Life.

Life at 18 is tough, really tough. You've recently left school/college and gone from being a decent sized fish in a small pond to competing against a multitude with more experience, strength and stamina to being a minnow in a huge sea. Its not easy, in fact its damned hard.

Don't be overwhelmed by it, its pretty much what so many of us have been through. Life is a marathon not a sprint. Draw breath, relax and plan a long slow battle to achieve what you want.

The ideal job won't arrive overnight, and will in all probability take many years to achieve.

Bladeplayer touches on something that will give you the feeling of achievement and fulfilment. Take on some volutary work. It will bring all sorts of personal and professional benefits. Employers look to see how people fill there time when they're not employed, and this sort of thing is viewed positively by them.

And don't forget to enjoy the simple things in life, especially at 18, because in anotherfew years your life will be so full you'll wish you were 18 again.

Good luck and best wishes from a wrinkly old Hobbit

Hobbit, thankyou that made a lot of sense. Yeh I think I'm going to take a look into voluntary work somewhere for a bit, seems one of the better options. And I'm doing pretty well to enjoy some of the little things at the moment, only thing keeping me sane haha. I just feel like I can't do much because I'm unemployed, not the fact I don't have money more the fact I feel like I shouldn't be out doing certain things/enjoying myself that involve money because I'm unemployed. Meh, I don't know.

Thanks Hobbit! :mad:
 
Far from misunderstood you young man. If you read all of your posts on the subject and ALL of the replies, the theme is consistent throughout. I have tried to get over to you from personal experience how I shaped my career, simply through hard graft. I didn't want to pick cardigans off clothes racks at 6:15am on a saturday morning for a living but hey, guess what, some people do, they hate it but they do it. Other responders have told you to 'get out there and get in the market' also and you seem resistant to it.

Earlier you stated that you didn't want a dead-end job that has no correlation to what you want to do. Or you just don't want a dead end job....As one poster pointed out re KFC and following my McD's reference is this a dead end job? If not, what is at 18 when you WANT to work? You don't wanna flip burgers for the rest of your life, fair enough. But you refuse to do it for 6 months to get a job and reference on your CV?


You've missed my point entirely. You simply have to work, the positions and career that you perhaps aspire to now will only happen if you either get back into education (doesn't seem to make a difference now for lots sadly) or start to gain employment experience. You have to be patient and if you work hard and are determined then you'll have a bloody good chance of succeeding. Only you yourself can shape this. That was the whole point of my post.

You have been given sound advice. You're young so you're entitled to enjoy yourself. Imagine how much more of a laugh you'll have with some coin in your pocket, regardless of what job sector it came from. It isn't rocket science.

In my opinion KFC/McD's is a dead end job, I have a couple of friends who are stuck there at the moment trying to find places elsewhere but they just can't, surprisingly they also don't get many shifts there either! And yeah that's also part of the problem, it's hard enough finding something I want to do! I'm pretty sure all routes lead towards Health/fitness/golf though. Yeah I agree, education doesn't separate people nowadays, it really does seem like it's who you know. Uni is a definite no no at 9.5k a year :eek: but I've tried various things at College, first year of it I dropped out due to many reasons and completed a Level 2 fitness instruction course which I'm still trying to find employment for but without experience that's also extremely hard to get into. Then I did a year of level 1 motorcycle mechanics but I've decided not to go back for the second year as that's one trade which really is like finding gold to get a job in.
Thanks for your posts though, it's been a good discussion. Fair play to you for working so hard all of your life.
 
I started off at 13 with paper rounds, then at 15 supermarkets, 17 was doing temp jobs through an agency, house removals, factory jobs that sort of thing. Left school at 16 with a half dozen GCSEs got into college to do a Btec business studies , ( what qualifications do you have)
Joined A bank at 18, left at 35, then a house husband and now a computer engineer.

You are going to have to start at the bottom and work up, there are no short cuts,
It doesn't cost much to start your own business, a ladder, couple of buckets and some cloths and you are a window cleaner
Do you have any interests or hobbies you can expand?
Any contacts via the family or friends who run their own business?

