What was you career path?

[Heartbreaker83]

Currently on the journey to my dream role and would interested to see how people ended up in their current dream job.

Had to retake my GCSE as I moved schools in final year. Ended up with 4. Always wanted to do something Admin so did an nvq L2 in Business admin. Changed my mind and tried childcare and worked in a school but quickly realised I didn’t have the patience for small children (other peoples, mind) . Worked in retail for a bit then finally got an office job as a receptionist in a recruitment company.

Worked my way into a recruitment role realising I enjoyed the interaction but not the sales. Bagged an entry level hr role and finally found a field I absolutely loved.

Currently in a junior hrbp role full time which is really hard due to little flexibility (work is still enjoyable but lots of pressure/demand), 2 small children and a company that isn’t a right fit so trying to find my next role as hr manager with the flexibility I’ve been craving.

Anyone care to share their journey?

Whats your AIBU?

A levels then degree.
Did a grad training scheme for a big FTSE 100 company for 5 years

3 years in recruitment until first baby

Went on to the mummy path and worked a low level very PT role

Several slightly more senior roles still earning Medicocre money

Decided to up my career and then had 2 middle management roles

Took a gamble and a £20k payrise and am currently part of a 4 person senior management team earning more than I have ever earnt

Am mid 40’s and except to have 2-3 big moves left in me with a main board director role being the ultimate plan

Child minder now in retail as its better money and benefits (sick pay, holidays, perks)

Left college with no q’s as was being a very ridiculous teenager.

Worked in hospitality as a stop-gap, realised I loved it. Started getting experience in all aspects (kitchen, management etc). Worked in some incredible Michelin restaurants.

Worked my way up till I was area GM for a large group of hotels/restaurants.

Had dd, took 2 years off as maternity. Didn’t want to do the insane hours anymore as a single mum and wanted to be around for dd. Was headhunted for an events manager position, which I took and loved.
Been doing that for 18 months now and whilst I miss the insanity of hospitality, it pays well and I can fit it around dd so I have an excellent work/life balance (most of the time!)

I always wanted to be a nurse but was told by a careers advisor in year 11 I didn't have the qualifications (1x C, 3x Ds, EE, 2x F). So went into 6th form to do leisure & tourism to be an air hostess or work in a travel agents.

Left that after 1 year & went to college for 3 years doing health and social care. Had the qualifications to do my nurse training. Didn't get into uni after college so took a year out & worked in a nursing home. Reapplied to uni. Didn't get into my closest uni, went to my second choice uni. Hated it as I was the only one from outside the county in my group & didn't have the local accent. Felt a total outsider & didn't fit in. I quit in my management placement because of bullying from an auxiliary nurse & was having other problems ans became incredibly depressed.

That was 2008 and at 37 I'd love to get back into nursing cos I have a passion for coronary care but no idea what to do now. I'm no way going back to uni. I only know health and care job roles. I would also love to get into car mechanics but not sure

Went to uni but didn’t graduate.

Bummed around London working at art house cinemas and indie record shops.

Temped in admin for a few years. That turned into a permanent job in a college library. Stayed there a few years then got a step up role as Publications & New Media Assistant at an NGO. The “new media” bit was content editing and small coding on the website.

Stepped up again to Senior Web Officer for a charity. A year later, moved into a huge role at a corporate - Web Manager for Europe. I stayed there quite a while and that role moved more into general digital - so email, social media as well as web.

Then I had three children and freelanced as a digital marketing consultant for six years.

Now I’m Digital Marketing Manager for a fintech start up. I love it. I’m paid REALLY well and they are super flexible. So awesome career, well paid and fits around three young children. I can’t believe my luck, especially as I left uni with debt and no degree.

Finishing high school in 94, was not studying much and certainly had no academic plans. Got a job as a bank teller before my final exams, so didn't even bother to study for them. Started bank teller school 2 weeks after my last exam.

Worked as a bank teller for 18 months, enjoyed the customer stuff but didn't like the sales culture that was starting. Moved into a head office role where I delivered reports to peoples desk in a 5 story building, back in the day where everything was paper based.

Moved into a role as a system administrator which I did alright at. My main goal was to get into somewhere more lively, around the trading room. A role came up in operations, have been working in financial operations since, 19 years now. Have done FX, Fixed Income and now Equities.

I think I'm the last generation of people who can get into The City without any qualifications. Even to get into Operations these days you need a degree, preferably from a decent university and with decent marks.

I'm in lower middle management, do fuck all work, get paid ok, and have flexible hours. It's boring as batshit, but I'm always out on time and my focus is to support my wife in her career. She loves what she does, is successful and looks like she'll do even better. So I'll suck up the boredom for her and our family.

Absolutely loving reading these, thanks all for sharing.

Left school after A levels and went into nursing training (1980s so in hospital, not at uni); left after 18 months as it wasn't for me.

Got job in building society on the counter as a cashier, moved branches but stayed there 6 years in total, started OU degree in final year there.

Moved to customer services role in an office, stayed there for six years (finished degree in 4 years by working extra hard, plus got married and had a baby).

Got a place to do PGCE. Had baby no 2 and postponed for a year.

Did PGCE, taught in primary schools in London for 18 years including becoming SENCo and Deputy Head, then moved into similar role overseas just over a year ago. Also completed two masters degrees while teaching full time.