General career's advice please

Legacy_user

Hi,

I am currently in work but want to move onto something else. My current job is not great and does not really link to other jobs.

I want to start afresh. Sorry - as I am going to be very general....

I was hoping someone could let me know if there are any short courses (no longer than a year) that could, once completed, get me a reasonable job?

I'm willing on trying anything, outdoors, indoors.

I am a bloke, so not into hairdressing or knitting.

Any office work, or technician, or maintenance, council, etc worker.

Something for someone with average intelligence. I can't do physics.

DomRavioli

You need to get some careers advice - have you spoken to the careers service? they have a website too so you can see what you might be interested, and job profiles to tell you how much they earn on average, job progression etc.

Also, define "reasonable" - office work could literally be anything from accountancy to management to purchasing and everything in-between; technician - again what kind of technician (far too vague); maintenance could again be anything, if you are meaning something like a handyman then you would likely need electrical qualifications and possibly GasSafe registration which will usually take you more than a year; and council - they perform so many varied roles, from social worker, environment, parking enforcement, housing, debt, law, the list is huge.

You need to sit down and find out what you're good at, what you enjoy, and then find roles suited to your strengths and what you enjoy. Then you can start looking for possible roles and courses - most people want experience, not courses, so that also comes into play.

Have you thought about volunteering? It will definitely let you know if you like a job before you give one up (you can volunteer on evenings and weekends as well as weekdays) and will give you valuable experience and a reference in the industry you would like to work in.

You need to do the work though, and find out where you want to go - nobody can do it for you, but there are places to help.

jimmy2times

You sound like me! I've think i've made threads just like this, lol.
I've been accused of being about 5 posters now (that list might now include you!)
I guess there's quite a few of us lost souls out there who all sound teh same!

My situation is; not too clever. Never had a clue what career I wanted.
Been doing various low-paid,, unskilled labour/factory work on and off which I detest and makes living a depressing experience adn I pray for the weekend to hurry up.
Would love to find a 'shortish' course that I would be clever enough to pass, and would lead to a half decent paid job upon completion.

I hope you get some good advice. I'll be following.

jimmy2times

I've been taking online career tests and stuff all day.
They're kind of useless.
So far, they all tell me I should be a vet! lol.

However, I did stumble upon some websites talking about 'right brained' people and 'left brained' people.
I appear to be very 'right brained', apparently.
I've always felt more 'NO Brained' if i'm honest.
I think I must have undiagnosed learning disabilities or something.

Among the many personality traits that I appear to have, the one that made me smile was that right brained people ''have The ability to focus in the midst of chaos and can multi task''.

It made me think about when I was at school. The teacher announced that from now on there was to be no talking whilst we were working, stating, ''Jimmy2times appears to be the only one who is able to talk with classmates without completely neglecting their work'' lol.
I also notice that my brother who is INFINITELY cleverer than me can't seem to listen if he is busy doing something. He'll need to stop doing whatever he's doing in order to hear, and answer my question.

Anyway, I'm gonna run with this theme for tonight as I continue with my research into finding some sort of job/career that I would be capable of training for/doing, and that I wouldn't hate.

There must be something out there for me.

Any update on your search, Dburford?

System

jimmy2times wrote: »

I've been taking online career tests and stuff all day.
They're kind of useless.
So far, they all tell me I should be a vet! lol.

Hi Jimmy.

I took a day to search for jobs and didn't find anything ideal. I plan to speak to the careers advice people at some point, but will need to take a day off work to do so.

Not being the most intelligent person in the world is an issue, but it is more the fact that these days employers seem to want you to have some experience, and it is tough to get in the door and get that experience. The jobs I have done have not really given me any skills to take forward into another job role. That's why I feel I need to start from scratch.

Over the years I have been happy getting on with the job I do, but now I am in my late 20's I feel I need a secure, somewhat respectable job.

Looking for work it seems there are negatives I find to many of jobs. Maybe I am too picky, but I just want a normal 9-5.30 job. I don't want to be working like a slave, I ideally don't want to work weekends. Yeah, people may say that is a lazy attitude, and yeah it doesn't help, but I don't want to spend my life working my !!! off.

I am sure there are jobs out there that I could get into through a bit of training, but not sure how to get there. There are courses but some charge ridiculous fees. I was looking at a Digital Marketing course; £2000 for a 2 week online course, sorry but that is taking the !!!!. I don't think you could learn much about Digital Marketing in 2 weeks, even though it isn't the most broad of subjects. Even if it was a 3 month course, after paying £2000 you still aren't guaranteed a job, as always, these employers want experience.

kingslayer

Someone else dropping in who is in the same situation. I don't know what I can do. I am getting fed up of hearing how other family members, friends etc are doing well and earning all this money. My brother's partner's son had a business and seems to be flush with cash. My nephew is 15 and already has an apprenticeship set up that his dad sorted out for him in some kind of engineering at an airport. People seem to be getting into careers ahead of me, but I still don't know what I want to do.

