Can I ask you about your career path?

[Tailypo]

For no reason other than interest (and extreme nosiness ), AIBU to ask you all about your career paths?

Would you mind just providing a bit of info about your first steps into work after secondary school or university, and your career from then on please?

I'm stuck in a bit of a careers rut right now ( :( ) and would love to feel inspired :)

I'd love to keep my options as open as possible, so I'm really interested in my next career move as well as in what I could be (potentially!) involved in later on in a career too.

Thanks!

Bump :)

Thanks everyone for all of your contributions so far - please feel free to add to this thread if you'd like to :)

This thread was so interesting to read

Unfortunately, I haven't started my career yet (only 19).
I've just finished my first year of uni studying a social science subject so I probably won't have the greatest career prospects. I also work part time in a clothing store.
I'd really like to do a placement before I graduate as my grades aren't the strongest, and I feel like my CV is hugely lacking!

I trained to be an accountant after doing a completely unrelated degree (as was the case with lots of my colleagues - many had come from previous careers such as teaching as well).

Almost qualified but now I've moved overseas and feel like my career has taken a huge hit as I work in tax which is quite country specific so essentially I'm starting from the bottom again (with language difficulties thrown in the mix).

Fell into teaching after my plans for a career in Archaeology were scuppered by my lecturer (hand caressing my knee...."why does a pretty little thing like you want to do a dirty job like that?....it WAS the 1960s...). Loved teaching from the first day. Upskilled to be able to teach 4 languages at A level - European, Asian and Ancient. Teaching allowed me to travel and work extensively abroad and take my children with me. Loved my subjects, loved the kids, hated the pointless paperwork and ludicrous targets. No ambition to climb the career ladder beyond head of department, which would have taken me out of the classroom. Archaeology is a passion pursued from the sidelines, financed by my teacher's pension these days. I have been very blessed to work at something I adore and have scrapbooks filled with the messages from past students confirming that I did indeed make a difference, and left footprints in the sand.

Have you thought of charities - anything from PSHE Association to those promoting support or education in a specific subject / skill? They tend to have School Liaison Officers and many have policy roles too

Did well at school, history degree from Russell group Uni, accountancy training at mid tier firm then moved to big 4 firm. Still there 17 years later, have done various different roles, fancy something new...

So in terms of career path - went to uni, went straight onto Teach First, taught another year after that, realised I hated teaching. Resigned without a job to go to and a month later got a job as an HR Assistant - did my CIPD, moved to a role as an HR Officer, started to do more ER and project based stuff then recently got the role I've wanted for 4 years - HR Advisor.

Wouldn't necessarily suggest further qualifications without a clear plan (I've ended up with a degree, a masters that TF funded, a PGCE that TF funded and a CIPD PGDip that was mostly employer funded, so I can't really talk, but I've been very lucky in terms of funding!) because I've seen people do a masters in the hope that a job will follow. If you're interested in education policy, have a look at the TF vacancies page ( not the graduate site) as they have roles within head office and the regions that have a policy emphasis.

I left school with 3 A-Levels and 1 AS. I completed my teacher's training and up until the end of last year had been teaching ever since. I've been wanting to leave for ages, but difficult to make that leap. Started my most recent maternity leave at the end of last year, and have spent it studying (I've luckily got a fantastic sleeper who has amazing day naps!).

I'm currently studying towards MAAT, with the end goal of qualifying as an acocountant (probably once youngest is in school). I'm now working very part time as a bookkeeper and applying for finance/accounts jobs to build experience and allow me to continue studying.

I'm a qualified accountant having done it for 15 years for the same firm. I'll be starting a new job shortly - moving from audit to finance. This is to see if I like it. If not, I'll change career!

Did a bachelors in biology and chemistry, had DD1 (unplanned) did a small stint in a secondary school as a lab tech.

Went to a pharmaceutical company as a manufacturing tech, quickly up to senior, then moved to the QC lab, then started doing some QA there. Then redundancy.

Went to a clinical research organisation as an associate QA auditor, did 8 years with various increasing responsibilities and a couple of promotions (with crap pay) there was no further avenues for me and felt unappreciated so left

Did 6 months as QA officer with local council for care home oversight. Pace No where near fast enough for me.

