Total change of career

[Mikey]

What did you do in the Army, Darcy, a friend of mine came out as a comms man, and went into the fire brigade in the control department directing services where needed. He's now back in comms but for a private firm.

What skill set have you got?

[chris]

I've posted about this - zaz gave some good advice in it (or it may have been via PM, can't remember). Then I was offered a position for a private company (was in the public sector at the time), I couldn't really turn the offer down after various negotiation episodes.

It's still doing what I hate (programming (web stuff mainly - boooooooring)), but for a lot more money - so for the time being I'm putting up with it. I've got a lot more autonomy now though - and will soon be heading up a team in a new site myself so there's better prospects here.

Gotta admit though, I see the dudes mowing the grass around here on their sit on mowers - that really appeals to me

Edit: Ahh.. read the rest of the post now. I'd see if they're willing to offer training... then the worlds your oyster!

What have you always fancied doing?

[Mikey]

Gotta admit though, I see the dudes mowing the grass around here on their sit on mowers - that really appeals to me

Dude you need a bigger lawn for one of them....

[chris]

I mean mowing the grass verges stick headphones in, mow the grass, go home and potter. Lovely! Being a web dev for almost 16 years has bored me to tears of it.

Still, as FG says - there's always someone out there that needs a website ...

[Mikey]

I mean mowing the grass verges stick headphones in, mow the grass, go home and potter. Lovely! Being a web dev for almost 16 years has bored me to tears of it.

Still, as FG says - there's always someone out there that needs a website ...

Yes mate, as to most of us its double dutch....

[Cue the Toms]

I have been considering a career change for sometime now... I currently drive coaches and have done for 20+ years. During my career I have taken people on holiday throughout the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe and I've had enough. I literally have been there, seen most of it and got all the T-shirts I could ever wish for! I now want to be at home with my family and spend time on my allotment.

I'm pretty useful at most DIY projects, I have a van and most of any tools that I would need so probably next spring I will try to get enough work to run my own business as a landscape gardener. I have quite a few contacts that will pass on work and I believe that there's enough work locally for me to make a living.

I can stay on at my current employers as a part time/casual driver doing school runs and the occasional private hire at weekends if I need to top up my earnings.

I really want to make a go of this, but for me it will be a big challenge!

Chris

[roitelet]

I changed three times. Started out as a Dental Nurse, brought up a family then retrained as a teacher. When I decided I didn't want to teach anymore I ran a Coffee shop and Art Gallery. Now retired and working harder than I have ever done in my life but loving it.

[Farmer_Gyles]

I mean mowing the grass verges stick headphones in, mow the grass, go home and potter. Lovely! Being a web dev for almost 16 years has bored me to tears of it.

Still, as FG says - there's always someone out there that needs a website ...

every time i'm offered web development work, i end up thinking it's only �18 an hour (or whatever) ....
i'd rather just stick a card in the newsagent's window offering to cut grass etc for �10 an hour .... no hassles, no grief, just chill, enjoy being in my own little world for a while ....

i'm lucky tho .... i have my own websites that sit there earning me money day and night .... work once, get paid often ....

[northepaul]

every time i'm offered web development work, i end up thinking it's only �18 an hour (or whatever) ....
i'd rather just stick a card in the newsagent's window offering to cut grass etc for �10 an hour .... no hassles, no grief, just chill, enjoy being in my own little world for a while ....

i'm lucky tho .... i have my own websites that sit there earning me money day and night .... work once, get paid often ....

�10 an hour to cut grass! I'm moving up your way!

[Jeanied]

Oh my -what a tricky thing to advise on. Just to say that I drifted into my career after not having too many ideas of what to do after I graduated - and teaching was an easy option in those days. After a few years of that I went off for a year to California determined to do something different - came back again and did a part time management course and paid for it by supply teaching and started to find that I was good at it. So the best thing is to work on existing skills and build and work out from there.
Having retired / been made redundant in 2011, I still do not know what I want to do when I grow up- but I know my teaching skills are important and give me a lot of pleasure!

[Potstubsdustbins]

Just a few of my thoughts for you to think about.

First as already posted what are your military trades, any specialist skills? That you could put to use.

Do your family rely on your income, will your 'lump dump' allow your to train for a longer period than the mob are prepared to give you?

You are only 31 and unless you have been a desk jockey you will be used to a very active life and I am sure unless you choose carefully 'civvy street' will seem very boring.

Worst of all if you think there are idiots carrying rank in the army you ain't seen nothing yet.

Colin

[chris]

PTD posting has just made me remember something

I wouldn't mind being a plasterer. I'm actually thinking about paying for a course, just so I know how to do it "properly" and can skim the remaining ceilings myself. I'd like to build a house in the future, so it could come in useful then I quite enjoy DIY, in fact, I did my first bit of soldering (plumbing wise) the other day. No leaks either!

[Farmer_Gyles]

chris, feel free to pop round and fix the wall in my son's bedroom where he pulled the radiator off the wall ....

[Cue the Toms]

I could have done that.... I drove through Purley last night.

[chris]

chris, feel free to pop round and fix the wall in my son's bedroom where he pulled the radiator off the wall ....

I'll wait until you're out in France, if you don't mind? May as well make a holiday out of it then

Just get him to do it there too!