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?

A lot of trades people earn really well. Do what you want. Could you start with an evening course? If you are considering a degree you could work part time around it. So could still earn enough to pay towards rent etc. As a student you get other financial benefits such as council tax discount if you live with someone else.

I think a trade is a great idea, some are easily on 6 figure salaries. EG - our local plumber /gas engineer is living in a £1m house, he's just paid a fortune for a beautiful extension and he's putting 3 children through private school. His wife is a SAHM with a small PT job for pin money (her words, not mine).

Nothing wrong with a trade!

We have had a building business for years- other family members are in the trade too. A good electrician will never be short of work. All the ones we know are pulled out with work- and they earn more than most other trades.
Few people will attempt diy electrical work, where as they will have a go at simple building and decorating.

Your accountancy background will save you a fortune in accountant's fees plus will make the financial side of being self employed easier.

Working on site you will have to get used to "banter" , just give as good as you get!
Just go for it!

Do what makes you feel happy. Sounds like your girlfriend doesn't want you to waste all the time you have spent qualifying as an accountant.

Is being an electrician very physical work ? Perhaps think about the fact you won't be sat at a warm desk drinking coffee.... will it suit you in older age?

Electricians are highly trained. They do essential work. It’s a highly respectable job. And they can earn good money.

you are still young - plenty of time to to retrain. Sounds like a great career move for you. And a hell of a lot more interesting than accountancy.

your girlfriend is a snob. Pure and simple.

You are still very young. Even if you hate it, you have enough time to fall back on your previous qualifications if things don't work out. You may regret not having a go, at least.

If I had older children I'd 100% be advising against university and towards a trade, if they had the right personality/skills for it.

The other thing with teaching is that I think some schools might offer training on the job. You can get a job as a TA and they pay for your degree. I read something years ago about a Golden Hello - that you could get a Bursary because people are crying out for teachers. I don't know if that is still the case

I've tried to persuade my (very clever, straight 9s at gcse) daughter to become an electrician as she doesn't like studying ( she won't.) I wish I'd done electrics instead of a teaching qualification 10 years ago. My brother is an electrician, he warns 2.5 times what I do ( first class degree plus teaching qualification.) I ha e to work full time as a single mother. If I was an electrician I could probs earn the same
as a part timer.

What strikes me most about your post is how very undecided you are.

You tried accountancy and hated it.

You've applied for administrative jobs but you are disappointed by the salary (but surely you work your way up to a decent salary?) and can't find something you're 'overly passionate' about.

You fancy teaching but can't afford to retrain.

You wish you had a degree but cba doing anything about that, such as open university.

If I was your gf I would think that 'electrician' was just the latest thing that caught your attention until you realised that there were reasons why you couldn't do that either.

As someone said, look at what is happening regarding renewables etc and what skills are going to be needed in the future (heat pump installations etc).

I saw a newspaper article the other day saying that we are going to need tens of thousands of heat pump installers.

As an accountant you will have a much knowledge about running a business than most people. You just need to find something you want to do.

Open University still costs, unfortunately.

It is really quite a big decision to make so I don't think it is a bad thing to weigh up the options. It is even harder when you think you have had your life planned out.

Whatever decision you make, it is reversible.

Trades are great. My hubby did an apprenticeship 4 years ago and now earns more than me (a teacher with 10 years experience).

Your gf is completely wrong with regard to trades not needing qualifications

They do.

Ds came top of his level 2 class with perfect and near perfect scores in all of his tests and assessments and was looking for an apprenticeship to do level 3 when they changed the rules. He can only do level 1 courses now. The same with all of his class. His small college ended up closing because they couldn’t get enough people with the required qualification to do the courses.

Do what makes you happy. If you don’t and end up stuck in a boring job you will be financially worse off as you will be spending more money trying to make yourself happier.

I'm an accountant, I didn't like it a huge amount when I was training. Mostly because of the firm I was with.

I love my job/ company now. There are loads of avenues opened to accountants, both inside and outside of accountancy, maybe you were in the wrong sort of accountancy? But if that is not your thing then don't do it.

