Advice about Jobs and being a student... [Archive] - Performance Nova Group

krobinson

08-12-03, 04:35 PM

Hey Guy's..

I'm having an early life cricis..

I'm 20, 21 in May 2004. When i was 17 i got a job as a Trainee Computer Technician, Learned loads at it but left after 15 months because they wouldnt pay me more than ?110 a week and i just couldnt live on it. I then ended up in a Factory :( the money was much much better, but i had no life and hated every moment of it. I left the factory and got myself a Christmas job in Marks in spencer, in the hope that i will be kept on after Jan 4th when my contract ends. This is keeping me alive at the mo lol

My problem is, all my mates will be finished there degree next year, Other have completed there Apprentiship as plumbers etc. And then there's me, i have the Odd NVQ, and the experience, but i feel my life's going no where. I think about the future and i cant see me getting a decent job or being able to afford a house!

I need advice. I have a few options. I can go back to university as a mature student, not sure what i should study tho? I have a keen interest in car's, computers. So i was thinking engineering would be a good idea?

Other option would be an apprentiship. Droping down to really crap money, but worth it in the long run. Not sure what i'd do that in either? Plumbing? engineering? spark?

Basically i'm looking to see what you guy's have done, what path did you's take and where did it lead you? What are you working at now? and what advice would you give on what path i should take, given my situation?

Cheers guy's, hope you's can help!

Keith

Fester

08-12-03, 04:41 PM

I left school after 6th form got B C C D

went to sheffield hallam doing programming, proper hated it! Came back and actually got a job as a computer technician at my old school. In that tiem i reapplied to Lancaster Uni (home) for an IT & Media Comms course, which im in the second year of

You have to be careful with IT degrees, having been a technician youll know what the score is - the posts are continually moving. To cope with this IT degrees are usually either 100% specialised or in fact quite broad and general. Mine is the latter. Hopefully I can get it finished but you can never predict these things

The upshot is depending what you go into the degree seems to count as more of an aptitude thing, proving you can handle yourself at degree level, which probably doesnt count at first but my dad reckons it comes into play when youre like 30-35 and youve got it under your belt

the other option would be to go in at the deep end with current qualifications like MCSE, CCNA SOS ABC XYZ etc :lol:

Depends what you want to do really, it may seem like you have 'missed the boat' compared to your mates but a couple of years doing different things has at least given you an idea of what you like and dont like, whereas your mates will come out of uni and will probably have to spend a few years sussing this out for themselves

Dpnova

08-12-03, 04:50 PM

you could do an mcsa

krobinson

08-12-03, 04:50 PM

I'm doing my CCNA at the moment, But i've decided to quit the course because i cant seem to learn what i need to. There's even spelling mistakes and words missing from some of the questions in the exams which can be so disheartning when you think its supposed to be a professional exam! the practical side i find easy, but the written end is just soo hard to take in because there's alot you need to learn in such a short space of time!

Keith

dangermousegsi

08-12-03, 04:56 PM

dont give up yet mate things do turn round it just takes a bit of time.

the only qualifications i have are a handfull of gcse's an in my opion i aint doin to bad.

i did a nvq in plumbing but it didnt work out but i managed to keep my job as part of a maintainance crew at a hotel,after that i worked as a baggage handler, cleaned flats,worked for parcel force and then took up a job as a school caretaker.

I now do telesales(not double glazing) and am earning deacent money for once.

Try going to an agency tellin them what u can do an see were it takes you, u never know what they might find.

hope that helps.

?Marty?

08-12-03, 05:09 PM

IT is a very volatile industry. There are booms in certain sectors each year, when a lot of money can be made which causes more people training for those areas, and then they become saturated with people, whilst other areas struggle due to a shortage of skills.

And what about careers guidance at school!? HOW shit was that!? How can they expect you to know what you want to do at that age? And even if you do, the advoce they give you (in mine, and ALL thos i know) is just garbage. But then, why wouldn't it be? If you want something that's very ambitious, what the fuck would that career advice monkey would know?

Everyone is pushed towatrds academic achievement - and why wouldn't the government do it, with tuition fees and etc. People go to uni just for the sake of sayin they've been/got a degree, but half of degrees have no use whatsoever in the 'real world' and most training is best done 'on the job'.

