Complete career change, anyone done it?

[metalangel]

TL;DR AT THE BOTTOM

I've been in a bit of a funk the last few weeks, it building to a head since about Thursday or Friday.

I just don't see the point any more. I've achieved everything society tells you to do with your life: a house, a job, a car, a significant other. It feels like now I've done all that, there's nothing left but to just grind away at my job for another three decades so I can retire and wait to die.

I don't want that to be it, to be waiting for two weeks in the sun every year as my escape from drudgery.

I'm seriously considering a completely career change, a fresh start. I'm 'only' 32, it's not too late for me.

I'm thinking specifically of learning sign language so I can become a support worker/teaching assistant for special needs, as I have enough experience and knowledge to work as a computer or English teacher.

This is also an opportunity for Mrs Metal to escape from having to work in offices for the rest of her life, as she is willing to learn ASL too (she has a very very basic knowledge of BSL) and could go and work in a similar role or at Dogs For The Deaf. We talked about it last night and agreed to start looking into doing it. It also means we'll finally start making good on our long dormant intent to move back to Canada.

It's scary, I don't know where to start, what qualifications I need, anything like that. But just planning it has given me a real kick in the butt, and I am excited at the thought of having something to work towards besides just coming home to open a beer and play Xbox/Eve/whatever.

tl;dr: Has anyone else decided they'd just had enough, and decided to start fresh on a completely new career?

[Paul the 6th]

Thought about going back to Canada? Seems there's nothing good here and the handful of people I know on opposite sides of the world (canada, australia, south africa etc.) are infinitely happier since they left the UK.

[Berlin]

Yes, its possible, I'm presently on complete change number 4 :-)

I packed in being an engineer to become a fly fishing instructor, then started an insect repellent company then packed that in to start a construction company and then moved to Canada.

I have no idea what I'm going to do next but something will stick its head above the parapet! I have plenty of ideas from opening a fishing camp to a restaurant to a different kind of engineering.

I would advise however, not to start a company in your primary passion in life. It will completely kill that passion eventually.

Oh, and I should probably point out that I lost absolutely everything I owned when one company went under. I currently haven't got a pot to **** in but that'll change :-)

The best of luck with it!

C

[Fallout]

Do it dude. Find that new calling. That's an all too familiar feeling for me too and I think people who question the point owe it to themselves to find meaning.

I'm still trying to find my direction to find some meaning. I feel like I've got all the potential in the world, plus an awesome Mrs who I could have an awesome life with, if only I could get somewhere that let's me be all I can be. I've tried a few things and I'm currently applying for a new job in the same industry, but this time it will hopefully be more of what I enjoy. Still, I can't help thinking there is a perfect job out there for me, that'd give me a proper sense of fulfilment, but I can't figure out what it is.

I'm really envious of people who have 1 passion and follow it from a young age, make it, and then feel complete. I like a bit of everything, need variety and new challenges, and I'm a completely jack of all trades as a result. Can't find my calling. Don't know if I have one. Have no idea what to strive for.

Whenever I hear about someone trying to find something more, I gotta get behind them and say go for it.

[Fallout]

I would advise however, not to start a company in your primary passion in life. It will completely kill that passion eventually.

+1 for this. I ran my own business for 2 years in my passion and it killed it for me.

[metalangel]

Thought about going back to Canada?

That is the plan. Getting Mrs Metal over with me will take some doing (or a small gold ring) but this is a way of doing it and having some sort of skill to bring along with us to find work.

[Mr Speirs]

Yup I did it...although I was young.

From the age of 16 to 21 I had worked my way from Checkout chick to management. The only reason was the money. Was earning £18k when I was 18. Which at the time was lots for me.
Ended up becoming an alcoholic as I hated my job so much. In the end I decided to jack it all in and buy myself a couple of years to get into what I wanted to do which was work in the music industry.
That actually only took me about 6 months to find a paying job and been here ever since. Although those 6 months I went from earning £18k a year to absolutely nothing, discovered however that I could go out with £10 and still get ****ed....can't for the life of me figure out how I did that!!

Anyway, it's possible and regardless of what happens you will make it work.
Either way just make sure you don't regret anything.

[Specialone]

Yep, well almost, i started off in the buidling game, then progressed on to maintenance / extrusion / engineering roles.
After dioing that for about 15 years i got made redundant so decided to go self employed doing building again.
I enjoy being self employed but hate the hassle, worry of no work, tax etc etc.

I am going to change again tbh as my knees and back get a lot of abuse and if i carry on i'll be fecked by the time im 50.
The golden years for me are gone i think, i could make a lot of money if the work was there, but its too inconsistent now.

