Walwal

I'm a joiner by trade. I've just had keyhole surgery 3 weeks ago on my knees because they are knackered (through my job IMO). The consultant at the hospital said on Friday that there is no operation that will cure me of the pains while I still continue to kneel down as part of my job.

The solution is obviously a different job. But, I've been a joiner since I was 16, (I'm 34 now), I've only ever worked for the company I'm with now, and I don't know where to start, don't even know what alternative job I could get. I left school with 6 O-levels inc Maths and English (but strangely, not woodwork, lol). I've also got extra qualifications to do with Joinery and Construction. I don't know where to start.

I asked my employer last September if there was any way I could get off the tools (e.g. trades foreman etc), but was told there is restructuring going on. The best they offered was a move to a different department, where there MAY (no guarantees) be less kneeling, but also my money would probably drop (more than likely). No good to me. However, if I'd been one of a certain few, I'm sure they'd have accomodated me, if you see what I mean. I've had a few fallings out with management over the years, nowt major, just difference of opinion mainly over money.

I've never been in a job centre, don't know where to go or look for careers advice, and a search on the net didn't come up with much.

Anyone got any ideas where to start, or any recommendations for a different career. Some of you out there must have swapped jobs somewhere along the line.

Help!!!!

Thanks,

Andy.

yoza

This may sound a bit simplistic, but have you tried using knee pads or a kneeling cushion?

You probably have, but I thought I would post just in case you were as stupid as me.

RichWalk

Sell your house go abroad and run a bar- I am considering a new job at the mo, cant be bothered with all the wingeing inefficient t*ats I have to deal with!

Careers advise is hard to come by, best bet is to contiunue doing what you are now- talk to as many people as you can & be patient.

Good Luck

Rich

Walwal

No, good point, but I've been wearing the trousers that have knee pads built into them for a few years now. Before that, the knee pads that tie around the backs of your legs.

Knees still hurt, even with these.

Andy.

Mice_Elf

If you have evidence that it's your job that's ruined your knees, you may be able to claim some kind of compensation. This will give you a fall-back sum of money (if you're successful, of course) on which you can live while you re-train.

Is there anything else that you like doing? Would construction be of interest?

Have a look at nearby colleges and see what courses they are doing...see if anything catches your eye.

Walwal

Would ideally like to get out of the construction game altogether, but like I said, not sure what I could do. Need some good careers advice, but don't know where you get it.

The hospital said it's wear and tear on my knees POSSIBLY through the job. They're crafty, won't commit themselves, so I don't think I'd get anywhere with a claim.

Damn, could do with a nice lump sum. Lol.

Andy.

Drunken Bungle Whore

Is it possible that you could find a job training people to do your job? I work in training though I've no real experience in your particular field. At the moment there's a boom in modern apprenticeships, so it might be worth thinking about as it's really hard to switch careers altogether.

You don't necessarily need training experience - if your current employer is no help then try talking to your union or whatever body of authority covers you. They may have some sugegstions for organisations which are involved in training.

Alternatively contact local colleges or learn direct - places that are geared up to training.

Sorry I can' be more help, but that's all I can think of for now.


Good Luck!

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

What about places that make wooden or uPVC window frames, up on a bench? No bending, or kneeling, and your sort of skills would be wanted, surely?


Alcazar

Dougster

I'm getting a taxi guv!!!!

Scooby96

How about freelance couriering - looking into doing that (overnight work) whilst I finish off my plumbing training (3 days a week)

rr_ww

Problem is many MA are limited to ages 17-20. This is because the company gets a goverment grant / subsidy to train young people up. Makes sense.

Problem starts when you go for the MA (like I did) at 21. I had relevant work based experience and half the qualifications already. But the college that was going to run the course for the company. (no names but think World renowned company) Decided to write in BIG letters on EVERY page of my application. "NOTE : AGE"

So although It would have only really been a foot in the door to the company, the college were more concerned with money than myself getting good grades and a better job!!!

RE: Job Centres. Its all "touch screen" computers now. The one local to me (Croydon) only has 100 jobs on at any one time. Waste of time, best advice I can give, is that if you know what you want to be its easy, if like me, you're not really sure then its 1000 times harder to get the relevant knowledge to go for a job.