Also, there is such a shortage in trade skills (plumbing, electricians etc) that those that are qualified and good at their jobs, can earn a lot. funnily enough, it's the 'underachievers'/those that never gave a shit in school, that are pushed into doing apprenticeships and etc, as they are seen as thingts only worthy of pursuit by people like that. But now, a lot of my mates who were like that, are earning MORE than those who excelled at academia and went on to get degrees and etc. Plastering is a good example, my mate earns around ?700 a week and doesn't work 'too much'.

First of all, don't worry about missing the boat.

There IS no job for life, and people who may seem secure can be made redundant, or find that their dream jobs are actually jobs that slowly kill them and they loathe them.

People change careers and have to re-train, start from scratch again.

So you are not alone/left behind and etc.

POSITIVE THINKING is the key. And also important if you want to get jobs, as if you cant convince yourself, how will you convice anyone else.

Everyone has a talent, something that they excell in, but it's finding out what it is that is the most difficult task.

Don't worry too much - work to live, don't live to work. But, on the other hand, things wont happen by themselves.

You need to:

1- work out what you want.
2 - work out how to get there.
3 - take positive steps to get there.

Have a look at jobs advertised on the internet, and see what experience/qualifications they are asking for to give you an idea, and to see what's interesting.

If you want to pursue further education, what about Open University? I allways thought it's crap and cheesy, BUT it is actually ranked in the TOP TEN of the best Universities in the UK.

It's easy to get disheartened these days, because of the instant gratification society that we live in. The media push the message of 'you want it and you want it now', and success is flaunted around and made to look easy, which makes young people disollusioned and either think that it's easy to get or think that they are worthless beacuse they havent got it. That's just all bullshit.

BUT, the best way to make A LOT of money, is to work for yourself. If you're good at something, why work for a wage doing that something for someone else, when you can do it yourself FOR yourself, anf keep all of the money.

Go pimp yourself. lol
Sorry, i'm kidding about that.

You can't run from who you are. We make choices, but destiny chooses us.

krobinson

08-12-03, 05:09 PM

i'm gonna see about booking myself in to see the careers advisor this week, maybe he/she can help!

Whats a good job to aim for at the moment?

krobinson

08-12-03, 05:22 PM

Some fantastic advise there marty, You've brought a smile to my face. For the past few years i always have a week or so every few months where i feel like this. And working in marks n spencer, haveing people constantly look down on you like your scum doesnt help!

I know i need to find something i want to do, but my main problem is i have too many interests. I'm a jack of all trades, master of none..

I can : troubleshoot pc's, servers, networks on a general level, but not "expert" level

I design and build websites quite well. Just not so sure on PHP/ASP etc

I not too bad at working on car's, i think i've done a good job of rebuilding mine twice now!

I can DJ, would love to persue this but havent the income to buy records and push myself out there and keep my car going at the same time.

The main thing that annoys me, is that I was the one who show'd my mates back when they were about 15, how to build websites, i got them into DJing and music, got them into car's etc. Now they all doing a degree in design, driving nice car's, and listening to the music i got them into, while i slowly waste away lol...

I guess i need to spend some time finding what i want to do. I like to get my hands dirty, so i think an aprentiship in plumbing, or with an engineering firm is where i'm swaying at the moment!

Keith

Will

08-12-03, 05:23 PM

my reply wont be as long as the others but will tell you where i am and what i do and why:

GCSE's
A Levels
Uni yr 1
Uni yr 2

NOW: Uni yr 3, working in an IT dept near Watford, earning good money as an undergrad and with the possiblitys to get taken on after i finish my degree, either way ill have a yr of experience and the money under my belt, but.......

did i have to fight for this job, YES! 250ppl apply, they picked 6 for interview

i was one, half hr interivew went well, asked back with one other guy for 2nd interview of 3 hrs, then offered the job, lucky? dont know dont care, im here now and have been since August.

Degrees with placement yrs are great, but not every1 gets a placement: 300 ppl in my year 62 got placements, nuff said.

IT is in decline after Sept 11th stilll, keep your chin up, uni or no uni, you will get there, talk to Breeny he bailed out of uni after 1 term and earns a good wage now and knows a lot more than me abt IT. Degree is a peice of paper, shows you got it, doesnt say your great at IT or whatever you did......

Good luck!!

