Career advice welcomed

lostat40

MalMonroe said:

If it's any comfort at all I'm 70 and should be retired but have just registered as self employed. .   I graduated with a 2.1 BA Hons degree when I was 53 and have never had any idea what I wanted to do! I spent my working life as a PA but never found it fulfilling. I had a child to raise single-handedly though so had to stick at it. The pay was excellent, you see. I'd really have loved to be a commercial airline pilot but sadly women weren't encouraged when I was young. They aren't now, either! I also love animals but could never work with them. Not because of the low pay but because there's far too much cruelty. 

I do have friends who are radiographers though and another friend is a radiologist (and very highly paid at that). You could have worked your way up. I don't think diagnostic radiography is boring at all. And you could even switch to forensic radiography, once fully qualified. I think it's really interesting. 

But now I'm working from home, and enjoying it, strangely enough, being a PA. But I'm working for myself and that's probably what makes all the difference.

P.S. You're never too old! And now with the Equality Act 2010, employers aren't allowed to discriminate because of age. The world really is your oyster, right now!

Hi , yes we had a lecture on forensic radiography and it sounded more interesting but unfortunately we were advised not to pursue this as their are rarely any jobs in that field. What frustrates me about radiography is that you are limited to taking pictures ie "button pushers are all we are" which a lecturer once said to us :-(. Im currently looking into quantity surveying as an option as you can do a post grad in this. I may need to create another thread to ask more about that. Job security in that field may be hard especially with today's current situation

lostat40

MrGorsky said:

I've seen a few posts like the OP's on here, and wondered if it would help to collate some career guidance / training levels..... I've started it off (accountant), so I started a thread to try and generate some information here: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6173344/how-did-your-career-education-progression-path-go-along-with-ball-park-salary

That's very kind of you to do that thanks. I see some negative people have commented already which is a shame

lostat40

Manxman_in_exile said:

It's like any other job - which is probably not what you want to hear!  Ideally you'd need to like numbers and systems, be interested in business (although to a certain extent that depends on what professional body you decide to go for) and possibly be prepared to put up with longish periods of mind numbingly boring work interspersed with more interesting work.  Other people say accountants are really boring and I know some very good examples of this.  But some of the most interesting people I know are also accountants.  (Honest!).

EDIT:  You also need to be very methodical

I stopped being a management accountant in the NHS because I didn't like what was happening financially at the time.  This was at a time when the training of clinical staff in the NHS was managed at a county level, having just been transferred from a regional level, so I moved sideways to become a NHS training contract manager, responsible for managing multi-million contracts with local universities.  When this function was again returned to a regional level, I stayed with my host trust as a workforce planning and information manager.

Having had a chance to reflect on this over the years, I think it's the people you work with and the culture of the organisation that employs you that is important - more important than what you actually do.  I don't think I'd still enjoy working for my old trust.  (In fact I know I wouldn't.)

Forty is not too old.  I knew somebody at work who was an Occupational Therapist.  She left the trust when she must have been in her 50s.  Next time I saw her she was on the train returning from London.  She'd retrained as a barrister and was returning from appearing at the High Court in London.  I was very impressed.

Thanks for the info....Quantity surveying has crossed my mind and I always fancied the idea of being a residential surveyor. I am aware of a postgrad course I could do but whats stopping me is the uncertainty around 1. Will I like it (would love to shadow someone doing it first).....2. The job market . 3. The risk of not getting employment after leaving a pretty much guaranteed job in the NHS doing radiography

Doshwaster

lostat40 said:

Marcon said:

What qualifications do you have? To say the only thing you like is animals isn't exactly helpful. Lots of people like animals, but that's not usually a basis for a career in the way that, say, being a vet or veterinary nurse, RPSA inspector or similar might be. No idea how much you need to earn, but do you have any scope for starting something like a dog walking business (albeit part time) and doing some sort of regular salaried job, possibly part time, to ensure the bills get paid?

I have an honours degree in electronic engineering and and health and social care degree (non honours). I could go back and finish the honours and become HCPC registered but i just dont know where radiography can really take me as I didn't like the job and thought there would have been more involved in it. As for salary i want to earn as much as I can, i see money as a security (not one to gloat). 

Sorry, joining this thread late.