Drunken Bungle Whore

Sorry - wasn't suggesting he take a modern apprenticeship - but rather he finds an organisation that's running them and checks to see if they need anyone to train the apprentices.

Also - had another thought - you might want to check out with the Disability Rights Commission (or whatever they're called now). If you're now not able to perform your job due to illness or injury your employer is obliged to make "reasonable adjustments" to help you to remain with them.

Should at least be worth a call to the CAB or someone similar to check it out.

Scooby96

Have you considered a block pave drive cleaning co, car valeting co, wheelie bin cleaning co etc etc ?

Buckrogers

What about using your skills to teach others?
College tutor, school teacher?

Brit_in_Japan

Perhaps it sounds a bit obvious, but have you considered becoming a furniture maker/cabinet maker ? Most work would be on a bench, no kneeling required. Makes use of existing skills etc

hells

Try some of the following links
monsterjobs.co.uk
worktrain.gov.uk
Also looking for a change in career and i know its not an easy step, sometimes think being your own boss is the only way to go

apn70

Hi

Can you tell me where to look for freelance couriering work?

Thanks

Walwal

I have thought about this, might look into it.

I'm afraid a cabinet maker is a bit too specialised as opposed to standard joinery. I could shutter a base for a conservatory, then put the thing up, but I doubt I could make a china cabinet. lol

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Andy.

Buzzer

Walwal

I know exactly what you are going through. Okay firstly let me say a little about me :

I left School at 16 with 6 'O' Levels and a couple of CSE's. I got a Joinery apprentiship and served my time. The company that employed me made me redundant at 20 but fortunatley i had aquired a few friends on site and got a start as a Ceiling/Partition fixer. I did this job for around 5 years when one day i was carrying a 6' 6" X 2' 9" Fire door up a fire escape on my own (i was made to) This resulted in the 190 lb fire door falling on my head (long story, dont ask) I crushed two discs in my neck. I was on the skids of my @rse for 3 years (income support) as i was waiting to have my neck fused together in places (anyway to cut a long story short) Whilst on income support i went to University to study Quantity Surveying and Estimating. During the 3 years i passed my exams (Bsc) and became a graduate of the MIE.

I managed to get a start with a large Construction Co. but on next to no money and still on Income support (Married, 2 kids and F off mortgage). I stayed with these for a year just to get experience and then left to go to a Sub Contract Ceilings outfit as an assistant contracts manager / Surveyor (not now on Inc. Supp. but still sh1te money). Ive been with these since then (1996) and not looked back. Money is really good and a good car allowance and with me now being the Regional Estimator (cushy desk job) the next step is Director (i'm 36 now).

A few other points are:

1. I registered a claim against my former employer and although it was proved that i had a pre existing neck problem i was still succesful in my claim as quantum was agreed at 80% - 20% in my favour. I had a very agreable settlement figure the night before court

2. I found it very hard to get anywhere without starting from the bottom rung

3. Once i had accepted the innevitable it took from 1991 to 1998 to get what would be considered a reasonable wage.

4. It took nearly 10 years from start to finish for the claim to be finalised.

..............so my advice (for what its worth)

A/ Bite the bullet and take up something that you could drop into relativley easy (unfortunatley this is Construction and a **** industry) but its what you know best

B/ Make sure you take a career move that will take you somewhere. The Construction industry is crying out for site and office experienced personnel and you would be an asset to any company when trained. Sadly construction companies are reluctant to invest.

C/ You must push home your vast site experience to get you in somewhere. I promise you if you take **** money for a while, within 2 years the world will be your Lobster


Keep your chin up mate, like i said it will be hard but not impossible and the rewards are good. For instance in the Northwest of england, Fit out contracts managers are pulling 45K a year and are like rockin horse **** to get hold of. Dont just look at joinery look at Ceilings, flooring, fit out etc etc

If you like PM me with your tel. number and i'll ring you if you need any advice or just talk to someone whos been through it all mate

Good luck, hope things work out

Pete

messiah

what about a Computer Aided Design (or Architectural) Technician? with your background its a obvious sidestep - it's what I do and I work with an ex-joiner doing the same.

...and in these days of rediculous house prices - there's always loads of people after plans for extensions.

