What's your opinion on professional careers advice?

raycali

I'm pretty stuck in my working life and haven't had the best experience from working. Nothing seems to really work out for me and I find myself drifting from one dead end job to another with very little long term prospects. Most, if not all free advice leads nowhere. Is it time to get a "professional" opinion?

In my free time I make efforts to study, and especially try to improve my financial literacy. Though without any specific industry to live in, I'll never be earning much or going anywhere, and this isn't much of a future. I accept it's my responsibility to change this, though that's hard when you're not able to make any informed decisions or get a straight conversation with anyone about what is best to do.

Have others tried professional careers advice? What's your opinion of it? 

Brynsam

Professional careers advice comes in many guises and not all of it requires you to pay. For example, have you used https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk to the full, including the facility to ring them and discuss?

raycali said:

I accept it's my responsibility to change this, though that's hard when you're not able to make any informed decisions or get a straight conversation with anyone about what is best to do.

Have others tried professional careers advice? What's your opinion of it? 

You may be over-optimistic if you think a 'straight conversation' will tell you what is best to do. At the moment your options are limited for the same reasons as many tens of thousands of others and are only like to constrict further in the immediate future.  If you can find someone you like and trust, then it could be money well spent - but realise they can only act as a signpost, with no guarantee that you'll end up exactly where you hope.

AskAsk

I can't see how professional advice is going to help.  But if it is free, then yes.  However, I wouldn't pay for it.

So what job are you doing now?

tacpot12

I'm sorry to hear you are struggling. Unfortunately many people don't have a good experience of working. There are many reasons for this for this. It might be worth reflecting on when things have gone wrong, how much has been your fault, and how much has been the employers'?  The reason for doing this is a) so that you can give yourself a break where it was the employer that was at fault, and b) so that you can think about how to avoid causing problems for yourself in the future.

Professional careers advice should look at your qualifications, skills, aptitudes and interests via tests and interviews, and combine this with up-to-date knowledge of the jobs that are in demand, to produce an bespoke action plan for you. You might be able to get all this via free services, and I wouldn't pay for advice unless you are convinced that you will get all the above for a price you can afford. 

Increasing your financial literacy is a very worthwhile activity. You may find that you really enjoy the benefits of financial literacy, and want to pass these lessons onto other people in your community - there's a small business idea right there. Being your own boss gives you a lot of control over your working environment, but it also comes with a lot of extra responsibilities. If you wanted to start working for yourself, I would suggest you get a job with an existing small business and agree with the business owner to work some overtime for free in exchange for training on how to run a business. You never know, you many end up becoming their partner. 

raycali

Brynsam said:

Professional careers advice comes in many guises and not all of it requires you to pay. For example, have you used https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk to the full, including the facility to ring them and discuss?

To be honest this is part of the reason I'm thinking of using professional advice. I feel tired of being treated like someone who doesn't know my own surroundings. Not that you've been rude at all, sorry if that seems harsh. But when you ask this kind of question, you somewhat expect that people understand you've already tried the things already available, so maybe (for me personally) this is a job for a professional.

In answer to your question, I've used them to death. The last time I tried them, I asked very precise, specific questions about certain roles, up to the very brands, types of companies, their histories, their competitors, the skillsets, the exact software they used, the locations of their offices, and they rang me up to talk about "how I feel" or "what I really want". That's it. They didn't read my messages, did no research, nor felt the need to. They don't even reply to my e-mails any more anyway.

You may be over-optimistic if you think a 'straight conversation' will tell you what is best to do. At the moment your options are limited for the same reasons as many tens of thousands of others and are only like to constrict further in the immediate future. If you can find someone you like and trust, then it could be money well spent - but realise they can only act as a signpost, with no guarantee that you'll end up exactly where you hope.

But it's always the immediate future isn't it? When I talk to recruiters, agencies, they always say that. Back in 2015, when I was laid off and was desperately trying to find another job, all I got was "it's hard right now". In 2018, "It's hard right now". And in 2019. I don't think opportunities are poor or nonexistent at all. Even if they are, what's the point in that mindset? I'm an able-bodied person with a brain, that's enough. There's no point focusing on the negatives when there is so much to gain.

