[Closed] Getting a better (paid) job

How old are you?

What do you do now and what are you good at?

If I could tell my younger self one thing that I've learned over the years it would be this:

"Don't listen to what others say, do what you love, what you're good at and what you enjoy"

I Spent 20 years doing jobs for money and being bored out of my skull. It's not worth it.

Right so I'm 25 but have 2 kids to support so can't just do unpaid/low paid apprenticeships with no other income.

Currently I work in a bike shop which I don't mind but I have consistently been given more work/responsibility over the last few years to the point where it isn't really that enjoyable, which I could cope with if there was any sign of promotion or pay rise bit that seems impossible so I'm just doing twice as much work as I was a few years ago for the same money...

PP- I kind of already did that, working in crappy office jobs (slightly better paid but nothing great) got very bored so got a job in a bike shop and thought "hey this is great I don't care I never have any money" but with the kids and ever rising bills that feeling has worn off

Look at being a nurse, or a dietician, or a physiotherapist or a pharmacist.

Do the University course then crack on...

Armed Forces? Look at apprenticeships for the big firms, BAE, JLR etc

Do you keep an eye on [url= http://http://www.bikebiz.com/jobs ]Bikebiz jobs[/url]? There might be better paying jobs for people with Cytech qualifications or industry experience working for a distributor or on events. Just a thought.

In your Two examples, there is a big difference between becoming a HGV Driver and becoming a Driving Instructor.

Most HGV drivers are employed, Driving Instructor's are self employed.

I'm a Driving Instructor and a rough cost of training before actually getting out on the road was £4,000 then same again for a car.

Be careful of getting tied into training deals with providers like the big driving schools ( not naming but one acronym is Bring Some Money and another rhymes with dread..... 😉 ) as a franchise will be at least £200 per week ( car included )

Don't let that put you off, I'm independent and am turning work away and the ones who will wait for me to have a space are put on a waiting list. It's a big commitment but I wouldn't change it.

Let me know if you want any more advice.

Zyro Darlington (cycle parts distributor) looking for internal account managers (sort of sales) 19 to 22k base + 3k bonus

Loads of cheap houses good schools Hamsterley on the doorstep and Swaledale

GCSEs and A-Levels are a good start. You sound sensible and eloquent. I'm sure you'll do fine. I have only just managed to get past my salary from when I was 25! I'm 42 now. I changed career at 29.

Recruitment consultancy appears to be a good way to make money. I know some absolute idiots who seem to be able to make lots more money than me doing it. If I had to make some better money (40-70k) that's where I'd sell my soul. I married one instead though.

Good luck.

Money's not important until there is none..

GCSEs and A-Levels are a good start. You sound sensible and eloquent. I'm sure you'll do fine.

How are you at problem solving? Computer programming? Project management?

You can get apprentiships and get minimum wage at your age so you wont be any worse off so don't discount them.

Thanks for the advice, some good ideas.

Live in south Wales so not exactly got a huge amount of options. Not really in a position to move at the moment but will take a look at those jobs...

Driving instructor is something I am considering definitely seems like something that might take a while to build up a client base and get word of mouth around.

Uni isn't really an option as I can't support my family for 3 years+ with no wages I'm pretty sure the government has cut the bursaries and stuff for nurse now as well?

Honestly
Train to be a Gas Safe engineer , learn some plumbing , tiling and brazing . I think its one of the easiest ways to get into the £300 / dayrate jobs. Now , I know its probably not £300 a day in Wolverhampton, but most counties south of there it mostly is.
Fitting boilers, servicing boilers, fitting radiators. It isnt super technical , The work will be varied, indoors or on site. You can choose how much you work or dont.
If that doesnt float your boat then look into Air Conditioning/ Refrigeration. What I pay for service / emergency call out is stunning.

How are you at problem solving? Computer programming? Project management?

When working for an insurance company I took a aptitude test for an internal programming team and got 98% but Failed to get past the interview I asked and I had the highest score of everyone interviewed...

But have no actual experience of doing it for real
Think I'm relatively good at problem solving never had any experience of project management

Glupton was a driving instructor and didn't recommend it IIRC
I've thought about, but I think it's hard to make the numbers work without working all hours.

