New Career ideas?

[summerdays]

I've no idea what exactly you do currently in your job, but the first thing that sprung to mind combining with your PGSE, was teaching in a PRU? I think it takes a special person to try and enthuse the pupils, and to be tolerant! I've been impressed with the ones I've met, though I fully understand that it is definitely not for everyone (including me).

 

[vickster]

Prison officer? Teaching in prisons?

I can't imagine there are many gardeners or handymen earning 30k in the NW, probably not even in Notting Hill

 

[junglegusset]

Teaching in PRU, that's not a bad idea. Teaching in Prisons, did that for a year. 6 months to become a property lawyer, I like the sound of that.

This is Cafe, not C&D, so I'll just say that private sector employment is quite different to the public sector, and self-employment is hugely different. If you have spent all your working life as a teacher then probation officer, you need to be sure that you can adapt to the different pressures and attitudes - saying that "the government are sodomising the public sector", for instance, goes down like a lead balloon in the private sector. Some public sector technical skills are often valued elsewhere but IME the generic skills are not; and the perceived baggage of 'public sector sickness records' etc can be a real problem for anyone trying to transfer.

I say this as someone who spent ten years in local authorities before I left to set up my own business. It was the right decision for me, but it wouldn't be for everyone.

So I'm like a leper then.

 

[junglegusset]

I am not too clear on the OP. Do you think a private firm will not have your job anymore or is it that you just don't want to work for a private firm? If it is the latter then really I don't think there is much around in the Civil Service.

Lots of roles have different ways in at your age that are not open to younger people. I went from being a self employed jeweller to a property lawyer aged 40 and found a fairly easy way in.

On the one hand good to hang on until pushed (and perhaps a decent payoff), on the other you could be using the time now to re-train. I worked in a call centre for 6 months while I undertook my legal training. Better if you can sort that now while coasting to a close.

This is actually really encouraging. Thanks. I will be looking into this for sure.

The issue I have is that my work will be done by the private sector and this is not where I feel it belongs. I want no part of that. I am happy to work in private sector, just not in this capacity.

 

[summerdays]

Teaching in PRU, that's not a bad idea. Teaching in Prisons, did that for a year. 6 months to become a property lawyer, I like the sound of that.


So I'm like a leper then.

An alternative to the PRU, are the other parts of teaching such as hospital education too, working with pupils who aren't in mainstream education for whatever reason.

 

[ASC1951]

... 6 months to become a property lawyer, I like the sound of that.

Hmm - I think you may have slightly misunderstood OtH's post! In my day it was three years at University, a year at Law School, then a two year Training Contract; and it has changed a bit since then, but not dropped by 85%.
It's a job I did for my last 30 years and not one I would recommend to you now. The work is being progressively de-skilled and you spend more and more time competing with sheds who replace a legal process with some very expensive software and a high turnover of unskilled operators.

So I'm like a leper then.

'Fraid so.
More seriously, a lot of public sector staff shaken out in the last four or five years have found it very difficult to get work in the private sector because the jobs that they have been doing either don't exist in the private sector or are much less valued and therefore much worse paid. I would be surprised if you could find anything which used your present skills on the sort of salary you are now getting, but that's not the only factor. To set up my own firm was exciting and fulfilling, even though I would probably have earned a lot more if I had stayed in local government

FWIW I would sit down and do an honest analysis of what you like about your present job and what you don't, what you are good at and what you aren't, what unused skills and experience you have etc etc. If your family and financial commitments allow it, a complete change based on your Environmental Sciences degree could be very invigorating.

 

[swee'pea99]

Ok, here's some out of the box, probably totally useless but...a friend of mine who was always going from one thing to another found himself at a loose end and invented himself a new business cleaning awnings outside shops and restaurants. I know, sounds odd, but someone has to do it. He went on a week's training course run by some American company that makes its money selling the specialised kit & chemicals you need to do the job, then it was just a question of buzzing around on a moped dropping in on every place he saw that had an awning. Pretty soon he had a regular client base and was making a good living. Meant getting up at 4 every day to avoid traffic and pedestrians (chemicals), but he was ok with that.

