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I’ve posted on here before when I needed to air some thoughts,
I’m a 25 year old heavy vehicle mechanic
Anyway I feel somewhat stuck and fed up at the moment, I left my current employer a year ago due to poor pay it being a dead end from a training and progression point of view, I worked at a few other companies in Yorkshire where I found poor work ethics and equally poor pay, so I went back to my old employer and I’m on better money now, but I don’t like the company I work for as again I find myself working without proper training and equipment having to ‘make do’ on a daily basis surrounded by an attitude of the less you do the more you are thought of.
I’m finding it demoralising being back at my old employer like I can’t make progress in life, being in Yorkshire my whole life doesn’t help this feeling. I want to feel like a professional in my job.
Another thing is I enjoy being outdoors in the sun, I’m not one for drinking a lot and I’m sorry but I dislike pubs so a lot of social activities in the UK I find very boring.
So I want to change jobs again but I’m thinking going all out and changing countries along with it to say Australia or New Zealand (what I do is on the long term required for emigrating) the main point being to hopefully experience something new and different, I imagine it will still be shit but hopefully the shit will smell different.
I don’t want another Brexit thread, but that is perhaps not helping, also
Do it, I left Wales for Hong Kong on three year career break .. 25 years ago !
Presuming your life circumstances allow, what’s to lose ! You can always go home later.
Go for it
Got a mate who did it.... he's not regretteed it
Do it, what have you got to lose? You can always come back! NZ is more rainy than you’d imagine but not on fire like aus so head there😅
Good luck!
Australia has more mining which would suit your skills but the weather is shit.
Mate of mine emigrated to Perth, Australia in around 2003/4 and hasn't looked back. His situation was a bit different, as his parents were doing it and he decided to join them with his girlfriend (now Wife).
As mentioned above, if your circumstances allow it why not go for it?
It doesn't have to be a permanent thing if you don't like it!
Canada also requires those skills I believe. I have mates in both Canada and oz, only time they ever moan is when a family member is taken ill back over here.
Currently sat on a tram in Melbourne.
Do it, the UK will always be there.
Do it, your 25, I presume with no mortgage or family commitments so the world is your omelette.
The one caveat I would say with Oz or NZ is try to get a job lined up before you go if possible.
A skill or trade is portable, you can take it with you.
I have lived in a few different places ... all have been good experiences. At 25 you have nothing to lose. But make sure that what ever you are leaving behind doesn’t follow you.
Many expats I met had serious issues ...
I’m a heavy duty mechanic and left at 31 to Canada(10 years ago), pay is much better here in western Canada and I’ve had really good jobs with sick pay, pensions and training, I currently work in the oil sands where it’s big bucks, you do earn it though, I work 14 12 hour days or nights, vacation time is shitty over here too as standard is 2 weeks, any questions just ask
Ps I feel like coming home at the minute tbh
If you're a heavy vehicle mechanic then you'd likely be able to find work on a mine site in Australia, probably working FIFO out of Perth, Brisbane or elsewhere. Check the immigration site and see what the visa process is: you'll have to self fund and have the cash to get here (I live in Perth) and get settled but then mining is picking up so you should be able to break into the market, though like anywhere, it is easier when you have a network.
Like anything, it's not without it's downsides. Salaries in Australia are high but so are the costs of living. FIFO isn't for everyone and you'll certainly meet some er, characters. That said, if you can handle all that, the upsides are great.
offski ****ski....
i read the OP and instantly thought of Oz and mining.
fly in fly out.
i knew a guy and he was working on the equipment. he would do three month stint and then f-off for six months at a time living in his camper.
you're 25. doubt the UK is going to over take you in the next ten years. worst case you can always return.
Do it.
Left Wales for NZ when I was 29, no regrets. Hit me up with any specific questions, it's great but it's not like a sunny version of the UK. You will miss stuff like pubs, a wide variety of food choices at low costs, being able to see your favourite bands, easy access to cheap holidays to Europe (everything, apart from Aus, is a loooong way). But on balance it's worth it.
Looking back I did "worry" about stuff in my 20's that really doesn't matter now. Like going to University a few years later than everyone else or ****ing off to NZ. You can always come back! But you probably won't want to. And at 25 you come on the working holiday visa and get work for 12 months (stay for 24) and sort out the long term skills shortage visa while you're here (which is what I did).
I would echo some of the go for it comments above but would say it's best to have a positive attitude and not be "escaping something". You could easily end up in same rubbish different place environment mentally or expecting it to be all rainbows all the time I moved to Canada 10 years ago and it easily took 5 years for it to feel like home. Different bureaucracy, different cultures, different health care system etc. I didn't even have a different language to contend with. Moments of incredible frustration will happen. Family ties are another thing; when bad things happen to UK family I feel a bit helpless.
This isn't meant to put you off but just manage expectations.
At 25 why not go down the working holiday visa route to see if you like it. That way you are not having to pay for an expensive visa. There is plenty of work out here (Sydney at least) so you could jump straight in, a labourer will take home $27 an hour.
Then You always have the option of looking for a job within your trade when you are out here.
I did it ten years ago and was the best decision I ever made. I was kind of escaping problems I guess, but for me it put some perspective on things and any problems I had seemed a long way away.
Having just finished work a 3pm and now off for a quick surf and bbq, I can definately vouch for the lifestyle.
Always a good idea to try a different country if you're mobile enough to do it and come back if you don't like it. But try it for the positives of the new place, not the downers of the old place. Cos ever place has its downers.
