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I'm 28 and stuck in a rut. I work 4 days a week for a care home company doing their maintenance. The only qualifications I have are A levels. My strongest subject is Geography but I didn't go to university due to suffering from anxiety/depression in my second year of college.
Several years on and I feel useless! I want a decent career but it seems like it's just a choice of going to university or doing an open uni degree or a vocational training course.
Money is tight but I have to make a change now because it's eating me. Has anyone started from scratch with their career a bit later on in life? I'm lost! I've seen these plumbing and electrician courses where you can pay in installments but most of them are theory only study which isn't much good!
What would you like to do? If you switch to something else you don't like you will only become board of that too.
There are lots of professions you can take up with just A-levels. Even accountancy firms might hire you if you can prove to them you will be dedicated enough (and your A-levels are good).
Why not think of all the things you might like to do and ask how you might get into those fields?
work out what might be a half decent place to work and see if you can get a job there starting at the bottom. Thats what I did. I have the same qualifications as you. I started in one of our call centres but now work in Commercial Strategy.
My brother did a similar thing too, started on the phones at Atkins Global and is now managing major contracts.
Ideally I'd do something Geography related. But due to my health I don't think I could handle university, so the Open Uni would be the more suitable option for me but their courses are so expensive/long and land management/conservation is quite a low paid industry. Wouldn't mind being an electrician but don't know the most economical way of doing it?
+1 what crash dummy said. Really think what you might like to do then you can explore how to get into it. Whatever you do will seem scary and might feel like it will take a long time to achieve but it will be worth it in the end, especially if you're feeling crap where you are now.
Stick to the care home, i did that and enjoyed it, or move to another, its easy money, and you get free tea and meals, there will always be a call for good relaiable maintance men,perhaps start your own, doing 2 homes a week and possibly employ someone else.
As for a career change perhaps now is not the time, as there will be thousands doing the same,due to the recession.
As for not going touni,due to depression and anxiety, so what,you got a job,a lot who go to uni dont get a job.
and that causes anxiety and depression.
Mate, dont stop yourself from going to uni just because your health is not 100%. They have plenty of support to help you through and you never know doing something you really want to do might help you. If your anxiety and depression are still not under control spend your efforts getting that sorted out first.
How about doing something like installing SKY or Internet, it's not an electrician nor in geography but they will fund your training and you sound like you would enjoy that kind of work. If your stuck in a rut and not really enjoying what your doing, write to a few companies and apply for a few jobs. See what's out there, interviews will get your confidence up but don't fear rejection nor stress if your letters don't get replied to. Good luck.
...or how about a cycle mechanic?
Do the care home and study, take a couple of Open Uni modules..
Paid Working + Studying requires discipline and reflects well.. It shows you are putting in the effort to change things
If you can't handle stress, don't try and do an OU course and work at the same time.
Sorry if that sounds a little blunt, but doing an OU course whilst working is not the easy option.
devon_roadie, I'm a geography lecturer, as has been mentioned there are many options for studying at university and loads of support. If you want some advice feel free to email me (address in profile). And geography is a great subject which will teach you a huge range of skills (but then i would say that).
Why not go on a basic plumbing and electrical course at the local college funded by the care home on the day off you get now.
Thanks everyone for your input. I'm a bit overwhelmed at the moment. The care home job is fine but it's only because I have no responsibilities that I can work there, they won't give any more hours nor pay for any training. I've spent the last couple of hours looking at apprenticeships with Eon and BT in their engineering departments.
Was an unqualified bike mechanic for a couple of years and nearly took an offer to be Cyctech trained, but peanuts money
Captjon - I do love Geography and the environment but I feel I've missed my chance with going to uni...costs a fortune now!
You are still young! You can do anything if you really, really want it. Sometimes the hardest thing is knowing what that is though, then taking the plunge and going for it.
I'm in the early stages of a huge career change: Almost 42 years old, I worked as an "Electrical Engineer" (unqualified, but very experienced and had a semi-management position)but hated it. Last year I too suffered anxiety and depression BIG time. Early this year I couldn't face the world. I found myself, too many times,in a dark place wondering which vein to hack into. Didn't want to live anymore.
But a small core of reason remained. Thought "balls to this", packed in my job and walked away. I'm now on a full time course at college, and hope to go to university next year to study to be an OT.
Never been happier 🙂
Financially things are a bit tight, but that doesn't matter. It took an enforced recallibration of life for me to make the leap.
Go for it. Sounds like you would enjoy the Geography. Catch up financially later. Hey, and don't feel useless- you have studied in the past, you work, you know you want a change...... sound like you have a lot of top qualities.