Did you change your job, career? If so why?

Just ordered Kev’s book from Amazon! Thanks.:)

Just looked at my signed copy 🙂 and it was published in early 2005. I’d guess then that the forum elections were 2004 – so a mere 9 years.

Moggy

Ten years and still campaigning for the Reply default!!;) And still maintaining an even temperament throughout – well just about!
Didn’t know about Kev’s book – I must have a look for it.

Gosh.. I really can’t recall.

In the early days the webbie did it all, and then as the forum grew in popularity and the load became too great Key asked for nominations / volunteers.

Then there was a forum election, and as I recall I was beaten to the last place by Kev35, but he had his book on 37 Squadron to complete (Wise Without Eyes – Still a good read) so I ended up with his spot.

Guessing? 2003 – Hell, that’s ten years now.

Moggy

Merely out of idle interest how many of the 13 years here have you moderated?

I always wanted to be a pilot. Fighters, then maybe a cushy job with an airline and hot & cold running hosties at my beck and call. With short-sight and colour-deficiency that dream was never meant to be and I sort of wandered into advertising by accident, becoming an account handler with Saatchi (in pre-wife throttling days) and had an amazing time, lots of my work motor industry related. Via setting up my own agency I swerved off to client side and worked in firearms and ammunition for a few years but was caught up in some international ‘office’ politics and eventually was ‘stabbed in the back’ by a capering little sycophant, the head of Browning in the UK.

Unemployed for the first time in my life at 45. That was scary.

What did I learn? I learned that you (I, at least) can always earn a living doing something. Telesales, freelance new business, selling corporate entertainment. It doesn’t matter what it is, throw youself into it, do a great job even if the job isn’t great, and keep your ears open for the smallest opportunity.

There followed my time at Atlantique, another ad agency built, and now, in the later years an enviable situation where a few days freelance writing each month pays all the bills and keeps the aircraft flying, and another few days working on motor industry events which may be badly paid by comparison, but give me human interaction and get me away from the computer. Not to mention, nice interesting cars to drive at others’ expense.

Oddly, I also love moderating here. I have a great team to work in, and despite the occasional flak and pathetic little digs from some, am proud that it is generally a good and intelligent place for people to discuss all manner of things, as well as aviation and mythical Spitfires. As ever though, it’s the ‘human’ stuff that is the most absorbing.

Moggy

Anything I’d change? Well assuming I can’t go back and fly (peacetime) fighters.. That you shower would remember to use the ‘reply’ button as default, not the ‘reply with quote’ 😡

I left school at 16 as a panel beating apprentice, did 5 years of that thinking there had to be something else. At school the vocational guidance people said I was better suited to being a labourer when I said I wanted to be a pilot. I decided not to take their advice and started training going through to commercial and Ag rating. First lesson was in 1978 and first flying job in 1980. I have been unemployed a few times since with Ag being very seasonal work, something else has always come up. Mostly Ag work through to wildlife/mineral survey, freight, charter, fire spotting and bombing. I spose my career changed only once but there have been lots of jobs within that career. I have not made a fortune but it is all I have ever wanted to do.
I have missed out a bit in busy seasons when the kids were growing up, I regret that. I have done panel work for short periods when things were very quiet so the first 5 years weren’t wasted.
We are in changing times, especially in Europe where you have gone through major changes in employment in the last 20 years. There always seems somebody willing from Europe somewhere to do any job cheaper than people in England work for. Your companies also seem to be using that fact to lower wages and conditions. The only wages that are going up are the people at the top end of companies taking advantage of the lower wages the bulk of workers are getting.
It’s a bit the same way in Australia with the job market changing drastically in the last 20 years also. I take it for granted that my job is seasonal, I have lived with that for over 30 years.

There but for the grace of big ‘G’ go all of us !

For me…7 full time jobs + 2 temp jobs
Always mad on flying/aircraft…never any question of any other career LOL
Joined RAF as apprentice in 1970 (eyes not aircrew standard !) – did 12 years as aircraft tech !
Then had 6 months off (got fat) followed by 12 months in zimbabwe as a civvy working on AFZ Hawks (got thin – very hot +cr@p chocolate).
Came home to 6 months factory maintenance – closely followed by 16 wonderful years at Dunsfold for Hawker Squiddeley and then a depressing 12 months ‘oop north’ at Warton handing over the Harrier to Wastospace !
After that a pleasant 6 months at Hurn on Hawk major servicing – finally a lucky phone call to an airfield ‘Somewhere in Wilts’ and to my current and prob final tech job !!

Good luck and best wishes to all who seek jobs !!

Seconded!!:)

Reading your story, shows you are willing to work, and not sit on your bum all day doing nothing and claiming the Social. I sincerely hope you get a job soon, and may it be a stable one, and not just a part time job.
All the best to you, and others who will not give up trying.

