I'm 30 and want a real career with good earning potential. Is it too late?

Cycrow

jp2016 wrote: »

From my experience, even with plenty of entry level experience, you need to be a graduate now to even be considered for a management scheme/position, unless you have previous management experience (which I don't). I've worked for companies like Next, Tesco, Marks & Spencer etc and right now the only way to become a management trainee is as a graduate, usually with a 2:1 or better.

im sure thats not true, it should be possible to work your way up. I know plenty of people who became managers from starting working at the bottom in Tesco. The graduate course basically allows you to skip that part and go straight into management training. In Tesco there is a scheme called options which is for regular staff to start training for higher levels, moving up to Supervisor/Team Leader then onto management.

I think your expectations from going from nothing to 40k in 5 years is abit optimistic

controversy

jp2016 wrote: »

I am still able bodied and have no mental health problems. Those jobs seem like they would be generally low paid for the majority of a career? Most health care jobs that don't involve a degree are health care assistant/carer type jobs that pay just above minimum wage, I don't see how there would be room to progress much? Same applies to hotel and driving jobs (aside from the truck/lorry driving someone else mentioned on here).

I'm 30, it's going to be near impossible to get an apprenticeship due to funding.

You have the right to a 24+ learning loan. Details are here:
https://www.gov.uk/advanced-learning-loans/further-information

jp2016

lincroft1710 wrote: »

May I make a left field suggestion? Rather than have a specific salary in mind, look to do something which you will enjoy doing with a view of progressing up to an acceptable level.

A final point, do not regard your past life as wasted - look on it as experience. We all have different life experiences.

When I say experience with those companies - I'm talking 3-6 months maximum at each place with large gaps in between.

The only things I would enjoy are the film industry and sports related jobs (but not working in a gym) - both of those industries are ridiculously hard to get into. Even film industry entry level jobs are unpaid runner type roles occupied by rich kids who can afford to work unpaid.

controversy

jp2016 wrote: »

Let's say I take the plunge and go down the uni route - what degrees are most sought after/useful? I don't want to be in a position where I commit 3/4 years of my life to end up with a near enough worthless degree.

Also - considering I'll be 34(ish) when/if I graduate, what are my chances with graduate schemes with established/big companies considering my age and work history?

I have all the ambition in the world, ideally I want something with good prospects and good earning potential in the long run.

Maybe I should rephrase it - what type of job/career should I look at realistically that will allow me to save a deposit to buy my own home in 5 years time? I don't know what kind of deposit I would need these days (£30k? £40k?) for a £150k flat so I'm just trying to figure out what I need to be earning to afford that.

I'm living with parents at the moment, I really don't want to be one of those people that live with their parents for any length of time and become a liability.

Computer Forensic Science. Learning how to retrieve data off computers. It is a field which will be in demand in the future. Its basically a Police job or data recovery job. Its high in demand sort of now but in the future it will be needed for everything became cyber crime will become so common as actual theft.

jp2016

Cycrow wrote: »

im sure thats not true, it should be possible to work your way up. I know plenty of people who became managers from starting working at the bottom in Tesco. The graduate course basically allows you to skip that part and go straight into management training. In Tesco there is a scheme called options which is for regular staff to start training for higher levels, moving up to Supervisor/Team Leader then onto management.

I think your expectations from going from nothing to 40k in 5 years is abit optimistic

I think that used to be the case, but certainly with a few of the retail jobs I was working in during the past 3 years, all of the managers were graduate scheme people, I don't remember one not being a graduate. All of them were early/mid 20's The only other managers I've come across in retail were the older ones with lots of management experience who worked their way up when the graduate schemes were less common.

I only picked 40k as it seems people earning that have a fairly comfortable existence.

I should have rephrased it to say I want to be earning enough to be able to put a deposit on a modest flat in 5 years time.

prosaver

try teaching assistant course..you get work placement and usually they keep u on.and you have the summer off:beer::beer:
you only need maths and English .
but you cant have a crimminal record ..you have to get checked.



and dont tell them u smoked dope:p:p:p

jp2016

controversy wrote: »

Computer Forensic Science. Learning how to retrieve data off computers. It is a field which will be in demand in the future. Its basically a Police job or data recovery job. Its high in demand sort of now but in the future it will be needed for everything became cyber crime will become so common as actual theft.

I mentioned in the OP that I'm not after an IT related job, it just doesn't interest me enough, especially if it involves a 3/4 year degree. Just had a quick search on a few job websites and there don't seem to be many jobs at all (only 25 listed nationwide on reed.co.uk)

jp2016

prosaver wrote: »

try teaching assistant course..you get work placement and usually they keep u on.and you have the summer off:beer::beer:
you only need maths and English .
but you cant have a crimminal record ..you have to get checked.



and dont tell them u smoked dope:p:p:p

don't worry, I am very socially aware of what is and isn't accepted to mention in interviews.

I have no criminal record, never arrested.

And a teaching assistant job doesn't sound like it has many prospects, I don't believe there is a path from teaching assistant -> teacher as you need a degree to be a teacher as far as I'm aware.

jp2016

It's so frustrating/depressing how difficult it is to make the right choice. The lack of opportunities for someone my age or older without a degree (or even with one..) is really disappointing.

I mean, I have almost zero chance of getting an apprenticeship. Graduate schemes are 99% going to pick the fresh faced 21 year old graduate who went to a private school over me.

I've even looked at "school leaver"/traineeships (they are aimed at school leavers but are apparently open to any age) and get the impression that they are never going to take a 30/31 year old with a patchy CV and no good qualifications over an 18 year old.

Everyone seems to just have it so easy. I am really keen and ambitious, but it just doesn't feel like there are many opportunities or doors open for people my age with my circumstances.

I can say "I want to do this" or "I would like to be doing this" and show all the eagerness in the world, but because I'm 30+ I just won't be given a second look.

I mean, let's say I completed a degree in business management at a good university, and achieved first class honours, there's no way a FTSE 100 company are going to give me a chance with my crappy CV over someone who is 21. "Why didn't you do this when you were 18/19/20/21?" "Why have you worked intermittently at retail jobs during your 20's without really getting anywhere?"

Probably wouldn't even get the opportunity to answer those questions. It's just so frustrating. I might as well give up on being successful or having a good career is the impression I get from society.

prosaver

jp2016 wrote: »

don't worry, I am very socially aware of what is and isn't accepted to mention in interviews.

I have no criminal record, never arrested.

And a teaching assistant job doesn't sound like it has many prospects, I don't believe there is a path from teaching assistant -> teacher as you need a degree to be a teacher as far as I'm aware.

you dont need to a teaching qualification to teach.
my son has one and i was shocked.