What do i do

[Messenjah]

hi guys

i've reached a point in my life where i really can't decide what to do and where to go next. Im 19 and have just resat my first year of my a levels ... didnt do very well not only was it worse then i was expecting it was worse then my lecturers were expecting ... and since this is my second go at it after quitting the first time to go get a job i have come to the conclusion that its probably not for me.

 

i cant seem to motivate myself to work hard in a school environment i could try and work really hard this year and bring my grades up but then at uni im worried i would slip into old habbits and do the bare minimum and end up with a degree that isnt really worth having.

 

In a work environment however i work very hard i dont mind long hours and i get on well with people the "real" jobs ive had so far i suppose are working as a grill chef in a very busy harvester (120 covers in an hour) for about 9 months and working for the last few months installing pcs ... basically just plugging them in though i also worked when i was 14 at a local landrover specialist making tea and doing servicing and i can work a tyre machine too.

 

ive kinda narrowed down what i want to do to three options

 

1. REME as a general mechanical fitter id come out after 4 years with a much more comprehensive driving licence and by the time i came out it would be clean and also alot of skills and experience with a plethora of different engines and different types of machinery ...

 

2. Catering again as it says really get back working as a chef i did really enjoy it but it would involve giving up rugby (as would reme).

 

3. Try and find work with cars i would love to train as a panel beater / sprayer anlongside working doing servicing and repairs because i love working on cars i love being able to see a difference after a days work and working with my hands.

 

 

if i was down to two options i would flip a coin for it but im down to three what would you guys reccomend ... also any of you car guru engine builder types want an "apprentice ? "

[richie_stix]

well mate... i just came out of uni after 3 years with an upper 2.1... and all i can say is getting a job is hard without experience, but i can't get hired till i get said experience... a conundrum and a catch 22!

 

anyway, to me, it seems traning in something is the way to go as you get paid to learn, and if you do well your employer will recognise this... lots of employers are now seeing the benfits of home grown talent...

 

i say, get some kind og job in the automotive industry as you like it, train hard and get good... you will get recognised if you have the talent and drive and then bingo, you can sort bigger stuff out on your car and do a job you love!

[2.8i Cossie]

i went to uni and dropped out after three months.

 

Then started a trade and finished last year as a qualified spark.

 

I would recommend taking a trade now to anyone as i enjoyed it and there are massive job oppertunities available and so many routes to follow and advance

[Vista]

With a little modification I'd go for option 1. As an ex serviceman myself I can vouch for the fact that they are a great environment for people who have the motivation to work hard and a good thirst for knowledge. There are plenty of extra curricular activities to get involved with and military lifes teaches you a lot more than just a trade.

 

BUT (and I apologise to any serving Army or ex army personnel on here)

 

I wouldn't join the army in the current climate, our governments misguided policies and chronic underfunding have left soldiers dangerously exposed in the conflicts that we're currently involved in. Think about all the deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan and then work out which service they've all come from. I'll wager that the numbers will come out as mostly army. Let's face it, who actually joins up wanting to die for their country?

 

Nope, if you want a good engineering apprenticeship (whilst all three services offer good careers in that respect) I'd look to the Navy or Airforce. The Navy probably offers better travel prospects of those two but the air force certainly has its merits too.

[digger]

Hi,

 

I'm with Vista on this one. I've been serving in the Navy as an aircraft engineer for 23 years now, and a lot of that has been working closly with the RAF as well!!!! But the forces can give you oportunities for you to take your life anywhere you want.

If you can handle being away from home for periods then i can recommend joining, I've enjoyed it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah there is an aspect of "school" esp early on as you'll obviously have to learn your trade but get through that and you're away, as most of the qualifications you'd get are slowly coming accredited to "civvy" quals then if after a while you decide it's not for you you can take them when you leave.

 

Whatever you decide, go for it.

 

All the best.

 

Digger

[caprinerd]

im with digger and vista on this one cant beat the forces for training and they start you from scatch.

Thats my opinion m8

[louie bagel]

i often wish i could turn back the time and do things differently, i think i would go into the navy cos idea of navel engernearing interests me and you get to do alot of travel,

 

or maybee the police force and get onto traffic..

 

but as the old saying goes grass isn't always greener on the otherside, and maybee i'd be saying wish i could do it all again and be a mechanic ..

 

i wouldn't advise anyone to go into the motor trade now cos its not what it used to be, also for all the hard work and expence of buying your own tools there's not much money in the trade unless you can work your way up into management but that still isn't great money for the shite you have to put up with , you can honestly earn more being a copper, i think the start wage is around 18k mark then more when you pass (i could be wrong though) but when your training your lucky to be on 13k and dont forget you've got to buy tools from that too

[Messenjah]

right well after listening to some advice on here ive kinda decided i wanna go into the navy as a chef ... kinda combining two of the above choices ... trouble is i cant just go for it yet ...

 

i have got to loose a mamoth 5 stone to get down to 16.5 because apparently at 6"1 i have to be 16.5 stone to get into the navy ... i could currently at 21 stone beat their fitness tests ... so i have the fitness ive been playing rugby since i was 7 and have a big frame i havent been 16.5 stone since i was 13 ... but i want to join up so im aiming to get down to the target weight by xmas ... wish me luck

[Vista]

right well after listening to some advice on here ive kinda decided i wanna go into the navy as a chef ... kinda combining two of the above choices ... trouble is i cant just go for it yet ...

 

i have got to loose a mamoth 5 stone to get down to 16.5 because apparently at 6"1 i have to be 16.5 stone to get into the navy ... i could currently at 21 stone beat their fitness tests ... so i have the fitness ive been playing rugby since i was 7 and have a big frame i havent been 16.5 stone since i was 13 ... but i want to join up so im aiming to get down to the target weight by xmas ... wish me luck

 

Best of luck mate, you'll enjoy it

 

Would you believe when I joined the RN I was told I was the right weight for my height and build but overweight for my age?? How does that work?? I had to go away and lose 8lbs and come back in 6 weeks. I assume you've been to the careers office? If not you might be surprised, they're pretty short of volunteers so you might be ok and HMS Raliegh will shed the lbs from you pretty quickly anyway.

[caprinerd]

got a fortune cookie once and it said " to know your future invent it " what ever you choose to do m8 work at it

[Messenjah]

Best of luck mate, you'll enjoy it

 

Would you believe when I joined the RN I was told I was the right weight for my height and build but overweight for my age?? How does that work?? I had to go away and lose 8lbs and come back in 6 weeks. I assume you've been to the careers office? If not you might be surprised, they're pretty short of volunteers so you might be ok and HMS Raliegh will shed the lbs from you pretty quickly anyway.

 

yeah went to the careers office and i said to him what if i can beat your fitness tests but not get into the right bmi range ... he said it would be doubtfull that they would accept me ...

 

so my plan is to loose as much weight as i can and get myself into peak physical shape basically and be in a position where i can smash the fitness test and be somewhere alot closer to the right bmi ...

[Mrs O/H/C]

just go for it .. you are young still and im sure you will achieve your goal.

 

GOOD LUCK

 

one of our sons is only 10 and we are advising him to join the RAF