Just wondering if anyone's managed to successfully changed career. Currently looking at pooling the skill sets I currently have and looking at moving on into technical sales (consultancy) type role.

 

I've had some positive feedback from specialist recruitment companies regarding this as I have some previous experience and my current business to business environment also puts me in good stead. I want to progress quickly and have better earning potential than my current role.

 

Just wondering whether people have changed roles at this level. I am still young, relatively speaking.

Just wondering if anyone's managed to successfully changed career. Currently looking at pooling the skill sets I currently have and looking at moving on into techincal sales (consultancy) type role.

 

I've had some positive feedback from specialist recruitment companies regarding this as I have some previous experience and my current business to business environment also puts me in good stead. I want to progress quickly and have better earning potential than my current role.

 

Just wondering whether people have changed roles at this level. I am still young, relatively speaking.

well i know a guy who was a good window cleaner and changed to a flagger,hes now earning £6.75 an hour and looks forward to a rich and fruitfull life

Just wondering if anyone's managed to successfully changed career. Currently looking at pooling the skill sets I currently have and looking at moving on into technical sales (consultancy)

 

yeah, i think a call centre will be a good move for you :rofl: :rofl:

 

havent had to change jobs, but if you are qaulified im sure you will manage

Thanks for the errrr....information.

well what did you want :rofl: , im not even sure what you do now lol

I'm not even sure what you're on about! :rofl:

fook do i know, and im even sober lol (but am extremely tired)

I sort of did Si as you know, Commando to Cisco networks is quite a change lol! You just need to show an aptitude for the skills they require. Most places struggle as much for people with the right attitude as they do for the skills so are willing to train up the right person if they have a 'can do' attitude. This is why (generally) forces people are so well received into civvy street for technical roles. Employers know that even if the person doesn't have the experience they will put there all into learning and getting things right and finished.

Just wondering if anyone's managed to successfully changed career. Currently looking at pooling the skill sets I currently have and looking at moving on into technical sales (consultancy) type role.

 

I've had some positive feedback from specialist recruitment companies regarding this as I have some previous experience and my current business to business environment also puts me in good stead. I want to progress quickly and have better earning potential than my current role.

 

Just wondering whether people have changed roles at this level. I am still young, relatively speaking.

 

Hi Si,

 

I originally worked in telecommunications (AT&T Asia Pacific in Hong Kong) where I was Director of new business development for Europe, Middle East and Africa. It was a fairly autonomous role with 80% travel between Hong Kong and Europe. Secretary back in HK and seven direct reports. Excellent role and would have loved to have continued with it but AT&T merged with BT to form a company called "Concert" and within a few months it became apparent that the growth potential had been taken away.

 

I then briefly worked as a Director for fixed line communications for a start-up in Marbella & Madrid, Spain. That was short lived as the financial markets crashed and I lost about $7 million in funding over night :headvswal

 

I then changed completely out of the telecoms industry and set up a "Corporate Change Management" consultancy. In a nutshell, I was hired by companies to analyse their current position relative to where they want to be (so to speak). I then developed the relevant policies, communication strategies and marketing plans to successfully bring the company to a new level. This role was very much more a strategic role than the role at AT&T. The skill set relevant to the job was also relatively similar - mainly project management and training skills.

 

It is certainly possible to change carreers and many people have done so successfully. The most important thing for you to do is to decide EXACTLY what it is you want from a carreer. Then analyse your current skill set and if your skills are lacking in a certain area then get them by taking a course, etc. before you leave your current job. Then once you are confident that you have the knowledge to successfully make the change go and do it! There is little more satisfying than doing something new and doing it well. You'll find that prospective employers are currently far less likely to hire someone who doesn't fit their criteria EXACTLY as they have an enormous pool of potential candidates to choose from. Don't let this discourage you, it's an opportunity - so grab it by the horns and run with it. You won't regret it, I'm sure.

 

Do I regret leaving AT&T and ending up self employed, running a couple of small internet retailers, making about 1/100th of the annual salary I used to command? No, absolutely not! What I do regret though is moving to bloody rainy Blighty! But I blame that on my wife! LOL ;)

 

Good luck mate!

 

Dan

Just wondering whether people have changed roles at this level. I am still young, relatively speaking.