Will

peester

08-12-03, 07:15 PM

take it from me; 23 in feb ; just start my first full time job. go to work. work youre way up. earn money, respect and have a life. at school its just too shite a life. only young once. no guarentees with getting good a job after higher education. no substitute for experience. all my mates at uni are/have left/leaving saying wished they just gone to work. only schooling ide do now is skilled work; plumbing? etc.. im gonna look at car body repair.

trickynova

08-12-03, 07:22 PM

u tried some1 like mclaren, coz its all cars and computers. my m8 was in da same sort of pickle.

srs1

08-12-03, 07:56 PM

i'd say you need to be proud of yourself first. if it weren't for you then your mates would be in the same boat.
i hate my job and have been doing it for nearly 10 years now.(that is sad before you say it) but i am happy. i go to work abuse people and corrupt there minds and leave with a smile. what more could you ask for.

i think if you were going to choose a profession then i'd say plumbing. the will and always will be needed. it's not like the trend can go out of fashion like some things.

blingmachine

08-12-03, 08:31 PM

elsey197

08-12-03, 10:12 PM

im currenty doing a masters in web design with a firm called uk it. once you complete the course they guarentee you a job of at least 20k a year within two months of completing the course or they refund all the course fees. the course takes on average 12- 24 weeks pending on how many days a week you do. If your good with computers then it would be worth looking into this company as they also offer technician cources, PM me if you want to know more

i went for an interview with this company, it sounded really good just didn't like the fact that you had to pay out all that money (like 8k) while you trained with them and are not getting payed :?

adam2472

08-12-03, 10:19 PM

blingmachine

08-12-03, 10:44 PM

olly55

08-12-03, 10:51 PM

keith marty id right u gotta respect urself and hold your head up high, coz as he sed u cant change who you are really, jus sit down and write all ur options down then see if any can connectwith each other and see wat carrer you could get fromthr two if u get me?

im in muc hthe same psotiton as you, i got all gcses c -b went and di a 2 year bnd in graphic design - loved it
went on and did 1st year at uni in graphics and hated it the ywudnt letu worked how u wished and in the end i got fukd off and left it at the year.

i wish id gone back coz it was only 2 more yrs and wud prob lead toa good carrer, but i was too late.

now i cant decide watto do iv jsu been made redunant so im feelin fukking shite at the mo too but i gotta get me head sorted lol

im still into design and wud love a job in it coz i cant help but think long term coz i got so many wants etc and see the way thingsr going for my parents and m8s parents i wann a b different,

but i aint got a clue on where to go into design from here, certainly they want a degree or expericne and i havnt got either really jus a 2 yr portfolio from thr bnd which is quite good but not good enuff,

im stuck, my idea ljob wud be car bodywork working at a bodyshop modding cars but again thinking longterm the money cant progress unless u own ur own business and theres umthin in my head bout bein a bod i na suit driving a new m3 (lol) which cud be possible if i ws in graphics but overall cars has slightly not much but slightly taken over my idea of my fave job other than graphic design,

i so kno how u feel m8 its wank but no point sitting ina lull liek i have been u gotta try n take charge.

elgan

08-12-03, 11:42 PM

if your into cars, look into the valeting business?

could try set up a mobile thing in your own area? the tools arent that specialist, its possible to do it mobile? you get a good name for yourself and you'll be laffing. my mate hit it off big style as a window cleaner, there wasnt a good one available in the area, gap in the market, bang, made him a good living.

dave.gsi

08-12-03, 11:53 PM

well i did well in my gcse's and got enough A-levels to send me off to university.

i worked hard at uni and ended up with a 2:1 BSc honours degree in design technology.

however im still no closer to finding a good job and am working as a christmas temp in JJB but the boss has allready decided to keep me on permantly untill i sort something out. (money coming in is the main thing at the mo).

have applied to join the police force but three months down the line i have still heard nothing from them :(

plus i now have ?15,000 debt from uni. :roll:

Neil.

09-12-03, 12:14 AM

I left 6th form after 6 months with 2 C's in science and a C in Woodwork thingy, re-sat engine and maths a still got D's, been working since, now get ?200ish a week and spending it on my car, its ok, just like working and earning money at the mo, not really looking to settle down. had loads of jobs doing different things and got experience in things, i think experience can help just as well as qualifications.

?Marty?

09-12-03, 12:15 AM

Talk to Connexions. They may prove to be a waste of time, but then it may help you out. There's nothing to lose.

Also, for those that want to be in web-design/graphics and etc - a degree is good as it shows you understand the techinal/theory aspects, BUT is not really necessary to be able to work in those fields. Like i said, why work for someone else when you can do it yourself.

