How do I get out of crap jobs

t0rt0ise

What do you want to do? There are jobs where you don't need many qualifications like firefighter and police officer, and jobs where a short course would get you there like plumber or joiner or an admin course. Or prepare for university. Access courses get you there in a year. You could do radiography or physiotherapy or nursing. You just have to decide what you're interested in.

Edit to add before you bite my head off: I left school with little, have followed my own advice.

[Deleted User]

I earn over £50k a year in a great job and I didn't go to university. What I didn't have was a massive chip on my shoulder about other people. I had a massive change in career in my late 30's and it's been getting better ever since.

If you want a better job, work out what you want to do and then what skills you need to do it. Then get or learn those skills. It's not rocket surgery.

pinkshoes

thunderballs wrote: »

At school I had a nervous breakdown and only finished a handful of GCSEs meaning it became impossible to get into a worthwhile college or university. Because of this I can not find a worthwhile decent paying job.

All that seems to be on offer are bottom rug, lowest of the low jobs where you are treated like an idiot. It seems to be expected of me to work these jobs in my 20s, 30s and 40s. You're not allowed to talk out of turn or to think for yourself and the only thing the management care about is crushing the life out of you.

Maybe I can go back to education where they treat you like an idiot. Or find another job to get treated like an idiot. Or maybe just go to the jobcentre and get treated like an idiot. People call me hardworking and clever and social but nobody's interested in my potential or my ability and I'm sick of underachieving in jobs where you are treated like an idiot.

The real question is not "what I want", but what am I allowed to want? I have the experience, the discipline, the work ethic and people know it. So what do I have to do to get people to take me seriously and get out of crap jobs?

You come across as very arrogant, expecting things handed to you, without having to put the effort in.

Until you stop seeing these jobs as 'beneath' you, you will get no where in life.

All jobs are important.

Ps - my hubby left school with just 2 GCSEs and holds a senior position. He started at the bottom, worked with enthusiasm, and worked his way up.

theoretica

The self employed advice is good but be warned that instead of one boss trying to get as much out of you as they can, for as little money as possible you will have lots of customers - who will all want as much as they can get for as little money.

Ja7188

At school I had a nervous breakdown and only finished a handful of GCSEs meaning it became impossible to get into a worthwhile college or university. Because of this I can not find a worthwhile decent paying job.

Sorry to hear it - must have been a tough time. However, I know plenty of people who have also left school with few qualifications and have gone on to do just fine for themselves - so I would very much suggest that this is not your only issue.

All that seems to be on offer are bottom rug, lowest of the low jobs where you are treated like an idiot. It seems to be expected of me to work these jobs in my 20s, 30s and 40s. You're not allowed to talk out of turn or to think for yourself and the only thing the management care about is crushing the life out of you.

What experience do you have and why do you seem to think that these bottom rung jobs are beneath you?

How old are you now? If you're in your 20s, why do you think you'll still be bottom rung in your 30s and 40s?

Define 'crushing the life out of you'.

Maybe I can go back to education where they treat you like an idiot. Or find another job to get treated like an idiot. Or maybe just go to the jobcentre and get treated like an idiot. People call me hardworking and clever and social but nobody's interested in my potential or my ability and I'm sick of underachieving in jobs where you are treated like an idiot.

In what way have you been 'treated like an idiot' in either education, work at the job centre? I'm wondering whether you're interpreting being given reasonable instructions as being 'treated like an idiot'.

If you want people to believe in your potential, you probably need to take a bottom rung job and give your employer reason to believe in your potential. If you have had such jobs and underachieved, you need to look at why this is and what you could have done differently.

The real question is not "what I want", but what am I allowed to want? I have the experience, the discipline, the work ethic and people know it. So what do I have to do to get people to take me seriously and get out of crap jobs?

Change your attitude.

I tried higher education several times. In the real world, it doesn't work.

Why have you tried it several times? What went wrong on the first few attempts?

In what way does higher education 'not work'?

But you don't have to care, because you probably come from some cosy out of touch middle class family where you got spoonfed your career and will never realise it.

Your willingness to direct this type of comment at someone you know nothing about says it all. I can't shake the suspicion that all the various avenues you've tried have gone wrong because you've basically gone in and rubbed people up the wrong way, with the result that you've been ushered out in fairly short order.

pepper77_2

worried_jim wrote: »

What jobs have you done and what would you like to do? As you get older education becomes less important but experience becomes your career driver. I'm now 44 and would stunned if education was ever mentioned in an interview I went for, although I would love to talk about the historical implications of the repeal of the corn laws rather than what I can do with Excel.

Just decide what you want to do (OP) and go do it.
Doesnt matter what it is, because you like it every day will be a good day, you will get better and better at it and eventually you will get well paid for doing it.
Beg your first job then impress them.

elsien

I started off as a part time support worker not far off minimum wage. I did relevant qualifications on the job. I progressed to manager and continued with leadership qualifications.
Had I not decided on another career change, by the time I left I was looking at pay approaching 40K. Which probably counts as not a dead end job, although not a huge earner compared to some.
Perfectly possible if you can find something you're interested in and good at.

atolaas

OP - You are coming across as embittered and very unhappy with the hand that life has dealt you. At the risk of sounding like an inspirational greetings card, the only person who can help you...is you. Be like Martin Luther King Jr....and find your dream, work out how to get there and GO FOR IT!

TBagpuss

What type of jobs do you want?

It's probable that you are going to need to look at some form of education, whether that is vocational, or looking at going back to get some GCSEs or doing an access course, or doing on the job training in order to progress within your career.

My experience has been that while, in any institution, there will be good and bad teachers / tutors etc - if you have felt that *everyone* has "treated you like an idiot" then I think you do need to look at your own attitude and how that is affecting how people treat you, and how your perceive them.

Your post reads as though you feel that you are too good for the job you are currently in. If you come across that way in person that will affect how people react to you.

It's also possible that you are perceiving attempts to give you constructive criticism, to help you to progress, as being 'treating you like an idiot'


I'd suggest that you think about what kid of work you would like to do, research what qualifications or experience you would need, and go from there. If your chosen career does require further education or qualifications, you could take the view that you will grit your teeth and put up with people you perceive as treating you 'like an idiot' if that is what it takes to get to where you want to be. Think of it as price you pay for the job you want.