New career, any ideas?

paradisiac · 26 Apr 2012 at 19:06

so, i have finally decided if i dont change something soon, then i never will and regret it.
i have done many jobs before to get me through college, but my only real jobs have been sales, and 'pc repairs'. currently im doing a bit of both, but mainly repairs, which consists mainly of virus removals and telling people a 10 year old pc will not run as fast as a new one, no matter how much money they thow at it. and its just going nowhere. no chance of promotion or opportunities, so i want out.
thing is, computers is about all i have qualifications in. i dont mind retraining, but obvs would have to be an evening class type thing as i need a wage to live.
i really dont know what i want to do, never have, but feel now is the time to pick something and just go for it.
what do people suggest are good career type jobs with promotion possabilities.

paradisiac · 26 Apr 2012 at 19:13

Moses said:
What are you interested in? It's pointless just picking a random career... pick something you want to do.

im not sure. lots of things interest me, like law, phsycology, technology. but i dont know if they are things i have left too late to get into. and there seems to be a huge number of jobs, that i was unaware existed in lots of fields, so thought maybe with some suggestions something might pop up that i would have an interest in that i hadnt thought about.

piggeh · 26 Apr 2012 at 19:38

snake charmer
cannonball man
trapezist
tightrope walker
lion tamer

OpenToSuggestions · 26 Apr 2012 at 19:40

OP: For a start you need to start using capital letters and using full English words. If I had a job vacancy going I certainly would want somebody who can string a full sentence together.

Yes I am being serious! All somebody has to judge you on from your application are the things you have written and how well it has been written.

paradisiac · 26 Apr 2012 at 19:40

piggeh said:
snake charmer
cannonball man
trapezist
tightrope walker
lion tamer

do any of them count as careers, or offer a chance of promotion

although they do sound a lot more fun than virus scans all day.

OpenToSuggestions said:
OP: For a start you need to start using capital letters and using full English words. If I had a job vacancy going I certainly would want somebody who can string a full sentence together.

Yes I am being serious!

I do use proper grammar in work related text. But on forums etc. then I do not see the point as people can understand. Not like I am using 'text' speak.

Edit : and for the record, I used to teach ECDL and C.V. writing etc. so I am fully aware of how you should structure application forms and C.V. for job applications.

sniffy · 26 Apr 2012 at 19:42

Without knowing you it's difficult to say. Do you want to go back into education? What are you good at? What interests you? Only you can really answer these questions.

Reaper 392 · 26 Apr 2012 at 19:44

OpenToSuggestions said:
OP: For a start you need to start using capital letters and using full English words. If I had a job vacancy going I certainly would want somebody who can string a full sentence together.

Yes I am being serious! All somebody has to judge you on from your application are the things you have written and how well it has been written.

very few people can be bothered to use proper spelling and grammar where it doesnt really matter. i suspect the OP knows where to use capital letters and whatever, but types as he does because its faster and easier

/anti grammar nazi

paradisiac · 26 Apr 2012 at 19:49

sniffy said:
Without knowing you it's difficult to say. Do you want to go back into education? What are you good at? What interests you? Only you can really answer these questions.

i wouldnt mind going back into education if i could fit it around my fulltime job as i need the money to pay the bills.
i can pick up most things pretty quickly, although anything that is creative i do struggle on (especially if it envolves getting things down on paper like drawings).
i am interested in a wide variety of things, i would like to do something that requires thinking and challenges (like teaching, law, phsycology) and something with a rewarding feeling at the end of the day. but most importantly, something that you get rewarded for doing a good job (to keep me motivated else i lose interest quickly) whether its in with promotion or a bonus.

piggeh · 26 Apr 2012 at 19:56

I don't get why you don't get enjoyment in IT. Surely IT has a load of positions which would be challenging and rewarding (systems design, project management, etc).

paradisiac · 26 Apr 2012 at 20:01

piggeh said:
I don't get why you don't get enjoyment in IT. Surely IT has a load of positions which would be challenging and rewarding (systems design, project management, etc).

these arent areas i am qualified in (i say qualified, i have an IT GNVQ and A+ so not exactly qualified. i do also have a GNVQ in business studies which i loved). and IT doesnt seem to interest me as much anymore. obviously i enjoy building rigs, and doing upgrades (i seem to be a compolsive obsessive rig builder, i now have 6 and i only need 1), but doint it as a job i find just isnt fun. i wake up dreading going into work, knowing i will be spending the day sat infront of a screen watching a machine scan, or having to explain to someone how things change so you cant just stick a new quad core cpu in their 10+ year old machine and make it quicker.