Talk to your local business enterprise about starting your own business. Also, if you're under 30 you may qualify for a grant from the Princes Trusts for starting your own business. Try freelance work, and if you're any good, work will pick up gradualy.
It may not be enough to earn a living, or you may earn a fortune (there's a guy that was a teacher in my school who started his own web-design company and is now a millionaire! The local paper did an article on it and etc). Or that could be a way to get a job where you can still do that AND get a regular wage, as you'd build up a portfolio which could get you a job with a large agency.

The people pushing for degrees and qualifications, are usually not the people that hire. If you have enough talent to make websites, or whatever it is you want to do, you may be able to get a job with a company based on your ability (demonstrated through a portfolio) and then they would send you on courses which could lead to you getting the degree through working for them.

Most of the money in web-design has already been made, you should really have got into it 4 years ago.

Now the market is saturated with companies and freelances - just about anyone that has a computer and is able to make websites - is already on the bandwagon. All those that worked for companies and built up client bases, have left and continued working freelance, taking the contacts with them. It's like hairdressing - people go to see THEIR hairdresser, rather than their business of work. If that person goes to work in a shop accross the road, they will then go there. It's to do with building and maintaining a reputation.

All the major companies already have websites, and will usually only go to the people that did them in the first place for re-designs/updates and etc. It is true that there will allways be demand for it - every new business will end up having to start with having a presence on the internet, but they will not have much money to spend.

Also, with development in 'template' based webdesign, it wont be long before webdesigners will almost become 'obsolete' as it will be possible to 'make your own' websites that function, are professional looking and still have a lot of individuality.

But then, if you only look at things in the 'there's no point, it wont work....' way you will get nowhere.

What do you want from a job?

Money? Self-respect? Respect and admiration from others (social status)? Do you want an office/desk job, or to work outdoors? Do you like solving problems logically, or do you like creative solutions and an outlet for your creativity? Do you want variety, or do you prefer autonomity?

Dont just look at job titles.

Anyway, if you feel down get a copy of ''Think Positive'' (track 14 on the Streets album).

blingmachine

09-12-03, 01:20 AM

Anyway, if you feel down get a copy of ''Think Positive'' (track 14 on the Streets album).

I believe that track is called "Stay Positive"

but feel free to think positive :lol:

mikeyredtop

09-12-03, 01:42 AM

novashed

09-12-03, 12:46 PM

just to add, i did shit in my a-levels becasue i was just earning money for my motor, i panicked as i wanted to go to uni. in the end i bucked my ideas and found out what i could do. i got offered an HND in countryside management totally new to me but i though what have i got to lose because as it goes a 1 year top-up degree is available in environmental management (tree hugger), 1 year degree sounded good which where im at now. didn't think id be doing a degree after i got my results but with a bit of effort to find help you can better yourself!

olly55

09-12-03, 01:24 PM

happiness is prob the main thing,

but not the only thing keith me and sum others in thsi situation r looking for,

money and social stautus plays a huge part in it too, thats y im reluctant to get into working at a bodyshop becuae unless u own ur own buisness i fail to see how it can earn u a massiv amount or gt deal of money,

my heart is still in gaphics but not sure weather to go bk and try to start the 3 yr uni course in september and have 3 yrs of part tyme work etc bein jealous of all my m8s or try to find sumthing permannt now? graphics at the mo seems abit far fetchd as my portfoli is that of a bnd and not a degree level as i left afterthe 1st yr,

hardest thing for me is finindg a job that ill be happy with earns good money in long run and gives me a good social status, and findin a balbnce btween the two!

sum may say that social stautus is bollox butit plays a big part i dont kno y prob coz alot of my m8s drive big expensiv motors even now at 19/20, mind u they dnt have to work but still gets me jealous,

also my sister being a criminal phycologist and em other sis not working coz me bro in law has his own jap tuning business and they r sorted living in mauritous n that seems liek a compotiton really

krobinson

09-12-03, 04:47 PM

Kieth

CCNA, do u mean the cisco course's? im ding the java course atm and finding the exact problem about how the questions are phrased.

I duno wat the age groups is but can u talk to 'connexions' i think it is. they will keep you posted of jobs that are of interest to you.

ive got a modern apperticeship in IT - Software Development. my tutor at college told me about it so i was quite luky. first job i applied for wen i left college.

Yeah mate, doing the cisco course.. Got an email from them today saying there trying to sort out all the problems and complaints from students. I'm quitting it this week cos i dont need the hastle with spelling mistakes, as i have a form of dislexia that means its harder for me to understand written language and this just adds to the problem!

