Don’t think I’m going to progress should I move on?

n1guy

After some opinions on this.  Made redundant a couple of years back, I’m a cabinet maker, been doing it 25 odd years, fully qualified, the closest suitable job I could find was in a manufacturing company, they do furniture but also a mix of other wooded items such as doors, fireplaces etc. I stupidly thought well if I can at least get my foot in the door I might get somewhere.  

Once I got in discovered they had one young fella doing all my kind of work, he had just started a couple of months before me,  and boy does he keep me at arms length, probably sees me as a threat.  They make me cover him when he’s off on leave and he hates it. But most of the time I’m doing menial dogs body work that you’d give to a school leaver or apprentice even though technically I would be the most qualified and experienced employee.

I’ve kinda reached the realisation I’m not gonna get anywhere in here and the longer I stay the more it kills your confidence and self esteem because you know you’re much more capable.  I have gone for a couple of interviews in other firms but none have been specifically for my skill level and well I don’t wanna make the same mistake again that I just have.  

Has what I’ve done ever worked? Or do you just stay stuck? Or what would you do in my position?

Dobbibill

Have you thought about going self employed?
Building bespoke furniture for your own customers, demonstrating your skills and expertise through their ideas and dreams. (that's assuming you have or can afford to invest in all the tools you need). 
also if you can build cabinets you could probably do things like building flat packed furniture or kitchen units for customers helping your business attract a wider audience.
You don't need to make the leap immediately and could you do some work around your shifts, keeping that steady and stable income while you build it up. 

n1guy

Dobbibill said:

Have you thought about going self employed?
Building bespoke furniture for your own customers, demonstrating your skills and expertise through their ideas and dreams. (that's assuming you have or can afford to invest in all the tools you need). 
also if you can build cabinets you could probably do things like building flat packed furniture or kitchen units for customers helping your business attract a wider audience.
You don't need to make the leap immediately and could you do some work around your shifts, keeping that steady and stable income while you build it up. 

I have yeah.  Sadly my line of work isn’t like a site joiner who just needs a van and a few tools, mine requires table saws, beam saws, CNC routers all costing thousands, then of course a workshop to store everything so I think it’s a bit of a dream especially for someone currently on min wage. I think my line of work is a bit of a dying industry, all local firms have gone bust, I myself have been made redundant 4 times now.  

I do already build flatpack furniture on the side for people,  mostly through word of mouth and favours for friends,  there’s not much money in it tbh.  

powerspowers

That makes sense re tools and workshop, would you consider the more jobbing joiner approach as a sideways move? 

Or further education teaching? Our local college is always trying to recruit skilled tradespeople to teach courses, and doesn’t expect teaching experience. 
would probably be a wide range of joinery skills not just cabinetry. 

Just trying to think outside the box! It certainly seems your colleague is threatened by your skill and the company are taking the P. Work on your escape plan and don’t let them grind you down. 

n1guy

powerspowers said:

That makes sense re tools and workshop, would you consider the more jobbing joiner approach as a sideways move? 

Or further education teaching? Our local college is always trying to recruit skilled tradespeople to teach courses, and doesn’t expect teaching experience. 
would probably be a wide range of joinery skills not just cabinetry. 

Just trying to think outside the box! It certainly seems your colleague is threatened by your skill and the company are taking the P. Work on your escape plan and don’t let them grind you down. 

Yeah I think I might have too, can’t say I really want to at 45, I just would like to take easy street through to retirement but that’s not gonna happen it seems.  

Emmia

n1guy said:

powerspowers said:

That makes sense re tools and workshop, would you consider the more jobbing joiner approach as a sideways move? 

Or further education teaching? Our local college is always trying to recruit skilled tradespeople to teach courses, and doesn’t expect teaching experience. 
would probably be a wide range of joinery skills not just cabinetry. 

Just trying to think outside the box! It certainly seems your colleague is threatened by your skill and the company are taking the P. Work on your escape plan and don’t let them grind you down. 

Yeah I think I might have too, can’t say I really want to at 45, I just would like to take easy street through to retirement but that’s not gonna happen it seems.  

If you want "easy street" then it's staying where you are and having your self worth ground down. Retirement is a little over 20 years away - that's a long time to be "ground down"

Personally I think the FE route might be a good move, there may be a better pension available (this is is definitely worth considering) and I think passing on your skills could be quite satisfying.

Alternatively, would you consider a complete career change into something that isn't joinery?

What other skills and qualifications do you have or could you get? Could you be a driving instructor? Lorry or bus driver? Office administrator? It sounds like your current line of work in your area is drying up (I'll presume moving isn't an option), so perhaps you need to switch course.

Dobbibill

Consider an alternative skill, retrain and try something new. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. 
all the best

n1guy

Thanks for the advice.  Yeah I’m gonna have to either retrain but at my age 45 would anyone want me when qualified, or else take a menial job in something unrelated which is what I should have done in this case.  Just because you have the skills doesn’t mean a company will want or need them.  I think I’m just being held in limbo should I be needed at some point in the future. 

Emmia

n1guy said:

Thanks for the advice.  Yeah I’m gonna have to either retrain but at my age 45 would anyone want me when qualified, or else take a menial job in something unrelated which is what I should have done in this case.  Just because you have the skills doesn’t mean a company will want or need them.  I think I’m just being held in limbo should I be needed at some point in the future. 

I can't see why a company wouldn't want you?, or join a company where they train you - being a bus driver for example. Or why not enquire with some FE colleges to see if they have any openings - nothing ventured... The worst they'll say is "no" but that's no different from your current position.

I think the only thing holding you back really, is you.

Marcon

n1guy said:

Thanks for the advice.  Yeah I’m gonna have to either retrain but at my age 45 would anyone want me when qualified, or else take a menial job in something unrelated which is what I should have done in this case.  Just because you have the skills doesn’t mean a company will want or need them.  I think I’m just being held in limbo should I be needed at some point in the future. 

Depends what you retrain as. If it's a skill set in demand, then there's no reason at all why someone aged 45+ isn't going to be able to compete on equal terms for many (not all) vacancies. Some employers are always going to be of the mindset that 20 something is somehow a better bet than someone older, but by the same token other employers aren't going to want the hassle of dealing with 'youngsters'.

Ever considered an adult apprenticeship? Pay rates aren't all as awful as the minimum wage for apprentices.
https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship
 https://www.findapprenticeships.co.uk/adult-apprenticeships/

Dobbibill

Don't put yourself down because of your age. You are young enough to retrain and old enough to demonstrate experience and dedication to a field. You have already shown in this short thread you have 25yrs experience in a previous field and commit to something when you do it so you would be an asset to the right company.