Thinking of going part time and doing OU to progress
Discussion
Hi everyone
Sorry this is so long winded. I just wanted some thoughts and insight from anyone with experience with the Open University and career prospects after.
I currently work in what is basically a glorified factory job, but It's quite a niche industry and fortunately well paid. The problem now is after 8 or so years, I can't stand the job, and the often unsociable hours. I always regretted not making the most of opportunities to get a proper education when I was a bit younger, and to some extent I feel a bit wasted in my current job and feel I have more to offer. The best I can hope for in current role is a supervisor job (actually less money) or a project managers job (not of interest).
My current employer, or In the interests of IR35 i should say client, as I'm freelance, has suggested they'd be happy for me to work 4x10 hour days per week if they could guarantee i would stay working there for a couple of years, as they find it hard to find someone with decent enough skills. They know I'm keen to learn something new and did offer for me to learn CAD but I'm just not interested in it at all.
Firstly, is it unrealistic to expect to study an OU degree 'full time' with just one full day off a week? Obviously I could put in more time during the week and at weekends too. Being 26, I still have a fair bit of energy and motivation which can hopefully help me see things through!
The natural degree subject for me given my work would be a BEng, but I'm not sure I'm actually keen enough and wouldn't mind a complete change. Obviously I have to have a passion or interest to an extent, and be realistic about job prospects after, but what also really matters to me most of all is quality of life. I don't want to be one of those husbands or parents one day who's always at work, neglecting everything else to earn a living, which is where I see myself going at the moment in current demanding job.
I would like a decent paying career, but 8-4 or 9-5, better still perhaps working from home (finance/risk?, HR&employment law?), and be able to enjoy a nice quality of life as well as giving my all to my job when I'm there. Don't interpret this as being lazy, as I'm far from it... but we spend so many years working I just want to find the right balance.
There are a few subjects available through the OU that interest me, with varying employment prospects.
Anyone who's completed an OU course on here please do tell your story, and let me know if it's been worthwhile - or not as the case may be.
Any thoughts on if studying around my work is viable would also be gratefully received. As mentioned I'd still be doing 40 hours per week, over 4 days.
Thanks for reading my long post!
Sorry this is so long winded. I just wanted some thoughts and insight from anyone with experience with the Open University and career prospects after.
I currently work in what is basically a glorified factory job, but It's quite a niche industry and fortunately well paid. The problem now is after 8 or so years, I can't stand the job, and the often unsociable hours. I always regretted not making the most of opportunities to get a proper education when I was a bit younger, and to some extent I feel a bit wasted in my current job and feel I have more to offer. The best I can hope for in current role is a supervisor job (actually less money) or a project managers job (not of interest).
My current employer, or In the interests of IR35 i should say client, as I'm freelance, has suggested they'd be happy for me to work 4x10 hour days per week if they could guarantee i would stay working there for a couple of years, as they find it hard to find someone with decent enough skills. They know I'm keen to learn something new and did offer for me to learn CAD but I'm just not interested in it at all.
Firstly, is it unrealistic to expect to study an OU degree 'full time' with just one full day off a week? Obviously I could put in more time during the week and at weekends too. Being 26, I still have a fair bit of energy and motivation which can hopefully help me see things through!
The natural degree subject for me given my work would be a BEng, but I'm not sure I'm actually keen enough and wouldn't mind a complete change. Obviously I have to have a passion or interest to an extent, and be realistic about job prospects after, but what also really matters to me most of all is quality of life. I don't want to be one of those husbands or parents one day who's always at work, neglecting everything else to earn a living, which is where I see myself going at the moment in current demanding job.
I would like a decent paying career, but 8-4 or 9-5, better still perhaps working from home (finance/risk?, HR&employment law?), and be able to enjoy a nice quality of life as well as giving my all to my job when I'm there. Don't interpret this as being lazy, as I'm far from it... but we spend so many years working I just want to find the right balance.
There are a few subjects available through the OU that interest me, with varying employment prospects.
Anyone who's completed an OU course on here please do tell your story, and let me know if it's been worthwhile - or not as the case may be.
Any thoughts on if studying around my work is viable would also be gratefully received. As mentioned I'd still be doing 40 hours per week, over 4 days.
Thanks for reading my long post!
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