Are you doing the job you wanted to do in your teens?

baldelectrician

I started my electrical apprenticeship on my 18th birthday

I left for 2-3 years when my apprenticeship finished and worked in an electrical shop (remember Tandy?)

After that I went back to my trade in a holiday camp - poor pay as an electrician but loads of experience (in commercial and catering electrics)

Left there to a job with better pay (assistant restaurant manager) which gave me customer service skills and business skills.

Left there to work as an electrician as a jobbing spark, got promoted and left to start my own company after the owner made all staff redundant and took them all back on a self employed basis- at this point I figured that I would go on my own

I now run my own company and employ my son as my apprentice.

I now work to suit myself- I don't usually start till after 9am as I like to see the kids off to school.

System

No... I wanted to be a lawyer. Now I’m a Registered Nurse and studying MSc Public Health.... really wish I’d have done the law but I’m still only 31 so there’s still time for another career change in the future.

coffeehound

SSDD23 wrote: »

Nope - didn't know what I wanted to do then, still not a clue now, and don't even know where to begin to work out what I want to do!

Yes I can identify with that too. I really envy those people who knew what they wanted to do from age 6 and went on to become expert in it by their 21st birthday.

If you want some inspiration, books like What colour is your parachute? can be very helpful by identifying your strengths, preferences and motivations, and linking those with actual careers. Also careers consultants perform a similar role but with greater personalisation and depth.
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[Deleted User]

Yes and no. I wouldnt have known my specific job existed but I wanted to work in healthcare and I do

walwyn1978

No. Thought I wanted to be a journalist, worked for the local paper at 16, changed my mind and went into education instead, taught for 10 years, now work in FE running apprenticeship programmes for a regional training provider.

suki1964

No

I wanted to be a long distance lorry driver but we were so poor that even driving lessons were only a dream

So I thought Id join the navy to get trained that way, Unfortunately to get into logistics you needed to be 5ft 4, and I was too short so I declined

So Ive had numerous jobs since, only one I hated which was office based, but stuck with it because of pay and pensions till my health told me it was time to quit

In a way Ive been happy and lucky enough my working life. Not having any clear picture of what I really wanted to do has meant I have tried my hand at whatever has come my way.

motorguy

thebigstillmeister wrote: »

20 years later I'm still working in IT as a Consultant in London, do I enjoy the work, stress and long commute? not overly, but its well paid and enjoy the benefits that brings,

Agreed. My other great passion is cars but i've never been able to make it pay anywhere near what i can get at IT and contracting.

I can and do actively avoid stressful job roles and contracts though.

motorguy

SSDD23 wrote: »

How did you all know what you wanted to do?
I get frustrated not knowing what I want to do, I'm not particularly qualified for anything either!

Computers were always a passion of mine so it was great that there is a direct career related to that.

My second passion is cars, and my brother was always passionate about lorries and vans from he was no age. He went on to become a long distance lorry driver.

So i guess in those scenarios it was easy to translate a hobby / passion in to a career.

stator

I wanted to be a Software Engineer and I am and in the words of morrisey, heaven knows I'm misserable now.

ratechaser

I wanted to be a fork lift truck driver when I was a teenager, and for 5 years I actually was. Then I came to my senses and went into banking 😀