Danger,
Skilled work,
Responsibility,
Stress,
Travel (inconvenient travel to dull places probably with stress).

In general better paid work will involve one or more of the above to a greater or lesser extent. Consider which of these you are least and most into. This can help guide you.

Nothing will be quick. If you go Hgv the best paid work will not be available to newbies.

All jobs will require years to get to the good work so consider the journey as well as the destination.

Look at apprenticeships for the big firms, BAE, JLR etc

Competition for places is extremely high as lots of A-level students choosing not to go to uni - 50+ applicants for every job but as much on aptitude as qualifications. Applications open Oct/Nov for next September's intake. There are also higher (degree-level) apprenticeships that last 4 years.

GCSE/A levels - what did you do, where you good at the subjects ? That could point you in a direction.

If you are training / doing a course I think the mother of the kids can get welfare support, it might benworth checking with Citizens Advice. I would say "Uni" is probably not fhe roite for you unless you had a good chance ofma 1st or 2i in a work useful/related degree.

Do you work in a sales oriented role in the LBS, if so and younare quite good at that thise are transferable skills into better paid jobs.

If you are reasonably practical you can look at trades like electrician, plumber etc. You can work as a "hand" whilst learning on the job.

Finally your location doesn't necessarily help you, you may have to look at working away from the kids and seeingnthem at the weekend.

Good luck.

Nursing / paramedical stuff has no bursaries in England anymore so unless you can survive as a student for 3+ years forget that.

Police? Fire service? Prison Service?

Be a health and safety man

Do an IOSH health and safety course at night. Doesn't take that long or cost that much in comparison to most course.
It's a transferable qualification that's recognised in lots of varied industries.

Have 10 GCSEs and did A levels in Biology, chemistry and physics but only got D's and E's because I didn't want to go to uni (well done 18 year old me :roll:)

Nursing / paramedical stuff has no bursaries in England anymore so unless you can survive as a student for 3+ years forget that.
Police? Fire service? Prison Service?

Police won't let me join, probably the same for prison service and most civil service jobs I have applied for in the past (nothing major just got in trouble for something once a few years ago...)

Nursing is tough, I wouldn't recommend it if you just want a job, it's a calling.

As others have said I'd look at training or at least a job that comes with it.

Mate of mine gave up a crap, but well paid job a few years ago to go to Open Reach, I think it was £17k a year to start, but I think he's getting mid-20s now and there's pretty much unlimited OT if you want it. He does he FT hours in 4 days in the week, has a day home with the kids and works Saturday's for OT. A guy who subs for us in work was doing the same as him a few years ago but does IT network cabling now, earns good money from it and is always busy.

I wouldn't be a driving instructor - think when people want lessons - evenings and weekends. You'd not see the kids and have no life.

If i had no degree i'd learn a trade - plumbing/heating engineer seems like a job that will be hard to automate in the medium term. Get the gas safety stuff - start as an apprentice and then go out on your own.

Think I'm relatively good at problem solving never had any experience of project management

NHS. Probably more flexible re your past than other public sectors and, in some ways, a really good employer. Training paid for and usually a fair amount of flexibility etc.

Try information or performance roles, all you need is a bit of spreadsheet knowledge at the lower grades and then some SQL a bit further up. Plenty of room to progress too.

Every ****er can be a project manager in the NHS too - all you have to do is get Prince2 foundation :/

Wouldn't recommend driving instructor. My other half was one before the nipper arrived. Although she enjoyed it and built up a great reputation, she had to work a lot of hours to make decent money, basically seven days a week and lots of hours each day. She was looking in to specialising before she stopped. Fleet training, disabled drivers etc.

If you want to stay in S Wales look at what sectors thrive there and work to getting into those sectors. Currently Education, public sector, TV and creative (probably others). Although you may not have a degree working for a Uni (or even FE college) could help you to develop a career, and possibly lead to you gaining a degree part time.(It may or may not be useful)
There are three Uni's in SE Wales (Cardiff, Cardiff Met, USW, plus Swansea further west), pay and conditions for admin roles are pretty good for the area.
Or as others have said a trade, but it's going to be hard work training and earning at the same time (but not impossible)

Really appreciate the help guys.

