Looking for a new career - which jobs are not possible with previous BR?

youngbuck2 · 29 June 2015 at 11:10PM

TheGardener wrote: »

A lot of people work hard in retail and no, they don't get paid much but that doesn't make them 'bums' ...a bit of respect please...Alan Sugar started out the bottom of the ladder in retail as a barrow bow in the east end I think...

No, you've misunderstood me....I meant I don't want to spend the rest of my life bumming around in a low paid retail job and settle for that. I would like to think people in those positions want to make progress and get promoted/earn more - my comment wasn't directed at them, more at the people happy to just be on jobseeker's, then stick to an entry level job who aren't bothered about expanding their potential.

Alan Sugar isn't a bum - he started out in retail but actively wanted to make a name for himself and worked hard - I'm talking about the people who are happy to settle for less and I don't want to be that.

TheGardener wrote: »

I have found the OU to be so full of degrees and choices its almost mind boggling! However, Economics and Accountancy are not included.
If you look for the 'Famous Bankrupts' post on this board you will just about every high profile entrepreneur on both sides of the Atlantic has managed to go BR at some point so its obviously not a barrier to making squllions of pounds (even when those sqillions have come from retail...)
Mortgage advice might not be so accessible to you but what about property investing.

Re OU degrees - really? I can't find a single degree on there that will directly lead to a career. Many of them require you to actually be working in that sector or have relevant experience as they want you to be sponsored by your employer (nursing, engineering etc). They do a lot of "general" degrees like English Lit which won't directly lead to a career and I've heard of hundreds of people with similar degrees struggling to find work.

I'd love to find a degree through the OU that was specifically what an employer is looking for, unfortunately a lot want experience too.

Re Famous Bankrupts - yes but a lot of those famous bankrupts went bankrupt in the middle of their sucessful careers and had the experience/knowledge/networking to continue making money after they went BR.

I'm starting again in a whole new career.

When you say "what about property investing" what do you mean by that? I assume not investing my own money (obviously I'm BR, I have no capital and certainly won't be able to get a mortgage for 6+ years), so what part of property investing could I look into?

youngbuck2 · 29 June 2015 at 11:19PM

What careers could I look at that would be fine even though I have been BR? The only thing I don't want to do is an apprenticeship/trade (e.g. plumbing/electrician).

Ideally something I can study for like a certificate/qualification, preferably not a degree but will consider if it is relevant and is a mandatory requirement for a particular job.

I'm running out of ideas, pretty much ALL finance jobs are out the window, I can't work in the legal sector as that's where I've come from, don't want to do an apprenticeship. What else could I do? I'd really like to be a professional in a career that has good prospects and isn't "age-ist". Even at 30-ish, I know a lot of employers will go for a "fresh out of uni 21 year old" than a 30 year old with lots of work experience. I know they legally aren't allowed to but it happens.

LoveLifeAgain · 30 June 2015 at 7:17AM

What about a career in IT? There would be many opportunities in the future if you are career minded, working the way to the top in a large multi-national company or even starting your own business/consultancy eventually, all very hard work in the overtaking lane but you sound like you could do it.

It is difficult when we cannot have/do what we prefer but sometimes good can evolve and the silver lining may be obscure but I am sure it is there. Good luck whatever you do

alastairq · 30 June 2015 at 7:33AM

Re-the OU?

The comments above pretty much can be applied to any & every University Course book. [My 2nd ex-wife started an OU degree course whilst a care assistant with a LA. The OU is very flexible [much more so than oxbridge,].....and she was able to gradually tailor her courses to end up with a BA[hons], then a Masters, in, essentially Social Work....to end up where she is today,in the private sector, having gone via some very senior local authority Social work posts.....her work is still considered essential reading by several Uni libraries...Me....I spent 25 years as a bus driver...very rewarding....maybe not so these days....but before that, I was a 3rd Officer on rather large tankers at sea....so career changes are not to be considered a waste, education isn't everything [ diverse experience is probably more useful]....now I'm in the 'driver education' world....no , I don't teach car drivers..I do something that is for me, much more fun, lucrative, etc]....in the end 'career' is but a figment of our imaginations.

I doubt there are many nurses who aren't a wee bit proud of their achievements.

But, making a decision as to which path to follow at any age is extremely difficult. [as I well know]...there are so many influences in what we consider.....mostly to do with peer pressure, upbringing, social environment, apparent 'expectations..[our own, as well as those close to us]......we really need to shed all those influences as they colour our opinions.

Me?

Back when I was 21, and decided to make my first career change....I sometimes wish I had followed my instincts, and studied to be a surveyor, to work for the Ordnance Survey. [I already had a good lead into the work, having been at sea as a navigating apprentice, and 3rd Officer]....but, for whatever reasons, I ended up having to 'put bread on the table'....and do the thing I really enjoyed the most in my spare time....driving.....got employed, and trained by London Transport in the bad ol' days...!

Very often, just making some sort of generalised start,then opens up a whole host of options.

Why not learn to be a farmer?

youngbuck2 · 30 June 2015 at 8:51AM

^^^^

Thanks alastair, I enjoyed reading your post. I think you're right, perhaps I need to be more open minded, find something I enjoy in some capacity and see where it leads me. I admire the path your 2nd ex-wife took - I wouldn't mind getting my teeth into something via the OU or any other distance learning/spare time studying that will help me train/study towards a job, I just find the OU course options so limited - I either need to be working in a similar role already to be eligible, or there is some other kind of restriction.

Thanks.

wildheart83 · 30 June 2015 at 12:16PM

My BR allowed me to change careers, and I took a low paid "bum" job to get experience in an area that I loved but didn't have enough relevant experience in.
My degree points you in the direction of the financial services sector, something that I decided post graduation that I wasn't interested in. I'm now working in a well paid job, doing something I love but that I couldn't have done without the time spent doing the rubbish, low paid job.

I think maybe you could think about it a different way, use your BR as a stepping stone perhaps?

GazHatesBanks · 7 July 2015 at 2:03PM

Accountancy CAN still be an option after bankruptcy, but you will need to check each institutes regulations for allowing bankrupts to become members (and you will need to become a member to start studying for their qualification).

From an employer point of view, most probably won't ask if you have been bankrupt although it might be different if you were looking to be accountant in practice rather than in a company. Whether or not you chose to disclose it voluntarily is up to you.

I would forget banks, insurance companies and financial advisory type roles as these are regulated by the FCA who don't like anyone with anything other than a very clean credit history.

leighblue · 10 July 2015 at 11:40AM

Finance jobs are not out of the question. I had my own mortgage business, which failed after the crash, causing my bankruptcy

I am now employed once again as a mortgage adviser - it is up to the employer if they are happy to employ, there is no regulation preventing it.

Even roles that require individual FCA registration are not out of bounds, such as IFA or pension adviser. You obviously have to declare all the facts, but one off event will be taken into account, and is possible