qualifications would be needed?

Photography is a very difficult area to make money in.

Cheap digital equipment means that there are too many people competing for too little work.



Don
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[Ry_B]

Cheers for the advice musclecarmad, the idea of going to another country is enjoyable but I do eventually want a family etc and I'd rather get a decent career over here where I have my mates and family etc!

The rat race does my head in, just thinking about it how everyone acts like robots, does the same thing every day, goes home..just makes me angry really!

Decisions decisions hmm..

[don4l]

Ry_B said:

Cheers for the advice musclecarmad, the idea of going to another country is enjoyable but I do eventually want a family etc and I'd rather get a decent career over here where I have my mates and family etc!

The rat race does my head in, just thinking about it how everyone acts like robots, does the same thing every day, goes home..just makes me angry really!

Decisions decisions hmm..

Do you know where you want to be in 10 years? In twenty years?

Probably not, because most people just drift aimlessly through life. They take a promotion when the opportunity presents itself, or they may change job if they see something interesting. This leads to the feeling of being in the rat race.

If you set yourself a long term goal, then you can begin to fill in the intermediate steps. Say you decide that you want to be able to retire at 40. That would mean that by 30 you would have to be either the MD of a small company or the sales /marketing/technical director of a larger firm. In turn, you can work out that by 25, you will have to be in middle management. So, in two years you need to be in a job that... and so on, right down until you know what you need to do tomorrow.

The beauty of this system is that as the years go by, you will recognise opportunities that "have your name" on them and so you will always try that little bit harder. The really big benefit is that each and every day you will know why you are going to work, and if your work has meaning, then you will actually enjoy it.

In the above long term plan, your objectives may be completely different. They may be financial, or may be family related or hobby related. Spend a couple of days thinking about where you would like to be in twenty or thirty years. Don't be afraid to be ambitious.

Working for money is a drag. It's a bit like selling your soul. Working towards your own goals is enormously satisfying, even if you are doing exactly the same job.


Don
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[Ry_B]

Cheers for the advice people. I've applied for a course in "Motorsport engineering" looks like just what I'm after.