Job hunting

[P.]

Hey

Im working full time for Honda at the moment...but its really not pressing any buttons at all..

I keep finding myself wanting to get out of an office and into physical work... I'm not great at mechanics, but I keep thinking I could get into that later in life...
Its more the network installation, gardening, something that gets you physically working rather than just pen/paper/laptop.

Obviously with minimal experience in a lot of roles...is there a set way to go about finding a new career...something that will be far less depressing and make me want to push further rather than feel like the company wants to hold me back.

[Ingah]

[Daimo]

been like this for 10 years

Only a few ways really.

a) Go back to education, get a fancy certificate, use this to get yourself mid way into a company.

b) Suck it up, apply showing the interest and start at the bottom, huge wage cut, more hours probably, and work your way up.

c) Make friends with a high end manager who can slide you into a role with minimal training.

Its not what you know, its who you know, hence why im still in the arse end of my career

[Biker]

You may not get the money you are on now in a new career but sometimes happiness is more important. If you can get into gardening or something you may be a lot happier and that counts for a lot.

Also, the physical activity and fresh air will be better for you.

Ask around locally to see how people doing the job you would like to do got into it.

Also, see if you can do an evening course in horticulture etc which you may be able to do whilst considering your career move some more and keeping getting paid by current job.

Good luck, and if you believe it's the right choice, after weighing up financial and time implications, go for it! Sounds like a more rewarding job!

[P.]

Well... I wont take a pay cut, my pay is already "just above minimum" really.. I mean just, by a fraction.

Genuinely, considered working at Nandos, I eat nandos as much as I can, I love it there, such a good environment, the guys there know me...and I enjoy cooking... so I'd love to do that

But i'd rather be outside doing something thats benefiting others... Gardening, as gay as it sounds... does seem to tick all the boxes, creativity, fresh air, manual type work...

I'll be thinking about it tonight, seriously... as I cant really see much progression from here...

[Daimo]

great fun in the summer.

Is it as appealing sweeping leaves in minus temperatures and pissing down rain in the winter.

Need to think long and hard, remember the grass isn't always greener (irony....).

think of pros and cons to all situations.

See you in 10 years like me, still there (i've got a mortgage and responsibilities though).

[P.]

[fatpies]

[JonB]

[Daimo]

Its not about shifting blame, its common knowledge.

Indeed I do agree, attitude is a huge part, but it also depends on the companies you work for.

Unfortunatly, I worked very hard for a number of years, and due to different situations I ended up being done over numerous times (staff lying about work, friends of bosses as favourites, changes of managment just before reviews, companies winding up to name a few). This has led to leaving the city, big named companies, finding a local job with less internal competition. But the skill of the office politics fight has changed my attitude to companies and staff in my profession.

This has eventually led to a much greater loss of my personal interests outside work doing the same thing. Sure these have also changes as i've got older, and its become more obvious that im not greatly suited to office roles.

My wife and best friend are great examples of starting at the bottom, working hard, and being rewarded for their efforts. So working hard and being able to stay at the same company does work too.

[thegubner]

It's not always about who you know, I applied for a driving job and forgot all about it, the company rang me and offered an interview after ages and I couldn't remember them. Anyway long story short. . . .its bloody good money and a very good job, and there were loads of applicants with years more experience than me, I managed somehow to get it though.

I had no links to nor knowledge of the company.

[G]

I see a lot of people moaning about 'office work', but I only see a small selection that try other things that do genuinely prefer it.
For something manual - how about finding someone you know if you who does it if you can help out either for free or for a little beer money at the weekend.
If you're really serious, could take a week off work to do it, or something.

[Clanger]

I thought this job was decent pay, Paddy?

The problem at the moment is, the job market is saturated with people looking for work... you might be advised to stick with your current job for at least one year... and take up something you think you would like to do - like gardening in your spare time. Just to check it's really what you want to do, and gain experience and get your foot in the door. Remember there are people coming out of agricultural/horticultural/tree surgeon college(s) with specific qualifications.

The reason I say stick with your current job for a year is, because of your age. You are at the start of your working career, if you jack it in now without any real reason, it looks bad on your CV. What if you change your mind again? And you decide you want to go back into website stuff, you will be back to square one, you will have to start back at the bottom (pay scale) because in the creative industry software is updated every 3mths...stepping outside could be death to future career opportunities (in this field).

Believe me, I did the exact thing when I stepped out and went travelling for 10mths. (Although when I came back I knew I wanted to work with people, and took a dramatic cut in pay due to this change of career).

Anyway, whatever you do... you have to weigh up the odds, maybe think of what direction you'd like your life to end up in...be it mortgage/marriage/money/kids...or other.
____________________
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[G]

On the 'decent pay' - there were plenty of bits of previous jobs I didn't like - so I put up some pictures of me having fun on bikes on the office wall. Good reminder why I was sitting there doing aimless boring repetitive tasks .

[Mehty]

Stick to your current job, and get a foundation qualification in your spare time in agriculture or something else you want to work in might be a good idea? Unless your <19 I wouldn't say a normal apprenticeship would fit very well...
____________________
2007 YBR 125 (sold), 2011 ER6-N (sold), LHD 1999 GSX750F (sold), ??????

[Rob W]

[Mehty]

[Rogerborg]