Given your background in electronic engineering and radiography have you thought about looking for jobs with the manufacturers of radiology equipment - the likes of Philips, Siemens and GE - to design, test, install or even sell the equipment which should all pay more than the NHS. There are other companies which have the service contracts for equipment in hospitals which would involve travelling around. 

Savvy_Sue

I have not had a huge amount of experience of being x-rayed, but enough to want to argue with the "all we are is button pushers" statement. 

Obviously I don't know what it's like on the other side of the machine, but I've always been asked to do things in order to ensure that when the button is pressed, the right image will be taken. And I would hope that the button pusher knew what was safely possible. "Can you straighten your arm for me?" Do you know, I'm not 100% sure, it's been held in this bent position for the last few weeks, but since you ask ... oooh, aaah, ouch ... is that enough?

lostat40

Doshwaster said:

lostat40 said:

Marcon said:

What qualifications do you have? To say the only thing you like is animals isn't exactly helpful. Lots of people like animals, but that's not usually a basis for a career in the way that, say, being a vet or veterinary nurse, RPSA inspector or similar might be. No idea how much you need to earn, but do you have any scope for starting something like a dog walking business (albeit part time) and doing some sort of regular salaried job, possibly part time, to ensure the bills get paid?

I have an honours degree in electronic engineering and and health and social care degree (non honours). I could go back and finish the honours and become HCPC registered but i just dont know where radiography can really take me as I didn't like the job and thought there would have been more involved in it. As for salary i want to earn as much as I can, i see money as a security (not one to gloat). 

Sorry, joining this thread late.

Given your background in electronic engineering and radiography have you thought about looking for jobs with the manufacturers of radiology equipment - the likes of Philips, Siemens and GE - to design, test, install or even sell the equipment which should all pay more than the NHS. There are other companies which have the service contracts for equipment in hospitals which would involve travelling around. 

Hi Thanks for the reply....The problem i'm having and this may seem strange to some people but I have no clue about electronics and struggled to ever understand it. I was young left school, done this based of a guidance teacher's at advice at school. I crammed to pass exams (just and no more). Its on my CV but that's it I regret doing that degree so much now. I want away from it completely because every time i go for a job i'm made to look stupid at interviews or in a job as I know nothing. To give you an idea i dont even know how to test a battery or what live, neutral etc do. Feel like a fraud/failure

As for career change I have always liked the idea of a residential quantity surveyor. I am wondering if i should start a new thread on this to get advice on this career. I've been in construction for a brief period and didn't fancy that side but certainly the property valuation side I think I would really like that as a job. I'm just apprehensive that my age will work against me and I will struggle to gain experience and a job. 

lostat40

Savvy_Sue said:

I have not had a huge amount of experience of being x-rayed, but enough to want to argue with the "all we are is button pushers" statement. 

Obviously I don't know what it's like on the other side of the machine, but I've always been asked to do things in order to ensure that when the button is pressed, the right image will be taken. And I would hope that the button pusher knew what was safely possible. "Can you straighten your arm for me?" Do you know, I'm not 100% sure, it's been held in this bent position for the last few weeks, but since you ask ... oooh, aaah, ouch ... is that enough?

Yeah I had the similar view when I was a patient and thought oh i might like this, that looks really interesting getting to take x-rays then investigate whats wrong and diagnose. The investigating and diagnosis now being in the course i realised that was doctors who do all that and the radiographer just takes a picture. I feel that's very limited and don't see much satisfaction gained.

Manxman_in_exile

lostat40 said:

Doshwaster said:

lostat40 said:

Marcon said:

What qualifications do you have? To say the only thing you like is animals isn't exactly helpful. Lots of people like animals, but that's not usually a basis for a career in the way that, say, being a vet or veterinary nurse, RPSA inspector or similar might be. No idea how much you need to earn, but do you have any scope for starting something like a dog walking business (albeit part time) and doing some sort of regular salaried job, possibly part time, to ensure the bills get paid?

I have an honours degree in electronic engineering and and health and social care degree (non honours). I could go back and finish the honours and become HCPC registered but i just dont know where radiography can really take me as I didn't like the job and thought there would have been more involved in it. As for salary i want to earn as much as I can, i see money as a security (not one to gloat). 

Sorry, joining this thread late.

Given your background in electronic engineering and radiography have you thought about looking for jobs with the manufacturers of radiology equipment - the likes of Philips, Siemens and GE - to design, test, install or even sell the equipment which should all pay more than the NHS. There are other companies which have the service contracts for equipment in hospitals which would involve travelling around. 

