Careers advice?

[Two_Sheds]

I was just doing the ironing (more ironing!) and mulling over the careers "advice" I was given 24 years ago (quarter of a century, ouch).

The options in our area were:
Sanyo (factory)
Birds Eye (factory)
the chicken factory (the worst of the worst)
shop work
for the bright: Norwich Union

for the boys: a shipbuilding apprenticeship (the industry closed completely a few years after I left school).

I got an A for English Lit A level, but nobody ever suggested I went to Uni. I did shop work for a few years, then retrained as a secretary. Disillusioned with that, I did my degree in textile design as a mature student (Mickey Mouse course? perhaps, but I got a First for my written work, my dissertation, it wasn't all knitting).

Now here I am, working part time in a primary school, and ironing a man's shirts. Not that I'm complaining, I was just musing.

[grannymem]

I wonder what you would like to do.

It sounds as if you're a little frustrated and would like to explore more of your undoubted talents (no way a 'Mickey Mouse' degree so be proud of a great accomplishment!)
Have you thought of exploring a career in design or perhaps venturing in to something completely different?

If you could wave a magic wand, what would you wish for?

It's never too late, TwoSheds Go get it...

[jackie j]

When my son who is now 28 didnt get into his school college to do performing arts he was told by the careers office to become a P.E.Teacher, he didnt do P.E if he could get away with it, next suggestion was to work with children, his reply was ' I will learn all I need to know from my little sister thanks' ( 15 year gap ). He got into South Devon College as it was known and did performing arts, it didnt get him anywhere and he now works in a pet shop but loves it, he also keeps reptiles at home. Maybe he should of worked with animals back then.

[Glutton4...]

I always said I'd never work in an office - then spent 20 years in one! Got top qualifications relevant to the job, but didn't enjoy it. I wanted to work with Horses, but wasn't prepared to be a slave, now I'm Gardening - totally skint, but stress-free!

Probably won't last

[Glutton4...]

I just remembered my so called 'Careers advice' interview at school;

Interviewer: What would you like to do when you leave School?
Me: I don't know!

End of interview! Advice??? Nada!


Daft thing is, I'm 46 now, and I finally know what I want do do, but can't afford the land!

[Snadger]

It's queer how things pan out innit!

When I left school I had the choice of apprenticeships, a Toolmaker at a small local factory called Rabones or a Plater/Blacksmith/Welder at Consett Iron Company which employed about 7000 people and was the regions main employer. My dad recommended I join the Iron company as it had been around since the 1800's.
10 years after starting work at CIC it closed with thousands being made redundant!
Rabones went on to become Rabone Chesterman, probaly the biggest toolmaker in the country!

My eldest son went to Uni and nearly bankrupted us! My youngest was told to forget Uni as the cupboard was bare.

My yougest now has a more settled and better paid job than the eldest.

Its queer how things pan out innit!

[SarzWix]

I wanted to a chef/pastry-chef, but I wasn't allowed to do that because it would have meant working on a Friday night/Saturday Sabbath, don't ask...
I ended up working in a Sales/Import office, which I was pretty good at, but not what I wanted to do. After having the kids, I've just done part-time stuff, mostly crappy, in between being broken in varying ways
I could never go back to the chef thing now - couldn't cope with the pace, and, if some pip-squeak chef started shouting at me like Gordon Ramsey I'd lamp 'em one

I'm hoping that the degree I'm doing now might lead to some sort of writing career, maybe... Unless I win the lottery and get to buy a small-holding in the meantime

[janeyo]

I went to a posh private school and one dy one of the teachers was playing a little game for her own amusement predicting what we would all end up being when we grew up...

Most of the boys were, of course, predicted to be accountants and solicitors and architects and MP's and the girls were going to be legal secretaries and doctors...I remember quite clearly when she got to me saying 'you have such a lovely smile I can see you working behind the counter at the Woolich'!

PMSL - but didn't at the time!

