What other jobs could DP do?

[FlyMeToDunoon]

DP is seriously hacked off with his current job [quite high up 'creative' in an advertising/marketing co] and that area in general.
He is 44.
He likes working with his hands and in the great outdoors.
Or maybe just connected with environment generally.
He would ideally stay at a similar salary level:£50,000 ish
His only formal higher education is an HND.
He is great in a team and very friendly.

For instance he looked at the forrestry comission website for inspiration.
Anyone done a similar move and if so what to and how did it go?

what about a trainee undertaker. not really to do with the great outdoors, but you have to be good with your hands, manual work etc.

And...you'll never be short of customers through the door ;)

lol
Sorry but I don't think DP would go for that. He is tough but I think a constant contact with death would not suit him.

I don't know anything about the 'working in the outdoors' sector myself, but the immediate thing that strikes me is that he will really struggle to get anything like that salary, particularly coming from a completely unconnected field. I can't imagine people working with their hands outdoors are that well paid tbh. Is that going to be a real problem?

you'll struggle for your DP to get a job on THAT salary in the great outdoors. Sorry to be so blunt.

Undertakers are very well paid, my cousin's new hubbie is now a trainee undertaker and he's better paid in that job than in the financial sector (the role that he previously had).

True, it doesn't suit everyone. Was just a (very random!) suggestion

I know someone with a degree in environmental studies, worked for the forestry commission & hated it as he ended up in an office!

He's now a postman & loves it - outdoors all the time!

Wouldn't think he'd be on 50k though

Well yes we had thought that actual outdoor work would not be well paid. But maybe a related field. PR some public body connected to the environment?
Neither of us can quite see what his skills would transfer into.

Postman was a thought that occurred to us yes but the wage was the sticking point.

I got advice recently that now is not a good time to be changing careers entirely. Each job has so many applicants that someone out there will have all the right experience. Perhaps a comprimise where he can still use his experience. A marketing position within a company related to the outdoors / environment?

Well we are willing to compromise on where we live and that would affect how much income we would need.

I personally don't think there are enough tree surgeons about - those jaunty harnesses they wear around their hips (drool).
Don't know how much training it takes or what they earn, but the ones I've met were definitely outdoor types and seemed very content.
Sorry - could you explain what he actually does ATM?

I would think the best chance of making that sort of money without relevant experience would be in a direct sales role, which could be risky.

ok he is a copywriter, he writes copy for ads and marketing. But he has a much wider role generally including product design, 'conceptual thinking for products and websites', full involvement in some ads for film from being present at casting sessions to writing the dialogue to going over to Italy to meet a famous racing driver who is appearing in the ad, writing radio ads.....

Yeah tree surgeon mmmm.
They have something about them don't they.

I asked DH this question. His suggestion is

• your DP is best working for himself if he wants to earn that sort of money. If he's got a background in marketing it will be an asset.

• He needs to choose the sort of work he wants to do rather than that he is qualified for, and set up a company doing it, employing some other people to do the work if he gets the work in.

i.e. simply doing what he's been doing for other people, but for himself, doing what he enjoys.

DH made a similar move 5 years ago and has built up to a successful small business, and is earning more than he ever did as an employee.

Example might be landscape gardening.

How about a marketing consultancy specialising in rural visitor attractions?

Was also going to say you'd need to plan it out, maybe spend a year or 2 saving up scme capital. We financed setting up the business by selling up and moving out of London, so don't have any back manager breathing down our necks fortunately.

BANK manager!

lol yes was going to ask about capital.