Careers Advice?

[Martin Keene]

Have anyone on here ever paid for some professional careers advice?

If so, who did you use? How much did it cost? Was it worth it? How did you find them? etc

I ask because whilst my current job would be most peoples idea of heaven (reasonable wages, not stressful, far from over worked, plently of oppourtunity for getting personal things done, etc), the lack of a real role/purpose is starting to get to me and having been here for a year and 2 months I'm starting to think a change might be in order.

But, I honestly don't know what I want to be doing. I'm a trained engineer, with 3 years on machines and 2 years of office based technical training. I have a further 7 years of production engineering/estimating experience, and I have HNC. After being made redundant in December 2004, I was fortunate enough to land a job at a competitor, doing the same thing. But, I couldn't get comfortable, promises I had been made were not kept and after having been made redundant from that kind of job 3 times in 6 years was conviced it would happen again and so go out after just 7 weeks, and moved into my current job in construction.

Moving back to engineering is the obvious answer, but I know there is no future in that because more and more work is being shipped abroad, and I don't feel I have learnt anything like enough in the construction industry to be applying for jobs in that sector...

It's a puzzler.

[Hammy]

I have not used proffesional advice  and have not found job agencies much use. Some regions offer free advice via their job centres and some are very good.

You could start by listing your qualifications and experience, make a big list to include all the little things  off the wall items like "organised xmas do",  "built westfield' or whatever - look at what a really interests you and then look for what types of jobs are possible.

Lot of jobs are got through contacts - list who you know and how they could help.

This is the sort of stuff a pro would ask you ne way -good luck

[Mark Stanton]

QUOTE

my current job would be most peoples idea of heaven (reasonable wages, not stressful, far from over worked, plently of oppourtunity for getting personal things done, etc),  ..........................................................into my current job in construction.

Construction not stressful not over-worked

Martin have I got an opportunity for you to be overworked and stressed whilst working in construction               might mean moving near Brum      

[deano.1]

I've got some great carreers advice!

Do as little as possible for as much money as possible      

Sorry, i'll get me coot  

[timd]

If a careers advisor was any good, surely they'd have a career of their own?

In much the same way as financial advisors...

[Robandcolin]

but I know there is no future in that because more and more work is being shipped abroad,

Not true We were instructed to uy 50% of our machined parts abroad by now but have found there skill sets are not up to our level of work (Aerospace/Motorsport) and have even found the quality lacking for our Industrial parts.

Anyway the prices will start to rise abroad and come back in line with UK prices so I would say you are safe to work in engineering again just make sure its high precision Aerospace or motorsport stuff.

I'll have a look through our suppliers and see who we use up your way.

Rob

[markcoopers]

I would follow in spirit what Hammy said.

Specifically I use questions on post it notes, giving about 5 answers to each, then converting these into skils/responsibilities. It does take a bit of a leap of faith, but 30mins exercise and you will write your own job spec.

Give us a call over the weekend if you want.

[Chris Elworthy]

If a careers advisor was any good, surely they'd have a career of their own?

In much the same way as financial advisors...

....and Teachers  

[Martin Keene]

Do as little as possible for as much money as possible      

Already got one, and it starting to bore the pants off me...

Hmm, never thought I'd hear myself say that!

[Stuart]

Look for engineering in an industry sector that isn't being transferred abroad? - companies who are responding to globalisation by moving away from traditional low-cost, low-price manufacturing to high-tech, high-value products and processes.

Which generally means an area that uses British knowledge to value add - we can't compete with the Chinese for low value common or garden stuff but we still compete well in higher tech areas.

Or something that is reliant on raw materials from UK - the UK recycling sector is a growth area and even the UK steel industry has been resurgent in recent years.

[brianm]

With no disrespect Martin, the biggest mistake has already been made, as you are repeatedly finding out.

Engineering, all I ever wanted to do as a youngster, you know, make stuff, build stuff, but now 36 years on with the same company, Chief engineer at present, but expecting redundancy everyother day, (actually longing for it), I wouldn't advise anyone early on in their career to stick with it.  The opposition be it China, Poland or India will have the upper hand for a fair few years to come in general engineering.

 If you can land a job with a specialist "niche" sector of the market, then you've cracked it, but those jobs are rare,

Me? wish I'd joined the Fire brigade or Police, did consider it. Be out now with a full pension      

Anyway back in the real world............................

Bri.

[Arm]

How about becoming a professional motorsport photographer ?

You might bump into, well, you know !

[steve_m]

Martin, I would look to see what you can do to increase the scope of your current role.  Sounds like you work for a company with a bit of money, that's always a good start, see if you can make your job deeper or wider to include more thinking, more responsibiliy etc.  I've always tried to do that and it's occasionally meant more money but the main result is that I'm busier and enjoy my job even more.

I've never planed a career, always fallen into a job and made the best of it I can, my first job was making/installig amplifiers and took me to Singapore, Wolverhampton and London  Had no idea what I was getting into but just went with the flow and made the best of it.  

I'm too old now not to whinge, I moan about my job and some of the people I work with but I still try to make the best of it.  I'm sure they moan about me  and there isn't a perfect job.

[Mid life crisis]

I've got some great carreers advice!

Do as little as possible for as much money as possible      

Sorry, i'll get me coot  

It has to be sales then, home based of course.    Im happy, and been doing it for about 30 years!!!  Decide what you want to earn, achieve that level, then loads of spare time.

Garden looks great

           

Don't pay anyone for career advice, if they need your money they are probably in need of advice themselves.    

[wrighty]

They are crying out for people up here in cumbria with your qualifications. wonderfull countryside, superb westie roads. down side is the job is sellafield. its not as bad as people think, i have been there for 26 years. look on the web