Career advice sought

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 mwr72 20 Nov 2020

After hurting my back twice this month (the second time 16/11) and there being no particular reason I can think of other than perhaps over use, I have come to the conclusion that at 47 years old, my body is telling me to slow down and look at coming off the tools.
The construction industry is all I know.
I am looking for suggestions at which direction I should now take, it doesn't have to be in construction but would like something rewarding.
I do realise that for another occupation I would have to retrain.
I don't want to go in to sales because, to be honest, I couldn't sell a meal to a starving person.
I do however have good problem solving skills, I take a very straight forward approach to tasks to reach a goal or objective.
I enjoy drawing in sketchup and am currently trying to teach myself other drawing programs(licence free for what I need)
I would possibly like to head towards construction design of some kind.
The sooner I am able to find other employment the more my body will thank me.
I'm a good time keeper and pride myself on my honesty and integrity.

Any suggestions or contacts that could possibly help would be very gratefully received.

Thank you.

 Blue Straggler 20 Nov 2020
In reply to mwr72:

AAAAAh I wrote most of a reply, that was quite long, and then stupidly clicked on your profile to check where you are based, and when you click "back" the draft is gone. 

In short, I was suggesting non destructive testing (radiography, ultrasonics, boroscopes, eddy current, remote visual). Pipe welds, castings, aero parts, automotive components. Wide industry, technology-based so interesting, should not be any heavy lifting, and a good employer will give you room to learn on the job. You are in a part of the country that is good for this sort of thing e.g. Rolls Royce at Rotherham or Barnoldswick, or Exova in Sheffield. 

 artif 20 Nov 2020
In reply to mwr72:

How about H & S, you've probably done the basic courses already, the higher level stuff just builds on that. You can stay in the same industry to start with, so not such a culture shock and having hands on  experience really helps with real world safety solutions.

NDE as suggested is another area, but some experience would be useful. 

1
 Pbob 21 Nov 2020
In reply to artif:

Also the Environment side of the construction industry. Again, makes use of hard earned experience on site but doesn't have to include anything more physical than walking around site. Often covered by the H&S team as an extra, but specialists are getting more important, especially on big projects. Given where you are posting, you probably have some sort of affinity for the natural environment, so possibly a good fit? 

 Gwain 21 Nov 2020
In reply to mwr72:

How about becoming a college teacher ? Someone with practical experience is certainly better to train people coming into a trade. 

 Also possibly a more managerial roll , meaning you get to use your problem solving without the heavy lifting. 

 Good luck whatever you decide. 

 Matt Podd 21 Nov 2020
In reply to mwr72:

Undertakers are never short of work!

2
 NorthernGrit 21 Nov 2020
In reply to mwr72:

What trade are you?

Clerk of works, surveyor, quantity surveyor, CDM adviser? All the decent types I know in these jobs came from a trade background.

Post edited at 20:15
 SAF 21 Nov 2020
In reply to Matt Podd:

> Undertakers are never short of work!

And probably one of the worst options for someone with a bad back, you clearly haven't moved many dead bodies...it's not as easy as in the movies!!!

 Dave the Rave 21 Nov 2020
In reply to SAF:

> And probably one of the worst options for someone with a bad back, you clearly haven't moved many dead bodies...it's not as easy as in the movies!!!

Just ask the Wolf.

In reply to mwr72:

Sounds like you’d be in a good position to go for something like facilities management, which could make use of your knowledge and would have some CDM and H&S involved. Think you can get paid alright for it as well. 

OP mwr72 22 Nov 2020
In reply to Matt Podd:

> Undertakers are never short of work!

But it's a dead end job.

OP mwr72 22 Nov 2020
In reply to NorthernGrit:

> What trade are you?

I'm a Carpenter/Joiner

> Clerk of works, surveyor, quantity surveyor, CDM adviser? All the decent types I know in these jobs came from a trade background.

Something like CoW or QS had crossed my mind, or perhaps even an Estimator

In reply to mwr72:

I spoke to someone recently who was running an apprenticeship scheme for construction skills. He absolutely loved his job. 


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