Back in work

vRSG60

vRSG60

Suspended / Banned
Messages
242
Name
Shaun
Edit My Images
Yes
Back in work today and I'm as fed up as I've ever been.
I've worked in engineering as a draughtsman since I left school in 1976. For a number of years I've searched for a way out, to no avail. There's a host of jobs I could do, but the usual thing - experience. Even though half of them I could pick up in a week or two.
Anyone else made that career change?
 
Yes!
 
What you must remember is employers put up a job advert for their absolute ideal new recruit and while a few accept no compromise many expect they will have to.

My team has been recruiting recently and and the stuff that my manager was looking for was an appropriate background, experience in the IT Support area, a good solid skill set in the area we work and someone who will fit within the team. Placed highest is getting a good fit for the team, followed by a technical background. The actual skills and experience are lower priority because they can be learned on the job.

To date, using this approach, we have maintained a great team to work in and the people who have joined are capable of doing the job in very little time anyway. Even the trainees who have none of the skills required for the job have done really well.

Why is this relevent? Well I was one of the trainees a couple of years ago, which was a total career change for me. I was in a job where I can gone as far as I could - nothing new - and lots of boredom. This move totally changed my outlook on work. I now enjoy my job, I'm getting lots of new opportunities to learn, and I work with some great people.

Go for it!
 
vRSG60 said:
Back in work today and I'm as fed up as I've ever been.
I've worked in engineering as a draughtsman since I left school in 1976. For a number of years I've searched for a way out, to no avail. There's a host of jobs I could do, but the usual thing - experience. Even though half of them I could pick up in a week or two.
Anyone else made that career change?
Click to expand...
Feel your pain brother.
I did a major change when I was about 30, gave up a really boring job, went to uni as a mature student, gradated with a first and eventually got a fairly well paid job writing software. That has now turned into boredom, week in week out, and the gradual stripping of the things that made doing the job easier to bear. If it wasnt for the fact that I get reasonable money, short commute, 27 days off, only do 37 hour weeks and finish about 2 on Friday I wouldnt sill be here I dont think. But boy is it dull.
Now Im half a century, getting a new job I suspect is going to be hard and a career change even harder. It would help if i knew to what career I could go and not end up bored doing that as well, but I dont.
Stroll on.
 
DorsetDude said:
It would help if i knew to what career I could go and not end up bored doing that as well, but I dont.
Stroll on.
Click to expand...
:D I know what you mean. I hate to complain when so many are having a hard time, but god is this bothering me. The salaries being offered too are sometimes unrealistic. Some engineering companies are offering the same salaries (or less) as 10 years ago.
 
I was fortunate and unfortunate all at the same time. I left school served an apprenticeship and for 34yrs in total up until last July I was doing a job I did enjoy. Because of the work involved, there was some variation so any boredom never lasted long. But my employer decided they no longer needed us doing that job in the UK anymore. I was short of 51 at the time, so 4yrs too young to take an early retirement/redundancy and although the redundancy money was good it wasn't 4yrs wages good if I took a deferred pension and redundancy. So I opted to stay on with the company and they are now retraining me in a totally different job and it will pay 5% extra. Travelling distance is the same but so much easier to get there.
 
vRSG60 said:
Anyone else made that career change?
Click to expand...
Yes - massively. Jumped from an ultra-secure and well paid job into self employment. That business continues but our ('er indoors & me) future security and enjoyment of life lays with the continuing building of a passive income stream.

JOB stands for Just Over Broke. There are alternatives :)
 
2blue4u said:
Yes - massively. Jumped from an ultra-secure and well paid job into self employment. That business continues but our ('er indoors & me) future security and enjoyment of life lays with the continuing building of a passive income stream.

JOB stands for Just Over Broke. There are alternatives :)
Click to expand...


