Job

[Wolfox]

21 hours ago, lcfcsnow said:

I’m late 30s now and never had a job that pays above minimum wage. I’ve had data admin and van driving jobs mainly, but I’m basically fed up now. I’m not sure what I can do though as I’m not qualified to do anything that would get me better paying job. Any advice welcome 🥹

What would you like to do?  Have you ever seen a job and thought that you fancy it?

 

Do you have the opportunity to retrain?

Edited 3 May 2023 by Wolfox

[Benguin]

21 hours ago, lcfcsnow said:

I’m late 30s now and never had a job that pays above minimum wage. I’ve had data admin and van driving jobs mainly, but I’m basically fed up now. I’m not sure what I can do though as I’m not qualified to do anything that would get me better paying job. Any advice welcome 🥹

A long term option is to find a mid to large size organisation that has clearly defined career pathways and sticking it out. All of the qualifications, skills, promotions and salary increases for me have been in house. I started at the bottom and worked my way up. 
 

a shorter term approach is to really work on your cv and skill gaps (not necessarily qualifications) as there are a tonne of jobs in the 25k-35k range where you don’t need specific qualifications but just need to sell yourself as someone capable. Does your current employer give regular appraisals and personal development plans? - are there things within your current role that your line manager could help you achieve? 
 

outside of that you could consider the more conventional route of looking at an industry you’d be interested in and studying / gaining the necessary qualifications but obviously practically this isn’t always a viable option and I’m sure you have already considered it. 

[kenny]

8 minutes ago, Benguin said:

A long term option is to find a mid to large size organisation that has clearly defined career pathways and sticking it out. All of the qualifications, skills, promotions and salary increases for me have been in house. I started at the bottom and worked my way up. 
 

a shorter term approach is to really work on your cv and skill gaps (not necessarily qualifications) as there are a tonne of jobs in the 25k-35k range where you don’t need specific qualifications but just need to sell yourself as someone capable. Does your current employer give regular appraisals and personal development plans? - are there things within your current role that your line manager could help you achieve? 
 

outside of that you could consider the more conventional route of looking at an industry you’d be interested in and studying / gaining the necessary qualifications but obviously practically this isn’t always a viable option and I’m sure you have already considered it. 

This is the advice I would give too.

 

There are plenty of employers out there looking for good people to train, ones that spring to mind are the NHS, railways, quarrying, supermarkets and others.

[Daggers]

2 hours ago, lcfcsnow said:

Work has just been delivery driver for the past year and half and today was the first time I enjoyed it when Youri opened the door! even though he wasn't happy, well he had that same glum look he has on the pitch so I hope it wasn't me 

No, he is always surprised when someone passes something to him these days.

 

I wouldn’t be surprised if he then accidentally gave it to his next door neighbour.

[lcfcsnow]

58 minutes ago, Wolfox said:

What would you like to do?  Have you ever seen a job and thought that you fancy it?

 

Do you have the opportunity to retrain?

Not really, I'm a decent driver and don't mind driving hence the delivery work, always thought I could do lorry driving but I'd have to spend quite a bit for the licence, and now with a dodgy knee the physical part of that job could be an issue. All the jobs I think I can do I've tried but I don't really want to go back to (like a warehouse operative, tried it many years ago through an agency and every one I had just made me depressed told myself never again).

34 minutes ago, Benguin said:

A long term option is to find a mid to large size organisation that has clearly defined career pathways and sticking it out. All of the qualifications, skills, promotions and salary increases for me have been in house. I started at the bottom and worked my way up. 
 

a shorter term approach is to really work on your cv and skill gaps (not necessarily qualifications) as there are a tonne of jobs in the 25k-35k range where you don’t need specific qualifications but just need to sell yourself as someone capable. Does your current employer give regular appraisals and personal development plans? - are there things within your current role that your line manager could help you achieve? 
 

outside of that you could consider the more conventional route of looking at an industry you’d be interested in and studying / gaining the necessary qualifications but obviously practically this isn’t always a viable option and I’m sure you have already considered it. 