I have talents. I can sing well; I can dance; I can draw reasonably well; I have athletic ability; a good eye for things, but still I don't know what path to choose. Most people who have talents utilise them when they're young, but I guess I never had the confidence to showcase them.

I know what you're going through though. The career sites are good and all, but they can be a bit pointless as they don't really advise you on what to do. I have just lost a lot of motivation & self esteem, and it's tough, especially when everyone is getting on with life while you're confused.

OP, what are your interests and strengths? Can you apply them to a specific career?

kingslayer

Someone else dropping in who is in the same situation. I don't know what I can do. I am getting fed up of hearing how other family members, friends etc are doing well and earning all this money. My brother's partner's son had a business and seems to be flush with cash. My nephew is 15 and already has an apprenticeship set up that his dad sorted out for him in some kind of engineering at an airport. People seem to be getting into careers ahead of me, but I still don't know what I want to do.

I have talents. I can sing well; I can dance; I can draw reasonably well; I have athletic ability; a good eye for things, but still I don't know what path to choose. Most people who have talents utilise them when they're young, but I guess I never had the confidence to showcase them.

I know what you're going through though. The career sites are good and all, but they can be a bit pointless as they don't really advise you on what to do. I have just lost a lot of motivation & self esteem, and it's tough, especially when everyone is getting on with life while you're confused.

OP, what are your interests and strengths? Can you apply them to a specific career?

pinpin

That's the OP, jimmy2times and Kingslayer, and I'd like to join the gang too, please!

Currently working part time (hours been drastically cut due to company doing badly). Just unskilled warehouse work. Unloading lorries. Been doing this sort of work my whole working life.
I obviously need a new job soon, but I't very depressing spending all of your life in a horrible low paid job when all of your friends are constantly on expensive holidays and buying big houses!

Can't really see a way out, though. I think luck and nepotism are the most important things!

kingslayer

I think the best thing is to not stagnate in the job you're in. Make sure that you have other interests, and even aim to gain some qualifications. I know this true for me, so I am going back to redo my GCSE's this July/August by attending a course. I am going to look into a short course online, maybe in marketing or business, just so I have something that looks appealing to prospective employers.

bugslet

dburford9 wrote: »

I am sure there are jobs out there that I could get into through a bit of training, but not sure how to get there. There are courses but some charge ridiculous fees. I was looking at a Digital Marketing course; £2000 for a 2 week online course, sorry but that is taking the !!!!. I don't think you could learn much about Digital Marketing in 2 weeks, even though it isn't the most broad of subjects. Even if it was a 3 month course, after paying £2000 you still aren't guaranteed a job, as always, these employers want experience.

That sounds a lot of money with no promise at the end and I'm guessing that it might not be a great paying job either, bound to be a competitive sector.

One thing is for sure, that if you want to work 9 - 5/5.30, then that will only add to the number of people chasing the same job. Long hours doesn't bother me, which is just as well as I now think 55 hours is part-time:D

pinpin wrote: »

Currently working part time (hours been drastically cut due to company doing badly). Just unskilled warehouse work. Unloading lorries. Been doing this sort of work my whole working life.
I obviously need a new job soon, but I't very depressing spending all of your life in a horrible low paid job when all of your friends are constantly on expensive holidays and buying big houses!

Can't really see a way out, though. I think luck and nepotism are the most important things!

Used to be my job and I loved it on the whole, but moved to driving and then set up my own business.

True luck does play a part in everything. I got lucky with my business - a lot fail in the van sector, but I also worked my bits off in the first few years. Have you tried asking any of your family and friends about jobs going?

kingslayer wrote: »

I think the best thing is to not stagnate in the job you're in. Make sure that you have other interests, and even aim to gain some qualifications. I know this true for me, so I am going back to redo my GCSE's this July/August by attending a course. I am going to look into a short course online, maybe in marketing or business, just so I have something that looks appealing to prospective employers.

True, most employers like to see something, it shows motivation, even if it isn't directly related to the job.

From an employers perspective, a relaxed positive attitude puts you ahead of a lot of other interviewees, and yes I appreciate it's hard to do that when you feel nervous. Additionally, small firms tend to take on people that might not fit into the tight requirements of larger firms.

Since you like your career quizes

http://sarah.theworkexperiment.com/take-your-own-career-driver-test/

career driver test - mine came out as independence, very true, hence I work for myself. All helps as you determine what will work best for you.

Good luck.

lincroft1710

dburford9 wrote: »

Not being the most intelligent person in the world is an issue, but it is more the fact that these days employers seem to want you to have some experience, and it is tough to get in the door and get that experience.

Looking for work it seems there are negatives I find to many of jobs. Maybe I am too picky, but I just want a normal 9-5.30 job. I don't want to be working like a slave, I ideally don't want to work weekends. Yeah, people may say that is a lazy attitude, and yeah it doesn't help, but I don't want to spend my life working my !!! off.

Think about this for a minute or so.

You have no experience, you only want to work 9-5.30 and no weekends. What can you offer a prospective employer?

BTW many if not the majority of jobs have start times before 9.00 am.