Change of career

[ganstey]

This is vaguely Bushcrafty, but not sure its on-topic enough for the general chatter forum.

Following a few recent events I've come to realise that I need a change of career before it starts to permanently affect my health. The health problems are stress related.

I currently work in the computer industry, and have worked for my current employer for over 16 years. I started here in a fairly junior post having completed an apprenticeship after leaving school. Over the years I've acquired several roles within the company, but don't have a specific job title. Its recently become clear to me that whilst I'm being given more and more responsibility, I'm not given the authority to carry out my responsibilities, and therefore sometimes end up being used as a scapegoat.

So, where am I heading with this tale?

Having always had an interest in the natural world, and more recently bushcraft, and having thought long and hard about what is important to me, I have come to the conclusion that I need to get out of the computer industry, and probably out of office work altogether, and doing something more worthwhile.

Back in the summer I went on a woodland crafts course, and the only time I've been happier was when I bought my wood down in Cornwall. I am a practical chap and can turn my hand to most things. Ideally I'd be working as something like a coppice worker/ doing woodland crafts stuff, but the opportunities there are limited. Working for a Wildlife Trust or similar would also be enjoyable. I'd also like to be based either here in Wiltshire, or down on the Devon/Cornwall border close to my wood.

All of the friends I've spoken to agree that staying where I am is affecting my health and well being.

So what's standing in my way?

Well, first of all, I've got a mortgage to pay. I could move to a slightly smaller house, but that's probably not going to make a big difference, especially given the current housing market. I don't have a family depending upon me, but I do have a cat and so an itinerant lifestyle wouldn't really work.

Secondly, I have no formal qualifications in anything outside my current profession, except for my LANTRA chainsaw certificate.

On the plus side, I have my wood. I also have enough savings to live on for a short while, but not longterm.

So what I'm asking you good folk for is any advice/ideas/suggestions/moral support you can give me. I need to earn enough so that I can afford to learn the skills I need to make a living!

Sorry for my rambling, but I'm getting more and more depressed about this, which is affecting all sorts of things. I have some very good friends who look out for me, but this is outside of their sphere and so they can only help ease the symptoms.

G

 

[andy_e]

Your health and long term happiness is more important, life has a funny of way of making changes work out, whatever you choose - good luck!

 

[Toadflax]

PM sent.

Best wishes for whatever you decide to do.


Geoff

 

[ganstey]

Cheers guys, appreciated.

G

 

[shep]

It sounds like the change is what you want and it's just details that are stopping you.

If you've got skills, you're one step ahead of Guy Grieve when he left for the Alaskan interior and came back to a life changed for the better. He just took the plunge and it worked. I think anything will work out if you're committed to it 100% and you have realistic goals.

 

[ganstey]

It sounds like the change is what you want and it's just details that are stopping you.

If you've got skills, you're one step ahead of Guy Grieve when he left for the Alaskan interior and came back to a life changed for the better. He just took the plunge and it worked. I think anything will work out if you're committed to it 100% and you have realistic goals.

That's true. I don't have the confidence to just make a leap into the unknown. I need to have an idea as to where I'm heading.

Others have said before that I'm making excuses and should make the leap. However, no matter how hard I think about it, I just can't bring myself to do it. I have a clear idea of what I don't want to do, but only vague ideas as to what I do want to do.

G

 

[Bernie Garland]

you've just got to take the plunge,when you've taken it things will drop in place, what ever you decide on,you can learn by going to college,have a gap year and go walkabout to get your head straight

 

[British Red]

Ganstey - go contracting if your IT skills are good. Its easy enough to make enough money to live on in six months and then do whatever you like for the next six. In the six "free" months, you are ready set up with a company etc. to do any self employed work etc. that comes your way - if you make reasonable money, you never take another IT contract. If you run short of funds, so a contract for another six months and try again!

Red

 

[TallMikeM]

sounds to me like you and I are going through something similar. By training I'm an accountant (been one since leaving uni in '95) but have never been happy doing it (even if it does pay well). For the last 6 years I've been contracting, working 7-8 months of the year and trying to redress the old work/life thing (paid off the mortgage about 4 years ago). But, still been unhappy so, following events this year (wife getting cancer and dad dying suddenly) I've decided to turn my life around.
Like everyone else on here I love being out in the great outdoors and have been hunting around for a job that pays for being outdoors (didn't really want to get into the building trades). So I've decided to become a forester and/or countryside warden.
Starting in the new year I start as a volunteer at a national trust woodland near me and in the autumn I'll start at Capel Manor doing either forestry or countryside management.
Nervouls as hell, but like you something had to be done. If you want, we can walk this new road together for a while.