I guess you are an Optician then - I feel I need to see one now with that tiny font....;)
 
2blue4u said:
Yes - massively. Jumped from an ultra-secure and well paid job into self employment. That business continues but our ('er indoors & me) future security and enjoyment of life lays with the continuing building of a passive income stream.

JOB stands for Just Over Broke. There are alternatives :)
Click to expand...
LASTOLITE said:
I guess you are an Optician then - I feel I need to see one now with that tiny font....;)
Click to expand...
This does seem to happen occasionally for some reason,
reported as a bug.
/ back on topic.................
 
I went from welding/fabrication/site work to healthcare. No the money isn't as good & I no longer work 7-4:30 Mon - Fri but it's a more satisfying job. I'm no longer working outside in all weathers, welding in the rain, up scaffolding in the snow, coming home filthy dirty..... I thought I took a drastic change & I obviously had no experience. I managed to get a foot in with a zero hours contract place, struggled through for some experience & have recently taken a permanent full contracted job about 2 miles from my front door. I was made redundant though from the fabrication place - I'm in my 30's & one of the chaps also made redundant was in his late 50's - he said to me at the time "Get out of this game Lee. You don't want to be doing this sh*t when you're my age" - Wise words :)

If you fancy a change go for it. It is a big step & it is so easy for us to just plod on with what we know & what we do.
 
DorsetDude said:
Now Im half a century, getting a new job I suspect is going to be hard
Click to expand...

Same here. The only escape now is to wait fifteen years and retire.

I would have trouble getting a similar job as I work as an electronic and mechanical design engineer but do not have a degree.


Steve.
 
38 years in one job with the same company was enough for me, took an early leaver deal and retired in October at 55 less two months. Might not have loads of cash, but ain't no pockets in a shroud and might as well enjoy life whilst i'm still able to.
 
Last edited:
tijuana taxi said:
but ain't no pockets in a shroud and might as well enjoy life whilst i'm still able to.
Click to expand...
Thats probably the most profound statement I have heard this year ;) :thumbs:
 
Well im in a slightly differnt situation.. I have recently started working again after being a house husband for two years.Ive only been back at work two months and hate it with a passion (im a chef) its a career thats un rewarding for the most part, under payed and over worked. My issue is I have no idea what else to do or what I want to do. Im only 29 but have always worked in kitchens since leaving school. My qualifications are not the best, to put it bluntly my brain is like mush having not used it overlay in the past 13 year aswell. Where we live there isnt much in the way of good/well paying jobs unless you travel alot and im still looking after the kids three days a week (1 just started school, the other starts nursery in august) which also limits things. Kind of unsure where to go from here.
 
Well I am doing my dream job now (Photographer) BUT it was a long road getting here.

I had a variety of jobs some good some bad and all bad pay I was then ill and after recovering I decided to change my life and go to college where I studied art & design ( I already did my own watercolours, oil paintings etc) I then went on to teach people recovering from mental illness art, photography etc and I did that for 10 years and it was great but as you do you get bored so I went to work for a company doing graphic design and that work was good but the boss was a psycho. One lad told me I was sitting on the trap door as he had so many employees in and out doing my job... but I lasted the longest (8 months - one lad lasted one day and most a few weeks) I was then made redundant so I worked for Game for what was supposed to be over Christmas and I was there four years :eek: it was actually not a bad job but the targets were a pain.

Anyway I was on a crap wage by this time so decided it was now time to do what I always wanted...... and here I am :facepalm:
 
LeeRatters said:
I'm in my 30's & one of the chaps also made redundant was in his late 50's - he said to me at the time "Get out of this game Lee. You don't want to be doing this sh*t when you're my age" - Wise Words.
Click to expand...


I'm in my early 50s, I don't want to be doing any sh*t :D

There are very few people doing a job they really like and making good money at it

Somebody said to me once, as you get older time becomes more important than money , if you're in a job with no stress, nobody on your back and good money boredom isn't so bad
 
wack61 said:
I'm in my early 50s, I don't want to be doing any sh*t :D

There are very few people doing a job they really like and making good money at it

Somebody said to me once, as you get older time becomes more important than money , if you're in a job with no stress, nobody on your back and good money boredom isn't so bad
Click to expand...