A relative of mine lives in Perth and loves it. this isn't what he does but he told me of jobs in the mines. There are huge open cast mines around Perth. They are several days drive from civilization so no-one really wants to work there so the money is good and there are almost always job openings. As open cast mines, I'd imagine big vehicles needing maintained. If this is all correct (conversation was a few years back and this isn't his line) then a job with good money in a crap place will set you up to move back to real life so may be worth looking in to. Apart from my relative I know a couple of others who have moved to Oz and they love it.
Semi-serious answer: ever considered joining the forces, Royal Engineers or somesuch?
For all the comments of go to Australia and work form the mines you need to be realistic. They tend to work hard, play hard environments and by play I'm not talking of hobbies but a rough life. With the locations being remote you will have to "make do" more often than you think, with time delays and expense to get equipment out to you.
Same with the training in that mines aren't training environments and any training may well be in your own time and expense.
You also sound a bit depressed with your lot at the moment and removing yourself from family a friends may exaggerate your circumstances
IHN mentioned the forces and this may give you variety and training. Royal Engineers and Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers are the obvious choices but if you want to try something new then look at the Navy or RAF. If you don't fancy joining the armed forces then consider the merchant navy.
Semi-serious answer: ever considered joining the forces, Royal Engineers or somesuch?
I thought similar as well.
I'd suggest looking at the Navy - they are short of decent Engineers at the moment. (we build stuff for Navy Ships)
If you can get through the basic training then you'll be at a big advantage from day 01 if you know your way around big diesels etc.
I was going to echo IHN, may be worth thinking about the Forces. If you fancy a more "normal " life look at the RAF. Not sure what recruitment is like at the moment but worth a look?
https://www.raf.mod.uk/recruitment/roles/roles-finder/technical-and-engineering/vehicle-and-mechanical-equipment-technician
Any use, they are recruiting too.
Heavy vehicle mechanics and mining would work pretty well. FIFO is a different lifestyle but with a good roster and an understanding partner (If single you will likely remain single) its good fun. Not sure about what have said about lack of training. If you get a gig on a BHP or Rio Mine they will probably throw the training book at you (after a 6 page risk assesment).
I did it for 6 years as a geologist and to be honest i'm considering going back what with brexit and all.
Crying out for heavy mechanics in New Zealand. Do the working holiday visa and see how you like it. Either Oz or NZ.
I can’t comment on the specifics. When I decided to move to Spain and give up a career etc my dad told me that it’s better to regret something you did do than something you didn’t. It made sense to me at the time and still does. (When I asked my grandfather he told me that there are two types of idiots. This who give advice and those who ask for it!)
It’s been a hard, hard road but I’m very happy I made the leap. Good luck with it all.
I lived in NZ for 15 years and regret not a minute of it. Try it.
Are your skills transferable into another associated industry?
There are big LNG gas operations in Australia. eg Chevron, Gorgon Project.
They would need mechanical fitters, not just trucks etc, etc.
As others have said, don't look upon it as 'an escape', but rather for the improvements and benefits etc.
If I was 25 with a desireable skill like a mechanic I'd be f'ing off to warmer climates right now!
I too have been stuck in Yorkshire for a lot of my life and it does suck the life out of you. Fortunately I have been able to travel a lot through my twenties and early thirties (I'm 35 now) so have kept sane through that. As others have said, Aus or Canada sounds like a good bet and if you hate it you can always come back. My uncle went to Canada as an oil engineer 30 years ago and never came back. The quality of life over there is a step above the uk.
The navy's a great shout by the way my 19 year old daughter s been in for 18 months she walked through the atlas mountains a few months ago she s just spent 5 weeks on an ice breaker in the Antarctic April she will be in Barbados with navy netball team then June she be on the aircraft carrier heading to America and god knows where, you'd have the team and work ethic stuff you want as well.
I I went into the army office in Leeds, showed them my qualifications, their response was unless I had university level quals that I would have had to start from basic training and go through their training process and it’s associated pay grades, so me a qualified mechanic with experience of working on trucks, trains, buses and cars, would be no better than a 16 year old school leaver.
Edit: yeah just looked at that RAF advert £18k - I appreciate what you’re saying but that wage is tragic
Get yourself a working holiday visa my friend! You might reconsider enjoying being out in the sun mind, summer is a different lass in that part of the world (Australia not Canada ha).
As someone said big LNG projects up in the NW will need mechanics, money will be good, booze will likely be rationed and you will get to see some cracking lightning storms.
Give it a go. If you don’t like it you can always come back. Lived in Australia and NZ. Both good times for me. I was offered a visa for NZ a few years ago and knocked it back due to family things. Wish I’d taken it now. What’s the worst that can happen?
If you are going to something - go for it. If you are trying to get away from something think a lot about it or you just end up in same shit different place and with no friends or family around you
How about viewing it as a gap year. Don't sell up here or burn your boats. for what its worth IMO Aus is a great place to visit even for a year but no way could I live there
Strange but I thought the OP was Guy Martin posting on STW... Lack of Tea references were suspicious though...
yeah just looked at that RAF advert £18k – I appreciate what you’re saying but that wage is tragic
You do realise that includes food, accommodation, specialist training, good pension, adventure training, work clothes/uniform? Military is more than just a salary.
Do it! And more nuanced, do it now. There are a range of fairly open visa/ 'working holiday' type deals in various countries if you're under 30; it gets more difficult as you get older, as countries tend to ask for more specific skills and qualifications.
Speaking from experience, the outcomes are 1) you go there, love it and never want to leave; 2) you go there, have fun but it makes you realise the UK actually isn't all that bad.
Either way, you don't really lose.