Post by: bethypoos on February 24, 2007, 07:01:25 am
Anyone got any career advice? I'm sat here at 7am dreading going to work :(
I'm a kitchen planner in a busy diy store, and am sales supervisor on the shop floor. I didn't finish my degree (regret that big time) 
and need a salary that can cover my mortgage and bills. Had some health issues in early 20s (am now 28) which = gaps on CV :(
Am interested in health and fitness / drug & alcohol related problems. But - don't know what i want to do. I want someone to come and offer me the dream job for about 20k! Thought about applying to the police which has always been at the back of my mind, but don't know if i've got the confidence to do it.
Oh - ignore me - i'm just in a confused bubble! 
Post by: on February 24, 2007, 08:06:55 am
Secondly have a big bar of chocolate
Thirdly get the newspaper on jobs night and apply for as many as you think you can reasonably do.
Out of interest, where do you live? I know one or two kitchen planners.
Post by: wjp666 on February 24, 2007, 09:01:16 am
Post by: on February 24, 2007, 09:36:46 am
Post by: oldspice on February 24, 2007, 09:37:33 am
Post by: on February 24, 2007, 09:39:47 am
Post by: smurfboy on February 24, 2007, 11:48:15 am
Post by: bethypoos on February 25, 2007, 06:21:01 pm
Thank you guys. 
You know - after i posted i kind of realised it was totally unrelated to chocolate and might have pi**ed you off!
Omigod - i've been thinking about OT, but got a mortgage and don't know if i can afford to go back to uni.
I'm in Coventry - so i'm not Lucy from Homebase 
Exercise bikes in kitchens? Good idea - cycle while you stir 
Post by: goldencup on February 25, 2007, 06:32:30 pm
Thank you guys.
That's the whole point of the General section - for items unrelated to chocolate I mean - not to p*** us off!
Post by: oldspice on February 25, 2007, 08:04:53 pm
Post by: loulou on February 25, 2007, 09:25:22 pm
Post by: Forth Bridges on February 25, 2007, 09:30:42 pm
Post by: Cherry_Ripe on February 26, 2007, 09:15:45 am
It's not too late to take a big jump although it feels very scary!
A girl I went to Uni with was in a similar position to you. She got her degree, became a manager in a physiotherapist's office and hated the desk job but because interested in the therapy side of it. She left her job last year and is now back at Uni doing speech and language therapy.
If you are serious about joining the Police you shoud see a careers advisor ... you will probably need some guidance when filling in the application. Lots of people get rejected a few times before they get in so it is worth seeking help.
Good luck with whatever you decide 
Post by: kermie on February 26, 2007, 09:41:59 am
Good Luck with whateveryou decide. Just to be a party pooper I know that there are very few jobs for OT's and Physio's and really anything to do with the NHS.
Post by: on February 26, 2007, 10:34:29 am
Post by: goldencup on February 26, 2007, 10:39:40 am
You might like to rephrase that Bounty.
Post by: Cherry_Ripe on February 26, 2007, 10:44:05 am
Post by: on February 26, 2007, 10:45:50 am
Post by: kermie on February 26, 2007, 04:40:33 pm
Post by: bethypoos on February 26, 2007, 08:17:29 pm
Thank you
Well, Bounty hunter ordered me to have some chocolate and a twix bar has cheered me up!
I actually received an application form for warwickshire police which i requested a couple of weeks ago - it's a pretty in depth form!
Then...my manager approached me today about seeing how unhappy i was and he was so nice to me. I felt really guilty because i'd said some pretty bitchy stuff about him (mainly due to my own frustration which i selfishly took out on other people) and he was so okay about it - i don't think i'd have forgiven me if i was him. So now i think that my boss is ok.....
Post by: StrollingMinstrel on February 28, 2007, 11:01:58 am
You have my complete and utter sympathy. I too know that awful feeling of being trapped in a job that gives you no personal fullfilment. Yet the cost of living marches on leaving you feeling like you are on an endless treadmill.
For me the hardest part is the feeling of self disappointment at not being able to make changes. This has been highlighted by a change at work for me. I am a civil servant and 6 months ago I and about 120 colleagues were subjected to a compulsory transfer back to a department I had left 2 years ago because it was a nightmare to work in.
To try and take the bull by the horns I have decided to undertake a course of life coaching to try and help me focus on changes I want to make and how to set about them. The woman that I will be talking to gave me a lovely quote.
"Then the time came when the risk it took to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom"
I know it might sound airy fairy, but I really understand that feeling of fear about change.
I wish you luck with any changes you make, or even if you decide to stay. Sometimes it just helps to know that there are options available to you, it can make the trap feel slighty less restricting. 
Post by: Cherry_Ripe on February 28, 2007, 11:19:40 am
To try and take the bull by the horns I have decided to undertake a course of life coaching to try and help me focus on changes I want to make and how to set about them. The woman that I will be talking to gave me a lovely quote."Then the time came when the risk it took to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom"
That reminds me of a woman who used to be on a TV show called 'Life Doctor' - her name was Rhonda Britten. I have 2 books by her and they really helped me. I haven't seen Rhonda on TV for years now, I believe she still appears in America though.
Post by: smurfboy on February 28, 2007, 07:55:18 pm
Had some health issues in early 20s (am now 28) which = gaps on CV :(
Eight years down the line it will make less of a difference. How long are the gaps? Can't you adjust the leaving/start date on a couple of jobs to make it less pronounced?
Post by: bethypoos on February 28, 2007, 08:18:08 pm
Yes - i think you're right - i can probably make my CV look better and I've been in my current job for about 4 years.
When I REALLY analyze things, and do my pros and cons list i do realise that my current job does have a lot of pros. BUT... although the business has grown, at the end of the day i work for my dad (although on a day to day basis i don't really work with him) so i don't feel as though i've really proved myself. Oh, it's complicated...
...i guess i've 'fallen into' the job rather than choosing the job and maybe i want change for changes sake.
But i still don't really know what it is i want to do...
Post by: Cherry_Ripe on March 01, 2007, 08:07:36 am
at the end of the day i work for my dad (although on a day to day basis i don't really work with him) so i don't feel as though i've really proved myself.
If you do change jobs and everything goes horribly wrong (which I don't think it will) would there be a possibility of you going back then? That could be incentive in itself ...
Post by: bethypoos on March 02, 2007, 12:48:50 pm
Post by: on March 02, 2007, 04:53:20 pm
Post by: bethypoos on March 03, 2007, 07:51:51 am
157cm (about 5'2" i think)