Career Advice.

[SoulKiss]

Hope this helps (From Dictionary.com)

Career

— vb
1. ( intr ) to move swiftly along; rush in an uncontrolled way

Yes I have some very good advice - don't try and be an artist.........

Follow your heart as its a long time to do something you don't like doing

Kingston uni have a motorcycle eng and design course that is worth looking into

[keith_d]

One thing to remember is that these days most folks change jobs from time to time, so even if you start in one area you can end up doing something completely different in a few years.

Here's my list so far...

Laboratory Robotics (3 years)
Automation and Control engineer (10 years)
Economics software consulting (4 years)
Data systems hardware support (8 years)

I realise it's not a great time to be looking for something new at the moment, but it might be a good time to learn a new skill for when the economy picks up.

[SoulKiss]

Hows this for Careering (and this is only real, after I left school jobs...)

Bank Clerk
Supermarket Till Operator
Insurance Clerk
Network Control Technician
Helpdesk Analyst
ISDN Support Technician
Senior Faults Desk Technician
NOC Engineer
3rd Line Network Engineer
IP Network Engineer
Protocol Analysis Consultant
LAMP Developer
PHP Developer
LAMP Developer

Now for the last half dozen, I haven't solely done tasks that match the descriptions, I've usually done Network and Hardware support type stuff, for example in the new job I have...

Installed VoIP kit
Setup a Monitoring System for Hardware and Software
Installed Network Cables
Specced new Laptops and Desktop kit
Re-installed OS and Apps on 4 Laptops
Learned how to use and program the Amazon EC2 Cloud

Not bad for 12 weeks...

[MisterTommyH]

Don't worry about not getting into the forces, sometimes there is no reasoning, it's just quotas - no matter how much they deny it. I got very close to being aircrew before getting binned for some obscure medical note, which was actually my GPs error. Had to apply all over again and my heart just wasn't in it. Keep applying if it's what you really want, but if it's not they will know.

After that I tried uni full time - hated it - quit.
Delivered pizza - ok but no prospects and crap hours.
Arranged debt recovery for the civil service - crap pay and really no chance of promotion not matter how hard I tried so why bother.
I finally decided I had to do something, enrolled on a part time civil engineering HNC, found a company to sponsor me on day release. Im now have a degree sponsored by that company; no student debt. And a job I like - although it stresses me out.

My point is that you can't see what's round the corner. Take any chances that come your way things have a way of working out.

Originally Posted by Jordy

• Army - Different job choices (once the acne has been treated/gone)
• Navy
• RAF
• Motorbike mechanic - I love working on my bike and I have some qualifications/theory knowledge.
• University? - I can't think of anything I want to study and I don't think I have enough UCAS points.
• Apprenticeship in something.

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Sorry for the almost biography, I just wanted to explain my situation fully as it might help.

Just to let you know UCAS points mean nothing once your over 21 as your classed as a mature student (so you apply direct to the uni and not through UCAS), I started uni at 21 with only a few GCSE's, graduated this july with first class honours and landed a new job the same day.

What im trying to say is don't let you past qualifications put you off further study, I also found that my "life experience" of working full time after school give me a distinct advantage over other candidates that had got all the A-Levels etc in job interviews.

start with a big blank sheet of paper and write down everything that makes you smile not just job related.
i'm hopefully going through another career change at 33. Its all i've done is change after I can't do what i wnated to do.
If you really want to go into the forces then keep applying. You might find that you actually enjoy a job that you never thought about in the first place ( ie me and project mgt)

CrapDonnalds is hiring.