Keith

krobinson

09-12-03, 05:00 PM

Just like to say thanks to everyone for there much appreciated support. I'm seriously concidering the business idea. A few mates had a Valet service going for just over a year, and they were making a fortune at it. But one of the guy's mum had a bad car accident and he had to close the place to look after his brother while his mums in acoma..

So there kinda is a gap in the market. I could maybe test the water by asking local garages if they would like a Valet service, and wot prices would interest them...

I'm a bit of a coward when it comes to doing something like this.. but it could be an option!

Keith

Ste_Nova

09-12-03, 05:21 PM

Kieth

CCNA, do u mean the cisco course's? im ding the java course atm and finding the exact problem about how the questions are phrased.

yup ccna is cisco... i've got mine but they are gonna be worthless soon... my local college is chucking in the ccna with the gnvq advanced computing course!!!

in the new year i will have 10 years of hands on it/network experence :D and for fun i've got every job i've ever applyed for :lol:

Barn

09-12-03, 05:23 PM

i left school in and went and did a diploma in motor vehicle engineering in manchester, got me straight into swansea uni doing motorsport engineering, it was a 3 yr course and after one term didnt like it, neither did half the class, so most of us dropped onto the hnd in motorsport which was much more praticle and kept me intrested. after half a year i was told there was a position as a technician in a local american car dealers, (bauer millits). good money!
i went for the interview and got the job!
so i left uni and started work, i loved it working on all the classy corvette c5's, tvr's, hummers, f150 lightening's, a new viper! and now we do morgans..its mainly servicing, auto gearbox's as the're made of cheese and preping for sva tests..

i was working there for a few months when i had a sore chest, it was really painfull and i was on morphine.
the pain was a cancerus tumur on my rib, this was all back in april and have had 2 op's to remove it.
today i'm finishing off my treatment and feel fine to work in the new year i reckon.

this is all at 21, it doesnt matter what u do as long as your happy and mainly heathy it doesnt matter.

mike :D
tidy mate. thats what I'm looking to do now (HND or degree in motorsport). sounds like u got a good job there too mate. good to hear you are on the mend too!

I did AS levels last year and found them so boring it was unbelievable so I thought fcuk this, I'll do something that I find interesting and something I know I will enjoy. so I'm now doing a BND in motor vehicle tech.

apart from the fact that I'm a bit behind on assignments, I'm happy as Larry with my choice.

keith, hope everything works out mate.

all the best

Barney

Stuart

09-12-03, 05:36 PM

i skived off uni for a year, messing about on a farm (was a great laugh)

then went to uni (Automotive Electronics Engineering, fucking about with cars and programming lol). it wasnt as good as the prospectus said.

anyway got a 2:2 and ive been job hunting for 6-8months, my degree is worthless as i have no experience (so to speak) but im passing the time by messing about in an electronics factory doing test work (gets a good response on a CV lol)

basically there is no right qualification/experience level, but the more the merrier, although i have been turned down for being too qualified to dyno engines (wankers).

Its swings and roundabouts really, if you go to uni you will be flat out skint, no lies or bullshit. but you will have a good laugh etc bah blah. I'd say write your CV, prehaps email it to some of us on here, eg Alex, prehaps Marty, Me etc and see what we think.

But its down to your own self confidence mate. look at all the jobsites etc out there, see one you fancy, apply or if youve not got exactly what they are after, get what you need to do it :)

chin up buddy, your not the only one that feels like that

benji

09-12-03, 07:43 PM

if you decide to go into electrics or plumbing you have to stick at it.
the pay is crap to start with but it will get better at the end of you training.
once you are qualified the money can range from a average of ?300pw up to ?1000pw depending on what hours you want to work and how much over time you are willing to put in.
you will always be able to find work, so if you get the sack or fancy a change of scenery it will be no problem.

what ever you do make sure you want to do it, otherwise you will get fed-up again.

good luck.

Ben.

?Marty?

10-12-03, 02:27 AM

Yeah, that's just it, you have to set yourself an objective and STICK to it.

ALLWAYS aim to be the best at whatever you choose to do. You may not allways, if ever, get there, BUT if you allways aim for the top, you wont go far wrong in life.

Also, when you're starting out (whether for the first time, or as a change) be prepared to get a shitty wage for a while and be the 'tea boy' and etc. At least it'll get your foot in the door, and then you can work your way up the ladder.