This is true. I'm in my early 50s (54) too and there are people who are in work at 7am (I start at 8) for no extra pay (WHY??)
I've been made redundant a few times and grafting all the time didn't make any difference. I'm 1st out of the door now at 4-30.
If I could manage with the drop in pay I'd quite happily do a 3 or 4 day a week job.
 
vRSG60 said:
If I could manage with the drop in pay I'd quite happily do a 3 or 4 day a week job.
Click to expand...
There are one or two at my place who do this, I think Im going to investigate it and see if I could manage on a reduced income as a t*** (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday). Or maybe an MTWAT.

Edit: f*****g swear filter!
 
I wasn't being obtuse earlier, can you not take a drop i pay then?

Best job advice I ever got was from a retired staff sergeant integrating soldiers back into civilian life, who correctly I now know, said, that 90% of jobs don't exist yet, are not advertised yet, or only appear when the moment arrises.

He inspired me to realise that if I wanted it (the job) passionately and sincerely enough potential employers would have great trouble dismissing my attempt. Therefore I could get the best job within my abilities if I wanted it, and he was so right. I looked for jobs that I would love to do and felt able to do, then went ahead cold calling with passion, got an interview, and got one of the best positions in europe, straight of the bat with no practiced experience at all, apart from my personal passion of the subject and the people I wanted to work for.

However I had many a career change since then ad still have little idea if what I 'should' be doing but fortunately I do love what I do and as I get older I realise that is just fine and I do have it good.
 
Last employed job was with British telecom as a switchboard fitter for 20 years. Took early voluntary retirement and now self employed owning a boarding kennel and cattery. Best move I ever made, no stress-no bosses to answer to (apart from er indoors) -no travelling and taking tea/coffee/lunch break when I want not when told to. owned the business for 21 years and never looked back
 
Forbiddenbiker said:
I wasn't being obtuse earlier, can you not take a drop i pay then?
Click to expand...

I didn't think you were being. And no. I was made redundant 2 years ago and was lucky enough to get a job after 2 weeks, cold calling works. But I'm now on less than I was 4 years ago. I was very close to going self employed as a contractor when I was made redundant but really wanted the security a permanent position brings.
But all things considered that security boils down to a bit of redundancy money if you're lucky.
 
RichardtheSane said:
What you must remember is employers put up a job advert for their absolute ideal new recruit and while a few accept no compromise many expect they will have to.

My team has been recruiting recently and and the stuff that my manager was looking for was an appropriate background, experience in the IT Support area, a good solid skill set in the area we work and someone who will fit within the team. Placed highest is getting a good fit for the team, followed by a technical background. The actual skills and experience are lower priority because they can be learned on the job.

To date, using this approach, we have maintained a great team to work in and the people who have joined are capable of doing the job in very little time anyway. Even the trainees who have none of the skills required for the job have done really well.

Why is this relevent? Well I was one of the trainees a couple of years ago, which was a total career change for me. I was in a job where I can gone as far as I could - nothing new - and lots of boredom. This move totally changed my outlook on work. I now enjoy my job, I'm getting lots of new opportunities to learn, and I work with some great people.

Go for it!
Click to expand...


This is exactly how I got recruited into my current role 7 years ago....... Whilst I didn't have the exact skills and experience my manager was looking for, he offered me the job with the view that I would be likely to pick it up quickly and fit into the team well. Admitedly I was offered it at a slightly lower grade and he said it was likely I'd be competent in 6-12 months....... I still got a promotion and a slight payrise when I started and after only 3 months I'd proved myself enough to get another payrise & promotion.

