Is it too late to get a decent job?

riffy2016

I'm nearly 31 and I'm not academically good. Are there any types of the jobs I can get that can earn me 20k a year without any good qualifications or will I have to go back to college and then onto university for a chance?

HappyMJ

riffy2016 wrote: »

I'm nearly 31 and I'm not academically good. Are there any types of the jobs I can get that can earn me 20k a year without any good qualifications or will I have to go back to college and then onto university for a chance?

Loads and loads of jobs do not require "academic" skill.

As long as you can speak, read and write English to a basic standard there a lot of jobs in the UK that you could do....and earn £20,000.

£20,000 isn't a huge wage/salary. It's only about £10/hour.

What skills do you have? Can you drive a car? You could do delivery jobs and get that much per hour...even more if you are self employed.

You can use either a computer or a mobile phone and understand how to register on a website and post a message so your computer skills are better than quite a significant proportion of people. A lot of people wouldn't even have a clue how to turn a computer on and bring up a web browser let alone actually use it or how to register a mobile for the first time usually getting someone else to complete the task.

Whilst these aren't academic skills they are skills that some people don't have and you can use that to your advantage.

Cavolo_Nero

Id say join the forces. These days the pay rates are good even if the pension isnt what it used to be. Choose the best technical trade that you are qualified for and check the pay scales when choosing. Dont fall for the BS in the careers centres - they just want to fill the trades that are under manned. This is an example of basic pay scales from the MOD website:

Navy: Levels 1-9 Able Rate Level 9 £29,947.20
Level 8 £28,553.04
RM: Levels 1-7 Marine Level 7 £27,323.88
Levels 5-9 Lance Corporal (or RM passed JCC) Level 6 £26,125.08
Army: Levels 1-7 Private Level 5 £24,913.08
Levels 5-9 Lance Corporal Level 4 £22,531.44
RAF: Level 1 Aircraftmen & Leading Aircraftmen Level 3 £21,472.56
Levels 2-9 Senior Aircraftmen Level 2 £19,497.60
Level 5-9 Junior Tech/Senior Aircraftmen(T) Level 1 £18,124.56

Youll have a great time (overall) and when/if you leave youll have great experience and qualifications in your sector. And no - you're not too old!

Join the Navy to see the world
Join the Army if you want to be fit.
Join the RAF if you like being treated like a human being (most of the time!)

riffy2016

20k would allow me to get a mortgage for a house. Which I'm thinking about it.

What skills do you have? Can you drive a car?

I just know some basic computer skills nothing technical, I can drive car. I'm not sure about the army of it means going to war then that's not for me.

Guest101

riffy2016 wrote: »

20k would allow me to get a mortgage for a house. Which I'm thinking about it.

What skills do you have? Can you drive a car?

I just know some basic computer skills nothing technical, I can drive car. I'm not sure about the army of it means going to war then that's not for me.

You need a lot more than £20k purely for a mortgage.


Good credit history, no dependants, job for various durations.

GwylimT

Why don't you want to go to college? Courses aren't all academic, they certainly aren't just full of teenagers either.

Some colleges hold taster short courses in the evening, practical courses eg building etc give you enough time to work and study, so you wouldn't be losing income during training.

What are your hobbies, or what would they be if money wasn't an issue?

Have you ever thought career wise "I would like to do that"?

I have done these recently, the most expensive was £25.
Animal first aid, one two hour session a week for four weeks.
Brick work for beginners, one two hour session a week for six weeks.

They're really good as you get a taster of the actual course.

bugslet

I might put this is a sig one day.;)

Not for everyone, but lorry drivers can earn up to 40k. Around 3 k to pass your test, which you can do in a few weeks - or stretch it out.

Newbies don't tend to get the best rates, but you should top 20 k easy enough.

Course if you don't like long hours or being away from home, that limits you.

My European drivers can top 40k + they get expenses.

jimmy2times

bugslet wrote: »

I might put this is a sig one day.;)

Not for everyone, but lorry drivers can earn up to 40k. Around 3 k to pass your test, which you can do in a few weeks - or stretch it out.

Newbies don't tend to get the best rates, but you should top 20 k easy enough.

Course if you don't like long hours or being away from home, that limits you.

My European drivers can top 40k + they get expenses.

Can you think of any other careers like that where, after a few weeks of training (or even a few months) you can jump right into a fairly well paid job?
Unfortunately, i've failed my car driving test about 7 times, so I won't be driving a lorry anytime soon!!

fitnessguy1

hi op. i am in a similar situation, well i don't have a degree and i only have basic qualifications. i am looking into evening and weekend courses to see what is available. what are you interested in? you could work your way up into a company and try to reach a good level getting pay rises regularly while there? you could start your own small business?

bugslet

jimmy2times wrote: »

Can you think of any other careers like that where, after a few weeks of training (or even a few months) you can jump right into a fairly well paid job?
Unfortunately, i've failed my car driving test about 7 times, so I won't be driving a lorry anytime soon!!

TBH I can't. I do stress that newbies unless they are very lucky are not going to earn tht much unless they are very lucky.!

Jackieboy

jimmy2times wrote: »

Can you think of any other careers like that where, after a few weeks of training (or even a few months) you can jump right into a fairly well paid job?
Unfortunately, i've failed my car driving test about 7 times, so I won't be driving a lorry anytime soon!!

Police
Prison Service
Sales (if you're any good)

With the first two, it's getting in that's the problem and you'd need a driving licence for the police.