Options
What to do with life?
Hi all,
I'm in a dilemma.....I'm almost 22 and have spent 5 years working in catering....how that ended up I don't know. I loved my last job but had to find a new job because I needed more hours.
I'm hating the new job and realised that I didn't like my old job because it was catering, but because of the customers and colleagues. I'm now fed up of catering, I don't feel passionate about it and am bored.
A question I have for everyone is...have you always known what you wanted to do in life??
I'm finding it so hard job hunting when I don't have a clue what I want to do! I have 5 years experience in catering but want a change. I'm worried that new employers of a different sector won't bother with me due to lack of experience.
But first of all I have to decide on a career! I feel like I'm 15 again!!! I don't have a particular skill or talent to put into a job. I'm a guide leader and LOVE that but there's not many career options in Guiding unfortunately.
Any advice much appreciated!! Thank you
I'm in a dilemma.....I'm almost 22 and have spent 5 years working in catering....how that ended up I don't know. I loved my last job but had to find a new job because I needed more hours.
I'm hating the new job and realised that I didn't like my old job because it was catering, but because of the customers and colleagues. I'm now fed up of catering, I don't feel passionate about it and am bored.
A question I have for everyone is...have you always known what you wanted to do in life??
I'm finding it so hard job hunting when I don't have a clue what I want to do! I have 5 years experience in catering but want a change. I'm worried that new employers of a different sector won't bother with me due to lack of experience.
But first of all I have to decide on a career! I feel like I'm 15 again!!! I don't have a particular skill or talent to put into a job. I'm a guide leader and LOVE that but there's not many career options in Guiding unfortunately.
Any advice much appreciated!! Thank you
0
Comments
I'm about a year younger than you and in a similar position- I don't know what I want to do! (I've always wanted to be an actor but desperately need to think of something to do for a day job!) It's so frustrating when everyone else from school etc has always seemed to know exactly what they want to do isn't it?
How would you feel about the possibility of maybe going back to education and studying to be a teacher? You could teach in a secondary school to give you the same approximate age group of the Guides? Or maybe you would fancy trying to get some work as a classroom assistant or maybe a freelance lecturer or something?
I know someone who is 22 and is restarting university so that she can train to be a young persons therapist/ counsellor- maybe you might be interested in that?
Since you mentioned Guides I'm trying to think of stuff you could do with young people- do you want to work with young people or is that not something you would fancy?
I thought it'd be much easier working in a job I didnn't enjoy. Turns out it's harder than I thought!
Working with young people would be good, on an activity level more than a social work level if you know what I mean.
Sometimes it does feel like everyone else around you is so settled and knows exactly what their path is!!
Thanks for the suggestions :-)
My suggestion would be to do some courses in what interests you, while still working in your present job, this may give you a better idea of what is required and if you will enjoy it.
Good luck in whatever you decide and don't feel too bad, you are not alone.
The catch? I was morbidly obese (bmi of 42), lost massive amounts of weight, going in for a tummy tuck (medically necessary skin just doesn't 'go back' after so much weight for such an extended period of time) and may be screwed out of my chance as the surgery may mean I'm unable to join.
I'm rambling a little - the point is it may take a few years for you to realise; you may not ever realise.
I'm now in the mindset of not being sure it's a good thing knowing what I want to do; as I may be unable to do it!
Hi - My 17 year old son is going into the army in September so I do understand your career choice - Have you contacted Army Recruitment and explained your situation - surely if you're healthy after the op it shouldn't matter - I'm assuming your weight hasn't left you with any long term health problems though - best of luck to you:)
No I haven't been to the careers office; I realise this sounds stupid but I need this op regardless. I can't join with the apron I have. I figured going and finding out now that I can't join? Just another downer on top of having to recover from the op.
I did read somewhere that you'd be classed as P8 (unfit for joining up) if you've had surgery within six months on abdomen etc - hoping to have surgery n start the process (app/BARB etc) a few months after and when I'm back up to fitness?
It's just hard not to kick myself on all the wasted time/how I've ruined my body and potentially my chances!
Edited to add: That said, I'd do it all the same if I got the chance - I needed to try it to see that it wasn't the way I wanted to go. OP you've got age on your side - get yourself along to a college open day and see what they have on offer - 2 years of college and you can move on to do a year at uni and there's all sorts of help available funds-wise - speak to one of the recruitment folk and they'll give you all the info you need.
It's great fun, and amazing to see these kids go from little 10 year old girls, to 14 year old young ladies. To give them experiences they don't normally get in their individual lives, and the confidence growth in some girls is so great to see.
You get to do so many different things and meet like-minded people and a great social life!
I couldn't recommend it enough. It's the best thing I've ever done. I wish it could be a job!
It could be that, like I was, you've just not reached the stage of life where it's possible to live out your vocation.
I never imagined I would marry or have a child - then I ended up married 3 months to the day after I met Mr Deb, and had our Babe 10 months after the wedding. Life can change dramatically without you needing to plan ahead!
So don't worry about changing. If you work hard and apply yourself you can still do well. It is a worry to change, but with a bit of old fashioned belt tightening you can probably get through that tricky period of having to prove yourself again.
Best of luck
Totally agree - I spent years trying to work out what I really wanted to and feeling guilty for not having an over-riding career goal while a lot of people I know are off getting their dream job. I've tried many different types of jobs and the only thing I ever found for certain is that I do not want a job that involves targets. I like leaving for the night and not having to think about work till I go in the next day and it's on to something new. My current job pays extremely well, isn't stressful or too complex so it suits me at the moment but if it ended tomorrow, the only thing I would miss is the money which lets us have the lifestyle we have right now.
If you really can't join - you could look at the positives & say that the army dream was responsible for you losing all that weight - which is a great achievement & will benefit you for the rest of your life. And then, the train for some other job that involves similar activities - like outward bound instructor, sport/fitness instructor etc, police, firearms expert, Medecins sans frontieres or another AID organisation etc...
To the OP: if it was the customers & colleagues that you liked in your old job - then you're obviously a people person - perhaps you could move over into the hotel business...? Perhaps via catering, waitressing etc...
However at the beginning of this year I made the decision to change my career.. Took a 10K pay cut and doing soemthing completely new..
I think at the end of the day if you are happy then thats what matters.. I was unhappy in my old job but Ive been so much happier in the last month that I have been for a long time.
Have a think about what you want to do.. and don't worry about no experience etc.. Your still young and if you are passionate to get into something else employers will see that and take you on..
Nor me neither,
Hi OP,
I've quoted the above reply as that was the first thing that sprung to my mind too when I read your post and you said you loved your Guides work - become a teacher! You sound like you'd be ideal for the job if you really enjoy working with young people.
When I was in my wilderness years of not knowing what to do, I thought about teaching but quickly realised I wasn't cut out for it. But it sounds as if you are cut out for teaching if you enjoy being a Guides worker so much. It also means if you apply for teacher training you already have the 'working with young people' experience that is needed to get a place. You would just need to get your academic qualifications in place (if you don't already have them) then go for it.
I'm now in my perfect job after years of much-disliked office work. It does make such a difference to your life to have a job you love, so you go for it!
Best of luck!
I don't think many people ever really know what they want to do. I'm doing OU courses at the moment. I work in a Bank and it's boring as h*ll. Have a go at OU courses because they really are brilliant. You can try different areas of study before embarking on something more serious. I think they offer free courses too (these aren't formally marked). I'm currently studying various subjects as I know that I'll come across one I'll love and hopefully that will be my career path!
This is great advice. It's never too late to go for what you want BUT, like someone else said, work is a necessity. You can pursue your dreams out of work too.