Gas engineer/fitted seems like a good job but I can't see a way into it whilst still earning money...

Driving instructor seems to be a less favourable option than I might have thought

You might be able to do night courses or find a trades man that will train you up for return in you working for free or very cheap on your off days.. I guess it'd be unreal to expect no short term sacrifices of time with the family for a career change or even less pennies in the bank at the end of the month.

I'd say if you have a wind farm near by try and get trained up for a job on that - however with oil going pish there is more people looking that way for jobs.

I'm a web developer and the money is very good as is the flexibility (run my own company) but I find it very stressful - If you were interested I'd recommend doing some of the cheap online courses to see if you enjoyed it or were any good. If you did I'm sure there are lots of companies willing to pay close to £18-20k for a junior.. I didn't go that route but it's one where I feel you'd learn a lot in a short period of time and none of the take home stress of managing your own personal clients.

You can easily leave them in a year or 2 and start your own business if you've progressed and still enjoy it.

Lots of work online to be picked up on the likes of peopleperhour... it's not for me but it's a good in to getting gigs for experience and a little money reward.

Or curve ball.. what about starting your own bike shop or becoming a bike guide / instructor?

Rent a house, fill wid hoes, beat dem hoes, rinse and repeat. Works fow show.

I'd think carefully about starting anew in any sort of driving based career right now. If driverless cars/drone deliveries etc take off in the next few years there is bound to be an over supply of professional drivers.

If you are good at problem solving and also good with your hands, then something along the lines of gas engineer as above or as a field service engineer diagnosing and repairing commercial/industrial goods (eg lifts, escalators, kitchen equipment etc). You could look for someplace regional who would take you on with on the job training.

My mate is a gas boiler engineer in South Wales. He does alright. It's not SE day rates but neither are the living costs. He works directly for for the local authority, loads of council rented property with high turnover means lots of gas safety work.

You do get to see some sites, but if you're in South Wales, you'll be accustomed to that. 😉

What are you good at? That's where you should start.

And driving instruction is less attractive since Randy Lerner left Aston Villa.

They all look forward to a randy learner.

Really appreciate all the help lots to look into.

Enfht- I think I could make more using said rented house for "indoor gardening" but risks out way the rewards 😉

Might look into the web developer thing if I can try some online courses see how I get on not a massive risk to take. Will look at apprenticeships for the jobs mentioned, I'm not expecting to earn loads straight away obviously but I literally can't afford to live on any less than I earn now so would have to be paid work.

why not take the industry you're in to the next level?

train the bike stuff up and go solo as a mechanic / tech? don't go into sales as the internets killing that and its a big investment. just do builds, repairs + small stock of basic consumables (cables/fluids etc)

get a van that'll carry a few bikes, do local collections etc. you need is a secure alarmed location (to protect clients bikes in your care) and insurance to cover both their bikes and your work.

start on the side / on the quiet.. and expand..

Not a bad plan canopy, I know someone who is doing just that and making good money. The issue is he has probably already taken most of the customers around here and I just don't have the funds to start something like that up. I am a qualified bike mechanic (and do the odd job for "friends" outside of work) but just don't really see it ever paying well enough to be my only job long term.

I'm not really sure what I'm good at that is sort of my problem with my whole life 😆

I was one of those kids who just did well without trying up to GCSE level but then had no idea what I wanted to do so got a bit lost and had no real motivation and just fell into a few mundane jobs that anyone could do so never really tested myself much to figure out what I can do well

People person? Pragmatic? Not queasy at sight of blood/puke/poo? Ambulance emergency care assistant could be a good way into a decent job. In my trust they pay band 4 plus unsocial, many folks clearing 25k plus, plenty of OT too.

My brother was a driving instructor. Hated it. Worked 60-70 hours a week for very little money. I think he packed in and just went on the dole in the end because it paid better. Might sound good on paper, but after all the outlay and cancellations (after you've driven to them)... Etc. I don't think it's something you do for more money.

I was one of those kids who just did well without trying up to GCSE level but then had no idea what I wanted to do

Kinda me too but I followed the crowd to uni, twice. Still work in IT completely unrelated to (wasted, really ) degrees. If you can put up with office life try starting in call centre / help desk stuff. If you have the aptitude and attitude for it (problem solving and customer service) you can push on from there but do push yourself and take any opportunities. Try and specialise in one technology, ask for training and teach Yourself.

