what shall i do??

[saxo_boi]

hiya everyone, well i have a dilema and i thought id post a question on here just to see what other people thought. i am 18 and have just started my 1st job after leaving school after doing my A levels. i am currently in an office job working with council tax etc. now i have seen somebody elses pay in my office and they are only getting a pound more than me an hour. the thing which is worrying me is that he is 10 years older than me and has got a lot more experience in this line of work than me. i can also tell that there isnt much room let for promotion as the high earning jobs are taken by people who arent excatly going to leave soon. now i know im not going to walk straight into a �40,000 a year job but im just thinking about my future, i want to have a house + kids etc and i dont think my prospects will be very good in this job. also a friend of mine has offered me a job to be a builder, it would be an apprenticeship but its better money, hours and it just would fit ino my life better, also im thinking it might just be a better move for when thinking about the future. whats your opinion?thanks!!!

[ineedahobby]

If the building job is better money hours and fits in better then what are you waiting for?

I think as long as you make arrangemtns for a pension, then go for it!

Good builders are always in demand and I dont know any good builders who arent rich!

[saxo_boi]

yea im seriously considering this now. its just the thought that i dont want to be sitting here still in 10 years feeling like i havent done anything and that i couldve done bigger and better things. i just dont know if its too big a risk to take. also i feel guilty about leaving because everybody here is so nice! but then again they say look after yourself 1st dont they so maybe i should! i dont know what to do! lol

[Miss Zippy]

saxo_boi, have a good think about what you're good at and what you enjoy and plan your career choices around that.  Do you still have access to your former college's career guidance counsellors?  If not, I think there are other organisations around that are free and offer young people career advice. You're right to be thinking about your future prospects in your current job.  Unfortunately, the public sector isn't well paid but they do tend to invest well in people so if, for example, you wanted to qualify as an accountant (bear with me, it's just an example!), you might find that your current employer would support you in terms of paying for all the exams etc.  On the other hand, if you're a physical outdoors sort of person, then the building trade might be perfect for you and it can be a very well paid, particularly if you're self employed. Plus, you can easily get work overseas if that interests you. Good luck whatever you decide to do.

[sam82]

normally i read the other posts then comment, but you tend to find councils dont pay alot of money anyway,

you say building interested you, have you thought about a Trainee Quantity Surveyor they will allow you to go day release to college and work at the same time earning around �12k a year then with progression you can earn upto �26k in 5 years then the money roles in. it can be hard work and demanding sometimes, but so can most jobs i enjoy it and it has worked out great for me.

i would suggest looking at colleges and finding out about the course, check CITB, do a search so u can find out what the job involves, its a great career to get into at them moment, there is such a shortage of Quantity Surveyors.

[gemmabe]

Hiya

I'd say go for it if it interests you. You would be earning better money and will gain the experience to one day maybe run your own business :-)

Good luck!

Gem x

[baileyj]

I saw a programme recently on TV and it was saying how builders are in short supply.  I'd go for the apprenticeship, you can make a good living, possibly even have your own business in years to come.  Good Luck.

[lushkayt]

DO IT - I am doing an office job - I'm totally wasted in it, but feel trapped there (for various reasons) If you have a good opportunity to get out please take it!!!!