 I'm not looking to be "told what to do". If anything, the crime of thinking autonomously is half the reason why I bounce around so much in jobs. They're so dominated by bad policy and instruction. I'm always butting heads with managers, who vow my demise, we become enemies, then we become friends, and we get a great relationship going until they can clearly see the job is no match for me. They wish me well, we talk on facebook for a bit, back to square one. But I don't think it's unfair to expect a straight conversation with someone. Even if it has to be paid. Although I'm suspicious of paying someone anyway. I'm not looking for someone to simply offer advise on the existing options available, because they're pretty !!!!!!. I want someone who is a) willing to talk honestly for a start, not try to butter me up and signpost me off to somewhere else, and b) better options than I have already.

raycali

AskAsk said:

I can't see how professional advice is going to help.  But if it is free, then yes.  However, I wouldn't pay for it.

So what job are you doing now?

You'd slap your head.

tacpot12 said:

I'm sorry to hear you are struggling. Unfortunately many people don't have a good experience of working. There are many reasons for this for this. It might be worth reflecting on when things have gone wrong, how much has been your fault, and how much has been the employers'?  The reason for doing this is a) so that you can give yourself a break where it was the employer that was at fault, and b) so that you can think about how to avoid causing problems for yourself in the future.

Professional careers advice should look at your qualifications, skills, aptitudes and interests via tests and interviews, and combine this with up-to-date knowledge of the jobs that are in demand, to produce an bespoke action plan for you. You might be able to get all this via free services, and I wouldn't pay for advice unless you are convinced that you will get all the above for a price you can afford. 

Increasing your financial literacy is a very worthwhile activity. You may find that you really enjoy the benefits of financial literacy, and want to pass these lessons onto other people in your community - there's a small business idea right there. Being your own boss gives you a lot of control over your working environment, but it also comes with a lot of extra responsibilities. If you wanted to start working for yourself, I would suggest you get a job with an existing small business and agree with the business owner to work some overtime for free in exchange for training on how to run a business. You never know, you many end up becoming their partner. 

Hey tacpot12, thanks for your post. There are many crossfires between my employers and myself in terms of working. However, we'd all agree a serious problem is that they don't reflect my ability at all. The job will be whatever is available, the management will soon realise that the tasks they allocate are no match for me. We'll crash, butt heads, then get along, then they earmark the promotions to their friends, I'll leave because there's nothing there. Once again, I'm out on the street.

I'm not looking for industry research or skills, I can do that myself. I'm trying to bring together some sort of comprehension in my working life because it's been insane. The jobs I work are no superior to a school leaver's and yet I am in my mid thirties. Free services have been terrible and concentrated on cherry-picking instead of making sense. Every job I have, I outperform everyone and come out the loser. I've had a minimum of 50 full time jobs in my lifetime and can't find help. It's not fair to throw out the most accessible, plain, generic, thoughtless advice and call the job done, I'm not going away like that. I feel, if I'm getting out of this, I need real help. Thanks again.

AskAsk

raycali said:

AskAsk said:

I can't see how professional advice is going to help.  But if it is free, then yes.  However, I wouldn't pay for it.

So what job are you doing now?

You'd slap your head.

tacpot12 said:

I'm sorry to hear you are struggling. Unfortunately many people don't have a good experience of working. There are many reasons for this for this. It might be worth reflecting on when things have gone wrong, how much has been your fault, and how much has been the employers'?  The reason for doing this is a) so that you can give yourself a break where it was the employer that was at fault, and b) so that you can think about how to avoid causing problems for yourself in the future.

Professional careers advice should look at your qualifications, skills, aptitudes and interests via tests and interviews, and combine this with up-to-date knowledge of the jobs that are in demand, to produce an bespoke action plan for you. You might be able to get all this via free services, and I wouldn't pay for advice unless you are convinced that you will get all the above for a price you can afford. 