I've applied for 2 internal positions that are under the same hiring manager (Business Analyst and Technical Product Support Specialist) and I'm being interviewed for both next week :) I did wonder if appling for the two of them might hamper my chances but the job specs look like my current job spec has been split into two :lol:

Not really a change of career although that is something I may need in the long term but like most people, I couldn't afford to take a step back in terms of salary, especially as I'm going to be a Dad for the first time in July :)
 
Russ77 said:
This is exactly how I got recruited into my current role 7 years ago....... Whilst I didn't have the exact skills and experience my manager was looking for, he offered me the job with the view that I would be likely to pick it up quickly and fit into the team well. Admitedly I was offered it at a slightly lower grade and he said it was likely I'd be competent in 6-12 months....... I still got a promotion and a slight payrise when I started and after only 3 months I'd proved myself enough to get another payrise & promotion.

I've applied for 2 internal positions that are under the same hiring manager (Business Analyst and Technical Product Support Specialist) and I'm being interviewed for both next week :) I did wonder if appling for the two of them might hamper my chances but the job specs look like my current job spec has been split into two :LOL:

Not really a change of career although that is something I may need in the long term but like most people, I couldn't afford to take a step back in terms of salary, especially as I'm going to be a Dad for the first time in July :)
Click to expand...

Well done with that , and congratulations by the way.
Most of the career change jobs I fancy these days require the obligatory 6 'O' Levels ( because EVERYONE these days has a least 6).
Yet in my day 2 or 3 was good ;). So despite the fact that I have an HNC in Mechanical Engineering (not job specific I know but it does give an indication as to my level of intelligence which surely is what qualifications are all about) I'm unable to apply. If you don't have the stated qualifications HR mangers bin your application without a thought.
 
vRSG60 said:
Well done with that , and congratulations by the way.
Most of the career change jobs I fancy these days require the obligatory 6 'O' Levels ( because EVERYONE these days has a least 6).
Yet in my day 2 or 3 was good ;). So despite the fact that I have an HNC in Mechanical Engineering (not job specific I know but it does give an indication as to my level of intelligence which surely is what qualifications are all about) I'm unable to apply. If you don't have the stated qualifications HR mangers bin your application without a thought.
Click to expand...
My son had the same problem. He applied for an apprenticeship and the qualifications he'd got from a motorsport engineering course at college, surpassed the entry level requirement of grade C, GCSE's in Maths English and Science. Because he didn't have those GCSE grades, his application was overlooked. To add insult to injury I'm now being retrained for the position he'd have got if he'd got the apprenticeship. Since September, I've been at the same college where the apprentices start their training and my son could run rings around some of them. If it wasn't for the fact he was the same age and not having the qualifications, I reckon he could do a better job than their instructor too.
 
vRSG60 said:
I didn't think you were being. And no. I was made redundant 2 years ago and was lucky enough to get a job after 2 weeks, cold calling works. But I'm now on less than I was 4 years ago. I was very close to going self employed as a contractor when I was made redundant but really wanted the security a permanent position brings.
But all things considered that security boils down to a bit of redundancy money if you're lucky.
Click to expand...

Yeah good point, add in our self destructive economy at the moment and its only going to get worse. Makes me think that self employment has its security in a way... I mean, I don't have to worry about anybody else messing it up, I just have to worry about me messing it up.
 
vRSG60 said:
I didn't think you were being. And no. I was made redundant 2 years ago and was lucky enough to get a job after 2 weeks, cold calling works. But I'm now on less than I was 4 years ago. I was very close to going self employed as a contractor when I was made redundant but really wanted the security a permanent position brings.
But all things considered that security boils down to a bit of redundancy money if you're lucky.
Click to expand...

Yeah good point, add in our self destructive economy at the moment and its only going to get worse. Funny thought though, It makes me think that self employment has its security in a way... I mean, I don't have to worry about anybody else messing it up, I just have to worry about me messing it up. ...its very empowering once you get the hang of it I think.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top