New career path at 26?, current path not good.

413x

413x

413x

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I'll try and make this brief.

I work in science at UEA and am there until December on temp contract. I have a degree in molecular biology at 2:1, i did this degree cause at the time we were pushed to do what we did well in academically, i enjoyed science until it came to work. Now I don't. The only things I really like about it are flexible and location, not job itself. The my previous science job I did not like either.

I'm 27 this year but keep thinking about what I could be driven to do, something with numbers, finance, IT based, i have good general knowledge but not work related skills. I also like practical things, being out doors, 'building and planning 'in general. I also have a focused mindset, i prefer to work at one difficult task than lots of little things. I wish I had Trained in engineering or finance now, my strongest point has always been numbers and mathematics at a practical level

The worst thing is not having a direction! All I really know is this is going nowhere.
Part of it is the money, gf earns minimum wage and probably not going to get anymore ever, this means I need to earn more.

I guess I would take a science based job in industry (ie not research) if it paid well, I know some big companies (food companies etc) have good opportunities. I don't have the love for science to do a PhD

I don't mind retraining or starting at the bottom of the pile if there is clear hope for the future.

Pretty vague I know, but that's how I feel, lost. I'm not stupid, except for doing something I enjoy at uni rather than something useful.

Probably some details missed out, but I am using my phone from work
 
al4x said:
I'll try and make this brief.

I work in science at UEA and am there until December on temp contract. I have a degree in molecular biology at 2:1,
Part of it is the money, gf earns minimum wage and probably not going to get anymore ever, this means I need to earn more.
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Sack her & get a girlfriend who earns more & I didn't need a Degree to work that one out. :D


Real answer - :(

Mate you are really Young, Do whatever makes you happy before time passes you by. :)
 
You're only 26! I'm 38 and have just started a new career path - including going back to school. If you're not happy make the change. It's that simple.
 
Are you of the female variety?

You say you were pushed into doing what you did well at academically - but what did you enjoy when you made your degree choice?
 
PermaBanned said:
Are you of the female variety?

You say you were pushed into doing what you did well at academically - but what did you enjoy when you made your degree choice?
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Pushed is strong word I guess, i liked the learning of science but in my nativity and probably the degree not representing real world science I guess I just went with the flow

Guy btw
 
Curio said:
You're only 26! I'm 38 and have just started a new career path - including going back to school. If you're not happy make the change. It's that simple.
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What did you decide to do? Also how much schooling do you have to do?
 
Went from Marketing to IT. School was going to take me 2 years, however I just got a full-time IT job so I'll have to do evening/on-classes now, so it will be longer than that. Or I might just forget that and do certificates instead.
 
If I had two decent cars at 26 I'd be a happy camper.
Still, if you're genuinely unhappy doing what you're doing then I don't suppose the pay packet really comes in to it.
 
Fluke? said:
If I had two decent cars at 26 I'd be a happy camper.
Still, if you're genuinely unhappy doing what you're doing then I don't suppose the pay packet really comes in to it.
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Just don't see it going anywhere and just don't feel there's any reason to do my best, which isn't me

Curio said:
Went from Marketing to IT. School was going to take me 2 years, however I just got a full-time IT job so I'll have to do evening/on-classes now, so it will be longer than that. Or I might just forget that and do certificates instead.
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Evening classes may well be what I have to do, can't afford a huge amount of time off work

Windle said:
Bit harsh to assume your girlfriend is never going to earn more than minimum wage?
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She works with animals and isn't really the drive in her like what I have. She doesn't challenge herself, if she can't figure something out she doesn't bother
 
al4x said:
I don't mind retraining or starting at the bottom of the pile if there is clear hope for the future.
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I did it at 32, £14K paycut, never looked back and I enjoy what I do now. It's never too late, it just feels like it is sometimes. Have a think about what you actually want to do, or if it's your current role wearing you down. Non-academic science roles can be a lot more fulfilling than academic ones and don't have the pressure :)
 
Go for it. Friend of mine changed career at 31 (took up nursing). I think the days of being tied to a single profession for 40-50 years are over. I'm 32 and still harbour ambitions to change career.

Preferring to work at one difficult task rather than a collection of smaller tasks is interesting, I'm not sure what job might suit you best (maybe engineering as you suggest).
 
glad it can be done and im not too late! does feel it tho!

as much as i would love to do engineering i fear the training etc would be too expensive. What my mate did is much better, worked before going to uni so he had genuine work experience, cant change the past but i think this is much better than the system the uk promotes at school
 
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