 

[junglegusset]

Hmm - I think you may have slightly misunderstood OtH's post! In my day it was three years at University, a year at Law School, then a two year Training Contract; and it has changed a bit since then, but not dropped by 85%.
It's a job I did for my last 30 years and not one I would recommend to you now. The work is being progressively de-skilled and you spend more and more time competing with sheds who replace a legal process with some very expensive software and a high turnover of unskilled operators.

'Fraid so.
More seriously, a lot of public sector staff shaken out in the last four or five years have found it very difficult to get work in the private sector because the jobs that they have been doing either don't exist in the private sector or are much less valued and therefore much worse paid. I would be surprised if you could find anything which used your present skills on the sort of salary you are now getting, but that's not the only factor. To set up my own firm was exciting and fulfilling, even though I would probably have earned a lot more if I had stayed in local government

FWIW I would sit down and do an honest analysis of what you like about your present job and what you don't, what you are good at and what you aren't, what unused skills and experience you have etc etc. If your family and financial commitments allow it, a complete change based on your Environmental Sciences degree could be very invigorating.

Problem is I did that degree 25 years ago, Environmental work is a competitive jobs marker and I have no experience. Not totally out the question though.

 

[vickster]

Job market is competitive regardless of field, especially if no experience. I'd try to find something allied to what you are qualified in and have experience in, unless you are willing to start at the very bottom on close to min wage

 

[screenman]

My advice, do not go self employed unless you can sell and sell again, also that you do not mind rejection becuase depending on what you go for that is something you will get every day. This coming from 38 years+ of experience.

I am 58 my friends who are civil servants are retiring around me at my age, I have another 20 years of work to be as well off as they will be on their pensions.

 

[screenman]

ASC1951, your line "More seriously, a lot of public sector staff shaken out in the last four or five years have found it very difficult to get work in the private sector because the jobs that they have been doing either don't exist in the private sector or are much less valued and therefore much worse paid." is brilliant, actually seeing it as it is, many people still in the service have very little idea of the real world the rest of us survive in.

 

[junglegusset]

ASC1951, your line "More seriously, a lot of public sector staff shaken out in the last four or five years have found it very difficult to get work in the private sector because the jobs that they have been doing either don't exist in the private sector or are much less valued and therefore much worse paid." is brilliant, actually seeing it as it is, many people still in the service have very little idea of the real world the rest of us survive in.

Enlighten me, tell me of this 'real world' of which myself, teachers, soldiers and nurses all know nothing.

 

[Over The Hill]

Teaching in PRU, that's not a bad idea. Teaching in Prisons, did that for a year. 6 months to become a property lawyer, I like the sound of that.

Probably best to explain this bit.
You can be a Licenced Conveyancer which is accepted as an equal qualification as a solicitor in conveyancing and probate matters. To get in you can avoid a law degree that is three years full time and study by distance learning. I did this while in full time employment and in all it took about three years. It is tough as it is at degree level. You also need a couple of years of supervised training in a law firm to then qualify.
What actually happened is I took the first two parts (of 7) and on the back of that go a junior position in a law firm but then quite quickly took on the role I was aiming for but under very long arm supervision while I continued to study in my own time.
I had a young family at the time and so full time education was not an option (but somehow doing a days work and then studying until 1am was!) The call centre was just to show I could work in a team and to get a reference. I shut down my business I had been self employed for years and did not have a reference to my name.
I seem to recall there are other areas you can get into when older with a part time or distance learning option. It was one of the key considerations in choosing the direction I took.

 

[ASC1951]

Probably best to explain this bit.....

Qualifying as a Licensed Conveyancer while working full time is a tough, tough way to do it - respect!

 

[screenman]

Enlighten me, tell me of this 'real world' of which myself, teachers, soldiers and nurses all know nothing.

No sick pay, no holiday pay, no helpful contributions to your pension pot, bit short of time but that may give you some idea. I did also say many, not all, now how about trying to find a number for the poor ex service guys who come out and stick their pot into a franchise only to see it fail in the first year, now that is a crime.

Two of my kids are teachers, I know how hard some work. I also have friends who work for the councils and know they will do anything to get out of a bit of graft and see sick pay as part of a holiday entitlement, that said I am sure it also happens in the private sector.

Tell me on average what would you say gives the earliest retirement age, private or public sector, amongst the people I know it is certainly not the private sector.

I am aware that retirement is changing in the public sector to make it a more level playing field.