 

[ganstey]

Bernie/Red: It maybe that taking the plunge is the only way its going to happen. Damn scary thought though

Mike: PM on its way.

G

 

[daved]

OK here is a different perspective on this.

You say that you have been with your current company for 16 years, ever since leaving school. That is a hell of a long time to stay with one employer and to maintain your interest and motivation in a job. I am not surprised you feel like you need a change. Since you managed to stick at the job for so long, then I guess it can't have all been bad - there must have been something you enjoyed about it. Have you thought about just changing jobs rather than a complete change of careers? A different employer and a new role might make all the difference. If you still feel miserable then you can feel a bit more confident that you are doing the right thing leaving IT behind.

You are currently having a few problems related to your role and your employer. Have you tried bringing this up with your managers and tried to sort it out? It would be in their interest as well as yours to resolve the problem and they may not be aware of the situation. Got to be worth a try before you pack it in?

The problems you describe are not unique to IT and sadly are all too common in most industries. Very few jobs (if any) are devoid of stress. I am not trying to put you off a change of career - only you can know if that is right for you - but you seemed to be a bit uncertain. Worth trying to sort out the situation before you burn your bridges.

If you are sure you definitely want a change then how about trying to find a "half way house". How about doing something IT related for a charity or another "worthwhile" cause. A sideways move into a non-IT role is a lot easier once you have got a foot in the door in a new industry. This way you can keep earning doing something you know while getting a better idea about whether that new industry is right for you.

You mentioned that stress is affecting your health. Have you talked to your doctor about this yet? Would be well worth talking it through with them and see if you can get to talk to a psychologist (you might have to be a bit pushy). They might be able to give you some help with dealing with stress and handling the sorts of situations that cause it for you.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[Fin]

I agree with Red - go freelance. IT skills will always be in demand and it will also keep you up to speed with technology changes (if you binned it completely there would be no going back after a while - you'd be out of date!).

A fellow hang glider friend of mine had a passion for the sport and worked 6 months of the year as a freelance merchant seaman to finance his 6 month trips around the best hang gliding hot spots on the planet.

How big is your woodland? There's possible income from that - coppicing for charcoal, yurt camping etc

Bets of luck

 

[DoctorSpoon]

You’re not alone, I know so many people who are in a similar situation, and so many I think will always wonder if they should have taken the leap of faith needed to do it.

First, the tough news. Regular paid work in conservation, countryside management, etc. is really, really hard to come by. There are loads of people who want to do it and to stand a chance you’ll need qualifications and to work as a volunteer like TallMikeM.

The good news is that, whilst you’ll need some sort of income whilst you’re doing it, you have skills that people will pay for and you can freelance to pay your way. It is scary living like this when you’ve been used to a regular pay packet, you have to go out there and get the work, but if you’re prepared to make compromises to fund what you believe in you’re well on the way.

Robin and I have always held the philosophy that it is easier to spend less than earn more. For years we never took foreign holidays, ran a cheap vehicle, heated our house with wood that was a by-product of Robin’s work (and put on extra jumpers when it was cold), ate simple, inexpensive home-cooked food… money was tight but we never felt poor because we were time-rich; we enjoyed how we spent our time.

Things are easier now that Robin’s business is established and I get paid quite well for doing what I do. We’ll never be financially rich, but it somehow doesn’t seem that important…

 

[Jedadiah]

Ganstey,

shortly i will be moving from full time employment (£30,000 pa) to nothing but full time higher education. I have a mortgage, a wife, a child, two dog's, seven fish and a rabbit. I don't know what i'm going to do for folding, but i have to do it because i'm not happy doing what i'm doing. Damn it man, this is not a dress reahersal, you HAVE GOT TO TAKE THE PLUNGE! Someone once said, if you don't you'll regret it. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life. (either, Humphrey Bogart, Ferris Beuller or Lister) Anyway, i can not think of anything more sad and pitiful than someone who had the opportunity thrust upon them and not taken it and eventually they lay alone on their death bed and have a chest full of regrets and unrealised dreams, thinking,' you know, i really wish i'd done that.' By that time IT'S TOO LATE!!!