[di]

I spent the latter part of my school years certain that I was going to be a Fashion Designer...was lucky enough to do my two weeks work experience with Jasper Conran & together with a friend put on a pretty impressive Fashion Show for my Design A Level.Went on to Art College....got fed up with the Art Students & being classed as one so unfortunately didn't finish the course!
Spent most of my work life doing various Care jobs,I enjoyed most of them but always left wondering whatever happened to those dreams & aspirations of my yoof!
I know feel at a crossroads...time to rethink where to go now,both kiddies are at school now so,although I want to remain a hands on mum & be here if needed due to poorlyness or holidays,I feel ready to embark on something new.I can't say Fashion Design is still up there on my list of achievable(nor desired)goals,but would like to get back into using my creative skills(??)again.

[Two_Sheds]

...was lucky enough to do my two weeks work experience with Jasper Conran

How brilliant!
I took my art degree because I could draw and I love fabrics. I could equally have done an English Lit degree, but that is no more useful than art!
It also seemed like a useful skill: you can theoretically work from home and via the Net, drawing designs and selling them to design houses.

however, it doesn't work like that. You have to pay for materials (and only the best will do), equipment, trade shows, trade magazines (£70 each, some of them): it's impossible to even get started unless you have rich parents or corporate sponsorship.

Out of our entire college - not year, college - only one student got a job in the industry, and that was working for free (no wage) for a major high street name. The tutors were all working designers, but had to teach to pay the bills.
It was really disillusioning: thousands of talented students going through the motions every year, but with no realistic chance of a job at the end of their student loan. At least it keeps lecturers in a job.

I don't mind what I'm doing now, it suits my situation and I can bring a lot of personal experience to the job.
However, I do feel it is really unfair to put all these students (and their parents) through the increasingly expensive Uni system with no hope of a job at the end.
Uni has replaced the old YTS: there aren't enough jobs to go round, so we send the youngsters off to college for a few years instead of the dole queue.

[pigletwillie]

I tried for an apprenticeship at Marconi Radar and just missed out but managed to get into the Royal Engineers thanks to my O level and GCSE results, and trained as an electrician, specialising in industrial maintenance after leaving, I soon upgraded my city and guilds with an HNC, upgraded that to an HND and am now doing a full on engineering degree through the OU.

Coming from a poor background the option was never there to go to 6th form let alone university but I have come good, as did my brothers and sisters. We have all moved up the social ladder and giver our children opportunities I could never dream off.

[zazen999]

Our careers advice was non-existent - I never got any....at all

The options were to stay on at 6th form; with a feed into the local chemicals factory [which many of my school chums ended up at apparently], or have a baby and put your name down on the council list.

My boyfriend at the time wanted the latter and put my name down without telling me

I filled out the college forms in secret and left school and went to seek my fortune with no school or chum backing and it was the best thing I ever did.

The thought of being pregnant at 16 and living on an estate horrified me. I'm not maternal in the least and there's nothing wrong with it but not for me.

Alot of my friends were timing their pregnancies so that they gave birth during the first summer after O levels. Nice.

Couldn't get out of there quick enough.

Said boyfriend used to wait for me off the train at night and follow me home and jump out on me to try and persuade me that his way was a better option. Hmmmmmm.....er....Not on yer life mate.

Sheesh. I'd not want to be a teenager again.

[petal]

two sheds, have you thought of going into teaching? Textiles comes under design technology and they are crying out for teachers in that area?

[bramble]

My son was diagnosed with ADHD. The school he went to was quite good with him except the headmaster.
He used to say, " you will never amount to anything"
My son is now married to a lovely girl, has two beautiful children and is the owner of two barbers shops.
Believe in yourself as he did.

[Seahorse]

I recieved great encouragement ('pressure' might be more accurate really!) to do well at school and beyond. I did my degree, then a professional qualification and had a reasonable prospect of heading onwards and upwards in my chosen career... but found my fulfilment in life came from having babies and baking cakes.

I'll always be grateful that I had that choice though