Not sure what to do or what's out there

Frugalfox

Hi all,

I've been perusing this section of the forums (along with a load of other forums) for quite a while now trying to gain some inspiration about what to do, and which direction to aim career/job wise, but I'm still totally lost.

Given it's new year and having struggled massively with this for a long time, now seems as good a time as any to draw on the experience and knowledge of you kind folk.

I'll try and keep this as concise as possible:

I'm 27 years old, no commitments, no debts, still living at home.

First job out of school was working at an independent garage. Dropped in at the deep end on the spanners and picked it up quickly. Really enjoyed it, but the owner couldn't afford to put me through my quals. Learnt a lot there and still absolutely love working on my own cars.

Did a few A levels and BTEC subjects at college (Environmental science, Geology, Music tech, Theatre tech) and did well.

Went to uni in the hopes of studying Geology, but had some mental health issues which scuppered that. Unfortunately came home after a year. Got back on my feet, but was still totally clueless about what to do.

Found an engineering apprenticeship restoring WW1 and WW2 aircraft at a museum. Applied not thinking I would ever get onto it because there were hundreds of applicants. Somehow got to interview, and miraculously got the position. Three years at college, level 2 fabrication and welding then level 3 BTEC manafacuring engineering. I'll be honest, I really struggled with the college side. While I find engineering interesting, the theory side went straight over my head just like maths did at school. The apprenticeship sounds a lot more impressive on paper than any real hard skills gained from it, so going into modern aviation without serious training would be a no no (doesn't interest me as a career anyway)

The contract ended at the museum and it felt like a good excuse to go travelling (which I naively thought might lead me to a vocation). I travelled for about 14 months on 6k that I'd saved up. Stopping in each place around 2 months doing work exchanges, staying with hosts who offered food and accommodation in exchange for a few hours work per day. The work side of it just further proved to me that I get a real kick out of fixing things, helping people and being outdoors. Great experience, wouldn't change it for the world, but again, still just as lost when I got home.

Did a brief stint working on a factory production line just to get some money together. Whilst there, I got a call from someone who'd seen my CV online. It was a small classic car restoration company.
Interviewed for it, did a weld test and got the job. A couple of weeks in I knew it just wasn't for me, the other guys there were disillusioned with the job, and while I love being on the spanners (there wasn't much of that). Welding rusty old chassis legs and body panels got old very quick.
Tried my hardest to make it work and stuck it out for three months, but in the end me and the owner sat down and knew it wasn't working for either of us, so I gave my notice without a job lined up.

While working there my depression decided to return. I ignored it up until about three months ago, currently going to CBT once a week and slowly getting back to normal.

Spent a month looking for something else. Found a job repairing mobility equipment (scooters, wheelchairs etc...) and that's where I've been for about 18 months. Realised after the first few weeks that I'd gone for the comfortable, boring easy option. The job has a lot of freedom, no one breathing down my neck, and as long as the work gets done you're left well alone. On the downside, compared to other work I've done it's unbelievably simple. The days work is usually done by 11/12 and I have to do my best to find other productive tasks. Working alone has also taken it's toll a bit, as has working in a windowless room 9-5. The main problem is that there's just no scope for advancement, and it's barely above minimum wage.

The money doesn't really bother me. What really bothers me is that I'm not learning or growing. It's the same things every day. I'd honestly work for nothing if it meant picking up new skills in something that has a future.

Couple of options I often come back to is learning a building trade or smart repairs/PDR, but every time I do research or ask people about getting into it, they tell me not to bother because it's so saturated/it ruins your body/there's no stability etc...

The thought of wasting my years away in a dead end job honestly terrifies me, but having been in a rut for so long I feel totally stuck, and the cynical side of me says that work is supposed to suck, just get on with it and try to get fulfilment outside of work.

Anyway, this is already way too long and I totally understand if it's too much reading, but I'd massively appreciate any insights or advice from people here.

I also hope that others reading the forum in a similar situation can also benefit from your replies :beer:

JayRitchie

That’s way more to work on and way more positive than most posts on similar themes!

A big element of problems you have had seems to lie with maths. May I ask what grades you have in maths exams and how these compared to others in your school ( basically - was your school any good?)

Marcon

You are only 27 and have already worked out far more about yourself than many people manage in a lifetime. Knowing what doesn't suit you is often just as important as knowing what does. It all helps to narrow down the areas in which you would like to work.

I've yet to meet a decent plumber, electrician, jobbing builder, patio layer or any other trades(wo)man who is short of work, and most of them seem to enjoy the job they are doing. Perhaps it is time for you to move away from the nay-sayers and make your own decisions. If you don't enjoy something you don't have to go on doing it, as you've already found.

Good luck - I hope 2020 will be a positive turning point for you.

Frugalfox

JayRitchie wrote: »

That’s way more to work on and way more positive than most posts on similar themes!

A big element of problems you have had seems to lie with maths. May I ask what grades you have in maths exams and how these compared to others in your school ( basically - was your school any good?)

Thanks for the reply!
I just missed out on a C in school and ended up with a D. I retook the lessons and tried again in college managing to get a C but it was a struggle.