Go to the local Tesco and say you will work for a week for free, but if you are good at what you do , they have to take you on full time
Take a risk, get your butt off the couch and sell yourself,

Don't worry if you get rejected, it means the one that says YES is closer

Good luck

Fair amount of jobs as a youngen then!
Curious, what was banking like?
And I have 7 GCSE's, Level 1 Motorcycle Mechanic & I'm a Level 2 fitness instructor.
Yeah starting at the bottom doesn't bother me, what bothers me is starting at the bottom in something that I really don't want to do, I know typically the repsonse to that is suck it up and do it, but I believe that there's alternatives I'm just trying to find it.
My interests and hobbies literally are Gym and Golf haha. And Golf is extremely hard to get into to be honest, spoke to various pros about how to go about it and they all say it's extremely hard and you have to get lucky or know someone.
No family members run their own businesses beside my Dad who's a plumbing/heating engineer. Personal problem has caused him to not be able to work lately so I haven't worked with him for ages, I was doing most weeks at one point with him.

Yeah I guess I'm going to have to do something like that, maybe for a pro shop or so see if I can get anywhere in there. Not being able to drive is a huge pain.
When you say butt off the couch, it's something I really don't do anyway haha. I try to keep myself as active and busy as possible as I hate unemployment and I hate being classed as a bum and someone who dosses about as I really don't. I know you were probably just using it as a saying though.

Thanks for the advice, Phil.
 
I bet you could find 10 jobs in a day, just by asking.

Some places advertise in local papers and 200 people apply for the job, other places have vacancies that they don't consider worth advertising for. I bet (being in Brighton) you could walk into any one of 10 hotels, bed and breakfasts, food places, shops (even news agents) or ask to speak to the manager on the pier!

I took a young lad out for a walk round town, he was Polish and was very limited in English... I found him 8 jobs in a day just by asking people... he ended up taking the one that came with FREE accommodation and FREE meals on top of his wage!!!


Next time you see a window cleaner or a gardener ask them if they need a skivvy... next time you see a decorator or someone building a porch, conservatory or even house! There's loads of jobs out there... but not necessarily with people that are about to advertise them. You're 18, you don't expect to suddenly walk into a career do you??? Money is what you need.... and then you can worry about the rest of your life after that.

I'm not sure if McDonalds built a fast food empire by making 'disgusting burgers', perhaps one of those punk-ass kids that is cooking the fries will be running the place in a few years and earning circa £60k p/a. The catering company at your local course probably need an extra pair of hands....

If you can't find a job, it's because you're not looking.


Your dad is a plumber/heating engineer and he doesn't know ONE person that can give you work? :mmm:
 
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Hi Jack

Volunteer management is my day job so feel free to PM me if you want advice on how to start volunteering. The guys are right that this will help build your confidence and self esteem and possibly help your career get started.

You say you are interested in a job in the sport and leisure industry. First thing is to try and think about a mid level job in that field you'd like to do. Then look at any vacancies for that type of role. It doesn't matter where in the UK it is. Then read the job description, especially skills and experience. That will tell you what you need to develop.

In terms of building experience I'd suggest having a look on vinspired.com for opportunities near you or finding out if your local Football/Premier League club is running a Kickz project http://activecommunities.org.uk/kickz/. It's a good way to get your coaching quals paid for and get some experience of coaching. A few of the volunteers have graduated into becoming paid community coaches.

Good luck and remember you are at the start of a wonderful adventure. At times it may be tough but remember that right now you've got the world at your feet.

Enjoy the journey mate
 
BTW anyone telling him to just get any job that is bad advice. Fact. It is important to at least have an idea of what you would like to be, then understand what skills and experience you need to get there and then work towards that goal. At times that might mean getting an unrelated job to earn some money and pay the bills absolutely but that should always be with an end goal/objective in sight. He's 18 for pete's sake not a layabout 25 year old!!!
 
BMP I get it
As I said on an earlier thread one of my best, and happiest, greenkeepers was a guy who threw up a job as a college lecturer.

