Job for dad -52? driving instructor or HIP provider?

kathy_b_2

My lovely dad is so unhappy in his job. He's 52 and working in a factory. The work is hard, heavy and dirty. At the moment his wage doesn't cover his outgoings. Every month £90 has to come out of his savings just to cover the basics.
My mum lost her job 18 months ago and has real confidence issues, as does dad.
I think he must change his job and so does he. It's just a question of finding the right job and someone willing to give my old pop a go!!
I thought driving instructor or a Home Info Pack provider. He's got some money put away if he needs to pay for a course.
Does anyone have any thoughts about these jobs pros and cons - anyone doing it?
Or has anyone got any suggestions as to what he could do that would pay more than 16k in the Bolton area?
I honestly think his situation is starting to have an effect on his health and I'm worrying all the time too.
Many thanks
Kathy

03022242

i wouldnt do the HIPs course, i just dont think its worth it these days, not too sure about the driving instructor,

how about taxi driving or becoming a security guard?

sassybooboos

training to be a driving instructor at the moment. i would say if he wants to go down that route to ask a company to take him for a few lessons as pay as you go as he may find the training too much ( ive found it a lot more intensive than i thought it would be although i am nearly qualified now)
my only other worry about it now is with the petrol, car tax etc going up will anyone be able to afford the cost of driving lessons as instructors will soon have to charge a fortune to make anything.

my husband went for interview about training for the hips and had to do a test. they wanted £10000 for the training or £6000 but you had to work for them for 3 yrs and they would take money off you then until other £4000 paid back. my husband decided against it as what happens if new government get in and scrap the hips altogether.

please also bear in mind ( im not saying your dad is thick or anything) but if you fail the tests for both the above you have lost your money and the driving instructor course if you fail the part 3 test you have to wait 2 years then start from scratch again.

if your dad does want to go down the driving instructor route let me know as there are a lot of rip off companies out there,

epsilondraconis

I'm guessing he'd like something 9-5 and no unsociable hours.

How about a job in a garden centre?

I've always fancied that. Trouble is I'm only 34. Hmmm, maybe in a few years time.

Errr, what about a postman - although I guess they have unsociable hours. Although thinking about it, our postman/woman seems to deliver whenever they want. Perhaps its not as unsociable for the postie as I first thought.

Anyway, some more ideas needed.

What about a traffic warden?

Bus driver - although the bl**dy kids would drive me around the bend. Perhaps not.

Gardener / groundsman.

What about the person in Asda that stands at the main entrance? Not too sure what they have as a job description. Arrive at work, stand, go home.

Does he have an Ikea near him. How about doing something in there?

Tattoo artist? I guess I'm running out of ideas now.:rolleyes:

I hope he finds something soon that will make him happier.:o

kathy_b_2

Hey thanks.
Good points about he HIP and driving instructor courses.
Garden Centre job or Asda standy aroundy bloke would be great for him but not sure that it would pay enough.
My dad is certainly not thick but I just don't think he has the stomach right now for something stressful - so I guess that rules out bus driver and traffic warden and he gravelled over his lawn so he didn't have to mow it!!!!! Postie would be good. I'll register him on the Royal mail site. Cheers!

epsilondraconis

Sorry, didn't mean to imply that your Dad was thick or anything. I guess my post was a garbled selection of thoughts not particulary well structured.

I understand what you're saying about not wanting something stressful. I'm still working now. The reason I mention the Asda standy around blokey is that there are some days I really envy him. All I want to do is stand and do nothing else.

Oh well, a couple more hours work to do before I hit the hay. Yawn.

I wonder some days whether I'll actually make it to 52.

Electrician?

specsappeal

my hubby is a driving instructor. The pay is not as the adverts quote (£30,000 a year - only if you work all hours of the day and possibly into the night, that is of course if you can get that many students on your books!). DH has been doing it for the last 8 years and is now starting to look for another job. On the plus sides the hours are obviously flexible and it can fit in with his lifestyle. job satifaction is high and you meet a wide variety of people. on the downside training - even pay as you go training is expensive, advertising is expensive (or franchise costs), you get no shows and no sick pay. unless you are willing to work alot of hours, including weekends, evenings and some bank holidays i would think long and hard about it. My DH loves what he does but for us the sometimes unsocial hours for not alot of profit just don't make it worth while anymore.
I agree with the other poster about rip off companies and would strongly advise if your dad does go for it to choose a trainer with care. Pay as you go is definately the route to go. That way if he fails one of the tests he will have only lost the money he has paid so far rather than the thousands he would have paid up front iyswim. I wish him luck whatever he decides.

Symbeaux1

God, specsappeal, what an eyeopener your post was!! Had often thought about this route myself....think I might just stop where I am for now. Thanks

Oldernotwiser

Might it not be better for your mum to do a course or do some voluntary work that would increase her confidence and enable her to go back to work? This would take a lot of weight off your dad and enable him to get an easier job without having to worry about the pay. Unless she's really ill it's unfair for him to have to support her for the next 13 years and if she doesn't work there may be implications for her pension. I'm sure that there are lots of jobs he would prefer but doubt whether they'll pay the wages he needs to manage. I'm sure she doesn't want to be stuck at home for the rest of her life, seeing your dad more and more worried and unhappy.
Good luck.

purple12

I don't know what the pay would be like but it might be worth checking out any Council jobs that might be advertised. They are very hot on not discriminating against older applicants. My partner (who is in his 40s - but still came from a completely different profession) recently got a job in a library, after a year of unemployment where he thought noone would ever employ him again (redundancy) and lots of unsuccessful interviews that really ravaged his confidence.

He finds the job is like a breath of air, not stressful, working and talking to people and regular hours and lots of flexibility.

As I said, his experience was in a completely different field and generally there would be similar type work, if not in a library, then an admin job.

pinkpig08

How about being a caretaker in a school? Not sure about the hours though, I think they work shifts, as sometimes schools have after school events and things.