For those who were trapped in a dead-end job and eventually made the switch to their “forever” career. What would you advise to someone else looking to make the switch?
Posted by StratMode5@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 53 comments
Good afternoon all,
I’ll try and keep this brief and concise - and I don’t want this to come across as a sob story or anything because I know there are people that truly have it worse than I do.
I’m 27 and feel as though I have wasted my time and my life. I am currently stuck in a minimum wage job, working for British Airways as a Customer Relations advisor. I’ve been with BA for nearly 2 years and prior to that, had some motor claims / insurance experience before taking a career break, and prior to that, had 7 years of experience working at Tesco.
I want to have a really fulfilling career, with the opportunity to progress my salary, my role and my life etc. and this just isn’t achievable with BA. The trouble I have is starting over with zero idea as to what I want to do / could do.
I used to be so ambitious and had all these goals I wanted to achieve, buying my own house, travelling the world, having a good work life balance, helping out my family and such and this just isn’t feasible for me on £23,891 a year. I know comparison is the thief of joy and all but it’s hard to be in a friend group where I’m the “last” to do anything.
I guess this post has turned almost into a career guidance thing. I just want to soundboard off of people who have recommendations or who have been through something similar.
I would be more than happy to provide my CV or LinkedIn to anyone who would want to take a look at it. I guess what I would finish this post by asking is what career path would you recommend I take?
Thanks for reading.
JohnLennonsNotDead@reddit
I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea but banking offers so much other than actual banking. I worked in call centres from pretty much 2010 until 2021. In 2010 I was 25 and on from memory about £21k working at Santander. Moved to another bank in 2016 on not a great deal more, again on the phones. Wanted to get into fin crime as it interested me so started applying internally in late 2020 and after about 6 or 7 months I got an interview as a fin crime EDR analyst, basically reviewing businesses that had been reported to the NCA for AML concerns, that took me from £25k to £35k. That team was being stood down after about a year of being there so applied for another internally for Exits (next stage after the EDR team who recommend the closure of an account), I basically reviewed their referral and decided whether to agree to close the customers account, this role took me from £35k to £45k then roles were paged for a new exit team at a more senior level due to a fair bit of press coverage for a certain exit that was made so applied for that and got it, that took me to £55k, after about a year and a half on that team I’m now on £60k so basically within the last 4 and a bit years I’ve gone from £25k to £60k so from my perspective I couldn’t recommend banking more. Plus working in fin crime is a great asset for your CV, and all from starting in a bog standard role on the phones.
StratMode5@reddit (OP)
Hey, this reply has really interested me - and thank you for taking the time to write it.
My only concern is that I’m not very good at Maths and such - I only got a C at GSCE level. Would this be a hindrance?
JohnLennonsNotDead@reddit
Not at all mate, my GCSE’s were atrocious, hence call centre work to start off haha. But it does make me wonder about the state of graduate jobs available as I worked with a lad who had a masters degree in maths, one in some kind of science and now I’m working with people getting hefty student loans taken out who done good subjects but are working in the same role as me.
StratMode5@reddit (OP)
Interesting! You have definitely piqued my interest with this. I’m curious about what the best route into this would be? Wondering if you could provide any insight into that?
Your story is super cool though! Congratulations on what you’ve achieved :)
PowerfulOccasion9020@reddit
I didn't manage to get my dream job/forever career, but I did manage to get a sales job where I can make a good wage, and money helps even if the job is shit.
There's nothing worse than shit job and shit pay.
StratMode5@reddit (OP)
Hey! What type of sales job do you do?
PowerfulOccasion9020@reddit
I sell finance/tech to SMBs- started as a SDR just booking meetings, not sure where your from but its probs the quickest way to earn 60k with no qualifications.
Now I am a bit more involved and focus on actually closing new business
StratMode5@reddit (OP)
Oh cool! I live on the Suffolk/Essex border.
A lot of roles seem to be London based?
How long have you been doing it for? Is the environment really as high pressure as it seems?
PowerfulOccasion9020@reddit
Your good location for motor industry with your previous expierance, but instead of car sales you should look at SDR motor finance tech jobs or automotive tech jobs.
Yeah, im the other side over in Surrey- commute into London, office 3 days wfh 2 days.
Its stressful but if your hardworking and just bang out the phones you'll make money, main thing is just not giving up.