Increasing your financial literacy is a very worthwhile activity. You may find that you really enjoy the benefits of financial literacy, and want to pass these lessons onto other people in your community - there's a small business idea right there. Being your own boss gives you a lot of control over your working environment, but it also comes with a lot of extra responsibilities. If you wanted to start working for yourself, I would suggest you get a job with an existing small business and agree with the business owner to work some overtime for free in exchange for training on how to run a business. You never know, you many end up becoming their partner. 

Hey tacpot12, thanks for your post. There are many crossfires between my employers and myself in terms of working. However, we'd all agree a serious problem is that they don't reflect my ability at all. The job will be whatever is available, the management will soon realise that the tasks they allocate are no match for me. We'll crash, butt heads, then get along, then they earmark the promotions to their friends, I'll leave because there's nothing there. Once again, I'm out on the street.

I'm not looking for industry research or skills, I can do that myself. I'm trying to bring together some sort of comprehension in my working life because it's been insane. The jobs I work are no superior to a school leaver's and yet I am in my mid thirties. Free services have been terrible and concentrated on cherry-picking instead of making sense. Every job I have, I outperform everyone and come out the loser. I've had a minimum of 50 full time jobs in my lifetime and can't find help. It's not fair to throw out the most accessible, plain, generic, thoughtless advice and call the job done, I'm not going away like that. I feel, if I'm getting out of this, I need real help. Thanks again.

What job would include slapping your head?

Have you considered self employment?  That way, you don't need to clash with anyone.

raycali

AskAsk said:

What job would include slapping your head?

Have you considered self employment?  That way, you don't need to clash with anyone.

Self-employment means much MORE clashing with people than an employee, as anyone in that capacity would tell you: your taxman, employees, customers, contractors, accountants, debt collectors, traffic wardens, and so forth. If you want to be self-employed, every hour you breathe is a fight. I've no idea why people push self-employment as some kind of escape from reality into dreams when it is really not. Especially when I've told from the outset I have no skills to reach that level of independence. I have respect for people who make it.

I can't disclose my job, but it involves something to do with benefits, and if you get an e-mail from me, chances are it would be about we're coming for your money whether you like it or not - but here's our signposts to this and that. I'm not the face you want to see, or place you want to be, basically. And it's not the job I want either.

theoretica

I was going to also ask if you had thought about self employment - you do swap one boss to get on with for all your customers being bosses to get on with, but you know it is your own efforts that are paying off.

theoretica

https://jobs.theguardian.com/article/career-coaching-is-it-worth-the-cost-/  and note 'free review' offer at the bottom - it may still be on offer.

AskAsk

raycali said:

AskAsk said:

What job would include slapping your head?

Have you considered self employment?  That way, you don't need to clash with anyone.

Self-employment means much MORE clashing with people than an employee, as anyone in that capacity would tell you: your taxman, employees, customers, contractors, accountants, debt collectors, traffic wardens, and so forth. If you want to be self-employed, every hour you breathe is a fight. I've no idea why people push self-employment as some kind of escape from reality into dreams when it is really not. Especially when I've told from the outset I have no skills to reach that level of independence. I have respect for people who make it.

I can't disclose my job, but it involves something to do with benefits, and if you get an e-mail from me, chances are it would be about we're coming for your money whether you like it or not - but here's our signposts to this and that. I'm not the face you want to see, or place you want to be, basically. And it's not the job I want either.

i find working for other people difficult as you are not your own boss and your efforts are not always awarded or awarded sufficiently.  self employment risks the secure income but for someone like yourself who always seem to clash with your workers, it may work better if you work for yourself, then you can make your own decisions and have no one telling you what to do.

but if you want to be employed then that is understandable.  perhaps you could give us details of your qualifications and skills so we can identify an area for you.  what job would you like to do, one that you think you can do and would enjoy doing?  or do you have no idea?

have you considered joining the police?