Huge medical company had fairly local opening and they contacted me almost 4 years ago, I went as a quality systems and Compliance supervisor. I am now the Compliance Manager for a manufacturing site - I've got my eyes on a couple of roles (senior manager or associate director)

I am very appreciative of the opportunities I've had.

Not a high flyer at all but ill tell you anyway.

Finished college with ok A levels because I didn't try at all and didn't go the last 8 weeks because I couldn't be bothered. Didn't want to go to uni so just got a job temping at a bank and completed my AAT by home learning. Got lucky with a job doing the bookkeeping in a small company and pretty much just moved around a couple of times until I got the perfect role. Now im a finance manager earning a bit above national average (well FT equivalent i was but retuned PT after mat leave). I can't say I'm very ambitious career wise, I love my job and I would honestly be happy just doing this forever.

Another one who 'fell' into a career. The original plan of uni straight after A-levels didn't pan out when I crashed out of school mid-6th form for various reasons. Got an office junior job in London which actually turned out to be mostly bookkeeping, and that was that. Took to it really well, did a few years at one company, a few years at another, slowly moving up the ladder in responsibility and experience. Did take 3 years out to do a degree (completely unrelated to accounting, as it happens), but went back to it afterwards. 20 years on, I'm living in another country, still doing accounting, basically at the top of my pay grade as I never got qualified, but can call myself an actual accountant as I've just been doing it so long.

My one regret was turning down the opportunity to get qualified, paid for by my company. At the time I figured I'd be stuck in accounting forever if I did that, and I wanted to keep my options open. But I'm actually really happy in this career, so want to revisit the qualification thing so I can progress.

No rhyme nor reason to mine... just sorta fell into my lap.

Worked part time in retail whilst I was at college studying film production.

Went full time after college, moved to different store as supervisor, moved to different store as deputy manager, moved to different store as manager. Hated every second.

Moved to sell travel money at the airport. Hated that too.

Went and worked in a bank. Hated it.

Somehow by some miracle got offered an office job in sales of bits and bobs.

Moved to finance by some fluke.

Asked to move into HR and here I am away to start studying for my CIPD.

No idea how I ended up here but glad... I like my role now

Loved science at school cos of my biology teacher. Decent GCSEs> AS levels> A levels> university BSc Diagnostic Radiography.

Worked in the NHS since then. Worked clinically for years, getting various promotions. Went back to uni for Postgrad courses. Became advanced practitioner ie undertaking role that traditionally drs did. Got manangement qualifications, now managing a large dept in a large NHS hospital.

Didn't think I'd done much but written that, makes me realise I have done more than I thought. All because my biology teacher gave me a love of science.

Went to uni for 3 years aged 17 and qualified as a midwife.
Moved to find a job in the NHS... despised it - left after 6 months (was nothing like the training.. newly qualified put in dangerous situations ...I hear it's even worse now 7 years later)
Was unemployed for few months then got a job as a health care assistant in an elderly hospital. Loved that..(More time to spend caring for patients with less responsibility and team were amazing. Although still pretty stressful at times (good ol' NHS) but colleagues got me through).
Left after three years to do post grad teaching degree. Found the course really stressful but qualified and I'm now in my third year teaching and couldn't be happier. Keeps me motivated and challenged!

If you really want to know... picked law at 14 and specfically business law; best A levels in school, entrance scholarship exams taken and passed to university; university prizes year 1 and 3 ( top of year) at good university; obtained law firm training contract in London during law degree; law school one year; 2 year TC; left on qualification to join arguably best law firm in country. Now have my own law firm and earn a fair bit in business law mostly based in the house. I did all the stuff you need to do - very high exam grades, work experience in law firms, in a law centre, did mooting (mock trial) competitions and then just kept at it all those years since, wrote 30 law books, give 20 - 50 law talks a year to keep self known, lots of legal writing too. I adore it. I hope I do 30 more years.

Wow thanks everyone! It's been really interesting to read about your different career paths so far. Feel free to post if you'd still like to contribute :)

Vivienne Westwood thank you for posting! I'm 8 months into response policing and just started a 7am shift after night time economy last weekend so needed that boost!

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