Arnie · 26 Apr 2012 at 20:02

Hedge fund manager
Quantum physicist
Formula 1 driver
Professional philosopher
Concert pianist
Architect
Surgeon
Film director
Director of the NSA
Poker ace
Stealth bomber pilot

iguanoid · 26 Apr 2012 at 20:03

paradisiac said:
do any of them count as careers, or offer a chance of promotion
although they do sound a lot more fun than virus scans all day.

Not sure if it counts as promotion, but I understand that as a human cannon ball you have the opportunity to go up in the world. :cool:

On a serious note though, are you in a position to travel, or do you have to look in the area you live currently? Its a big world out there and a lot of it isnt sinking even further into recession than the Uk...

paradisiac · 26 Apr 2012 at 20:04

iguanoid said:
Not sure if it counts as promotion, but I understand that as a human cannon ball you have the opportunity to go up in the world.

On a serious note though, are you in a position to travel, or do you have to look in the area you live currently? Its a big world out there and a lot of it isnt sinking even further into recession than the Uk...

unfortunatly due to my recent seperation, i have to stay in this area as it would kill me not being able to see my kids every day.

piggeh · 26 Apr 2012 at 20:09

paradisiac said:
these arent areas i am qualified in (i say qualified, i have an IT GNVQ and A+ so not exactly qualified. i do also have a GNVQ in business studies which i loved). and IT doesnt seem to interest me as much anymore. obviously i enjoy building rigs, and doing upgrades (i seem to be a compolsive obsessive rig builder, i now have 6 and i only need 1), but doint it as a job i find just isnt fun. i wake up dreading going into work, knowing i will be spending the day sat infront of a screen watching a machine scan, or having to explain to someone how things change so you cant just stick a new quad core cpu in their 10+ year old machine and make it quicker.

Well it's not necessarily IT is it? More your current job? Why not get more qualified in IT and do something more challenging?

IT Buying - knowledge of components (technology), law (contract law), psychology (negotiating/change management), end results can be satisfying, not stuck in front of a PC watching scans all day, etc.

Project management?

paradisiac · 26 Apr 2012 at 20:12

piggeh said:
Well it's not necessarily IT is it? More your current job? Why not get more qualified in IT and do something more challenging?

IT Buying - knowledge of components (technology), law (contract law), psychology (negotiating/change management), end results can be satisfying, not stuck in front of a PC watching scans all day, etc.

Project management?

contract law interests me a lot. also, i love things (and i know its sad) like accountancy related stuff. jobs where you feel like you have achieved something when its finished.
not entirely sure what project management is, but it does sound pretty interesting.
a buying job would be good, but i live in a little village in cornwall, so cant see it being something that is in need around here

Tyron · 26 Apr 2012 at 20:14

Go to uni? And dont let your age stop you.

paradisiac · 26 Apr 2012 at 20:15

Tyron said:
Go to uni? And dont let your age stop you.

its not just the age, but the fact i have bills to pay. so going to uni isnt really an option. although it is one thing i regret not doing.

Zefan · 26 Apr 2012 at 20:16

Why can't you move?

If you're the sort of person who might be interested in the armed forces then I might be able to give yuo some info, otherwise I'm going to be pretty useless in this thread

:edit: What are these "bills" you speak of? Going to uni = no more bills, unless you've got kids that is and then this whole thread becomes quite different.

paradisiac · 26 Apr 2012 at 20:17

Zefan said:
Why can't you move?

If you're the sort of person who might be interested in the armed forces then I might be able to give yuo some info, otherwise I'm going to be pretty useless in this thread

lol coz i want to be near to my kids, they are about the only good thing i have at the moment.
i believe the armed forces are for some people, but deffinatly not something i would do

Zefan · 26 Apr 2012 at 20:19

Are you not in to the idea of commuting? I live in Cornwall so I know what you mean about the jobs etc, but it's not as if there aren't some bigger places where there are jobs.