Nows the time before you have dependents. In theory you could do any or all of the things you enjoy on a freelance basis, plus you’ll avoid line management and have the flexibility to reduce hours and fit around kids etc…
1 Like
Proper hard that worm 
1 Like
I think the more honest you can be with yourself then the better. Its quite common to try to be too inclusive and not rule things out, when in your heart of hearts you know that you hate/ can’ t do x, y or z, so better just to rule them out from the start.
Also when you change jobs or career paths you’re really just changing one set of problems with another one and hoping that they’re more bearable, and/ or the rewards are worth the new/ extra shit.
On line management being a career/ salary limiter, I understand this but the two exceptions I would point out are healthcare where you can if you are clinical its possible to continue to be paid very well without having to be responsible for underlings etc; and BMW who recognised that they were losing talented engineers becasue they were expected to line manage as part of their progression - they invented a payscale system which meant they rewarded techincal expertise of itself without needing to head up departments or stop doing what they loved and where good at.
2 Likes
That was the idea of the government science scheme. It worked well, with one big exception - it was very tightly quotaed, so a department of 100-200 might only be able to put 5-10 people on this track.
VB
BMW applied it quite strategically and based on business need. E.g. ‘How many world class suspension damper designers do we need over the next ten years for our upcoming model launches?’ Okay hand those the plum contracts and make sure they have a successor just in case, anyone else in the chassis team who is ambitious is going to either have to wait, do something else, take on management responsibilities, or fuck off to VAG (hah as if!).
Don’t have much to add, but if you can get a job you really enjoy, you’ve nearly cracked life imo
3 Likes
If qualifications are holding you back, is study a possibility to open a few doors?
This
It is an option, yes.
And starting my own business is an option, nothing at all I’ve done before so I really need to research the risks of this. Ever since I was about 13 with a paper round, I’ve had a weekend/fulltime job that was effectively on weekly/monthly payroll so it would be quite a change!
I did it just over a year ago. Happy to talk you through my experience Rob.
1 Like
Certainly any advice would be very much appreciated, although I obviously don’t have a concrete business idea as yet…
See how much you can ‘start’ whilst still in employment. Even if this means stretching yourself into new & improved pain to do so. This offers you the benefits of:
A) Trying before you buy into full time self employment (Learning curve 1st year is steep)
B) Acid tests the market to see if sufficient money could be generated solo
C) May open new doors as contact and specialisms develop.
2 Likes
Drop me a PM if you want a chat. There are others far more experienced but I’m happy to share what I’ve learnt and it was quite recent
1 Like
DDaT is supposed to cover that for techy people where not managing people holds back grades.
(it’s supposed to but as per anything govt is shite when implemented)
Well, as an update to this, the career has now been restarted, as of December 22nd, I become a full-time house husband. The long term plan, through various reasons has managed to happen this year with the arrival of baby Evie.
Will be weird as its going to be almost 13-years at the previous job when I leave, certainly feels right to move on now.
We have Evie booked in to 2-days nursery a week from January so I have a chance to actually do some housework and also, freedom to start looking at a part time income generator, be that woodwork based as planned or something else I can do from home. We are fortunate to now be in the position that I don’t need to bring in a wage although it would be nice to have enough just to cover the nursery costs.
Can’t wait!
34 Likes
Congratulations Rob, that’s a very nice place to be - in all senses 
1 Like
Congrats Rob. Very best wishes mate !
1 Like
Nice one Rob.
Quite a brave decision to leave a job and company that you were comfortable in.
I admire that you are motivated to do something, having a child to look after obviously makes its own demands but after that I am sure I would just become a house layabout.
In some ways I am dreading retirement as work is about the only structure I have in life.
1 Like
Did it for five years. Sometimes I think I was busier then, than when I went back to work!
1 Like
Oh I’m under no illusion on the demands of looking after one baby rather than a building of 300 (who also struggle to use a toilet and perform basic sanitary functions)
2 Likes