Change of career - can I do it? Tell me what you do for a living and do you enjoy it?

T

Tayto

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 January 2013
Messages
521
Location
Bonny Scotland
Visit site
I am 25 years old and work in an Oil Service company in Aberdeen. I get paid quite a decent wage (between 25 - 30k) but I am really miserable! I spend the whole day wishing it was time to go home so I can get out in the fresh air. I HATE being cooped up all day. Even in winter, I couldn’t wait to wrap up and spend the evening outside!

Am I just dreaming when I think I could leave the oil industry and pursue a career in the equine world? My horse wants for nothing and I am lucky to be able to afford to buy most things that I would like - is having a miserable job a sacrifice I have to make in order to live comfortably and give my horse everything she needs?

If I did decide to pursue a career with equines - where would I start? Is there courses that I can do online or at night school?

Aberdeen seems to be a poorly supported area when it comes to further education in the equine field (or I am just looking in the wrong places?).

What kind of jobs do you all do and do you enjoy them?

Also if anyone has any advice on what types of work I could look into getting into and what training I would need to do in order to do so.

Perhaps I could look at doing office work part time and equine work part time in order to maintain a decent wage?

Sorry - this is a totally random post, just need some advice
:confused:
 
I'm feeling the same as you. I work in the Co-Op and while it's probably my most enjoyable job (having worked in Poundland!!!) I am utterly miserable. I get paid just enough to afford Ned and a few treats for myself/him every month, but I would love to be in a better paid, more enjoyable job.

Will be following this thread with interest!
 
I can't give you much advice on courses etc but I'd advise you to think very carefully about whether you would enjoy horses as a hobby if they were also your job. A friend gave up a pretty good but boring job to work with horses (admittedly as a groom rather than gaining a qualification in an equine based profession) and she hated it. She was paid a pittance, had to work weekends so could rarely compete and was so fed up of horses by the end of the day, the last thing she wanted to do was ride hers. She also had much less so was always worrying about how she would pay vets bills etc. She lasted about 18 months and then found another office job that suited her better than the first one, went back to horses as a hobby and has never been happier.

I wouldn't advise anyone to stay in a job they hated, so I'd definitely say look for another one but think hard about whether one with horses is the right thing for you. There are lots of different options for careers with horses. I would guess from your current role that you may have a science background? If so, something like equine nutrition might be a thought as a combination of science and horses?

Whatever you decide, good luck with it.
 
I absolutely agree with annagain.
I know a police officer who transferred from the traffic division into the mounted branch and was thrilled. But after a few years decided that he no longer enjoyed his own horses, which lived at home, because it was too much like work. So he transferred out of the mounted branch again and all was well - his own horses are now part of his relaxation again.
Would you be happier working for a feed company, or as a vet receptionist, for example?
 
Yes of course you can, so young and all your days ahead of you. Try a few small things first, keeping the day job, then see where it gets you.

Working for yourself is HARD work especially at first, no salary being paid into your bank every month, no time off, but so worth it. If I was your age again I would do it as I waited much longer!

Today I have a very successful business (Westgate Labs) and also run a happy B&B (Middle Stobswood B&B), and although getting on a bit, have no intentions of retiring as I love my work.

Don't waste your life being trapped in a job you hate. Good luck!
 
Thanks annagain :) that is a good point, I might not enjoy my hobby if it becomes my job. My job is not science based (not that brainy) I do Project Admin. Equine nutrition is something that really interests me though, I was going to take part in that free online course just for a bit of fun and see how I get on.
 
obviously its your life and you want to be happy.

but being a horse owner and mother and having worked with horses, Id say stay where you are and enjoy the good Income.


If you do go ahead with it.
To get the best training and opportunities then be prepared to train.
Help for free.
 
You work in a good industry for earning potential. Personally I would learn all I could with the aim of becoming a consultant or freelance later which would give you much more freedom.

Another option as you are on good money for your age is to go part time or change your working hours. Since I have got a job working four days not five my work/life balance has improved no end
 
You have such a great wage for your age I would First see if you cut it down to half, or £18k max how you cope?
If you can't or don't want to then you have your answer as far as most horsey jobs are concerned
Also as others said working with horses often spoils the enjoyment!
I'm not saying stay there forever, there must be other jobs you can do without taking such a drastic cut and spoiling ur horse time

As for original question of what I do. I am a medic for events, mostly equine and yes I love it :) Even so I do get bored after 3 days of SJ !!
 
I used to work with horses and tbh at the end of the day I was knackerd so mine became a chore. A wake up call at docs re health an
 
Daft phone... And I went to work in an office. Job is crap but ok steady pay flexi and public hols make up for it and I have more time to enjoy neds
 
I am doing it!

I work in an office doing general administration and marketing and it bores me to tears. The only reason I do it is because it is 'safe and secure' as being out of work terrifies me.

I went for a polo lesson a few weeks ago and got chatting to the instructor. To cut a long story short, he offered me a job managing the yard and organising events for the academy. At first I thought it was ridiculous and I could never leave the safety of my (very) averagely paid job. But the more I thought about it, it seemed less and less ridiculous. After he agreed to match my current wage I realised there was absolutely no reason not to give it a go. After all, if it didn't work out in the long run it would open so many more doors for me. I do strongly believe everything happens for a reason.

So I start in a couple of weeks!
I will have the best of both worlds. I get to use my skills in marketing with the added benefit of having a hands on role in tournaments and events.

The only thing that is different between our situations is that your job is a lot better paid than mine is so I guess there is more of a risk involved. But there are so many different jobs around the equine world, not just being a groom or a stable hand etc.
Could you not look further into using the skills you have but find a job that is not necessarily hands on with the horses but still involved with the equine world? Perhaps working office based for an equine company, eg magazines, clubs, feed companies or retailing companies etc? As as I said, this may open new doors for you in the future.

We only have one life, and although we need to be sensible and keep ourselves comfortable with money, can you imagine looking back and thinking "what if?" Good luck :)
 
annagain said:
I can't give you much advice on courses etc but I'd advise you to think very carefully about whether you would enjoy horses as a hobby if they were also your job.
Click to expand...

This is why I decided I'd never work with horses.

Maybe look at what other jobs you could also do that aren't office-based, and not necessarily limit yourself to only considering equine-themed careers?
 
You all have good advice - I am not going to rush in to anything, just wanted to get some ideas and inspiration.

I like the idea of maybe doing office based work for an equine company. Also a good tip with not limiting myself to equine based work - I like being outdoors so I could look into other areas.

I am going to do some research and see what comes up.

Emma86 - that sounds amazing! I suppose in a way, it is not a good thing that I am paid so well because it makes other jobs with potential job satisfaction but MUCH lower wages seem impossible.

Damn the Oil Industry! ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top