Jim.
Lincoln .7

I know I will never get the job of my dreams, so I had no choice but to look at other things. All I ever wanted was to be a vet, I knew it would suit me as I spent all my spare time in school holidays and on weekends helping in a vet surgery (wiping tables, watching consultations and operations so I knew I could cope OK with the mess and the upsetting bits). I didn’t get to vet school so I had no choice but to look at other work areas.

My first couple of jobs were in big stores (which I won’t name on here). The first one was gross – five and six hours overtime a day, missed meals, no days off for nearly three weeks, problems getting taxis home. The second one I enjoyed alot more but it was only temporary for Christmas, after that we were all laid off (those who had been set on for Christmas) and never called back.

After that I went into admin-related work which I had mixed experiences of. The first couple of jobs I really loved, but they were only temporary. The last admin job I did (again temporary) was not so good, for various reasons. I also had a job in a fast food chain (which I will not name) which was appalling as they expected you to go and work at the other side of the country at very short notice. Now I am unemployed but I do regular voluntary work in a museum a few miles away, which I adore, but I know there is no prospect of paid work there. It gives me experience and keeps me busy.

Thanks for all the replies.
Just need to keep plugging away I guess until I find the right job or reach retirement.
Real shame the downtime has happened now. Expectations being it will take 20 years to fully recover.

The same company (via a couple of name changes) has been paying me to turn up for “work” for the last 42+ years.
Starting as an apprentice at 16, the job has kept me out of the pub quite a lot.

I sure know that, Linc – hence my :D……and that’s one of the best aspects of Key compared to other fora – with a few exceptions it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Long may that continue.:highly_amused:

Poor old Linc- the butt of the forum!!:D

Chas, I don’t give a Flying F>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>15 about being the Butt on the Forum, At least, Andy, Tony,even you, have a laugh, at the expence of each other, we also disagree on many things, but I consider all on the forum as having a good sense of humour, whats the point of life, if you can’t have a good laugh?.

You can call me what you like, as long as you don’t call me early :highly_amused:
Jim.
Lincoln .7

At 30 I left a job as a warehouseman/driver at a company I’d worked for since leaving school to become a student nurse. Qualified as a General Nurse and split my time between surgical and elderly care. Then went on to become a team leader, shift co-ordinator, project manager, advocate, relief OIC, and a number of other roles within the field of LD. Laughed a lot, cried a lot and learned much, both about the work, the ‘clients’, their families and the ‘system’ but learned most of all about myself. It was the most rewarding (and in equal measure, frustrating) ten years I could have ever imagined. Then I became ill…..

So go for it, whatever it is you dream of, have a go if the opportunity arises. As another recent thread has suggested, we’re all going to be dead for a long, long time.

Regards,

kev35

I think I was very lucky when it comes to jobs throughout my life, Left school on a Friday, started an Apprentiship for 6yrs, worked in engineering afterwards, You could in those days, tell the boss to shove the job up his ar*e, and walk around the corner, and get a new one.
However,I got fed up with wielding spanners, and working on Lathes etc, day in and day out.
I came to my cross roads at 26, and joined Lincs Police, the best move I ever made, no two days, in 30 yrs was ever the same. I had good days, and days that a particular incident left me very “Unsettled”, and upset. I still have contact with a few mates still on the Force, and they say the job has changed so much, you wouldn’t join it again, too many Laws have been passed, and effectivly has tied their hands from doing the same job as I was able to.
Today, I hear it all the time of folks, who have to do everything their bosses tell them, and dare not answer back for fear of losing their jobs. Anyone who is paying for their own house, married and with kids, must have nightmares, wondering day to day whether thir jobs are safe or not.
I feel for them, their families, and am never surprised when a family man commits suicide, as he has done his best, but in their minds have failed themselves and family.
I am pleased I am retired, but when I hear that M.Ps want another Pay Rise to take them up to £74.000, it makes my blood boil.
Like Tony, Rant over.
Jim.
Lincoln .7

Lincoln told me..

A’ Hole 😀

Jim.
Lincoln .7

I was made redundant at 46 after 16 years with the same company. It was not a pleasent time I can tell you. Thereafter followed a number of positions with some, lets say interesting, employers. But I kept plugging away ! 3 years ago I landed a role with an excellent but very demanding company. I was commuting a crazy distance so bit the bullet and moved from North to South.

I’ve gone from quite a big house and a small mortgage to a very small house and a big mortgage.

The work remains very hard and challenging…….but it keeps me young. I’ll keep going for as long as can and hopefully then be able to move back north, buy outright and pocket some money.

Dont look back, keep looking forward and keep going for it.

If I can help in any way, PM me.

All the best.

Poor old Linc- the butt of the forum!!:D
Yes that’s for sure – don’t get Andy in Beds started on the evils of money. In any case, it is so personal. In present circumstances I wish I had a little more but I certainly do not desire the big lottery win, to be honest. I just want to be “comfortable” in my last 10/20 years and have enough to get the care we both might need as we get older, because for sure the state won’t provide enough. There is plenty of evidence that poverty and wealth create unhappiness in equal measure and the reverse applies too.