Hi Thanks for the reply....The problem i'm having and this may seem strange to some people but I have no clue about electronics and struggled to ever understand it. I was young left school, done this based of a guidance teacher's at advice at school. I crammed to pass exams (just and no more). Its on my CV but that's it I regret doing that degree so much now. I want away from it completely because every time i go for a job i'm made to look stupid at interviews or in a job as I know nothing. To give you an idea i dont even know how to test a battery or what live, neutral etc do. Feel like a fraud/failure

As for career change I have always liked the idea of a residential quantity surveyor. I am wondering if i should start a new thread on this to get advice on this career. I've been in construction for a brief period and didn't fancy that side but certainly the property valuation side I think I would really like that as a job. I'm just apprehensive that my age will work against me and I will struggle to gain experience and a job. 

1.      

If you aren't deliberately winding us up this reminds me of a conversation I overheard as a child between my older brother and my mother.  My mother was doing a general knowledge/non-cryptic crossword in a newspaper.  My brother had graduated a few years earlier with a first class degree in chemistry.  My mother asked him a chemistry question and he didn't know the answer.  My mother:  "I thought you had a first class degree or something in chemistry?  Why don't you know the answer?"  Her elder son:  "I've got degree in it mum.  It doesn't mean I know anything about it".  (He, by the way, went on to a successful career as a a public sector accountant - CIPFA).

2.  I think you really need to brush up on your research(?).  I've never heard of a "residential quantity surveyor" before - I think it may be a contradiction in terms.  There are different type of surveyor.  Some just value residential property; some inspect and report on the condition and state of repair of a property; some may work for Ordnance survey or on civil engineering projects.  Some (and I think these may be "quantity surveyors") might be called in by accountants or liquidators to assess a load of raw material (say a huge heap of coal or masses of timber and lumber) to estimate how much is there (ie the "quantity" bit), and what it's value is.  As in all professions there is no such thing as a "surveyor" or a "solicitor" or an "accountant" - or even a "radiographer".

Doshwaster

Manxman_in_exile said:

lostat40 said:

Doshwaster said:

lostat40 said:

Marcon said:

What qualifications do you have? To say the only thing you like is animals isn't exactly helpful. Lots of people like animals, but that's not usually a basis for a career in the way that, say, being a vet or veterinary nurse, RPSA inspector or similar might be. No idea how much you need to earn, but do you have any scope for starting something like a dog walking business (albeit part time) and doing some sort of regular salaried job, possibly part time, to ensure the bills get paid?

I have an honours degree in electronic engineering and and health and social care degree (non honours). I could go back and finish the honours and become HCPC registered but i just dont know where radiography can really take me as I didn't like the job and thought there would have been more involved in it. As for salary i want to earn as much as I can, i see money as a security (not one to gloat). 

Sorry, joining this thread late.

Given your background in electronic engineering and radiography have you thought about looking for jobs with the manufacturers of radiology equipment - the likes of Philips, Siemens and GE - to design, test, install or even sell the equipment which should all pay more than the NHS. There are other companies which have the service contracts for equipment in hospitals which would involve travelling around. 

Hi Thanks for the reply....The problem i'm having and this may seem strange to some people but I have no clue about electronics and struggled to ever understand it. I was young left school, done this based of a guidance teacher's at advice at school. I crammed to pass exams (just and no more). Its on my CV but that's it I regret doing that degree so much now. I want away from it completely because every time i go for a job i'm made to look stupid at interviews or in a job as I know nothing. To give you an idea i dont even know how to test a battery or what live, neutral etc do. Feel like a fraud/failure

As for career change I have always liked the idea of a residential quantity surveyor. I am wondering if i should start a new thread on this to get advice on this career. I've been in construction for a brief period and didn't fancy that side but certainly the property valuation side I think I would really like that as a job. I'm just apprehensive that my age will work against me and I will struggle to gain experience and a job. 

1.      

If you aren't deliberately winding us up this reminds me of a conversation I overheard as a child between my older brother and my mother.  My mother was doing a general knowledge/non-cryptic crossword in a newspaper.  My brother had graduated a few years earlier with a first class degree in chemistry.  My mother asked him a chemistry question and he didn't know the answer.  My mother:  "I thought you had a first class degree or something in chemistry?  Why don't you know the answer?"  Her elder son:  "I've got degree in it mum.  It doesn't mean I know anything about it".  (He, by the way, went on to a successful career as a a public sector accountant - CIPFA).