 

 

Si......What do you mean by

changed roles at this level

 

What level??

i spent 11 years in retail, the last 4 being line manager. got sick of it and spent months and months trying to get into software development. applied for 60 positions through agencies/newspaper ads/ etc. got ONE interview. ONE ffs!. spent £1k on a course to update my skills (a 7-year-old degree isn't worth the paper its printed on). but luckily the old adage of 'its not what you know its who you know' worked for me and an ex-colleague of mine recommended me for an 8-week placement as Data Analyst and Software Developer at Alliance & Leicester HQ just down the road to me. ive just finished my 2nd week and i'm loving it. my immediate manager and also the technical manager have both been very impressed, and its almost certain there'll be a permanent position at the end of my 8 weeks.

 

the difficulty i found Si was that a) my qualifications were too old (i'd made a career decision 8 years ago which took me away from what i'd always wanted to be - i.e. software developer), and b) i wasnt ambitious enough to go for what i wanted. i think i put that down to losing confidence each time i applied for a job and got nothing back. i started to question whether i was any good at dev. at all. (i started programming my Atari 400 when I was 5). my advice would be the words of Chris Green - if you want something, go out there and get it.

Si......What do you mean by

 

What level??

 

 

It means I haven't reached 40 been indecisive and tried to change roles. As for the level, I'm not talking about becoming a director of something, nor am I looking at becoming a factory worker! LOL

 

Kind of an intermediate level. My current role, although interesting at times, offers me little in the way of motivation, goals and a progressive pathway. Not to mention little in the way of increased earning potential. It is, unfortunately a pretty thankless job, so leaves little to feel good about at the end of the day. I don't want to be doing tasks all day, I want to be doing interesting and rewarding challenges.

 

Royal Dave....I have worked in the defence industry before, but as a civilian. 3 years working with radar technology development and imaging (GIS and remote sensing).

 

Skyline Dave, I am looking at changing career based on applying my current skill sets in my current industry to those in that of my choice.

 

Cheers Danny, sounds like you’ve had a fantastic business career. Very interesting. I’d like to incorporate more overseas travel in a new role. Ideally working within the maritime components sector. I had applied for a role working for a company called Mann and Hummel who supply centrifugal oil separators/filters to industrial engines. Chiefly to the marine industry. Working with them would involve overseas travel and consolation on a business to business level with engineers in order to formulate bespoke solutions. Since Mann and Hummel I found out were pretty much the only company developing this technology, the role would have been quite lucrative for the right individual. I have worked in the sales industry, the technologies industry and my current role being at a business to business level as a company representative etc would have put me in good stead for a role of that nature.

 

The role had already been filled unfortunately and I was probably aiming a little too high. I am aiming my sights lower on a realistic level on a realistic pay scale which should give more scope. Quite happy to start off at a low level to be honest.

Six years as an accountant, five years as a fireman, one year on security & doorman, self employed builder for the last nine years and I finally ive started building my own house. Dont know if this is progression or boredom though, I just do what makes me happy and sod the money.

I did last year. OK it was basically the same job. (Railway signals) but it was from the BR over ground system to the London Underground. And TBH it was a drastic change the whole system is totally different. It was the same as going from a shoe shop to selling cars. Same trade but different skills needed. It ended up a disaster. I am glad to say I am now back where I belong. and Metronet are skint anyway so hey..... :rofl: I did the right thing. :D

 

I would just say do plenty of reaserch Si. PLENTY.

Started my working life as an apprentice mechanic went through collage eventually got sick of coming home covered in oil and grease, went on a year carpentry course and worked in the building trade untill the resession, then got a job with the Forestry comission tree felling, went back to collage another 3 years to learn Tree Surgery and started my own business untill i got all my tools and equipment stollen. Now on the Railway Train Driving. So quite a varied list of job changes and all been successful in their own right. Knowladge is never waisted and never too old to change direction mate, always earn a quid or 2 with more strings you have to your bow

I sort of did Si as you know

 

I didn't know about that but thanks for the info :x: :rofl:

I didn't know about that but thanks for the info :x: :rofl:

 

Yeah But! Was it with or without LUBE? :x: :rofl: