Careers advice.
Discussion
snotrag said:
Yes, that kind of thing. But for some reason I'm thinking that their must be some rather more complex/in depth/useful twists on this idea that are used professionally?
There are all sort of cunning 'psychometric' tests used by people like HR People so that they don't have to use any judgement themselves.I suppose my first career started simply because I just did the subjects/exams I was best at, and that led me to the job.
When I was planning a career change I drew up two lists: (1) What I like about my job (2) What I don't like about my job. It worked very well, but of course I had some perspective then.
Another thing to consider is Employed or Self-Employed? Have you got what it takes to run your own business, or would you prefer simply to turn up to work, do as told by a boss and get paid something?
Simpo Two said:
When I was planning a career change I drew up two lists: (1) What I like about my job (2) What I don't like about my job. It worked very well, but of course I had some perspective then.
Another thing to consider is Employed or Self-Employed? Have you got what it takes to run your own business, or would you prefer simply to turn up to work, do as told by a boss and get paid something?
Thanks. This is what I'm doing. I'm now old enough, and with enough work experience to know exactly what it is that I'm good at. I just need to know what to do with that list of skills that fits my level of education. Another thing to consider is Employed or Self-Employed? Have you got what it takes to run your own business, or would you prefer simply to turn up to work, do as told by a boss and get paid something?
There some quite interesting sounding jobs out there if you look hard enough, it seems.
I have done these tests a few times, but I simply answered the way I wanted the results to come out - it's not difficult to work out... I think they are pretty much a waste of time.
What do you like doing? What degree are you on? Why did you choose it? What year are you in? Do you want lots of money or lots of free time?
What do you like doing? What degree are you on? Why did you choose it? What year are you in? Do you want lots of money or lots of free time?
Jasandjules said:
What do you like doing? What degree are you on? Why did you choose it? What year are you in? Do you want lots of money or lots of free time?
I'm a hand on/practical type person. I can make things work, and conversely I can understand how something you plonk in my hands works, and how to take it apart, rebuild it, and improve it. I understand how things are made and why. I am also pretty damn good at selling things. I can understand a product, know its features, know what it can offer a customer. I'm good at explaining these things to a customer, and understanding their needs.
I have good, varied work experience for someone of my age, everything from retail, through to working as a Design Engineer.
My education consists of great GCSE's, 2 A-levels, and soon, a DipHE in Engineering Design.
I'm not expecting the earth to begin with.
What I really want is the chance to get stuck in at something, and prove my skills and my worth, doing the things that I'm good at.
I've done a placement already!
Straight up Engineering is NOT what I want to do. I did, originally, hence signing up to a degree in it. But now I'm better informed with more experience.
I want to combine the engineering/technicla experience I've gained all through Education, University and my placement, with the things that I'm good at outside of University - dealing with people, and selling expensive, complicated products (as opposed to selling beans).
Which is why I keep thinking about the idea of some sort of Technical sales/Field sales job, or some kind of customer support. Does that make sense?
Straight up Engineering is NOT what I want to do. I did, originally, hence signing up to a degree in it. But now I'm better informed with more experience.
I want to combine the engineering/technicla experience I've gained all through Education, University and my placement, with the things that I'm good at outside of University - dealing with people, and selling expensive, complicated products (as opposed to selling beans).
Which is why I keep thinking about the idea of some sort of Technical sales/Field sales job, or some kind of customer support. Does that make sense?
Edited by snotrag on Monday 24th November 21:41
Sounds reasonable to me. It's probably not a lot of use specifically to you, as I work in IT, rather than engineering, but we have a role described as "technical pre-sales" and the aim of the role is to understand how our software products are engineered and accompany the main sales team on trips to customers to provide the technical imput.
There are of course other aspects of the job, some boring ones like filling in RFQs, but you have the fun of getting out and meeting people, whilst at the same time using a technical background - from your postings I get the impression this is what you may be looking for, albeit with a more physical product?
There are of course other aspects of the job, some boring ones like filling in RFQs, but you have the fun of getting out and meeting people, whilst at the same time using a technical background - from your postings I get the impression this is what you may be looking for, albeit with a more physical product?
Bec said:
Sounds reasonable to me. It's probably not a lot of use specifically to you, as I work in IT, rather than engineering, but we have a role described as "technical pre-sales" and the aim of the role is to understand how our software products are engineered and accompany the main sales team on trips to customers to provide the technical imput.
There are of course other aspects of the job, some boring ones like filling in RFQs, but you have the fun of getting out and meeting people, whilst at the same time using a technical background - from your postings I get the impression this is what you may be looking for, albeit with a more physical product?
Bec - thats very useful input, thanks. Its just one of the things I'm looking at, but yes, that does sound like something I could do. Falling somewhere between an Engineering dept and a Sales dept. There are of course other aspects of the job, some boring ones like filling in RFQs, but you have the fun of getting out and meeting people, whilst at the same time using a technical background - from your postings I get the impression this is what you may be looking for, albeit with a more physical product?
A lot of my problem is just down to not knowing what to look for - every company has a different name for every role, and every job site is full off baffling adverts from these recruitment agencies using the most colourful language you can imagine, but not actually telling you the facts about the jobs!
You need to find an adult career centre (There's something along these lines in our local leisure centre, I've no idea what the correct name is) which has "Adult Directions"
Adult Directions is a computer database of jobs. You answer lots of questions about what you like to do and it ranks the jobs in its database for your responses.
Don't get fixated on the top top. Out of hundreds of jobs any one in the top thirty is going to be something you'd like doing and small changes in your answers can change the top few by a lot (something might only get to be top by one response to one question for example).
You can search by qualifactions and salary as well.
Perhaps if ask around someone might point you in the direction of it or to a similar database.
Adult Directions is a computer database of jobs. You answer lots of questions about what you like to do and it ranks the jobs in its database for your responses.
Don't get fixated on the top top. Out of hundreds of jobs any one in the top thirty is going to be something you'd like doing and small changes in your answers can change the top few by a lot (something might only get to be top by one response to one question for example).
You can search by qualifactions and salary as well.
Perhaps if ask around someone might point you in the direction of it or to a similar database.
I know where I work (Oil & Gas) the sales engineers generaly spend a few years as just an engineer. The kit is fairly sizable and complex so you need the experience with our products before you can go and sell them. A guy I worked with until recently (He had been here for 4 years I think) has just gone to Perth Australia to do a job very similar to what you describe.
Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff