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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

..to ask what jobs your DPs do and how they got there?

83 replies

MrsElijahMikaelson · 02/01/2019 15:14

Asking out of curiosity.

DP has a relatively low paid job in security, he didn't take school seriously and has poor GCSE grades.

Though it doesn't seem on paper, he is really intelligent, has good maths skills and has common sense - he just lacked motivation.

Now he knows he needs a kick up the arse and needs to earn more money.
He's taken up as a relief/casual work to earn more money but it's not guaranteed.

Does anyone know of any careers in where they will train you whilst on the job and have good career prospects?

OP posts:
FourEyesGood · 02/01/2019 15:16

What’s your job?

TheSpottedZebra · 02/01/2019 15:16

What about LadyJobs - are they of any value or interest?

Original poster
MrsElijahMikaelson · 02/01/2019 15:17

Oh here we go eye roll

I was going to put what jobs do you and your dp in the title but forgot.

OP posts:
Inbetween4 · 02/01/2019 15:20

Mine is a HGV driver

Original poster
MrsElijahMikaelson · 02/01/2019 15:22

Inbetween, you have to pay for training to get the license don't you? Does he do the, i forgot it's called, tramping?

OP posts:
isseywithcats · 02/01/2019 15:22

DP is a university lecturer, route was left school with one o level in maths, went into an apprenticiship in engineerring, they sent him to college he got the taste for it, did a Bsc (1st) did an Msc (1st) PHD and then went into computer programming and related jobs, then 11 years ago went into lecturing job in university he teaches engineering mathematics and a few other subjects, me ive done all sorts from cheffing to cleaning got a BA (hons) at 45 just for the sake of saying i could do it

Original poster
MrsElijahMikaelson · 02/01/2019 15:23

I should mention, he would hate any office based or shop jobs

OP posts:
ButtMuncher · 02/01/2019 15:25

My DH is an IT Manager. Left school with GCSE and scant number of A Levels and took an apprenticeship in a local school at 18. He's now 33 and earns around 50k and worked his way up through the rungs. He's done qualifications since becoming more senior.

ButtMuncher · 02/01/2019 15:25

I should add he's not got a degree either.

Inbetween4 · 02/01/2019 15:26

@MrsElijahMikaelson Yes, he has a class 2 licence so can drive up to a certain tonnage. His lessons/tests costed around 1k and he managed to get a job in the food service industry so gets paid a bit higher due to temperature control etc (rather than just delivering things, if that makes sense).

He works within about a 3-4 hour drive radius so he's home every night. The odd time he will get asked to do overnight runs and gets paid extra for this so it works well for our young family.

You can get other jobs which earn more as they are away Mon-Friday. I'm not sure where there are "pay to train" jobs but I imagine they'll be out there somewhere!

gingajewel · 02/01/2019 15:28

My oh works in a metal factory, he has done for the last 20 odd years since leaving school and although he has brains it’s too late/too expensive to retrain now!

Thingsdogetbetter · 02/01/2019 15:30

Site manager for property developer. Left school with sod all despite being highly intelligent. Was a hod carrier, a labourer, a builder etc. Worked his way up. Bit by bit got different licences like diggers etc, H&S certs, and earns more than me. I have a good school certs, degree, PGCE and am a teacher.

YahBasic · 02/01/2019 15:32

Three family members have managerial jobs in manufacturing/logistics companies. Two of them don’t have degrees and worked up from the factory floor in 2-3 years.

Inferiorbeing · 02/01/2019 15:33

Mine is a paramedic- screwed around in school, settled into sport BTEC and worked in a shop for a couple of years.. somehow talked himself into uni (literally no idea how as he didn't apply through UCAS or have the right qualifications. Four years later he is now a paramedic mentor who trains the new crew mates!

Thingsdogetbetter · 02/01/2019 15:33

There are courses for security or bouncers that would substantially up his wage if he enyoys what he does. He could do Access courses if he needs school qualifications. Also look into apprenticeships: they're no longer just for 16 year olds.

Whoopsies · 02/01/2019 15:38

My dh works as an engineer for Openreach. They often take on new apprentices who are older. Pay starts put low but quickly goes up to a really good wage.

boomboomshakalack · 02/01/2019 15:38

My husband got spotted in the gym when he was 16 and asked to go to an audition for a stunt role in a tv series. Ever since he has worked as a stuntman, working on big movies and tv shows, and doubling for some pretty big names.

He has had to work incredibly hard to end up where he is and to have worked so consistently for as long as he has - it is a ridiculously competitive industry. The training is intense and the expectations are high. You need to be pretty amazing at quite a few different disciplines. He is now coordinating/directing as he is getting older and can't keep setting himself on fire 😂

Conversely I have undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and work in a much more boring industry 😁

Lost5stone · 02/01/2019 15:39

DP got excellent GCSEs and is a whizz at maths (scored 100% on this GCSE paper) but went to college and was lazy and dropped out after a couple of months. Didn't do much until he was about 20 then became HGV driver so been doing that about 15 years. Work paid for the licence and he is always home every night but still does long hours and only just earns over national average after overtime (and he usually does 50/60 hour weeks). He is relatively happy but could do a lot better, think he lacks confidence and now as been at the same job so long doesn't want to take the risk.

I am urging him to make a move (not about money or anything but he lifts heavy goods in his job and he can't do it that much longer)

I'm not that good at maths and I'm a bookkeeper!

Original poster
MrsElijahMikaelson · 02/01/2019 15:40

Thanks
I'll look into it. Usually apprenticeships are low paid, it cant be any worse than he's on now. He will pay to retrain in something, he's 32.

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsElijahMikaelson · 02/01/2019 15:41

@whoopsies, he has applied for BT and passed online test and needs to send his GCSE documents in. DP is anxious as he's results are pretty shit he won't get the job so that's why he's thinking about courses etc.

OP posts:
LipstickHandbagCoffee · 02/01/2019 15:42

Can I ask why isn’t he looking for courses,jobs,training.its not down to you
1st step is he needs the motivation to change jobs,get new career without that oomph nowt will change
Many adults change & jobs,the rub is finding what the right fit is,what suits
Not all jobs pay to train, other than apprenticeships, or junior jobs.
However plenty job you acquire skills on job and be useful to employer

Omgineedanamechange · 02/01/2019 15:43

What about LadyJobs - are they of any value or interest?

The OP asked about partners job, there was no mention of men or women.

Dimsumlosesum · 02/01/2019 15:49

Dh was in IT, hit the promotional ceiling very early, got depression.i asked him if he had any dreams when he was a little boy, he said he always wanted to fly. Took a few years and an extra job to save a tiny part of the initial training fee,took massive risks taking out further loans and quitting jobs, but he went for it. It's not been easy at all but he lives his dream now.

WhatdoImean · 02/01/2019 15:52

Hi there

What worked for me was getting a job with a large organisation (civil service, multi-national). There are often options to move within the organisation. and usually get training as part of it.

It may well mean starting in a low paying role to start with, but once you have been there a few years, AND you take every training option around (a lot do free "self improvement" on-line courses as well...), he may well be in a much better position.

Good luck

Sinisers · 02/01/2019 15:53

I'm an office manager in a wealth management company, currently doing aat. DP is an office manager in housing/property law .