I've applied for alot of jobs in the last few months, always get the "unfortunately, on this occasion, we have made the decision to not move forward with your application." emails back, even for jobs I had no intention of doing but just to see if I'd get anywhere. I don't think I have enough confidence or people skills to get any higher paying jobs

[Daggers]

With a number of clients cutting back on costs, I thought I might do teaching supply for a couple of days a week as it’d pay for our family holiday to Asia next year.

 

One out of four agencies bothered replying. That one then said they couldn’t accept paperwork as a compressed locked file and needed them emailed individually. And no, I couldn’t drop them in to be photocopied. How retarded are these people? Not a hope in hell am I sending personal documents in an unencrypted format.

 

There’s clearly no great shortage of physics specialists. I won’t be bothering to do a couple of days supply a week. The wife can go without that gold flake vodka on her cornflakes instead.

[Wolfox]

17 hours ago, lcfcsnow said:

Not really, I'm a decent driver and don't mind driving hence the delivery work, always thought I could do lorry driving but I'd have to spend quite a bit for the licence, and now with a dodgy knee the physical part of that job could be an issue. All the jobs I think I can do I've tried but I don't really want to go back to (like a warehouse operative, tried it many years ago through an agency and every one I had just made me depressed told myself never again).

I've applied for alot of jobs in the last few months, always get the "unfortunately, on this occasion, we have made the decision to not move forward with your application." emails back, even for jobs I had no intention of doing but just to see if I'd get anywhere. I don't think I have enough confidence or people skills to get any higher paying jobs

As dull as it sounds you need a plan!

 

Speak to a careers advisor maybe so you can at least have an idea of what you’d like to work towards…. You have another 30 years left in work, so it’s important where possible to do something you enjoy…. Once you have a realistic plan of what you’d like to do, you may need to consider re-training…. Lots of grants are available and this can be done part time…

 

A sharp CV and a bit of confidence help a lot…. Confidence can be learned and a sharp CV may need a bit of support…. It’s also important to understand how to manage interview situations…. Again, this can be learned 

 

You need to be realistic of course, but don’t try and limit your ambitions…. My wife (similar age to you) left a boring insurance job and is now a school teacher…. It took a year out to qualify, but she’s delighted she did it and (in the main) enjoys her job!

 

Come back with some thoughts on potential career paths maybe?

[kenny]

18 hours ago, lcfcsnow said:

Not really, I'm a decent driver and don't mind driving hence the delivery work, always thought I could do lorry driving but I'd have to spend quite a bit for the licence, and now with a dodgy knee the physical part of that job could be an issue. All the jobs I think I can do I've tried but I don't really want to go back to (like a warehouse operative, tried it many years ago through an agency and every one I had just made me depressed told myself never again).

I've applied for alot of jobs in the last few months, always get the "unfortunately, on this occasion, we have made the decision to not move forward with your application." emails back, even for jobs I had no intention of doing but just to see if I'd get anywhere. I don't think I have enough confidence or people skills to get any higher paying jobs

Have you considered driving jobs with the NHS?

 

https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/wider-healthcare-team/roles-wider-healthcare-team/support-services/driver

 

There are plenty of other entry level jobs such as hospital portering you could consider if you want to get away from driving.

[FoxSince88]

Casino pit boss. 
Pros- Can end up with decent pay packet when customers are generous with the tips. 
 

cons- Customers aren’t generous with the tips regularly enough. 

[adam]

On 02/05/2023 at 23:19, lcfcsnow said:

I’m late 30s now and never had a job that pays above minimum wage. I’ve had data admin and van driving jobs mainly, but I’m basically fed up now. I’m not sure what I can do though as I’m not qualified to do anything that would get me better paying job. Any advice welcome 🥹

I work on the railway with people who were in the same boat as you.

A few of them did the rail psychometric test( not sure how much it is) and became train drivers.

Once you pass that some train or plant operating rail companies would take you on as a trainee driver.

The test is a bit challenging but many pass it. 

Maybe worth a look.

Keep the dodgy knee quiet though 😆

Edited 4 May 2023 by adam

[tom27111]

On 03/05/2023 at 19:23, Wymsey said:

Hope @tom27111 is OK after the Amazon experience.

 

Thanks @Wymsey

 

I'm good thanks.

 

I'm doing some trade plate driving at the minute, with the plan of setting up my own business, or getting back in to car sales.