Id like to do something bike related and even pursued avenues but the amount of motorcycle businesses that have closed has put me right off.

So if i was you, do it, life aint a dress rehearsal.

[SIII]

Go for it! If you can teach and can cope with the crap and the stress - its the best job going. I did my degree in engineering, went into it and was made redundant 5 times in 5 years! After the last time, when i thought i was in and secure (but bored out of my mind) I thought sod this for a game of soldiers Im off to do summit different!
Made redundant on the friday, went into uni on the monday, chapped some doors and got myself on a PGCE course and had to go home and tell the missus I was off to be a student for the next 2 years and I started the following Monday. It was a bloody hard 2 years, mainly because of not being paid. But it has paid off, 15 years full employment and payed more than i was in engineering.
That was 15 years ago and it allowed me to move from being jammed in the middle of England (near all the industry) and move back to Scotland and live in the middle of bloody nowhere. Teaching in a little high school and work life is so easy - cos I enjoy it!
If you can cope with the financial hardship in the short tem - go for it. 30 years is a bloody long time stuck in an office. I couldn't image being a desk jockey again. Went to red Bull F1 a few months ago and saw all of the engineers stuck behind a big screen with headphones on - looking bored out of their tiny minds. Was a dream job once upon a time - but looked like a nightmare now.](*,)

[G]

I am going to change again tbh as my knees and back get a lot of abuse and if i carry on i'll be fecked by the time im 50.
.

Your never under 50!!! Get out now, find something less stressful ;-)

[Amadeus]

she is willing to learn ASL too (she has a very very basic knowledge of BSL) and could go and work in a similar role or at Dogs For The Deaf

They teach sign language to dogs now? Wow...

My wifes best friend gave up a very sucessful project manager job to go to university for 7 years to become a GP - as hard a job change as it's possible to do, and she was in her late 30's then, so anything is possible if your heart is in it.
Having said that, do you think there is a possibility that you're just having a bad time at work and if you changed jobs you'd get that enthusiasm back that you presumably originally had when you got into your current role?

[Specialone]

Your never under 50!!! Get out now, find something less stressful ;-)

Bolox you !!
I used to look early 30's before I joined this forum, look what you've done to me ;)

Anyway how's the Afro ?

[Shellywoozle]

Do it but really look into your new career path to make sure you are going to be happy long term.

I was in marketing and graphic design for GEC and ABB, kept bouncing between the two companies missing out on the yearly redundancies.

So I applied for Police ;/

Sometimes you just gotta give it a go, if it doesnt work out take another jump.

Life is too short to just plod along, go for what you want. Good luck with your choices.

[Red Herring]

My wifes best friend gave up a very sucessful project manager job to go to university for 7 years to become a GP -

To each their own....my wife spent 9 years to qualify as a GP, (5 years medical school, one year as a houseman, then three years rotating through 6 month jobs in different specialities)....and has spent the last 21 years wishing she had done accountancy instead, especially given recent government expectations of GP's.

I guess a complete career change will very much depend on who else is involved. If it's just you, and maybe your Mrs. then it's a whole lot easier than if you have dependents.

[thefallenangel]

I know the feeling. I'm 23 and am in a well paid job and secure job but they are just crapping on us from the sky and being control freaks. It's gone from a job driving around the countryside repairing equipment to being based in a works drilling your head with all the office politics. I'm on 30k and got everything i want in a job with promotions etc . . .but i just waiting for the right fish to come out of the water within the company to go to. Amazing though how you go from one day enjoying something to a complete management change and hating the job. It's not always the game but the rules which don't help.

[scotty217]

I was in the RAF for 22 years as a Radar / Comms eng. Left when I was 40 cos my time was up, went to Uni to study Radiography with my Mrs and two lads to support, graduated in 2010, working in Birmingham Childrens Hosp. I'd do it again in a heartbeat, if i had my time over. Also still got a kernal of an idea to emmigrate, just not sure where. "This life is not a readthrough" someone once said. Go for it.

[MisterTommyH]

went to Uni to study Radiography ... working in Birmingham Childrens Hosp.

Complete de-rail, but do you get to use the nice shiny new MRI scanner?

[tigersaw]

I was in the RAF for 22 years as a Radar / Comms eng. .
Type 80, Watchman? 2 of my guys are ex RAF, good engineers.

[metalangel]

Amazing though how you go from one day enjoying something to a complete management change and hating the job. It's not always the game but the rules which don't help.

That's also happening in my office (the management is planning to get rid of three controllers to replace them with... five more managers! You need people who do actual work in order to have something to manage, you know) but it's not the catalyst here.

I can't wait to see my parents this weekend, should be fun explaining all this...