It annoys me when people look down on other peoples jobs.
I took the G'kid's to KFC last week and the 'team leader' looked about 17 /18 years old. She was quite brilliant and ran a busy and clean service with great confidence and style. You could see the other staff just loved her and it was a very happy work place.
I said to my missus, She will go far and I would love to see anyone who pours scorn on 'that type of work' cope with what she was doing.

Morning Doon, Sorry i didn't get back sooner. i had to go to work. :rolleyes: :rofl:
You're 100 % correct.
This world needs people like that young lady. I'd like to wager that in a few years time she won't just be managing her own outlet, but possibly have her own area, and that makes her a success in anyones eyes.
To me though she already is. She has obviously sussed out that the key to enjoying your work life is to make the best of it, whatever your current posistion.
Our world simply wouldn't function without people doing the so called "meanial " jobs. I bet the banker wouldn't be best chuffed if he couldn't get to his porsche because of all the garbage surrounding it. The fact that the banker probably doesn't appreciate this says more about their ignorance, not the lack of importence of good refuse collecters.
I use bankers purely as an example, and mean no offence to that worthy profession of course. :whistle:
Back to Jack.
I guess what most of us are trying to say is, ALL jobs have there importence to our society. True there is nothing wrong with persueing your dreams, but you will still have to start at on the bottom rung and slowly climb, through hard work.
All jobs have there up side though mate, look at mine. I may have been working last night because people can't survive 24 hrs without bread these days, but i'll be on the golf course by 9.00 am.. :whoo:
 
BTW anyone telling him to just get any job that is bad advice. Fact. It is important to at least have an idea of what you would like to be, then understand what skills and experience you need to get there and then work towards that goal. At times that might mean getting an unrelated job to earn some money and pay the bills absolutely but that should always be with an end goal/objective in sight. He's 18 for pete's sake not a layabout 25 year old!!!

I see were your coming from Tiger, and your right.
My problem is that at 19 i was wed with a sprog on the way so in my case it really has been get a job, any job, because you couldn't keep it in your trousers you've now got bills and responsabilities you moron. Experience clouding judgement i guess. :p
I'am sure Jack you have far more brains, (and self control ) than me. :whistle:
Chin up mate, as Tiger righty says your 18 and the worlds in front of you.
God i wish i was 18 again, i'd take more cold showers thats for sure.
Only joking, i wouldn't change a thing.. :cool:
 
One of my neighbours lost her job and was 'forced' to take a care job as there was little else available in our area for her.
That was 5 years ago. Rather than despising her job she found out that she loved being a carer and is now manager to 40 staff.

Another friend lost a well paid job the same month he found out his wife had breast cancer.
I pointed him towards jobbing gardener as i knew there was a 'window of opportunity'. Despite his initial fears he loved it. Within a year he was employing four staff and owned a good little business.

You never know what life will bring to your door. Sometimes though Jack you have to be prepared to walk through your door.
I suggest you read through all of your posts and start counting the excuses and negativity.
After that give yourself a good talking to and go out and engage in ? LIFE.
 
So Doon you're now proposing trial and error as the best way to start a career yet earlier on you talked about a coach that had a desire to become a top coach and worked hard to realise his goal??? So which is it :confused:
 
Well it is both of course, anyone who thinks that they can control their life is deluded.
Not sure where the trial bit comes in as both examples lost their jobs through no fault of their own?
Give what you want to do your best shot, if it does not work out try something else.

No point in wishing to be an Olympic champion if you don't like training.
 
Morning Jack,

I hope you find the job you want mate, I was lucky I joined the forces when I was 15 , did loads of sports with them and also did all my fitness qualifications and other coaching courses whilst I was in there. I left after 12 years and joined the Police. Each year I do another college course be it Massage, or any fitness related one, the reason for this is that I can leave the Police in 7 years and would like to do something in the fitness industry.

I think you said in a earlier post , that something put you off about the Army, remember you still have the RAF and Navy to look into if that is the way you want to go.

As said good luck with what ever you decide to do mate, Keep your chin up and hopefully you will find what you want mate.
 