 

I love it. I travel all over the country, driving weird and wonderful things every day, seeing sights I've never seen before.

 

My strangest assignment so far was to deliver an ambulance. Picked it up from the manufacturer in Doncaster, drove to my house, then delivered it to Kent the next morning.

 

I felt like @Parafox 

 

I can be in Southampton one day and Edinburgh the next.

 

Reckon I've seen about 85 of the 92 football league grounds on my travels in only a few weeks.

 

Just gutted I can't take my golf clubs with me. I've been by Royal St George's, The Belfry and Celtic Manor in the last month. 

[lcfcsnow]

1 minute ago, tom27111 said:

 

Thanks @Wymsey

 

I'm good thanks.

 

I'm doing some trade plate driving at the minute, with the plan of setting up my own business, or getting back in to car sales.

 

I love it. I travel all over the country, driving weird and wonderful things every day, seeing sights I've never seen before.

 

My strangest assignment so far was to deliver an ambulance. Picked it up from the manufacturer in Doncaster, drove to my house, then delivered it to Kent the next morning.

 

I felt like @Parafox 

 

I can be in Southampton one day and Edinburgh the next.

 

Reckon I've seen about 85 of the 92 football league grounds on my travels in only a few weeks.

 

Just gutted I can't take my golf clubs with me. I've been by Royal St George's, The Belfry and Celtic Manor in the last month. 

I looked at that before but the company I was talking to about it said you have to pick up around 5 cars a day, and once you've dropped one off you have you use public transport to get to the next one each time - and they're not exactly that close together either so it involves a bus to a train station and another bus - seemed like a very long day.

[Costock_Fox]

.

Edited 13 May 2023 by Costock_Fox

[tom27111]

7 minutes ago, lcfcsnow said:

I looked at that before but the company I was talking to about it said you have to pick up around 5 cars a day, and once you've dropped one off you have you use public transport to get to the next one each time - and they're not exactly that close together either so it involves a bus to a train station and another bus - seemed like a very long day.

 

It depends. Sometimes I'll just have 2 cars a day, with long distances to travel. Sometimes I'll do 4 jobs close by in a day.

 

And yeah, a lot of time on buses and trains, but I'm armed with a company credit card! 

 

I usually leave home about 6am and home by 4pm.

 

So for example, yesterday I picked up in Bristol at 2pm, was home by 5.

 

Then dropped that in Stoke this morning at 7.30, bus across Stoke to pick up a car to take to Heathrow. Dropped that at 12, then got train/bus to St Albans and picked up another. Was home at home by 4. I'll drop that in Tipton on Monday.

Edited 12 May 2023 by tom27111

[SeCrEt FoX]

37 minutes ago, tom27111 said:

 

It depends. Sometimes I'll just have 2 cars a day, with long distances to travel. Sometimes I'll do 4 jobs close by in a day.

 

And yeah, a lot of time on buses and trains, but I'm armed with a company credit card! 

 

I usually leave home about 6am and home by 4pm.

 

So for example, yesterday I picked up in Bristol at 2pm, was home by 5.

 

Then dropped that in Stoke this morning at 7.30, bus across Stoke to pick up a car to take to Heathrow. Dropped that at 12, then got train/bus to St Albans and picked up another. Was home at home by 4. I'll drop that in Tipton on Monday.

Is it self employed? I was looking into doing this, sounds fun. 

[tom27111]

2 hours ago, SeCrEt FoX said:

Is it self employed? I was looking into doing this, sounds fun. 

Yes it is mate.

 

It's great. You can turn jobs down (they don't like it though) 

 

I randomly met another driver at a pickup, he told me they take the piss out of new drivers.

 

In my first week, they gave me a ridiculous job...Home to Edinburgh. Public transport to Glasgow. Glasgow to Consett. Public transport to Darlington. Darlington to home. 

 

Would've been a 20 hour day.

 

I told them to fvck off. My only mistake was that I was in Edinburgh as I said that 

 

They tried to persuade me to do it, I stood firm. An hour later, they told me to go to Edinburgh Airport and I had a car to drive home.

 

They've since told me that I'm one of their best drivers, mainly because I stood up for myself in my first week and didn't take their shit