SDR salary starts around 28-35k but with commission you'll defo make over 40k.
Industry doesnt actually matter, if they got a good product your laughing
StratMode5@reddit (OP)
Interesting. & definitely got the cogs turning. I love cars as well. Would I need any prior sales experience?
I really appreciate you taking the time to reply to me!
PowerfulOccasion9020@reddit
Nah, a lot of people go into sales from retail, hospitality, etc- SDR/BDR is entry-level stuff, more just about actually wanting to make money and coming across like your confidant and happy to work hard while interviewing.
Ultimately, phone based sales bookings are super grind, but if you get good at it, you can make some good doe 👌
Just make sure it's SDR or BDR, avoid telesales, or call centre that's just torture.
The job is basically using a CRM hubspot/salesforce, etc, where you get a bunch of data - Car Dealerships as an example- you'll do small research before each call, check companys house, website etc, find out who the director is, type of cars etc, essentially qualifying the opportunity and learning details to tailor your pitch.
Call and "book one of our consultants for a meeting"
Job done - you ether get paid per meeting or paid on a % of deal close, varies by company, but it's usually fair depending on the sales cycle and how hard a meeting is to book.
The rest of the deal moves to the AE/deal closer.
You'll have targets based on how many meetings are booked because revenue is not fully in your control.
ib_eyebee@reddit
Hello,
I’m happy to review your CV and LinkedIn.
First, you need to know where your interest lies? What hard and soft skills do you have? Any technical skills too?
Your interest/passion will help guide. Don’t be too hard on yourself too, give yourself time as it’s a process to transit.
StratMode5@reddit (OP)
Hey, thank you for the kind words - I really appreciate it :) would it be okay to DM you?
ib_eyebee@reddit
Sure.
ihavereadit26@reddit
you definitely haven’t wasted your life. you’re just at the point where staying where you are feels worse than taking a risk!!
i was in a comfy job before and felt the same, decent pay, safe, but no real upside. ended up jumping to a startup for a role that literally didn’t exist 3 months before, it only became a thing because of AI. scary at the time but that move changed everything for me
what helped wasn’t “what job should I do” but a few mental checks:
you don’t need a perfect plan, just pick a direction that feels even slightly more exciting than your current one and start moving.
"you can't think yourself into action, but you can act yourself into thinking."
isitmattorsplat@reddit
What skills did you have in your comfy job?
ihavereadit26@reddit
worked as a Technical Project Manager at one of the biggest banks in the UK.
hard skills required: data science, making slide decks, financial modelling using excel, agile project management, python, jira, confluence
soft skills required: clear communication, balancing expectations of multiple seniors, motivating engineers and other tech teams, translating tech concepts to non-technical business people, grit, get it done mindset
StratMode5@reddit (OP)
Hey, thank you for your replies. I really appreciate it :) I’d love to talk more about Project Management if you’ll let me?
bars_and_plates@reddit
I have been through this however in fairness I didn't work in the "dead end" job for very long, perhaps a few months.
What helped me honestly is just to think - I will never make more than minimum wage * 1.5 in this role. As a result, it's pointless for me to continue even more than one day. I need to either quit immediately and switch, or completely switch my focus off the job and focus on what to do instead.
Mishapen_Turnip@reddit
Firstly, a lot of people can be happy in a job that's "not fulfilling" when your values are aligned with your job. If you want a job that pays the bills and doesn't challenge you much then yeah, you can be really satisfied in a job like that (i'm thinking some of the people who work in the co-op in my hometown who've been there since I was born). If you want a job that challenges you, helps people, intellectually stimulating etc. then you need a job that provides all those things. I don't know how helpful this is but maybe it's not good job/bad job but aligned/misaligned. This is to say, the same job might be different at different points in your life. The job I have now when I started was great, just what I needed at that time. Now, I'm ready for something else and I'm keen to move on.
There are a few things to think about with finding a job that is aligned with what you want. Think about tasks you find fulfilling and like doing e.g. working with people or solo, remote or on-site, with computers or not, working with your hands etc. You can then think about what kinds of jobs tick most of those boxes, there are some online job quizzes that specifically ask these kinds of questions. You might also want to think about broader aims or causes you care about. Ikigai can be a good exercise to try.
