43 year old looking for a career change. Any ideas?

Could you use your art and design qualification to get on a teacher training course, or a tech college? Assuming the thought of teaching children doesn't fill you with horror... :)

Dave
 
I'm going to drop you a PM.

Nothing cryptic about this people. Would be innapropriate for me to post directly.
 
What about a job with TFL?
A tube driver earns £40k a year for a 35 hour week.
43 days holiday too.

Tube drivers earn £10,000 a year more than nurses - Telegraph

If you didn't fancy being a tube driver, you could look for a career in the maintenance side of things, seeing as it's basically what you're doing now.

I'd second this. I know of an ex-police officer colleague who resigned from the force who was earning ~ £30K and became a train driver for National Rail and is now earning £40-45k a year. Good initial training too.
 
Sounds like train driver it is then. I think boredom is less of an issue if you're happy with your pay since you can afford luxuries and pursue hobbies that give you something to think about and motivate you.

I've been in a similar situation - was earning about £16k when I was 25 in an office job. For 3.5 years I was literally doing an hours work per month and just sitting on the net all day pretending I had something to do. I would always have a meaningless excel sheet open and flick to that when someone walked past!

I was totally demotivated and in a rut - because I had no motivation I hadn't spotted the work that did need doing. I thought if I quit all the stuff I hadn't done would come to light and I'd be in the brown stuff. Day I got told I was being made redundant (wasn't just me) I was literally grinning form ear to ear.

I've had 7 full time jobs (+ 2 temp jobs) in 11 years incorporating 3 redundancies and 1 sacking (which came at another job where I became totally demotivated to the point I wasn't doing the job properly).

Even when I thought I was low paid I went to an even lower paid job but worked hard - a few ups and downs along the way and eventually I now have a job I'm very happy with.

I think your employment history will look decent to an employer as it shows commitment and supervisory experience is always good - with training you can take that into lots of areas.
 
Did you know that on average, salaries peak for people aged 40-50? So now is the time to look for a better paid job, because it's only going to get worse!

It sounds to me like you have chosen a career that isn't taxing at all, and has no responsibility, because you want an easy life. Which is fine, but now you're paying for it. But if that's not what you want, go out there and do something about. After all, you've got some O'levels and a BTec so you can't be stupid. If you put your mind to it (and some effort), I am sure you could get a better paid job.

On the other hand, 22K isn't too far behind the national average (26k). But it's your life - and your choice.

If you want to progress, you need to show ability and motivation. Don't just do the minimum - exceed expectations. Make a difference. You'll feel a lot more motivated. Perhaps make a report each day on how well roads are being swept, suggest ways it could be improved, rate the sweepers, the cleaniness of streets, etc.
 
At that age no on has Suggested porn star.. you Could be the new Ron jeremy , you never no it Could be the Future ..
 
Hi Bill

Just read your first post - clear and concise.

The current job you have held for 5 years shows commitment, loyalty and dedication. At the beginning the job must have been enjoyable for you.

Are you after a total change of job that requires re-training? If so the starting pay will be poor. Unfortunately (to be realistic) your age is against you for a total change.

Does your partner/missus work to provide enough income for you to go to college for further training (electrician etc)?

Alan
 
Bill i think the first step is to think of something you want to do and then workout what it takes to achieve it.

i think from the position you are in you have to think about it being a long term plan (say 5 years - re education etc) I know from experiance that there is no quick or easy answer to the problem.

If you search you will find a thread i posted a number of years ago when i was going out of mind in my mind numbing council IT job. I was lucky, an internal opportuinity came up and i grabbed it with both hands. In the last 2 and half years i've turned myself around - i'm earning about 80% more than i was in 2007 and i'm much happier. Not only that but i'm now emplyable in the outside world as i'm a qualified Project/Programme Manager and Business Analyst.

I never wanted an easy job - i wanted one that would make me feel worthwhile and one that was challenging on a daily basis - i have that now and i'm a much much happier (but more stressed) bunny.

Good luck


G
 
Bill, can I have your job please??:D
 
Im a bus driver ,mate...do you think your job is worse than mine?
 
On the other hand, 22K isn't too far behind the national average (26k).

I'm not being pedantic... :hiya: but in a conversation with someone the other day I needed to know the national average wage of the UK, so I text good old AQA, and they replied the current UK average is £24,603.
 
What are you interested in?

Do you want a 9-5 job or are you flexible?

Will you work weekends?

Is this the right time in the economy to be looking at something else?

Even though it's boring, I'd stay in the current job until something better comes up. Keep working hard, speak to your bosses again about expanding your position.

In the meantime - put some feelers out.

Good luck.
 
I'm not being pedantic... :hiya: but in a conversation with someone the other day I needed to know the national average wage of the UK, so I text good old AQA, and they replied the current UK average is £24,603.
That's probably true - but not for the 40-50 age range, which is £26k. :)
 
got laid off after a 13 year stint as a mechanical fitter , lost count of the number of jobs i applied for , either heard nothing or went for tests and heard nothing , there is just nothing doing in my trade around here , so the wife said why not bus driving , applied , got an interview , went for a medical and have now got a start , just got to pass my test now :smashin:
 
got laid off after a 13 year stint as a mechanical fitter , lost count of the number of jobs i applied for , either heard nothing or went for tests and heard nothing , there is just nothing doing in my trade around here , so the wife said why not bus driving , applied , got an interview , went for a medical and have now got a start , just got to pass my test now :smashin:

Well done matey. :smashin:
Bus driving has a bad rep but the pay has improved over the past 5 years and once you've past the PCV test, you will have a job for life if you want it.
All the best in your new career. :thumbsup:

P.S. Seeing that you were a mechanical engineer (Vehicles?) why didn't you try for a fitters job at the bus company?
 
It's alright saying, oh be a train driver, have you seen how many jobs are not out there? People are still being laid off left right and centre, our local council just laid off 40 sparky's with another 60+ office staff to follow by March, with another 30+ social service staff by April.

Why not have a word with your boss and ask for some diversity?

Edit: I have just applied for 19 jobs this morning alone in IT, this knocks the total to 116 jobs since July - i have had x2 interviews. I'm qualified with 15yrs experiance (37yr old).
 
got laid off after a 13 year stint as a mechanical fitter , lost count of the number of jobs i applied for , either heard nothing or went for tests and heard nothing , there is just nothing doing in my trade around here , so the wife said why not bus driving , applied , got an interview , went for a medical and have now got a start , just got to pass my test now :smashin:

Say goodbye to family/social life :hiya:
 

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