26 is not too old to change career, not even slightly! My mum has just made a big career move at 55.

Trades are well respected IMO and are always in demand. Are there any short courses you could do to get a taste for it? It is good you have accountancy as well though, I know a few trades people who are worried about what will happen in this 60s will they be able to continue. Even 50s for some of the heavier lifting trades

Is it definitely snobbery about the trade? I think these days most people are aware that tradespeople can make a very good living indeed. Could it be that she’s trying to guide you towards things you’d be better at? I’ve got very good academic qualifications, but I would be a terrible electrician because I’m not great with my hands and the practical side of it would be hard for me. The pay might be worse but maybe she means that it would be better for you to be an excellent data analyst than a mediocre electrician. It’s also hard to find a training place btw

I know a few trades people who are worried about what will happen in this 60s will they be able to continue. Even 50s for some of the heavier lifting trades

I agree to a certain extent if you have never expanded into other things.
Most of the 50+ year old people I have come across who were the electricians , plumbers etc are doing their own renovations, house building in a more management role
I must admit that when ever I have workmen they are usually under 45

If I had my time over again I'd train in a trade - always in demand. However being self employed brings its own stresses so you might want to consider that versus working for someone else.

A Trade is a respectable job. DH, a retired electrician was never out of work. He’d be insulted at the thought of his skills and experience being classed as not respectable, he’s a clever bloke, brilliant at maths. He needed maths in his job.
There’s a National shortage of skilled tradesmen especially electrical, due to the drive to get school leavers into university instead of The Trades..Electricial Plumbing, Bricklaying, Plastering etc.
There are many sides to the job, it’s not just ‘house bashing’ (re-wiring) although that is perfectly respectable.
You are the perfect age to retrain and get involved in the drive towards renewable energy too.

If you're bored of accountancy, have you tried internal audit? In the public or charity sectors it's not just about money it's about all kinds of risk so can be really interesting, and if you're qualified in another you'd be likely to be a good candidate for a job.

Forget what other people think and I think you need to decide whether you will be happy sat behind a desk for the next 40 years or want to do a more physical job

My Dhs school had a company come in who did in-depth careers tests on the pupils when they started. Letters were then sent home.

Dh remembers one of his classmates being told that his test results gave a quite surprising line of work.
This guy is now world renown in that field

Dh was told by his parents to go into a certain well thought of career.
Dh really struggled with his career. He was never happy but as his peers had all gone into the recommended careers this company had said and were doing well he just thought that one day he would learn to love what he did

A few years ago when in laws were down sizing they sent all of his old stuff to us to.

In the boxes of old school reports was the letter about his career advice.

Dh should never have been in the career he was in.

It actually said something that in his parents eyes was quite down market so they had decided on a particular career they wouldn’t be embarrassed about and told him that was what he had to do.

Dh over the years has spent so much money trying to reward himself for a days work in a career he found so boring but he never wanted to upset his parents or even thought to question the test results and instead has led a quite miserable life.

I think if you do what makes you happy. No matter if someone thinks it is respectable or not. Work takes up years of your life you might as well be doing something you enjoy

I have a natural ability at something. I would hate to do it as a job as I find it really boring.

Yes to this - if you want a long career I think renewables can be a great choice. Nothing against gas fitting but it may become obsolete as a career.

You could do a teacher training course on placement (where you get a basic salary whilst you train) so you could look into that (Teach first). Obviously degrees are helpful but you might be able to use your accrued work experience in a particular area.

You might also want to look at teaching at a college level, maybe in accountancy?

You could try recruitment if you think you would like that sort of thing. It's not for everyone. But accountancy recruitment firms sometimes take people from a accountancy background rather than someone with a degree. You would need to be quite outgoing and happy to call random people on the phone. I couldn't do it! But if you are good at it you can make decent money. Would probably need to be at a smaller company rather than the big agencies who are more likely to have a checklist of requirements including a degree.