Buzzer

Just a thought mate, if you can struggle along in some sort of capacity in the job you are in. Why not try going to night school or do an OU degree in surveying or do the IOE (Institute of Estimators) entrance exam. You have enough experience to get straight on to the IOE course and you wont need an ONC. If you run Surveying and Estimating in parrallel together, The Uni. will allow you to condense your Surveying (Bsc) into 3 years providing you pass you IOE exams....if you know what i mean

Pete

Walwal

Now this would interest me I think. But don't you need HNC in Building?? That I don't have. I did do BTEC National Certificate in Building a few years back, a 2 year course.

Buzzer, great 1st reply mate. This seems to be what I've got to do, but (as you did), I'd find it tough on poor money, but, in all honesty I'm not on great money now, (it's $hit actually), so I don't think it would be impossible to overcome.

Your post about the estimating is very interesting. I think a visit to the local colleges is on the cards, even just for a chat. Excellent advice coming through here, my thanks to all.

Andy.

Buzzer

You do that mate and whilst you're there ask about facilities management and H&S type work. These along with Estimating, Surveying and Contracts Management are the ways to go.

Dont be fobbed off with some git saying you need an ONC or HND in building studies, being a Joiner you've forgot more than a spotty faced kid with a HND has learnt without even walking on a building site. Above all dont sell yourself short, 20 years experience cant be bought.

BTW with your BTec and experience i wouldn't be surprised if a college allowed you to knock 1-2 years off a Bsc in Quantity Surveying.

I know for a fact that you WILL get on the IOE course (2 year part time)................Ha part time, thats a joke 10 hrs a week at night school and a full Sunday every week for two years was nearly more than the Bsc

Buzzer Bsc MIE T.W.A.T.

(The last qualification is the most use)

Walwal

I've tried telling the ****** in our offices this exact fact, and this is why (like I said in my original post), other people working for my company, in my situation, would be whisked off the tools at the drop of a hat, but I'm stuck where I'm at. (Ha , a rhyme (sp?), maybe poetry is the way to go, lol.). BTW, I haven't got a problem with management, just little ar$eholes who leave school, push pens for 4 years, then tell me the job I've taken 3 days to do isn't what they wanted, even though I followed their drawings to the letter!!!I'd like to see them ******* try to do it.

If I could get on one of those night school courses, that would be the way ahead, but are employers going to take someone on with no practical experience, only a couple of qualifications??

Sorry to sound pessimistic, but I don't want to waste time and money if there's no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, if you see what I mean.

Plus, I've graduated with honours that last qualification you've got. Heh heh. Does it count for much??

Andy.

Buzzer

LOL Andy

Yes mate the last qualification is priceless when dealing with spotty chavs

Like i said, i had to start at the bottom of the ladder. That meant that i had to be willing to be on Chav type money until qualified then a bit of experience building on Sh1te money (probably around Joiners basic rate with no bonus )

After this you start becoming an investible asset and companies will want to keep you as they realise that you can spot Variations, find cheaper ways of doing the same work etc etc at a glance coz of your joinery experience. Once you have proved that you can run rings around the "none site working background" type people, the money goes up.

I went to Uni with a spark, he just jacked his job in and started the same courses as me. I've stayed in touch with him and he is now an Estimating Director in Preston Lancs. for a medium building company. He gambled everything but it paid off, so from being on buttons in 1996, some 7 years later he's pulling around 50k a year with share options, Bupa, car and bonuses.

I went to his house last year. He did have a terraced house in the centre of a town, he now lives in a new 5 Bedroom house, twin garage etc etc valued at 250,000K in Preston.

I'm not saying thats you but it is achievable if you want it enough.

It comes down to, are you willing to live on the skids of your @rse for 4 years but then reap the rewards. I didn't have a choice probably similarly to you, i looked around for a complete career change but unfortunatley couldnt find anything that suited me that didnt at least give me some income.

Of course a Taxi driver etc etc is a good job and i wouldn't knock anybody for doing it as its quick and relativley easy money to get but you have to be sure that that is what you want to do for the rest of you natural. I chose something that gave me chance to move on.

Sorry for ranting it's just that you do have to do things with your eyes wide open as what you do now will effect the rest of your life.........and your families