[Owenski]

Interesting to witness so many people are disgruntled with thier jobs despite the turbulent climate, I'd have thought it would have been a everyone keeping thier heads down and getting along with it quietly. Unless you all are keeping a low profile, you're just not happy about it of course lol.

Metal: Not me, I didnt choose this career I just pretty much landed here and its got great prospects. I know Im an idealist and need a challenge but I try to make my challenges be in my personal life as opposed to my professional one. Provided I keep setting myself projects Fri-Mon then I'll be happy doing any sort of job Mon-Fri which can fund those projects.

[Messie]

I've bought the shovel to start the tunnel! I've even scoped the lay of the land to start ploting the way to go.

I'll have an opportunity in just over 2 years time to rethink everything I do. 25 years in the same profession is more than enough and I yearn for something new.

I know what I want to do, but just need a bit of financial backing and the nerve! I want to do it so much but I'm so scared of giving up something secure which pays reasonably well.
Can't stop thinking about my new career though!

[Paul the 6th]

Tell tell tell messie

[Biker Biggles]

Interesting to witness so many people are disgruntled with thier jobs despite the turbulent climate, I'd have thought it would have been a everyone keeping thier heads down and getting along with it quietly. Unless you all are keeping a low profile, you're just not happy about it of course lol.


I put this down to "modern" management.We seem to need ever more training and qualifications but are given far less decision making responsibility,and are much more closely supervised by a burgeoning management machine.Hence a demoralised and disgruntled workforce full of people who just cant wait to leave.Very sad really.

[Owenski]

I put this down to "modern" management.We seem to need ever more training and qualifications but are given far less decision making responsibility,and are much more closely supervised by a burgeoning management machine.Hence a demoralised and disgruntled workforce full of people who just cant wait to leave.Very sad really.

Makes sense, Im only in a company of 12 employees so I dont really see much of this management system in action. There is basically My level and the Partner level and what they say goes lol.

[Messie]

Tell tell tell messie


Can't. Might jinx it!

[Paul the 6th]

You're becoming a dolphin trainer? Or dry stone walling instructor? Hang, I've got it - quality control @ just juice? :razz:

[Paul the 6th]

Opening a bakery called 'I see bread people'? Or a Chinese restaurant called 'mental oriental'?

Am I getting warm?

On a serious note, anyone know anything about training to become a plumber? Mate of mine was asking if I knew owt :)

[Messie]

:)

[scotty217]

Tiger - I was watchman qualified and T101 qualified,

Tommy - not even been to see the new mri scanner yet, been on leave and busy shifts lately.

[tactcom7]

I did it, found the hardest thing was getting work, the old 'you can't have work because you are not experienced and yet you can't get experience by not working' problem. But once your foot is in the door then life becomes easier.

[appollo1]

I left school many years ago aged 16 on the thursday and started work on the monday. It was a small family run business and i progressed through the different roles in the company to become the company rep. Not bad for a 20 year old. I got itchy feet and 4 years later signed on teh dotted line and joined the RAF.

Next March i will be at the end of my RAF career after 22 years service. I haven't got a clue what i want to do when i come out. Unfortunately i dont leave with a lot of qualifications but i do have 22 years experience.

It is a very worrying time for my family as my wife is unable to work so i am starting to get very worried and quite nervous already.

[Fizzy Fish]

Metal, I totally know where you're coming from - it's so easy to get stuck in a rut like that and then wander WTF happened to your life!

I'm reasonably happy in what I do, tho wouldn't mind changing, and have in the past looked quite seriously into marine biology. The thing that put me off was the cost of retraining, which at the time wasn't financially possible (tho I did get as far as studying evening classes to get an A level in Biology). The OH is more keen to change as he's stuck in finance when he's actually much more creative, and would love to run his own business.

The thing is that when you've built up experience in something and the money's decent, it is really hard to give that up. So what we've decided to do is take sometime out to travel around Australia, with the idea of keeping our minds open to job and business ideas. The thinking is that without a hefty mortgage and expenses to cover, or existing jobs to cling to, the transition should be easier. We might even pick up some work in that field to see how we get on, and get some experience.

You don't need to emigrate to Oz to make the change, but making a break with your current set up may help.

One other thing to keep in mind - the current economic/employment situation is not good for business start ups, or starting out in a new industry without experience. I'm currently looking for a job myself, and even with considerable experience there isn't much out there, and there is a lot of competition for roles. So if your change requires you to study for a year or two before coming out into the job market for your chosen career, that may be a better plan - or postpone the change for a little while.

Good luck and hope it works out for you!

[metalmonkey]

Complete de-rail, but do you get to use the nice shiny new MRI scanner?

