Want a complete change of career!! Advice?

[Matt1878]

I'm thinking of going back to college in September to do a mechanics course. If I'm honest I did naff all at school apart from play football and dick about lol

When I left school I just got a job in retail and now I work for a designer clothes website in the warehouse.

I turn 21 march 20th and really want to sort myself out and go something im genuinely interested in. The only two things are football and cars lol.

I tried to be a pro footballer but sadly got a serious injury at the age of 16.

So I was just wondering if anyone could give me any info on a course you have been on or would recommend

Cheers.

[5T4R7ET N/A]

I.T. is still pretty big, espeacially in the area of software testing, programming and networking. plus you can work find work most places in the world.

if you want a secure job then this industry will suit you well.

[Matt1878]

Yeah, I guess I.T is going to be around forever now lol Its involved in the majority of jobs in some shape or form.

I'm really looking to learn something in the motor industry though as its something I'm really interested in.

[*Zoe*]

i think the same thing sometimes, wanted to quit my job a few months ago and go back to college to do mechanics ...but then realised i would e put in a class of 16yr's and decided i couldnt handle it so looking into night courses. They do them if they get enough people for a course to run, and cost between 200 - 350 quid depending on what you do and how long it takes.

but i always got told if you like something never do it for job because you loose your passion and it just becomes 'what pays the bills' hence why i no work in food! and one day will do the courses just so i can work on my own car properly.

Food is good to get into, i had no expericene other then sales and now i dont think i would do anything else really interesting and diferent every day

[Glanza Mac]

im a mechanic, on my third year at college obtaining my level 3 nvq motor vehicle grade to be a qualified tech. im 18 4 days of being 19 and i work on my own car, infact ive just put a forged lump in my glanza , i do also have a job in a garage it does get a bit like that were you are just doing it because its paying the bills but this is because you get peices of crap you have to work on. My ambitions are to become a tuning specalist or something of the sort were you dont work of rotten bangers but some really nice cars that have been looked after but i would say go for it, its not bad and you learn so much

[triple j]

im a mechanic, on my third year at college obtaining my level 3 nvq motor vehicle grade to be a qualified tech. im 18 4 days of being 19 and i work on my own car, infact ive just put a forged lump in my glanza , i do also have a job in a garage it does get a bit like that were you are just doing it because its paying the bills but this is because you get peices of crap you have to work on. My ambitions are to become a tuning specalist or something of the sort were you dont work of rotten bangers but some really nice cars that have been looked after but i would say go for it, its not bad and you learn so much

when your qualified u wont be working on rotten bangers,

[Taggy]

I think you have to look at the bigger picture i guess on what course is ultimately going to get you a job at the end of it, there are loads of people who graduate with a great degree or college qualification only to find there is no work in the field they specialised in.

I would say Motorsport engineering (as a degree) is a fairly niche market and i could imagine finding a job in Wales would be particularly difficult, 5T4R7ET N/A is right saying do IT, its a broad area and there are always IT jobs about, but like you said if you like mechanics that much then go for it, why work in a Warehouse when you could be doing a job you enjoy

Its easy enough to retrain, my Mrs is 28 and been doing hairdressing all her life, shes just decided she wants to be a Nurse and goto college then uni, so it can be done! 4 years time she will earn twice as much as she is now with any luck

[Matt1878]

I appreciate you guys getting back to me on this. Ive been doing the retail and warehouse job for like 3 years now and I think it's time to move on. Learn a skilled job.

My dad is manager of a garage and that's where we do the work on my car, I seem to find myself there all the time and find everything really interesting and would also teach me things that I could then use on my own car in my spare time

[stavros]

Do it whilst you've got the chance mate. I left school and went straight in to a job, fortunate to a degree, but lets face it, how many 16 year olds truly know what they want to do with the rest of their life?

I used to love my job, however the only thing holding me here now is the pay. Sadly I can't earn what I do at my age in any other industry, however the past few months i've been weighing up the pro's and con's, i'm now applying for different jobs, its less money but its better hours, closer to home and a new environment.

I say go for it mate; you only pass this way once

Edited February 28, 2012 by stavros

[BigMan]

Well im still quite young but wanted to be a sprayer when i left school and tried it for work experience but wasnt for me as a full time job! had a couple of little jobs then went to college to do computing! Finishing a software development course at college then hoping to head to university to do web tech for 2 years and leave with a honours degree and make the big bucks!

might aswell do it while you have the chance i say!