career change / development

[yenaled368]

Dear Sirs,

I am writing to you as I am in desperate need of a change in career, and was hoping that
you could provide me with some guidance.

I am looking for a new challenge [SOMETHING DIFFERENT, SOMETHING EXCITING] that offers me
the opportunity to gain a new skill that will, as much as possible, guarantee me work
after completion.

I am thirty years old.

I am particularly interested, but not exclusively, in pursuing a career in either of the
following: -

A SKILLED TRADE; DESIGN; PHOTOGRAPHY; TEACHING; PRINTING; TRAVEL; CREATIVE ARTS;
PUBLISHING; TV; MOVIES; RADIO; FASHION; SPORTS; THEATRE; MUSIC...

I acknowledge that the above list demonstrates that I am unable to pinpoint what it is I
really want to do. This is in part because I don't know what avenues are open to me and
which are closed. This is one of the reasons why I seek your help.

I look forward to receiving yours comments.

[terambulan]

Ur a bit old for an apprenticeship but am sure ur job centre should be ur first call. A lot of 'art' subjects in ur list; any qualifications in art?

What r u doing now? Need to know a bit more about u for serious pointing. R u m/f?

[Ice.Maiden]

Some of the jobs you've outlined there'll be pretty hard for you to walk into, unless you have the appropriate experience and/or qualifications. Might be best to see a careers advisor at your local JCP first, and discuss what might be available to you, taking into account what you've done already, or what opportunities there might be to train in one of those areas. You could also try writing letters to your local radio station, publishing houses, and TV companies, expressing your desire to work within that type of environment. I know that TV companies run workshops for youngsters, but perhaps for adults too, whereby yopu can get some idea of jobs both in front of the cameras and behind the scenes as well, but if you're lucky, expect to start at the bottom and work your way up.

[jno]

to be honest, few things guarantee employment; the more popular they are the more competition there is. Indeed if you try to start in some media jobs you won't even start at the bottom, you're quite likely to find yourself working for free for some time. The best paths to employment as far as I know are medicine and plumbing. People always need doctors and plumbers. That probably isn't what you're hoping for but employment-wise it's safe, if that really is a big concern.

[Ice.Maiden]

Unfortunately, there's a ceiling on the age limit for taking up a doctor's career, because of the length of time needed for studying first - that's assuming the person has the right qualifications to begin with.
Mind you, you may be able to get in as a male nurse, or train as a radiologist or something.

[jno]

Ice, yenaled posted elsewhere enquiring about US green cards, so he/she may be able to travel abroad to train. No doubt if this was the case there'd have to be additional training in the UK, though.

[yenaled368]

I am male. I have a law degree. I would be willing to train overseas. Thanks all.