Come on mate, you've got a wood! Open it up to Bushcrafters and charge them for it. There is no such thing as a problem, just an opportunity to have a good time!

 

[Bernie Garland]

Ganstey,

shortly i will be moving from full time employment (£30,000 pa) to nothing but full time higher education. I have a mortgage, a wife, a child, two dog's, seven fish and a rabbit. I don't know what i'm going to do for folding, but i have to do it because i'm not happy doing what i'm doing. Damn it man, this is not a dress reahersal, you HAVE GOT TO TAKE THE PLUNGE! Someone once said, if you don't you'll regret it. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life. (either, Humphrey Bogart, Ferris Beuller or Lister) Anyway, i can not think of anything more sad and pitiful than someone who had the opportunity thrust upon them and not taken it and eventually they lay alone on their death bed and have a chest full of regrets and unrealised dreams, thinking,' you know, i really wish i'd done that.' By that time IT'S TOO LATE!!!

Come on mate, you've got a wood! Open it up to Bushcrafters and charge them for it. There is no such thing as a problem, just an opportunity to have a good time!

never a truer word said hats off to you

 

[Greg]

Jedadiah is right fella, you have to take a leap of faith. You don't have anything tying you down so just go for it. A mate of mine lived in a farmers wood for 18mths(after putting an ad in farmers weekly for land to be used for a Survival School) and then after getting to know the land like the back of his hand started his own survival school.
You don't just have a wood, the land owners around the area would probably be happy for you to use there land aswell for a small fee which you could charge bushcrafters for.
We pay the local farmer £10 for each person on the site and Adrian (my mate) has spoken to all the landowners in the area and most of them have agreed to let us wander their land when we want (as long as we don't damage it of cause!) We even have access to a good stretch of river for fishing and four different woodland areas. Adrian doesn't own any of the land or woods!
And although it isn't going to make him rich he and his wife are both happy!
You'll have the money from your house and your savings so you won't exactly be short of cash.
So grow a pair man and take that all important first step!

 

[Jedadiah]

So grow a pair man and take that all important first step![/QUOTE]

 

[mr dazzler]

Ganstey - go contracting if your IT skills are good. Its easy enough to make enough money to live on in six months and then do whatever you like for the next six. In the six "free" months, you are ready set up with a company etc. to do any self employed work etc. that comes your way - if you make reasonable money, you never take another IT contract. If you run short of funds, so a contract for another six months and try again!

Red

That could work in the short to medium term, dont forhget that traditonally a lot of woodland trade's were seasonal and done on a part time basis by men who did other work as well. I mean you could be sorting out your woodland possibly cut some coppice in winter time, some for firewood, poles, oak pegs for timber framer's, hazel rod's for thatchers, charcoal, rakes, hurdles, cleft fencing and gate's etc. Could be the best of both world's. What is the likelihood of working in IT with a bushcraft/nature based field of activity? The doctor's advice about spending less is good (well I'm a tight wad any way, stereotype yarkshireman ) that in itself (thriftiness as opposed to rampant materialism) is part of a traditional lifestyle any way.

 

[bushyboo]

HI Ganstey
I know how you feel mate i was in the building game for years but gave it up this year and went to college full time to study woodland managment it was very scarey at the time and even though money is tight just now ive never been happier . I have a partner and kids (the oldest is 13 the youngest 4) who are very supportive . so go on mate take the plunge you wont regret it and if you need cash do some odd jobs

cheers
Gordon

 

[stotRE]

Hi Ganstey heres my ten bobs worth.

You say you have a mortgage to pay well heres a solution rent out your home.

By renting out you get someone else to pay your motgage for you.

Secondly move down to your woods and set up camp and live like we humans are suppose to live like.

To quote Tyler Durgan

"You're not your job. You're not how much money you have in the bank. You're not the car you drive. You're not the contents of your wallet. You're not your f$%king khakis."

If you need some cash down there have a word with your local farmers,always cash to be made helping out farmers.

Failing that the pubs down cornwall always need a barman.

For all the cybercrafters who will now drone on about the laws on living on your own land i say grow a set of danglers.

I live by the law of the jungle and also the law of if theres no one around then i live by my law.

I bet that Shackleton didn't worry about laws,thats why our country is full of she male gender benders scared of there own shadow.

Good lucky Ganstey and i hope that you do it mate,don't become another cybercrafter too scared to get his woodlore knife/swanndri dirty.