Changing career

[ste d' indica]

Only because of my glowing reference

This is true

you are still on LinkedIn as working for Mvad by the way lol

This is also true, oops! Should probably update that! lol

 

[bicycleheader]

Interesting timing this ....
I came here to Spain in October to learn to build a guitar
I stayed and I am still building guitars
Today I decided to retire from my tech hi stress job with NATO and rent a place her and live in Spain set up my workshop and carry in making.
It’s feeling like the best decision I ever made

Whereabouts in Spain?

i will be 10yrs in Barcelona in July. At the time I didn’t know what I wanted to do, as tbh I generally hate working so I started to think it might not be so important what I do, rather where I am and that way of looking at it worked out well for me as this is definitely home now

I know that’s not really a career change, but when I was caught up in the worry about what “career” I should try, I was getting nowhere fast until I decided to make “where” I am the priority

 

[witchdoc187]

If the gynecologists had hired out the entire venue how did you get in? Surely someone knew you weren't in the party and sniffed you out early.

Nah it was a massive bar in East London. They had an area reserved outside but it was so busy it was a free for all. I was there with a load of my mates. Guess I should have said he had reserved an area.

 

[Toast]

This is true



This is also true, oops! Should probably update that! lol

GOT members giving out references is superb BTW.

 

[Tramps_mate]

Also I've set myself up as an English teacher online. I charge £45an hour and sell blocks of 10 lessons at a time. I specialise in business English. Someone gave me an business English textbook and I teach adults online. Never taught English in my life before that. There's loads of ways you can make cash if you sit and think. I also work part-time calling leads for IFAs only a couple of hours a day. I was earning over 50k a year paying expensive rent in London. I've now bought a house, albeit a cave and a rubbish one. So I've no mortgage or rent (or kitchen) and I just work casually. As I said it's not without its challenges but I'm enjoying watching my boy grow up, even though I'm splitting up with my wife.

What!!!!!

 

[witchdoc187]

What!!!!!

Yup. I'm actually good at it and my students renew when their 10 lessons expire. But I've no experience teaching English prior to this. Literally just talk them through a text book I was given for free

 

[Bkk Andy]

surely an unconventional move is more likely with a smaller firm? Giant firms like yours are machines built to minimize risk.

Very true. In large corporations it's all about hiring the best people, certainly at more senior levels. At smaller companies it's more prominent to take talent and adapt it in other areas. It's often related areas though.

There are always exceptions but something's are never going to be possible. At 45 it's too late to train as a doctor but I could work in a similar field to now in a completely different industry.

Changing careers usually means starting down the ladder. It all depends on your happiness/wealth balance.

Anyway, good luck to anyone who makes that decision.

 

[Baines' left foot]

I’m looking to change career. I’m no longer able/willing to work in management and want to do something much more solitary. I’m not 100% sure what I want to do, whether to stay in the same industry or not, but I’m in my early thirties and I can’t imagine spending the next 30 years doing a job I dislike. I’m considering doing a Masters degree, but again I’m not sure what in.

I’m fed up of working in teams where people don’t pull their weight, and where you’re not given enough support. I’d like to maybe become more specialised in something. but I’ve got a very low boredom threshold and struggle to focus unless I’m mentally stimulated.

 

[Whiteandblue]

Has anyone on here ever changed profession? If so what did you change from/to?

I'm thinking of doing it myself. Mostly because I don't like what I'm doing now, but I'm not sure if it's just the company I work for, or I need a complete career change.

Im in the process of it. 20+ years selling crap as a sales engineer, now in University studying for a Masters in Pedagogy. Im going to start teaching in primary school when Im almost 50

 

[SerenityNigh]

I’m looking to change career. I’m no longer able/willing to work in management and want to do something much more solitary. I’m not 100% sure what I want to do, whether to stay in the same industry or not, but I’m in my early thirties and I can’t imagine spending the next 30 years doing a job I dislike.

Lots of thoughts on this. First, working in a smaller environment, I'm always shifting between "managing" and "producing" although I do very little actual managing. But it's frustrating and there are times I wish I was in a field where I could simply be a producer. Not sure it's always that easy though.

I’m fed up of working in teams where people don’t pull their weight, and where you’re not given enough support.

That's the nature of large companies isn't it--the agency problem? Most are doing just enough to gain promotion/not get fired, and want to stay out of the light as much as possible.

I’m considering doing a Masters degree, but again I’m not sure what in. I’d like to maybe become more specialised in something. but I’ve got a very low boredom threshold and struggle to focus unless I’m mentally stimulated.

What are your (other) interests? Feel the same, but it's hard to shift gears and doing something entirely different.

 

[SerenityNigh]

Also, I'm reminded that on most of the jobs I've had in my working career, I gained access though personal recommendation. I don't consider myself a "networker" but that can make a huge impact on what's available to you. And I've only once ever worked a job in a large environment, but even then it was highly specialized so recommendations were important in that as well.

Good luck to everyone hunting a better opportunity.

 

[Billy Dean]

I started a thread like this a couple of years ago. Got loads of good advice. I’ll try to track down the link. In the end I didn’t go through with it but regretting it a little bit now. I might revisit my plans soon. Feels sort of disappointing going through the motions with stuff that doesn’t really fire you up. Especially if you know what really would.

At one point I was doing a lot of research on how to change careers and one thing I’d recommend is to reach out to people who do the jobs you want to move into and ask for advice. I was able to talk to people doing the jobs i was interested in and working at the organisations I was interested in and got tons of good advice. It didn’t lead to job offers in my case but I did get a volunteering opportunity. You’d be surprised at the number of total strangers willing to take the time to give help and advice.