My problems with it started early on so I missed some important stuff in primary school. In secondary school I started in the middle groups but then went quickly to the bottom set for the rest of school. I honestly hated it in school. Not because of the subject, but because of the anxiety and being shamed by the teacher in front of the class for not knowing my tables etc...

My school was not a bad school though, they do quite well for a middle of the road state school.

Frugalfox

Marcon wrote: »

You are only 27 and have already worked out far more about yourself than many people manage in a lifetime. Knowing what doesn't suit you is often just as important as knowing what does. It all helps to narrow down the areas in which you would like to work.

I've yet to meet a decent plumber, electrician, jobbing builder, patio layer or any other trades(wo)man who is short of work, and most of them seem to enjoy the job they are doing. Perhaps it is time for you to move away from the nay-sayers and make your own decisions. If you don't enjoy something you don't have to go on doing it, as you've already found.

Good luck - I hope 2020 will be a positive turning point for you.

Thank you. It's quite a relief to read something like this when feeling so trapped. I know I don't have to keep doing what I don't get any fulfilment from, it's just figuring out how to get to the next opportunity and run in the right circles.

I think "decent" tradesman is the key thing. Maybe the ones who discouraged me weren't the best or were just working in a low demand area.

Going to look into it further. Thanks for the good wishes for the new year, and same to yourself.

Frugalfox

Is there anyone here in the building trades? Also considering the forces but obviously that's a much bigger decision.

JayRitchie

Frugalfox wrote: »

Thanks for the reply!
I just missed out on a C in school and ended up with a D. I retook the lessons and tried again in college managing to get a C but it was a struggle.

My problems with it started early on so I missed some important stuff in primary school. In secondary school I started in the middle groups but then went quickly to the bottom set for the rest of school. I honestly hated it in school. Not because of the subject, but because of the anxiety and being shamed by the teacher in front of the class for not knowing my tables etc...

My school was not a bad school though, they do quite well for a middle of the road state school.

Cool - so there is a pretty good background to why you might have struggled a bit at university and on the engineering course. There are some things you could do to help yourself were you to want to look to going back in a similar direction again - but I appreciate you have plenty of other options and things you'd love to do.

I think the posts above recommending to look at trades are really spot on. You have an aptitude, love the work and get jobs hundreds of people apply for - so must be very employable. You are in a great position. A lot of things depend on which part of the country you are in. Tradesmen in one area can have very different prospects than those in another. Its worth speaking to loads of people if you can to find out all you can.

I wouldn't be put off by a bit of negativity. I think its healthy for people to point out some of the downsides of different lines of work - you just need to see how much these bother you. Plus if you didn't look at jobs some people are negative about you would never work!

Frugalfox

JayRitchie wrote: »

Cool - so there is a pretty good background to why you might have struggled a bit at university and on the engineering course. There are some things you could do to help yourself were you to want to look to going back in a similar direction again - but I appreciate you have plenty of other options and things you'd love to do.

I think the posts above recommending to look at trades are really spot on. You have an aptitude, love the work and get jobs hundreds of people apply for - so must be very employable. You are in a great position. A lot of things depend on which part of the country you are in. Tradesmen in one area can have very different prospects than those in another. Its worth speaking to loads of people if you can to find out all you can.

I wouldn't be put off by a bit of negativity. I think its healthy for people to point out some of the downsides of different lines of work - you just need to see how much these bother you. Plus if you didn't look at jobs some people are negative about you would never work!

Hi, thanks for coming back to reply again.

As much as I'm attracted to the possible salaries in engineering jobs, I think my natural aptitude just doesn't lie there. I'd hate to be that person who leans on my colleagues too much because I just don't "get it".

I think the trades are looking like the most realistic route for me. I live in the Midlands/Shropshire so I'll need to research the local market. There are a lot of houses going up near me though so perhaps I could try and get in with one of the developers.

That's true. I'm not expecting work to be sunshine and rainbows, but a bit of fulfilment and fair compensation would be something to shoot for.

Savvy_Sue

From what you said about the maths, that might be something you should consider working on. It's possible there's a problem like dyscalculia, or it's possible that a serious lack of confidence 'shut you down' at some point. Because you're obviously not daft ...

I say this, because if you go into a trade, I think you're going to have to be confident in your numeracy. You're asked to quote for a job - what do you need by way of materials? how much will that cost? how long will it take? what's your mark up? And so on.

I don't know what it would take to increase your confidence in maths: some private tuition, self-teaching online, an adult numeracy class. But do think about it.

Frugalfox

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

From what you said about the maths, that might be something you should consider working on. It's possible there's a problem like. ], or it's possible that a serious lack of confidence 'shut you down' at some point. Because you're obviously not daft ...

I say this, because if you go into a trade, I think you're going to have to be confident in your numeracy. You're asked to quote for a job - what do you need by way of materials? how much will that cost? how long will it take? what's your mark up? And so on.

I don't know what it would take to increase your confidence in maths: some private tuition, self-teaching online, an adult numeracy class. But do think about it.

I don't think it's quite that severe. I put together quotes every day and can cope with normal numeracy on a day to day basis.

It was the more involved parts that dropped my marks (algebra, trig etc... )