Another total de-rail I'm having my third MRI scan today...

Yeah I must be on 3rd career by now there is never a right time do it, for whatever reason. My change was forced upon, so I thought I might well do something creative and interesting give it ago nothing worse than what if.

[metalangel]

Well, even if the rest of the plan doesn't work out, Mrs Metal and I are having a ball signing to each other. It'll be a long time before I'm as quick as someone like this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRfJVp_juwE) but we can already communicate on a basic level for the crucial things: I know how to ask if she wants tea or coffee, and whether she wants sugar in it. She seemed determined to outdo me, asking for a drink and then fingerspelling (fingerspelling is using signs to spell something one letter at a time) vodka redbull.

This after just three days. I'm hopeful that if we keep it up, by the time we're actually in a position to move we'll be coherent to someone other than otherselves.

[Paul the 6th]

I SAID I'M NOT DEAF! I find it so offensive when people start waving their arms around like they're trying to take off. Oh you were asking if I used to be a chef?

[MisterTommyH]

Tommy - not even been to see the new mri scanner yet, been on leave and busy shifts lately.


When you get a chance, remember to admire how lovely and functional the building is (It's one of mine ;)) If there anything wrong with it, obviously it's someone elses fault.

[metalangel]

MEGABUMPNECRO

Update on how things are going:

I've been accepted to one of the courses, in Edmonton Alberta. The other course (in my hometown of Toronto) is messing me around and has told me 'Mid June' to know for their course starting in September.

This isn't much time at all but we're going to have a go of it anyway, I think. An estate agent is coming to look at the house today, we've started having a big clear out of stuff and both our respecting families know what we're scheming.

I could really, really have done with finding out that I was 'in' a hell of a lot sooner than this (I only found out I was accepted at the end of May!) as it will mean that if I do manage to pull it off this year, I'll be jetting off at the end of the summer and Mrs Metal will be following me just as soon as she can finish off all the loose ends here.

My parents think I should wait until next year but apart from not being rushed I don't see much benefit. Heck, we could go tomorrow (or at least, after my month's notice at work) if we didn't have the house to worry about. We'll see what the estate agent says later.

[femaleacid]

The thing that I found was I've always been interested in working with computers especially hardware and networking: to I took that job opportunity and I regret it more and more!

After my 2 year contract I'm going to go into something like game/graphic design and study it at college and university that just means one thing - NO INCOME.

Follow what you want at the end of the day there's so many opportunities and there's no point just sticking to once thing



GOOD LUCK :)
I hope you're happy with whatever dicision you make.

[Small Clanger]

Best of luck to you both. Remember, if work is a joy, life is a joy.
I hav'nt a clue what the Canadian economic situation is but it can't any worse than the doom-laden financial plight that this country has found itself in.
I'd say that moving into a social services type envirionment would be a fairly smart move at the moment. Certainly, the construction industry world-wide seems to be suffering from the knock-on effects of the dodgy banking deals and the manufacturing industry can't compete with the Chinese.

Why wait?

ps, if, when you've learnt sign language, you meet a deaf and dumb girl, early twenties, blonde, large t!ts and long legs who owns an off-licence and has an enthusiastic attitude towards casual sex and rides an MV Agusta could you give her my contact details please, cheers.
(please send photo of MV Agusta)

[metalangel]

Best of luck to you both. Remember, if work is a joy, life is a joy.
I hav'nt a clue what the Canadian economic situation is but it can't any worse than the doom-laden financial plight that this country has found itself in.
Why wait?

I'm slightly concerned about what state the UK economy will be in this time next year.

ps, if, when you've learnt sign language, you meet a deaf and dumb girl, early twenties, blonde, large t!ts and long legs who owns an off-licence and has an enthusiastic attitude towards casual sex and rides an MV Agusta could you give her my contact details please, cheers.
(please send photo of MV Agusta)

That's awfully specific! And you only want proof of the bike, not the tits, hair or offy?

[Small Clanger]

I'm slightly concerned about what state the UK economy will be in this time next year.



That's awfully specific! And you only want proof of the bike, not the tits, hair or offy?

The UK economy is on it's butt now, it'll get worse before any improvement and it'll never be the same again. I would'nt think that the Canadian economy is totally insulated against the disaster area that is the Euro-zone but the indirect consequences must surely be less severe than the direct consequences we'll be suffering for years. Is the Canadian lifestyle mortgage-led? Or do most people rent over there?