People person? Pragmatic? Not queasy at sight of blood/puke/poo? Ambulance emergency care assistant could be a good way into a decent job. In my trust they pay band 4 plus unsocial, many folks clearing 25k plus, plenty of OT too.

I tolerate people rather than like them generally... I have always worked in customer facing jobs and seem to do ok but realistically I would probably be happier to be left on my own to get my work done.

Not scared of gross stuff (have 2 kids and a dog!) So that is certainly an option

Alexxx - or anyone else that knows...

Could you possibly point me in the direction of any decent web development courses to try?

Also currently I only have a Chromebook which I guess wobble great for this sort of stuff. Any recommendations of what sort of power/memory etc is needed from a computer to be useful for web development? As if I like it then obviously I will need s tool for the job.

Looks like their is a fair amount of jobs available for decent wages.

Look for a trade with a housing trust. Know a few guys have done this, the Trusts have had funding for apprentices new to industry, once ticketed they have set up solo, mostly contracting back to the Trust plus other jobs.

Alternatively, there seems to be a lack of timber wagon drivers in South Wales when we chat to them. Know a guy with a wagon sitting in the yard because the last driver didn't like heights and couldn't handle sitting in the crane chair. Even with that wagon back on the road, he won't be able to shift timber quick enough.

Could you possibly point me in the direction of any decent web development courses to try?

[url= https://www.codecademy.com/ ]codecademy.com[/url] wouldn't be a bad place to start. But there's loads of stuff if you google it.

Also currently I only have a Chromebook which I guess wobble great for this sort of stuff. Any recommendations of what sort of power/memory etc is needed from a computer to be useful for web development? As if I like it then obviously I will need s tool for the job.

Computing power really isn't too important for most stuff really. A nice sized and crisp screen can be nice. I hate working on less than two monitors myself, as you tend to have a few windows open, and it means you can look at output and code at the same time.

Really though, that's all personal preference. You can easily learn web development on some ropey old 10 year old computer. Although you'll want your browsers and whatnot up to date.

It's not something that is as easy to get into as it once was. It is becoming increasingly complicated with people focusing more on specialised areas. And it's not something you will learn in a matter of weeks. But if you have a real interest in it, it's certainly something you can learn yourself, and it can be quite rewarding.

Any potential employers will be more interested in your work than any courses you've been on. So build your own sites, etc....

Don't go for anything that can either be outsourced to someone in a cheaper country or feasibly done by a robot.

Not just robots, but bots as well. A lot of service industry jobs could be going that way soon enough.

You like problem solving and have the aptitude for code etc. Why not look at IT security. It's an undersubscribed growth area and and there are usually heaps of junior analyst jobs.

Thanks I'll take a look at that site, seems good in that I can learn in my own time and build up a bit of a portfolio without huge expense (just time/effort) and then I might be in a position to make it a full time job.

Seems worth at least trying considering I've apparently got the right mindset/aptitude for programming/coding.

Maths access course, Statistics BSc, take your IMC over a summer holiday, get a basic 30k job in financial operations in London, study for your CFA I/II in the evenings. Move up to 50-60k, get some experience in a client facing role. Do a quantative masters at the LSE and learn some programming. Finish CFA III, become a quant trader. Get massively ****ing rich and blow your money on coke and hookers.

Go big or go home OP.

Or, start a naked ironing service.

I'd start training as an electrician at night classes, then attempt to get experience with one of the larger local firms and build from there.

I think there's more scope in electrical and wiring skills in the next 15 years than there is in Gas

A bit out of left-field!

If you don't time away from home and can take 3 years on a lower income what about [url= http://www.clydemarinetraining.com/content/why-become-merchant-navy-cadet-and-have-career-sea ]Merchant Navy Officer[/url]?

Once qualified, plenty of earning potential.

Even with a family it can work, as you get much more quality time with your kids when your home. Most ferries and offshore type vessels give 6 months leave a year.