I can relate - I also have a Chemistry degree from the 90s and I've been shown up several times in interviews and pub quizzes by some basic knowledge which I have long since forgotten. I recently found some old University exam papers while clearing out a cupboard. I couldn't even understand the questions never mind be able to answer them.

lostat40

Manxman_in_exile said:

lostat40 said:

Doshwaster said:

lostat40 said:

Marcon said:

What qualifications do you have? To say the only thing you like is animals isn't exactly helpful. Lots of people like animals, but that's not usually a basis for a career in the way that, say, being a vet or veterinary nurse, RPSA inspector or similar might be. No idea how much you need to earn, but do you have any scope for starting something like a dog walking business (albeit part time) and doing some sort of regular salaried job, possibly part time, to ensure the bills get paid?

I have an honours degree in electronic engineering and and health and social care degree (non honours). I could go back and finish the honours and become HCPC registered but i just dont know where radiography can really take me as I didn't like the job and thought there would have been more involved in it. As for salary i want to earn as much as I can, i see money as a security (not one to gloat). 

Sorry, joining this thread late.

Given your background in electronic engineering and radiography have you thought about looking for jobs with the manufacturers of radiology equipment - the likes of Philips, Siemens and GE - to design, test, install or even sell the equipment which should all pay more than the NHS. There are other companies which have the service contracts for equipment in hospitals which would involve travelling around. 

Hi Thanks for the reply....The problem i'm having and this may seem strange to some people but I have no clue about electronics and struggled to ever understand it. I was young left school, done this based of a guidance teacher's at advice at school. I crammed to pass exams (just and no more). Its on my CV but that's it I regret doing that degree so much now. I want away from it completely because every time i go for a job i'm made to look stupid at interviews or in a job as I know nothing. To give you an idea i dont even know how to test a battery or what live, neutral etc do. Feel like a fraud/failure

As for career change I have always liked the idea of a residential quantity surveyor. I am wondering if i should start a new thread on this to get advice on this career. I've been in construction for a brief period and didn't fancy that side but certainly the property valuation side I think I would really like that as a job. I'm just apprehensive that my age will work against me and I will struggle to gain experience and a job. 

1.      

If you aren't deliberately winding us up this reminds me of a conversation I overheard as a child between my older brother and my mother.  My mother was doing a general knowledge/non-cryptic crossword in a newspaper.  My brother had graduated a few years earlier with a first class degree in chemistry.  My mother asked him a chemistry question and he didn't know the answer.  My mother:  "I thought you had a first class degree or something in chemistry?  Why don't you know the answer?"  Her elder son:  "I've got degree in it mum.  It doesn't mean I know anything about it".  (He, by the way, went on to a successful career as a a public sector accountant - CIPFA).

2.  I think you really need to brush up on your research(?).  I've never heard of a "residential quantity surveyor" before - I think it may be a contradiction in terms.  There are different type of surveyor.  Some just value residential property; some inspect and report on the condition and state of repair of a property; some may work for Ordnance survey or on civil engineering projects.  Some (and I think these may be "quantity surveyors") might be called in by accountants or liquidators to assess a load of raw material (say a huge heap of coal or masses of timber and lumber) to estimate how much is there (ie the "quantity" bit), and what it's value is.  As in all professions there is no such thing as a "surveyor" or a "solicitor" or an "accountant" - or even a "radiographer".

No i can assure you I am very serious. I suffer from chronic anxiety and couldn't cope with university. All I did to pass was look at past papers of exams, see a trend in questions and then cram to pass. I never understood electronics/electricity and when I went for interviews it was evident as I couldn't answer anything, it was actually very embarrassing and it made me feel so stupid and a failure.

Yeah looking into int a bit more it was the building surveyor side i liked the look of i thought those guys were QS's as well but apparently not. The risk is at my age I have no clue if I would like the job and cant keep jumping from one course to another.

As for radiography i expected a lot more form this job and was extremely disappointed. I also realized i don't  like working with patients. Feel as if I have no option but to finish this course as its the only way at my age I have a chance of a reasonable salary and will just have to be miserable and unfulfilled in it.