I think this is a good place to start with thinking about what kinds of jobs might suit you and finding "the job" that you want. Once that's done and you have an idea of things you might want to try I would recommend apprenticeships as a route into them. That will allow you to earn and learn at the same time and having experience isn't a qualification to getting in.
So yeah, those are a few small tips but I think the main thing is to try things out and see what sticks! Do an apprenticeship in something, if you don't like it, maybe keep going with it to make money and also volunteer or do some training for something else. See what's available in your community, there might be free classes in something or a sport and then see what happens.
Failing everything, it can just be a job at the end of the day and you can do other stuff in the evening and weekends to make you feel fulfilled.
Final point but also be kind to yourself. I've had moments of absolutely loathing my job and feeling like I'd be stuck there forever but hang in there. Have courage and take some bold steps forward and believe in yourself.
whodunnit20@reddit
There are careers that you could go into that train you but not sure of your qualifications? There is police, prison NHS etc. these are progressive careers and you don’t pay for training. Not sure what you are into? Would you be able to continue working but study on the side to get a qualification at college?
StratMode5@reddit (OP)
Thank you for the comment :) I have 5 A-C GCSEs as well as 3 Cs at A-Levels in Exercise Sciences
whodunnit20@reddit
What work are you interested in? Is it possible to go to University to study if you want to gain a qualification like teaching for example. I’m guessing Exercise Science is like physiotherapy, personal trainer?
Hes-behind-you@reddit
Join the military. Loads of decent career paths. Do 12 years, get out with a pension sorted and still be under 40 years old. There are so many career paths that transfer to civilian life.
StratMode5@reddit (OP)
Not interested in the military. My brother served.
Hes-behind-you@reddit
Try labouring for different trades. Decent money and you will gain exposure to each one and find one that might peak your interest. Sparks, plumbers, carpentry, civils, landscaping, tree surgery. All good trades and can lead to self employment with good earning prospects.
Aviation mechanics are in demand now and companies like Ryanair offer well paid training. I retrained into this industry as I'd had enough of working outdoors. As a self employed inspector in aviation you can earn about £60 an hour in Europe and more in the middle east.
rezonansmagnetyczny@reddit
Dont see any job as dead end.
You can squeeze something out of pretty much any job if you look for it.
PutMammoth9156@reddit
The first thing I would say is that there's no such thing as being fulfilled by a job, that's capitalist bollocks. Second thing is look at what professions will be needed in the near future, and pick the one that is the most disliked. The least popular one will pay the most, earn as much as you can and negotiate hard once you've been doing it a while.
You're fulfillment will come from friends, family, hobbies and interests. I earn well above the UK median salary, and whilst I care about doing it properly, that's only because I want the money.
My suggestions for unpopular but very in demand (so highly remunerated) roles would be: high voltage electrician, health & Safety Advisor, Bricklayer, auto electrician, and CNC machinist.
ExcitementKooky418@reddit
I'm 41 and in a similar position. Got a degree in psychosocial science
Spent about 10 years as an editor for a media monitoring company, took redundancy and been moving between entry level call centre type jobs since
Been worming in the repairs team for a housing association for the last 2 years and I like it but need to earn more
Standard_Swim_2231@reddit
No tengo respuesta, pero descubrí está misma insatisfacción a los 24 y trabajo por mejorar mi vida.
Mucho ánimo!
StratMode5@reddit (OP)
All the best, friend!
HappyCuppiccino@reddit
You’re no age. Just go for it. I couldn’t stand paper pushing any longer and now I’m RICH the “fulfilled and happy feeling” sense because I am passionate about what I do every day. Honestly just goooooo for it. I found the courage to take the leap when I realised that if I fucked it up and had to go back to a mundane job, I’d be no worse off than if I had just stayed in the mundane job except I’d have to live with myself never ever having tried
StratMode5@reddit (OP)
Thanks for this :)
JohnCasey3306@reddit
Stop hesitating; stop focusing on all the reasons why you think you can't do it.
Yeah, guess what, it's gonna be tough. Just crack on and do what you need to do.
StratMode5@reddit (OP)
Damn right. Thanks friend!
spartan0746@reddit
You can make a career out of lots of roles, but part of that has to come from you.
We could say mortgage advisor, or plumber, or financial crimes expert.
All are possible with effort and time, but not all will be suitable for you.
