About to lose my job, looking to start a new career, any advice please...

KDB Fan said:
Apologies for the negativity but I'm currently working a dead-end office job on below average pay and about to be made redundant unfortunately but I have a mortgage to pay off and all the usual financial liabilities so would like to retrain doing something as soon as possible so I don't lose my home and ideally something that gets me out of the office.

I don't enjoy working on a computer but would love to do a trade or job that gets me out the office/house and doing something else I suppose. Does anybody have any good suggestions for jobs that fit the bill? I was thinking of going into plumbing but have been warned against it...I'm 29 btw if that's any help living in Manchester?
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Why were you warned against plumbing?
 
Stephen Ireland's pants said:
Sell up and fuck off to OZ/Nz if you ain't got kids. It's the advise I give my daughter every week and she's only 13 .
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Is that still good advice? All I hear from Australians nowadays is how insane the house prices are and how there are hundreds of applicants for every rental place. I'm not sure it's still the deal it was in the 90s and 00s. Unless you're happy to live outside those major centres.
 
I'm With Stupid said:
Is that still good advice? All I hear from Australians nowadays is how insane the house prices are and how there are hundreds of applicants for every rental place. I'm not sure it's still the deal it was in the 90s and 00s. Unless you're happy to live outside those major centres.
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Just like the US, if you go with the opinion that you’re special and owed a living, you’re fucked. If you go thinking that you’re willing to work your ass off, you’ll do great
 
I'm With Stupid said:
Is that still good advice? All I hear from Australians nowadays is how insane the house prices are and how there are hundreds of applicants for every rental place. I'm not sure it's still the deal it was in the 90s and 00s. Unless you're happy to live outside those major centres.
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I have one boy in Australia and one in China.
Housing in parts of Australia is very expensive, but he had no problem finding somewhere and began work labouring and then carpentry. He now works as a roofer and makes good money. Sydney has very expensive rental, generally, but he is mixed race and the expensive areas are not as diverse as he would like. He now lives in a more diverse community and feels more welcomed, and it's cheaper.

My other son ventured out to China to teach. His girlfriend has now joined him. They earn about £35k each and pay €350 a month for a lakeside apartment. They are very happy there and I would be surprised if they return to the UK. I don't think they will necessarily stay in China, but probably the Far East where salaries for English graduates are good, and the cost of living is low.

I taught in Romania for a couple of years and had a wonderful time. I was based in a wonderful school, earning the same as a teacher in the UK, but with a significantly lower cost of living.

There are opportunities out there, and I would encourage anyone to spread their wings and discover them. It is not that the UK is universally bad, but we can all easily get stuck in a rut and bemoan our circumstances, and the UK has challenged us severely for a few years, certainly. The cost of living here is exorbitant and it is hard to live comfortably on salaries that are the norm in many professions more highly valued elsewhere.
 
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I only switched office to office but went from finance to publishing through a combination of temping and self-funded writing courses. I was also in London where the good opportunities are.

Work wise, I went from temp to six month rolling to permanent in two years by working hard and keeping my head down.
 
idahoblues said:
Is there anywhere that isn’t fussy ?
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When I say 'fussy', some countries just require a bit more than others for entry, and especially long term entry .... they are a bit more particular, and have rules on criminals entering for example..... not that i'm judging that the OP is one!

The US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand come in that bracket ....
 
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My mate works for Northern Rail. Seems like a decent place to work. I’d probably try myself if I ever got made redundant.

Always loads of jobs going. His advice is always, don’t go for one of the really popular jobs like train driver. There’s too many apply and your chances are very slim. Go for something a bit shit looking and once you’ve got in, it’s a lot easier to move up the ladder, than trying to get straight in on a good job.
 
idahoblues said:
Firefighter is a helluva process over there, I got into Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, decided to leave the country instead.
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I’ve been in Greater Manchester for 19 years, often wonder if I should have left the country instead!
 
Eaststander1 said:
When I say 'fussy', some countries just require a bit more than others for entry, and especially long term entry .... they are a bit more particular, and have rules on criminals entering for example..... not that i'm judging that the OP is one!

The US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand come in that bracket ....
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Shirley Oz welcomes criminals!
 
If you're interested in a trade try and see if you can get on board as a labourer somewhere. Get a taste for the environment before committing to peanuts apprentice money. I did this for a solar firm and have seen enough to know I wouldn't want to be doing it forever, but it pays well and there's no stress to it.
 
Insurance industry is always crying out for good people. I know you said you don’t like office jobs, but it may help whilst you study to do what you want.

Loads of opportunities, pretty much recession proof, and you can earn good money too.

Give me a shout if you want any advice
 
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