Career Advice - Tell Me Straight

PennyBun

30 years old, recently became a father. Well enough off, living in a nice house but with an expensive mortgage.

Average pupil at school. Went on to study a construction related degree (subject was mostly my parents decision). Found a job straight away after uni and have been working as a specialist in construction continuously since (8 years).

Was pushed to take voluntary redundancy by my first employer after 6 years in they realised my heart wasn't in it. Director made me promise I'd find myself a new career path and gave a generous settlement to help me make the change.

Instantly snapped up by another similar company. Spent the money on a big house. A couple of years in and I have lost my drive again.

I'm good at my job, my pay narrowly surpasses the higher rate tax bracket. I have little in savings but a lot of money in the mortgage.

Current employer are cowboys and treating me like dirt, even though the company needs me more right now than ever before. I can't understand why they seem not to like me, I've done nothing wrong. I don't agree with 90% of the decisions the company makes (ethically or in who they employ).

I've applied to similar employers in the area but am getting nowhere and I'm not convinced it's what I want.

I'm considering a total change of career (no idea what to) OR starting my own company doing what I do now (my father has offered a substantial loan of my inheritance to help me start). I realise those two options are polar opposites. All or nothing.

Whatever happens I think I want to be my own boss. I've always had aspirations to start my own company and I currently know a couple of good managers currently fed up with their employers who might join me.

Thoughts much appreciated, no matter how harsh.

Takeaway_Addict

Business plan out being your own boss and make the informed decision based on that.

You've not actually mentioned anything else you would like to do so its not like you're chasing a dream job elsewhere.

Do you have to take staff on straightaway? That adds costs immediately.

Takeaway_Addict

Also if you're getting your inheritance early then thats effectively a free punt at being your own boss.

If it doesn't work then go back to working for someone else and as you'll not see the inheritence for a while you'll not miss it when it comes

gettingtheresometime

Have you ever asked yourself what it is you'd really really like to do ?


From the sounds of your post, you are only following the career you're following because your parents, and this may be putting it strongly, pushed you into it.


You've basically had career guidance from your former employer yet chose to ignore, what sounds on the face of it as good advice.


Do you really want to start your own business? Have you got any sort of business plan or is this a back of an envelope job?


Don't forget, being in the construction industry you'll not only have the usual business expenses but you'll have professional indemnity insurance to consider from day 1 and believe me that isn't cheap.


Also it's a hell of a leap from being an employed person to running your own business.....do you have any contacts that would give you business?


What makes me qualified to say this ?


Well our son went to Uni and looking back he didn't want to go but didn't know what he really wanted to do. He's now in a job that he loves doing but is totally unrelated to his time in uni.


Hubby is his own boss, in the construction industry but made the contacts before he jumped ship.

ratechaser

No specific advice but I wanted to wish you all the best here. My own 22 year career has been in an industry that I've fallen into because it paid exceptionally well rather than because it was particularly exciting or affirming. In fact it has got significantly less so as the years have passed...

Anyone that has the courage to make a clean break and take a risk in the pursuit of doing something they really want to do has my admiration.

(And no, I have no idea what I really want to do )

Neil_Jones

If I can quote the Baz Lurmann Sunscreen song:

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life…
the most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives
some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don't

jonnygee2

Life is not an American movie. We don't all end up doing something we love. Most people just do soemthing that pays money and does us through. And that's fine - life is about much more than work anyway.

If your career makes you unhappy then leave. If it's just a case of grass being greener then I'd stay put.

motorguy

PennyBun wrote: »

30 years old, recently became a father. Well enough off, living in a nice house but with an expensive mortgage.

Average pupil at school. Went on to study a construction related degree (subject was mostly my parents decision). Found a job straight away after uni and have been working as a specialist in construction continuously since (8 years).

Was pushed to take voluntary redundancy by my first employer after 6 years in they realised my heart wasn't in it. Director made me promise I'd find myself a new career path and gave a generous settlement to help me make the change.

Instantly snapped up by another similar company. Spent the money on a big house. A couple of years in and I have lost my drive again.

I'm good at my job, my pay narrowly surpasses the higher rate tax bracket. I have little in savings but a lot of money in the mortgage.

Current employer are cowboys and treating me like dirt, even though the company needs me more right now than ever before. I can't understand why they seem not to like me, I've done nothing wrong. I don't agree with 90% of the decisions the company makes (ethically or in who they employ).

I've applied to similar employers in the area but am getting nowhere and I'm not convinced it's what I want.

I'm considering a total change of career (no idea what to) OR starting my own company doing what I do now (my father has offered a substantial loan of my inheritance to help me start). I realise those two options are polar opposites. All or nothing.

Whatever happens I think I want to be my own boss. I've always had aspirations to start my own company and I currently know a couple of good managers currently fed up with their employers who might join me.

Thoughts much appreciated, no matter how harsh.

I would be extremely careful about setting up your own business. Try to get independent advice on the viability of it - wellmeaning friends and family will tell you "oh thats a great idea!" so dont rely on them for objective advice.

Personally, i'd look for another job. A change is as good as a rest. Sounds like you're stuck in a !!!!!! job and its dragging you down

motorguy

Takeaway_Addict wrote: »

Also if you're getting your inheritance early then thats effectively a free punt at being your own boss.

If it doesn't work then go back to working for someone else and as you'll not see the inheritence for a while you'll not miss it when it comes

You're burning up a (presumably significant) lump sum that someone else has given you in good faith, so probably not as simple as "oh well, not to worry" if it all goes wrong.

motorguy

PennyBun wrote: »

30 years old, recently became a father. Well enough off, living in a nice house but with an expensive mortgage.

Average pupil at school. Went on to study a construction related degree (subject was mostly my parents decision). Found a job straight away after uni and have been working as a specialist in construction continuously since (8 years).

Was pushed to take voluntary redundancy by my first employer after 6 years in they realised my heart wasn't in it. Director made me promise I'd find myself a new career path and gave a generous settlement to help me make the change.

Instantly snapped up by another similar company. Spent the money on a big house. A couple of years in and I have lost my drive again.

I'm good at my job, my pay narrowly surpasses the higher rate tax bracket. I have little in savings but a lot of money in the mortgage.

Current employer are cowboys and treating me like dirt, even though the company needs me more right now than ever before. I can't understand why they seem not to like me, I've done nothing wrong. I don't agree with 90% of the decisions the company makes (ethically or in who they employ).

I've applied to similar employers in the area but am getting nowhere and I'm not convinced it's what I want.

I'm considering a total change of career (no idea what to) OR starting my own company doing what I do now (my father has offered a substantial loan of my inheritance to help me start). I realise those two options are polar opposites. All or nothing.

Whatever happens I think I want to be my own boss. I've always had aspirations to start my own company and I currently know a couple of good managers currently fed up with their employers who might join me.

Thoughts much appreciated, no matter how harsh.

Would they join you on the basis that you would employ them (thats several presumably significant wages to fund from the get go) or would they join you in a partnership and thus you wouldnt be your own boss?

Takeaway_Addict

motorguy wrote: »

You're burning up a (presumably significant) lump sum that someone else has given you in good faith, so probably not as simple as "oh well, not to worry" if it all goes wrong.

My point was it isn't a bank loan where you have to make repayments no matter what, it may suck but it isn't the end of the world if it doesn't work out.