One of my mates left school with just enough gcse's to scrape into college, from which he dropped out. He then ended up working full-time in a nightclub collecting glasses. Then got promoted to bar-supervisor, etc. He's been doing this for 5 years now, but he's now worked his way up to assistant manager of a really big club (that's owned by the same company that owned the little shitty one). He now has a house, earns very good money and etc, whilst not long ago people were laughing at him.

Another one of my mates did 'ok' at a'levels, then went on to uni and dropped out after 1.5 years with debt and etc. This was two years ago. Now he lives in Los Angeles, has an american bird there, an apartment, cushy job and etc.

Oh and yeah, the song is stay positive. lol

Oh and i also wanted to add that, despite a lot of my 'stupid' posts, i am not as stupid as people might think, and can and DO have intelligent and mature things to say on matters i find interesting.

But i do like talking about piss and shit and stuff too. lol

masterclarkson

14-12-03, 12:00 PM

I woulnt bother with uni mate. I graduated with a 2.1 in maths/finance last year and am still struggling to find a decent job. Im also in debt. If your into computers, go into I.T as no-one cares about a-levels etc, just what you know and getting experience and studying for I.T qualifications in the long run. My bro dropped out of school at 16 and went into I.T and he can earn ?25k easily now and up to ?40k if he's contracting.

If you study for a qualification and your good you could be on ?100k in 5-6 years! This is because some managers/companies know nothing about computers, and so pay good money to those who do.

The other option is Sales as qualifications mean nothing but, again ,if your good you can earn as much as ?100k 3-4 years down the line if you keep moving to better companies and have a good reputation.

Hope this is useful

Dont worry anyway, i'm 23 and a graduate and havent sorted thing out

:wink:

epo

14-12-03, 12:52 PM

if ur thinkin of becomin a spark mate then the money aint 2 bad 2 start off with as ur a little bit older and suposedly more mature then a 16 year old

i started when i was 16 on ?1.68 an hour as a spark left there tried a- levels flunked em
went back 2 be a spark went round a few companies now i am settled qualified and enjoyin it we have a few mature apprentices and there on gud money mainly cos i have a fair gaffer ( i know there not all the same)

the only draw back 2 being in my sort of trade is you can get periods of no work and lay off start but this company am with now hardly have em due 2 the fact we re-wire dfs stores all over the contry and maybe soon all over europe

i do wish id gone in2 motor viechal(spellin) but thats cos of my love of cars
but i shall be trainin 2 be a mechanic soon as well as havin my electrics 2 fall back on
if u want any info on being and installation electrician send us a pm and ill be happy 2 help all i can (for a small charge :lol: )

Kruger

14-12-03, 01:32 PM

Seem to see a few people wanting to go into body repair, WHY?
I did my A levels but got shit grades and thought I'm into cars and am quite practical I'll go into bodyrepair..
I did 3 years with a Porsche bodyshop and a couple of years at BMW, with day release at college, About 22 started the course and only 4/5 of us finished the 3 years,

Everyone else realised the money's crap early on, and you can earn more labouring/plastering/plumbing/bricklaying etc.

Every guy I ever worked with was allways telling me and other apprentices to "get out the trade, while your young" "the motor trades dead" etc, The misconception I had was I'll enjoy working in a bodyshop fixing/modding cars, I did at first but began to hate cars once the novelty had worn off, (about a year) and most cars worked on are nothing interesting, will be run of the mill vectra's and corsas etc even a porsche is just a porsche after a while, and 95% of their owners are c.ocks.

Then I realsied I'm working in a freezing workshop on a car dripping in mud/sh it/frost, and then going home covered in shit, nose blocked up with filler dust, hands shredded etc and a guaranteed knee cartilage op before you're 40!,

Theres oppurtunities to start your own business, but of all the local "modding" bodyshops that I've seen set up off the back of combat kitted corsas I dont think any of them are still going, as good bodyshops need bread and butter contracts to tick over and cannot rely on just combat kits and flush boots to survive.

Glad I got out, and went back to school, completed a foundation year (Almost 3 A levels in a year) at Leeds Uni and am now doing Enviro Science/Atmospheric Chemistry and only go back to my old job now during holidays for some extra cash.
I'm 24 and think I made a good choice going to uni later, I miss the money compared to what I live on now, but I've still got 2 novas, and a valver engine in the garage- so its all gonna be good in a couple of weeks when I fit that!! , working in a bodyshop has taught me alot though even if its just theres more money to be made elsewhere.

Kev