OP I think starting your own buainess at 25 is risky, especially as you don't have a firm isea / opportunity in mind. Training (say) as an electrician whilst earning money and then having a look round for a "gap in the market" makes more sense. As I posted beiore my ex-BIL was an electrician, then worked in high-tech manufacturing, then moved to self employed doing house electricals. Another relative went from electrician into IT and eventually started his own business which he sold for a few £ million, now retired at 55 and drives round between golf courses in an Aston Martin.

I know someone who became a train driver. Two or three years training and then a fairly good wage.

I've read / heard lots of folk suggest becoming a tiler. Demand apparently outstrips supply and pay is good. Might depend on how active your local housing market is though. Seems to me that there's a fairly basic skillset to develop and not a massive outlay on tools.

Royal Navy - they are desperately short of decent recruits, and those who are a bit older/more sensible tend to do really well.

Having seen the calibre of some of the younger ranks (absolute muppets) you won't need to try too hard to succeed.

"Even with a family it can work, as you get much more quality time with your kids when your home. Most ferries and offshore type vessels give 6 months leave a year."

as someone who currently works away for long periods frequently- young kids forget you - based on what my colleagues im working with in various countries around the world on 5 on 5 off

significant chance of older kids resenting you - based on my wife working in a school with a high % of kids with FIFO fathers.

Its not something i would pursue and im following this thread with interest to get OUT of working away before i have kids. I dont buy this "quality time" thing at all.

My brother was a driving instructor. Hated it. Worked 60-70 hours a week for very little money. I think he packed in and just went on the dole in the end because it paid better. Might sound good on paper, but after all the outlay and cancellations (after you've driven to them)... Etc. I don't think it's something you do for more money.

I agree with most of that.

It works for me but I've no kids, house is paid for so its more of a lifestyle for me. Would I have done it if I had ? No way, it's too much of a risk.

Its not something i would pursue and im following this thread with interest to get OUT of working away before i have kids. I dont buy this "quality time" thing at all.

It works for some, not for everyone. Horses for courses.

he issue is he has probably already taken most of the customers around here and I just don't have the funds to start something like that up.

depends really - but you know your turf. down here its not densely populated apart from a few towns and there are at least 4 guys doin similar. 3 specialising in in mtb within a 30 mile radius. i know at least 2 get work subbed to them from bike shops, so thats possibly another revenue stream, and several are currently working from secured sheds/garages at their homes. so very little outlay. oh, and only one does pickups for lazy people afaik.

As another thread just prompted.. PAT testing? bit boring but I believe it's paid well enough!

timber - Member

Look for a trade with a housing trust. Know a few guys have done this, the Trusts have had funding for apprentices new to industry, once ticketed they have set up solo, mostly contracting back to the Trust plus other jobs.

Alternatively, there seems to be a lack of timber wagon drivers in South Wales when we chat to them. Know a guy with a wagon sitting in the yard because the last driver didn't like heights and couldn't handle sitting in the crane chair. Even with that wagon back on the road, he won't be able to shift timber quick enough.

Not Brian Amos?

As @freeagent says a forces career can be very attractive and many specialisations exist which can provide excellent training. Friend's son has done helicopter maintainence as his trade in the Army Air Corps which will see him well set when he is back in civvy street.

In Scotland we have an Electrician Adult training scheme. You get paid a labourers rate (£8?) rather than an apprentice rate and you attend college for one Friday a fortnight (paid) for the first 2 years. 3rd year is one week at college and after 3 years you'll be eligible to sit the final trade test.
It's a good way into the industry and you finish with the same experience and qualifications as the normal mainstream apprentices.

Or curve ball.. what about starting your own bike shop or becoming a bike guide / instructor?

Seriously. South Wales is obviously a mini hotbed with the trail centres and the Carpenters in residence.

Or armed forces. As an older recruit you'll have a better head on your shoulders and be in demand.

As @freeagent says a forces career can be very attractive and many specialisations exist which can provide excellent training. Friend's son has done helicopter maintainence as his trade in the Army Air Corps which will see him well set when he is back in civvy street.