I think that, if I was in my 20's or 30's, I'd be on a plane to Canada too, or Aussie. Fortunately for me my 20's and 30's were during the boom years in the building trade (as an electrician) working on private housing, but mainly building large nursing homes around the country.
Over the last ten years I've witnessed a steady decline but as I now specialise in barn conversions and country properties I've been very lucky, they're in big demand around this area, known as "the golden triangle" York/Harrogate/Leeds. I employ four or five sub-contractors when I'm busy but I just have one on at the moment, and I suspect it's the same across the country, for all trades.

Have fun in Canada but remember, although life is never going to be easy, it's a lot easier if you keep smiling and, while skills can be learnt, respect must be earned.


As for the blonde lady, perhaps I'm being a bit fussy. Do your best though.:D

[metalangel]

The UK economy is on it's butt now, it'll get worse before any improvement and it'll never be the same again. I would'nt think that the Canadian economy is totally insulated against the disaster area that is the Euro-zone but the indirect consequences must surely be less severe than the direct consequences we'll be suffering for years. Is the Canadian lifestyle mortgage-led? Or do most people rent over there?

We have the tar sands! Edmonton is one of the jumping off points for the booming oil industry, so it's a good place to be right now. Home ownership is very much the thing, less so in cities. CheGuevara is better placed to answer this, though he will be my sorta new neighbour if and when I move.

Estate agent valued the house. £10k less than we paid six years ago as things approached the crest of the boom, so I'm unpleasantly surprised but not too much.

Have fun in Canada but remember, although life is never going to be easy, it's a lot easier if you keep smiling and, while skills can be learnt, respect must be earned.

Especially in the Deaf community. I've been talking to some deaf/hoh folks online since I started planning this and it's been very enlightening. I hope they will accept me.

As for the blonde lady, perhaps I'm being a bit fussy. Do your best though.:D

Will do. Might be a few years before I can afford a bike again, especially one that'll spend half the year tucked away in the garage. Oh, one thing I've learned is don't add 'dumb' or 'mute' or anything else... just 'deaf' is generally fine unless they tell you otherwise :)

[Small Clanger]

[QUOTE=metalangel;2726258]
Might be a few years before I can afford a bike again



We all know that money makes the World go round. OK, it's not the be all and end all, but it's having the targets and the goals that has motivated me over the years. As long as you have your health, a good partner and plenty of motivation, anythings possible. Promise yourself a new bike, maybe a big GS to explore Canada, a Ducati for the Rocky Mountain twisties or perhaps a big ol' Harley and make the trip 1000 miles S/E to Sturgis. Maybe even an SV650 ;)........whatever.

Enjoy life. :thumright:



edit.....in Edmonton you might get more use out of a snowmobile!

[dirtydog]

I did it, found the hardest thing was getting work, the old 'you can't have work because you are not experienced and yet you can't get experience by not working' problem. But once your foot is in the door then life becomes easier.

That's what I had trouble with, so I went self employed and started out on my own


Well, even if the rest of the plan doesn't work out, Mrs Metal and I are having a ball signing to each other. It'll be a long time before I'm as quick as someone like this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRfJVp_juwE) but we can already communicate on a basic level for the crucial things: I know how to ask if she wants tea or coffee, and whether she wants sugar in it. She seemed determined to outdo me, asking for a drink and then fingerspelling (fingerspelling is using signs to spell something one letter at a time) vodka redbull.

This after just three days. I'm hopeful that if we keep it up, by the time we're actually in a position to move we'll be coherent to someone other than otherselves.

Hmmm that ASL confuses the hell out of me! Obviously been using BSL for too long. My brother is deaf and watching him and others sign at deaf clubs etc is brilliant. I have to ask them to slow down otherwise I cant understand them though. Kitkat did a BSL course up in Scotland before she moved down here but is too scared to use it lol, we've also been teaching Libby (now 3 yrs old) BSL and she is picking it up really quickly and can finger spell her name and do all her colours since she was about 2!

Glad the plan is all working out for you

Edit: As for career changes, at 16 I started working in a chip shop, by 17 I was assistant manager, by 19 I was the manager. Then a few years later I had a bit of a disagreement with the owner and quit. Then wnet onto van driving, forklift driving, hgv driving and even a supervisor with the same company. Then my hand was forced and left there under a cloud shall we say :smt019.
After that I retrained as a plumber and have been doing that for about 5 years or so now, slowly building up my own business.

[metalangel]

Well! Now (just got it today) have an offer from my first choice, in Toronto! I can go home! HOME home, not 'same country as home'. Finally!

[metalangel]

*megabump*

Just to update, I've been back home in Canada a week, staying at a friend's house, and today I signed a one year lease on an apartment. I've got college orientation tomorrow and I start on the fourth of September.

I wouldn't have thought all this was possible, but here I am!

[maviczap]

Good luck mate