Have you thought about a job in the NHS? We can't get enough healthcare assistants through he door at the hospital I work at and its the same with porters. Neither are exactly glamourous but you do get a sense of pride helping others but the biggest plus will be its easier to look for something more in tune with what you want if employers can see you are currently employed.

Where do you live? If you log onto www.jobs.nhs.uk you can see what is out there in your area
 
Have u asked at all the local golf clubs, shop assistant to assistant to greenskeeper etc? Could be something. How about retail? Direct golf, American golf?

On the fitness side, you say you are qualified, why not try personal training? All you need are some business cards or a poster? No jobs in the local gyms?

I would love to love what I do for work, I am a slave to salary unfortunately. I would like to run a motorbike race team or own a golf course, that would be my dream job.

Good luck in what you choose, just remember its about work/personal life balance. I work hard so I can enjoy family time and the odd game of golf.
 
Hi Jack

Volunteer management is my day job so feel free to PM me if you want advice on how to start volunteering. The guys are right that this will help build your confidence and self esteem and possibly help your career get started.

You say you are interested in a job in the sport and leisure industry. First thing is to try and think about a mid level job in that field you'd like to do. Then look at any vacancies for that type of role. It doesn't matter where in the UK it is. Then read the job description, especially skills and experience. That will tell you what you need to develop.

In terms of building experience I'd suggest having a look on vinspired.com for opportunities near you or finding out if your local Football/Premier League club is running a Kickz project http://activecommunities.org.uk/kickz/. It's a good way to get your coaching quals paid for and get some experience of coaching. A few of the volunteers have graduated into becoming paid community coaches.

Good luck and remember you are at the start of a wonderful adventure. At times it may be tough but remember that right now you've got the world at your feet.

Enjoy the journey mate

Tiger,

Thanks for the reply. And I may be PM'ing you soon on that. I'll take a look into Kickz too, sounds like a good idea! But thanks for putting things into perspective. As you grow up you think 18 is an old age, then when you get to this age you realise how young you really still are, guess I've got to just remember that!

Thanks for the post though mate. Some good ideas here to venture with!
 
This may be shot down by other people, but i really don't like the whole idea of everyone being obsessed with getting a job they love.

I see so many people unemployed because they can't find the "ideal job".

I've worked since I was 13, never "loved" any job, but known that it's necessary, and instead enjoyed the money i get from it.

Go out, find ANY job, and I personally think that life will seem better. You won't be sat around all day, you'll have money to spend, and a reason to get out of bed each day.
I cannot agree more with this! Work is on the whole rubbish, yes we all have good days and bad days but work is still work and it is just a case of turning up and getting it done, getting paid, paying all of your bills and doing the same next month. The perfect job is probably only done by less than 10% of the population and they are the lucky ones. For the rest of us on building sites, in hospitals, offices, call centers,factories and the rest it is a something we do until we get home. Get a job, any job and then when money is in your pocket you can re train to try and find something you want to do. I flipping detest my job, I am unhappy at work for the 8 hours I am there. I will not do overtime or weekends and just go through the motions until finishing time. That is life, not great but it is all most of us have. The end of the world is upon us, pretty soon it'll all turn to dust. So get up! forget the past, go outside and have a blast.
 
Morning Jack,

I hope you find the job you want mate, I was lucky I joined the forces when I was 15 , did loads of sports with them and also did all my fitness qualifications and other coaching courses whilst I was in there. I left after 12 years and joined the Police. Each year I do another college course be it Massage, or any fitness related one, the reason for this is that I can leave the Police in 7 years and would like to do something in the fitness industry.

I think you said in a earlier post , that something put you off about the Army, remember you still have the RAF and Navy to look into if that is the way you want to go.

As said good luck with what ever you decide to do mate, Keep your chin up and hopefully you will find what you want mate.

Hi,

Thanks mate. What did you do in the forces if you don't mind me asking? I did have a look at an RAF Regiment Gunner or RAF Police at one point. What's it like working in the Police? I think the fitness industry appeals to a lot of people now as it is a very enjoyable job!
Thanks for the heads up though, appreciated mate.
 
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