Starting new careers?

[simmo]

Just need advice from any of you that may have changed work paths that was not due to your own choice and how you found the experience.

I've been labouring most of my life (which I've loved) and last year suffered a back injury that is not going away. I kind of feel lost with it as while I've been able to find some short contracts I'm afraid that I'll do something a little more permanent to my back. The doc warned me the next time I saw her would be with a knife :sadeyes:

Anybody done the same and found a job to suit or did you go and study and find work and how were prospective employers. Consider I'm now 37. Have any of you been able to find a more professional like job?

Cheers
Simmo;)

[pfitzgerald]

Hi Simmo
If your labouring included a trade like carpentry one possibility for you to look into might be teaching. Either in a secondary school or TAFE.
Paul

[ZeroID]

Simmo,
Many people have had life changing events force other choices upon them, myself included. The real trick is to look at what you have got in knowledge and skills and see how they translate to other roles as Paul has suggested above. Your skills and knowledge may not neccessarily be how you have earned your living up til now. What hobbies, interests etc have you got you would like to use in the future ? You will possibly need upskilling regardless but don't restrict yourself to any one option.
Building management\supervisory role ?
Also don't underestimate the value of good exercise targetted to your back issue that will improve and strengthen the damaged area. It will minimise the possibilty of further damage and give you greater options.

[togo54]

I don't know if the U S of A based Koch Brothers have any employment opportunities "down under". If they do.....avoid them like the plague!

[guggle]

I can't speak from experience, but another possibility is in project management. You've already got construction industry experience - get yourself a certification in project management and you can still be in the industry.

[Kunama]

If in your situation I would get into Workplace Health & Safety, the building site WH&S Officers are very well paid these days, usually they are also asked to do some manual work on site. You will need to get some training in First Aid as well.

Later you can seek to progress to WH&S Inspector with the government .

[JB80]

It's a prospect that I'll probably face when we return to Australia and I'm inclined to agree with Brent.

Although I'd be tempted to add 'interested in' to the mix as well.

If you can afford yourself the opportunity to reskill completely then jump at it but only if it's something you want to do.
I'd be looking into seeing if starting a small business would be viable.

[simmo]

Thanks for the kind words and encouragement everybody, just what I needed.

It's been hard to change my mindset seeing I've enjoyed what I've been doing. I love to create stuff with my hands and some hard earned sweat but I feel a like I'm treading water. I can still go out and make something but do the wrong thing it's a world of pain.

But yeah there's some real food for thought in what you guys have wrote. :thumbsup: I think I really need to do some hard thinking and mull over your suggestions , suck it in and face my fears and future.

As for back exercises have you got some that are useful Zero? I've started stretches, Pilates and trying to eat healthier to slim my waistline so far. Didn't know how tight I had become until I started stretching. Watching these fitness pros there's a big difference! But I can see it is slowly starting to pay off.

How is it too that everyone got that I work in construction even though I had only mentioned that I was a labourer. :) Certainly a few mentalist type sleuths in the house. Wow!

[guggle]

Good luck with everything!!

[brian nordstrom]

:DHi Simmo ( we gotta catch up again soon ) I got sick of Boiler making about 10-15 years ago and went 'Kiwi Fruit' picking in the ' Bay of Plenty '
North island NZ for a season , earned over $500 a day , but I am Boiler making again ;) , fun , got me fit for the League playing , but $#@** HARD work !! .

I like the suggestion made here , look into teaching , Peter here in Perth does it and enjoys it .

Brian.

[ZeroID]

Nah, sorry simmo, not specific exercises but get yourself a personal trainer or talk to your physio about what helps. Without knowing more about your specific injury I wouldn't dare to offer specific advice. I just know that good abs are important to back support.

I eat well and healthy, am only a few kg over my 'best' weight and exercise with biking, walking and a bit of jogging more recently. Most of these are thanks to my very motivated lovely wife who watches me like a hawk and makes sure I behave. :thumbsup: She runs seriously ( 10km plus events ) and does some solid gym work under a personal trainer and I'm just trying to keep up with her. She is somewhat younger than myself and that is not an easy task sometimes.:shrug: but it's all good in the long run. :D

[Rodstar]

Hi Simmo,

I transitioned from teaching to law in my mid 20s, and it was the best decision I ever made. There was a hell of a lot of effort involved though.

Do your homework, whatever it is you are considering. I went through about 5 different ideas before settling on law. What particularly helped was spending a week (without pay) spending time with some lawyers to get a realistic idea of what they do, and whether in the long run it would bring satisfaction.

I also had a very supportive spouse, who tolerated the crap pay and long hours I endured as a law clerk. Somehow we got through those difficult years.

My understanding is that these days, people average 3 different career lines during their working life. You are by no means alone considering changing course.

Good luck!

[simmo]

Hello again,

Just a quick update. Made some changes and am back studying this term. Hopefully I can pick up something part time in the field I've chosen. Re written my resume with some help from a fellow iispacer so thanks and you know who you are:)

Yeah rodstar, zero behind every great man lies a greater woman hey.

Thanks again for the positive posts, really helped out when I was having a tough time and that's why I thought I would post it here on IIS. :thumbsup:

Simmo ;)

[Brian3.]

If I can offer any advice it would be to look at what really interests you in life, what is in your heart, and follow that. Success will then be a byproduct of what you do. Anything less will be "a job."
Regarding the back, swimming is the only effective cure I have found. Low to no impact and 6 months down the track you will be amazed at the results.
Brian3.
Good luck, "don't panic!"

[Hans Tucker]

Funny, I glossed over this thread when the title caught my attention when first posted. Now I ham presented with a similar situation after being told today that my job will be gone in 2-3 years :sadeyes: I guess I can count myself lucky compared to Geelong Alcoa workers. Still, a career change at 50 is something I never considered...scary when you think of it.

[ZeroID]

You never know do you ? At least you've been given some time to look at options. Have they offered any support or retraining ?

[Hans Tucker]

Alas no retraining options and no mention of any support. Out of all the jobs in Australia I would have thought the employer and area I work in was one of the more secure, well it is if you are in the executive/management section. There is no logic to the restructure that is about to happen nor were any viability or costing studies carried out.

I was thinking maybe looking into Project Management or Reliability and Maintainability (RAM) Training. Maybe I'll go into Lama farming.