How would you change careers at 29?

Posted by Ambitious_Equal_1603@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 14 comments

Hi,

How would you go about trying to change careers at 29 and achieve a degree in engineering with the end goal of becoming an engineer in 5-6 years?

I am determined to make the change as I currently run a business within the construction industry and would like to switch to an engineer as I believe it shares similar qualities and I have always been fascinated with aviation and planes.

You need to be educated, minimum 3 A-Levels, 2 being Maths and Science (preferably physics). I finished school with NVQ Diplomas and GCSE’s and begun an apprenticeship as soon as I finished school.

From my research and various calls, a ‘T-Level’ would be the best option, but I am over the age limit. I have applied for an apprenticeship for a world-wide company but again, requires A Levels and I was rejected understandably. Most courses require UCAS points and A levels…

I’ve gathered I’m probably going to need A levels before I even start any engineering courses. So that’ll be 2 years plus the course 4-6 years depending on the provider and sector.

Are there any other options or suggestions because I need to make the change sooner, rather than later.

Thanks!

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scorzon@reddit

My first degree was Aero Eng back in the late 80s.

You had better strap on your big boy maths pants my friend. I nailed A level maths pure and applied and went on to spend 3 years of that subsequent Aero degree course with my head in a tailspin. Not easy. Not one bit.

Don't get me wrong, it's interesting if you're into aviation but to this day I wish I had focused more on electronics computing and software.

Good luck, definitely doable, I know folks who've gone from barrister to doctor and older than you, so you can do it. Good luck.

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Fluffy_Race_3766@reddit

How hard was it to get a job in aerospace after you graduated. I've been looking for over a year now and struggling. I've kept busy with a customer service job and even up skilled myself by doing courses in lean manufacturing but I can't seem to catch a break in the industry. Any advice from what you did that I might be able to would be appreciated.

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scorzon@reddit

You don't need to know how easy it was it'll annoy you, but I honestly think 35 years ago was a different world in Aerospace.

I originally was RAF sponsored through Uni, so they literally paid me a salary to go (no fees back then either), then I joined up as Engineering Officer but once I had passed all the training and got in proper I was deeply unhappy, so they let me go, and weirdly I think that background helped me walk straight into a graduate level job in military aerospace. It was pretty easy to be honest but that isn't because I'm anything special, I'm definitely not.

To be honest a lot of my fellow graduates went into other disciplines after uni with things like data science and accountancy being popular. High level maths ability really helps there. Weirdly I also got an offer as an Engineering Management trainee at a white goods manufacturer but did not like the part of the country it was in.

I wish you all the luck, but you may have to spread your horizons if you haven't already. I don't work in aerospace now, more mission systems and networks albeit for a large military contractor.

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Fluffy_Race_3766@reddit

Thanks for replying. I have spread out quite far but these days it's either you don't have experience in aerospace or you degree does not closely match the requirements of this role. From what you're saying things were not any easier but I assume that this probably because we are going through recession and companies are keeping a tight lid on what they allow in.

Jolly_Constant_4913@reddit

Get an entry level position. My job used to have them and then upskilled a lot of people including th e cleaner from Angola

BibbleBeans@reddit

Are you eligible for a degree apprenticeship with our without a foundation year? This would keep you earning and avoid fees

Just a degree with a foundation year? At least 4 years full time years with funding to get your BSc

Have you looked at what your apprenticeship you’ve done is worth via points?

Mature students generally get leeway from having other broader base skills, you would be best contacting the establishments you’d like to study at (don’t worry with RG status or anything, go for what is practical) and making sure you check your points using the ucas calculator because fucking everything is worth points. Pretty sure I got some for one of my swimming certs and other odd extra bits

I don't know if it's still going but I recently did a skills bootcamp lean manufacturing course with a company called pathway group. If government funded and it's basically 3 months learning 3 times a week if 4 hours. They teach you about engineering and help you get an interview. They say an interview is guaranteed but they are only obligated to get you a phone call with an employer. But the people there do try to help. I left 4 months ago and a guy at the recruitment team still calls me weekly and has helped me secure multiple interviews. I would recommend it as at least a taster of engineering is really about. If you want I can elaborate more on the course and how it would transfer over for mechanical or aerospace

GwdihwFach@reddit

À lot of universities will consider life experience and not just rely on a levels.

You could consider an Access course, as they're targeted to mature students and help you with the uni applications too.

You could consider moving to go to a university with a lower entry requirement, or ones that are considerate if life experiences.

Also, consider if you want to work hands on or in an office. What was the apprenticeship?

Mop_Jockey@reddit

What sort of "engineering" or "engineer" as it isn't a protected term in the UK that could be anything from a mechanic to designer.

Ambitious_Equal_1603@reddit (OP)

Sorry, I have edited the post.

My mistake, either an mechanical engineer or an aerospace engineer.

JennyW93@reddit

The uni I work at does degree apprenticeships in these and has a very low entry tariff - we generally recruit students from areas where not many people go to university, so we place less emphasis on school grades and have equivalent measures for experience gained in employment or volunteering

There are paths into the mechanical engineering route from the maritime industry in marine engineering, but this is generally a hands on role to begin with, similar to a heavy plant fitter/operator. You can do a 3-4 year cadetship to get either an HND or foundation degree.

I don't know if that's the sort of engineering you're on about or if you wnt to be more in the design and build stage.

DefinitionOk2485@reddit

I think you are better off posting this on r/ukjobs for advice.

Here are my two cents:

Ageism in any industry is very real. Be ready to face direct or indirect discrimination based on your age when starting a new career from scratch. Sad reality of the world.
Your post indicates you have done quite a lot of research on how to become an engineer but I guess the more important question to ask is what is the financial ROI of the investment of time and money on the degree? How much does the average entry level engineer make in your field? What is the current graduate job market like? Job market for 90% of graduate roles is a shitshow atm.
Is your previous apprenticeship relevant to engineering or is engineering something completely new you have decided to explore? If the apprenticeship was relevant, you could sell that apprenticeship as real life experience, which weighs far more for employability than any piece of paper (degree).
What’s the contingency? What happens if engineering does not work for you? Always have a plan B.
Is your career subject to competition by skilled migrants? I worked in two multinational companies that routinely sponsored foreign candidates from India and other countries to recruit hard to fill technical roles. Multinationals can afford to and does pay over £10K to the Home Office/law firm to sponsor foreign skilled workers, rather than train home grown British talent up to speed.

Not tryna discourage you but yeah university and courses are a big investment and you should think about it thoroughly. I studied business management at uni didn’t know any better and paying off that mistake ever since.

All the best.

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