Other option in this vein is reserves - see how you like it, and you get paid. During my brief spell infanteering there were plenty of others that were using it as a gateway to other skills (one lad wanted to get into the paras, another wanted to get into logistics to learn to drive; I just liked assault courses, learning new skills, sleeping in fields and firearms 😉 )

wiggles - Member
never had any experience of project management

Doesn't seem to have held back some of the "Project Managers" I've come across 😆

It works for some, not for everyone. Horses for courses.

+1

A friend works on the rigs. He gets paid a very good wage and then has lots of time with the kids when back. If he can time it with the school hols he's onto a winner. Kids are 9 and 11.

Thanks for all the help guys, not really interested in forces/working away type stuff as don't really want to be away from the kids...

First project is fix my laptop and start looking at some free online courses and give some coding/programming stuff and go and see how I get on, in the mean time I'm looking into apprenticeships if there is anything that will pay me enough to live on for now.

Are there coding/programming jobs in your part of Wales ? Whilst I can imagine there is some remote working I am a bit sceptical.

Chapeau for wanting to remain near the kids but you may have to take a tough decision in order to take a reasonable step forward money wise

It's easy for folk who have never worked away for long periods to see the £££ signs and think all is rosy . (I do 2 weeks -3 months away at a time )

Good to see you sticking round for your kids. It will be better for them long term than the money.

I've been away for the odd 2 week course etc and didn't like it(neither did the kids) plus it make things difficult with childcare as the missus works part time so I look after them to cover most of that.

Their does appear to be a reasonable amount of jobs available around Cardiff or Bristol which isn't too bad of a commute if I had to.

If you use aprenteships to search for you will end up disappointed as you are older. You will be better off diy the training. Doing night courses and trying to get a job any where in the type of business you want to work in, getting to meet people who might take you on. Even if you are working as a general labour for a builder and you want to get? In to plumbing say you will be more likley to meet plumbers and people who know plumbers to get a chance.

P.s have you commuted south Wales to Bristol in rush hour? Might not be as easy as you think and hours mean it is no different to working away.

The Brick's much earlier comment about better paid jobs falling into certain categories is bang on.

I work as a developer and have done for ~15 years. The other day we listed the technologies we need intricate knowledge of to do my job and it was around 30 (which is a bit crazy!). The industry constantly changes and it is a battle to keep up with new frameworks, working practices and whatever fads are around (I have 2 kids as well). I honestly can't imagine doing it from scratch with 2 kids while holding down another full time job ... but don't make my skepticism stop you!

I really enjoy it though. I had a few years being a manager for 10-15 people too and decided that wasn't for me (and moved back to full time development this year - having to play catch up).

The coding thing is interesting, but it's a crowded place and you will need some experience to get into a lot of jobs.
Somebody mentioned about getting in via call centre stuff, doing a project for somebod who used that as a way when moving but had a lot of skills/experiecne to back it up.
From memory down Cardiff/Newport way there are some of the governmnet type places (DVLA & Patent office??) It may be soul destroying but it will probably be decent money and training opportunities if you have the right attitude.

I've been away for the odd 2 week course etc and didn't like it(neither did the kids) plus it make things difficult with childcare as the missus works part time so I look after them to cover most of that.

(tough love advice coming up)
at some point if you want to make a big change you might have to go through some pain, it's how you manage it that will count. Having supportive family who can see your trying to make it better for all of you will be helpful.

Whereabouts are you in South Wales? If you are considering IT then the company I work for have a couple of big datacentres in Bridgend and most of the Service Desk and Engineer level roles are based there (engineers being the junior people that install up to OS level on the Wintel or UNIX/Linux side or do the racking and cabling on the datacentre provisioning side rather than the correct definition of an engineer...).

The pay isn't great and I imagine it's a bit soul-destroying unless you're really into IT and looking for a way to get your foot in the door to start a career. I'm not sure what roles are currently available (if any) or how you apply but will look into it if you're interested.

I really would take the advice others have offered and look for something that interests you to start with (and even if computers interest you bear in mind you could be on the service desk for 1-2 years doing routine stuff initially)

Core - that's him.
You weren't the previous driver were you?

Live in Newport, so Bridgend is not a million miles away. Email is in my profile if you have any info thanks

No one has mentioned Sales! That is a role you can do in various types of organisations and make good money. Obviously not as easy as people think it is, you need to be a people person rather than a mouthy type.

It's how I did it.