To think this is still a respectable job?

[Lostatlife]

So I’m 26 years old, I’m a bit lost with my career. I used to be an accountant but hated every second of it by the end. I have myself a temporary job to do with covid, but it pays peanuts and it’ll probably come to an end soon.

I’ve been applying for various administration roles but need something with a decent salary. There’s not many things I’m overly passionate about that are coming up. And then problem is I didn’t go to uni, which I regret now as a lot of jobs need a degree.
I wouldn’t mind teaching but can’t afford to get a degree and not work as I’m paying rent.

I quite like the idea of trade work, something like being an electrician. However my girlfriend said she’d wholly support me however she mentioned that I have great a levels and accountancy certificates, and basically said it’d be a shame if I didn’t use my skills with numbers and basically insinuated that I’m too clever for a trade job - it’s often what people with no GCSEs go into.

Is she right? Should I be using my skills more?

Have you thought about a move into tech? Commercial finance is quite interesting in the tech business.

Sometimes we just don't know what carers are open to us is part of the problem.

I would try and focus on what you are good at but also what you enjoy.

You don't go back to do something you got no joy from..you are so young and have many years working ahead of you. Having a trade is a brilliant idea. You could find something you enjoy and make loads of money too. I think being a tradesperson is respectable but it's neither here nor there. The important thing is finding something you can get out of bed every day to do..don't worry what people may or may not think. All the best.

Your girlfriend isn’t very bright then is she?
You need maths GCSE to be an electrician. She’s also a snob.

Do what you enjoy doing, life is too short. Trust me!

It's a perfectly respectable job

And with your skills once you gain the practical knowledge, you could set up your own company and employ others

We have noticed that all the people who are living well at the moment are tradesmen. That's certainly so in our neck of the woods - always busy, always many choices of clients/jobs, always wanted, always earning lots. We first noticed this when we paid a carpet layer when dd was about 2yo, and she's 23 now. It is still so.

Choose a trade that people will always want, so think carefully about how we get our energy now and likely will in the future before you jump into electrician or plumber etc. There's always going to be a demand for engineers, I think, which will use your ability with numbers too but in a very different way.

Any trade is an excellent idea! I know a few trades people that are millionaires. (They do have their own businesses) I worked in the music industry and did a trade bit like an electrician so it can be varied. (I did lighting but it involves electrics!)

I’m an accountant. Tradie’s are respectable and they can earn a fortune. Your GF is a snob. I’d choose being an electrician over accountancy ha

No offence but she’s not very bright you have to have some sort of qualifications to be an electrician. I can’t just go and be an electrician unless I want to electrocute myself or someone else . And have you tried getting a tradesman recently it’s like searching for gold dust I think a trade is s brilliant idea are you more a practical person op ?. I think the point your gf was making was it was a shame to not use those qualifications for a job but if you hate it then it’s not for you.
Plenty of people change professions

There is a recent thread where people discuss why it is hard to get a reliable tradesperson. Part of it is just that demand massively outstrips supply ( which makes it a good thing to go into) but part is that the skills needed to run a business are very different to the skills needed to be a tradesperson.

Of course someone who has both is going to do rather well…..

Currently trying to persuade my son into electrician / plumber route. If you're also business savvy, you could do very nicely financially and work towards running your own business. Tradespeople who are good at their trade and communicating both over the phone / email and in people's houses are very sought after. If it's what you want to do, go for it. (ps would not recommend teaching). You could always teach your trade at an FE college if/when you felt too old to get out doing the job.

I think it's a little unfair to say that his partner isn't very bright. She is obviously saying that it's a shame to waste his qualifications and not take a side step in a different direction.

However, she is wrong to say that electricians do not have GCSEs. It's also perfectly respectable to become an electrician. It will obviously be a very big change in working environment and you'll probably end up working with a broader variety of people, including people that shudder don't have GCSEs.

Hi op. If you have qualified as an accountant it's equivalent to a degree depending on level and actual qualifications. You have many more career and training paths open to you.
We're desperate for maths teachers 😉

You could make an absolute killing as an electrician. Do something you'll enjoy, not something someone else tells you you should do,

I will 100% be encouraging my future children to learn a trade. Our electrician earns an absolute fortune. He also isn’t tied to a 9-5/6 and can start at 8 and pick his kids up from school at 3.

Every tradesperson I know far out earns any graduate. Better to do a job you enjoy that be miserable.

You can make a lot of money in a trade

Hi, OP -

If the idea of being an electrician is what makes you feel happy about going to work in the morning, go for it. Your accountacy backgound will come in handy when you go independent!

I agree we are in desperate need of maths teachers and you may find a supported training scheme, but I think you should do what gives you joy.

You should do what makes you happy

what your girlfriend had is sunk cost fallacy

you can get a student loan for a degree

I hate this attitude. I know someone with an engineering degree who now teaches primary. He loathed engineering but still got a lot of people saying what a shame it was that he wasn't using his degree.

No. The shame would be for him to stick with a job he hated.

I'm academic but if you told me I had to become a brick layer I'd enjoy it! Working with your hands is really satisfying! If you want to do it, I say go for it!

Spending 40+ years doing a job you don't like is no way to live, regardless of how other people view it. Ask your GF who she would rather have in her life, a man who is doing what she sees as a "respectable" job but who is miserable or a man with a job he enjoys and is happy? As pp's have said you have a transferable skill for teaching maths but there is nothing wrong with having a "trade" either.

Out of all ny friends who uses maths on the most regular basis in their job its the electrician!

Also as no doubt a clever person with a trade behind you to the sky is then the limit to setting up a company and employing other people which you can eventually sell and make a hefty profit from.

It sounds like your gf is being snobbish about not wanting a tradespeople partner.

If you go into a trade make it plumbing, day rates are highest and if you become gas safe I would expect you to be making 350/-400/day in the SE

I think getting a good trade is an excellent career move these days. Once you have experience you could set up your own business and your accountancy/finance skills will come back into their own. Don't worry about anyone's ideas of what they want you to do, follow your gut, you are going to be working for a very long time so do something that makes you happy.

What accountancy qualifications do you have? If you're chartered you may find it's possible to join onto a degree for the third year. Or convert.

If it's only AAT then no. And with respect, you're only 26 so can't have too much experience as an actual accountant or of any senior level so if you haven't enjoyed it so far then it's probably not your calling, regardless of what your girlfriend thinks. Nothing wrong with a trade. Many are very well paid. You're young, find something you enjoy because it's a long time to retirement lol.

And also my DP's an accountant and he's shit at maths so she doesn't know what she's talking about, because generally accountants hardly use it.