StratMode5@reddit (OP)
Completely understandable. The trouble with me is not knowing what I’m explicitly good at, I suppose. I appreciate your insight, nonetheless. I’m very hard working and a self-starter so would willingly apply myself to whatever I need to learn etc.
Something is out there for me - just got to find it!
360Saturn@reddit
Start with things you feel you're bad at and knock them out to narrow it down. Even brainstorming on a piece of paper.
spartan0746@reddit
In that case, try electrician, plumber or any other trade.
Any recommendations people give here will be a bit of a shot in the dark.
Would nail technician be up your street?
I and everyone else here want to help, but we do need more beyond ‘I’m a hard worker’.
You must have some slight interest in some area?
360Saturn@reddit
Could probably switch to service desk and from there into another IT role if you talk your experience up a bit.
Morazma@reddit
I think you need to be more self-motivated. People who do this kind of thing usually just do it rather than posting online about it.
The fact that you spent 7 years at Tesco is a bit of a red flag. What were you doing there? If it was just a basic checkout / stacking / warehouse role, then those are the antithesis of a good career. Spending 7 years in a role like that sort of indicates that you don't have much drive.
Sorry if this has come across harsh. It is just how I perceive things.
In terms of advice, I would really recommend researching what career paths are out there and think what might suit you, your personality and your style. Prospects is great for this: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/
StratMode5@reddit (OP)
Thanks for your reply and leaving the link you provided - I appreciate it! And I take no offence to your comment either.
& I did pretty much everything you can imagine at Tesco besides being a Manager🤣
Dangerous-Regret-358@reddit
Ex-BA here. Have you not considered training to be Cabin Crew? That could be an interesting and rewarding career. The training centre in in TBA now, and it should be easy to get to. I'm sure you would enjoy that.
There are also lots of operations jobs at LHR that you might find interesting too.
StratMode5@reddit (OP)
Hi, unfortunately I don’t work onsite at Waterside or in the NCL office, I work at a contact centre in Suffolk - so making the commute would be impossible for me :(
WhoIsJPC@reddit
Honestly, I work full time and run my own startup as well and the first thing im going to tell you is that "having a fullfilling career" is kind of a load of bs. Not saying you can't have one but so many people are deceived into thinking that the next job they get is going to be their "thing". The reality is if you don't expand and do something different than what you are currently doing then nothing is going to magically hit you at some point. Go and get out there! go start a company, go build something, go film on social media, go running, go DO things.
Being a consumer will keep you one. Being a creator will filter your preferences and I guarantee that you will know more about what fulfills you and what doesn't by trying and failing rather than asking random redditors.
Not trying to be too harsh but honestly man, just go and do shit. Like everything. Don't be afraid to suck at literally 90% of it. But the 10% you end up not sucking at is because you like it enough to get better at it.
Also this is a lot easier said than done btw, but just my advice. the more you do the better you know yourself.
WhoIsJPC@reddit
Also want to clarify that in terms of career you'll have a much better time if you treat your current job as a side hustle and spend your spare time experimenting (that's kind of my point above)
TomLondra@reddit
Hey Salary Man go self-employed. Make a plan.
StratMode5@reddit (OP)
I’m trying! I do some search engine optimisation stuff on the side. It’s made me £300 since the 2nd of January!
TomLondra@reddit
OK but I wouldn't call that a plan.
https://www.gov.uk/write-business-plan
StratMode5@reddit (OP)
Thanks for providing this link, I’ll take a look :)
esacbw@reddit
It's tough when you haven't identified what your forever career would look like. Making passion careers work is hard and takes a lot of sacrifice, which is worth it because of how much you love it.
The simple answer is to just start making moves that take you in that direction. Decide where you want to be and start getting involved with other people in that industry.
I kinda fell into sales after uni and hated it but had always wanted to be in the music business. I was 24 or 25 when I started working at live venues after my day job. Met people, learnt a bit and then eventually made the jump to take a music business masters degree.
Fast forward 6 years to now - I'm at a record label with a £50k+ salary, my own small business, and I know there's still a huge amount of potential to grow.
Sacrifices made along the way totally worth it but it's not easy
garlicmayosquad@reddit
I think the age of 'forever careers' is pretty much over. Things move much faster now, industries disappearing and appearing overnight. It's more about being able be agile enough to switch when things get rough.
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