Industries to be in

big fella · 09-07-2010, 12:48 AM

I've just been the victim of what I would call a hatchett job. My former employer would say it was a necessary action. The truth probably lays somewhere in between. The nett result, regardless your point of view, is that I find myself unemployed.

As well as being unemployed I am thoroughly disillusioned. The role I was in was managing a team of technical trainers in a private RTO (registered training organisation). I am a light vehicle motor mechanic, but the place I worked in was owned by the largest manufacturer of mining and civil construction equipment in the world, and focussed on mechanics and apprentices employed to work on those machines. The training industry as a whole, and automotive in particular, is quite incestuous. I am unlikely to be able to find an equivalent position at another provider.

The reason I was in training in the first place was due to repeated severe back injuries as a young tradesman that have left me with an arthritic spine. So although I have just turned 35, a return to the spanners is absolutely out of the question.

I'm not particularly attractive to the mining industry, because I don't have any mine experience or exposure to their software systems, and obviously can't go in as a mechanic. I'd go in as a machine operator, but again, I can't get looked at because I am not experienced and ticketed on the machines.

I guess I am looking for suggestions of industries that are emerging or growing, where application and endeavour will be rewarded, and where I may be able to apply my skills as a manager. I'm not a salesman. Selling for a living will see me poor and hungry very quickly.

Any suggestion, no matter how "left field" or "outside the square" it is will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

FreeTv · 09-07-2010, 02:11 AM

Mate I feel for you
I myself have been unemployed now for 4months after been made redundant from my last emplyor of 6years. After 22years working in the Telcommunications field I had now 5 redundancies due to contract changes etc and I've gota say its been the hardest now to get back into the workforce.

Let me get more into it in the morning, like you were prob been up until now checking Seek etc etc sending of resume after &$):ing cover letter after selling your sole just to get an interview with the actual clients arrrrrrhh these recruitment agencies are bloody HOPELESS

More to come, much more !

GTENVY · 09-07-2010, 03:08 AM

Sorry to hear of your predicament.

The reason for my reply to your post is this. I am currently employed as a fixed plant operator with one of the big two mining companies in Aus. Prior to this I worked for a federal government office for 3 years and prior to that one of the four big banks. Both of these jobs were in call centre type roles.

The point is, its not that you 'need' experience. The problem is where are you prepared to move to and there are some hard yards to be done, especially as a contractor as that's the easiest way into mining.

I wanted to get myself out of a financial disaster and had to move from Tassie to Karratha to earn the dollars. It is still a tough gig to get into and unless your looking at trainer/assessor or OHS positions (or you have an engineering degree) the remaining jobs are still very physical, even for machine operators - your still expected to assist with the tools and do high pressure wash down etc.

Other other thing I would consider is how your back would hold up in a machine for six hours straight, they aren't the kindest of things to our bodies. Constant vibration etc isn't that good for the spine.

Are you looking to move or do you really want to stay in Victoria???

Have you looked at govt jobs say in transport? Or dare I say it as a service advisor in a dealership, even spare parts interpreters?

Besides your trade quals do you have any other qualifications??

Probably doesn't help much so far but I had to start somewhere I guess.

FGII-XR6 · 09-07-2010, 10:18 AM

As mentioned above service advisor for a dealership is a good option or service manager seeing you have your trade and management experience. some larger dealerships also have a road tester who drives the cars to make sure they are repaired correctly and for fault diagnosis
also spare parts is an option, yes it is sales but you don't need to be a gun salesman to sell in a dealership as the customers need the product

Munch · 09-07-2010, 10:22 AM

not too late to head to uni... granted you will also need money to support yourself.

Mature age programs in Law, Health practices and Business aren't as difficult as you may think...

XYGTHO · 09-07-2010, 10:51 AM

First think when reading your description that pops to mind would be spare parts in a dealership, or as said management of say supercheap, autobarn etc. Maybe not as good of money though. Get a job at Rocket etc autoparts wholesaler? A local tafe or university teacher maybe?

ELGT4me · 09-07-2010, 11:03 AM

It is not impossible to gain entry into the "mining game" with a back injury, but they do have rather stringent tests for your medical. My last medical check, I thought I was in contention for a position on the Olympic Team!!!

pottery beige · 09-07-2010, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ELGT4me

It is not impossible to gain entry into the "mining game" with a back injury, but they do have rather stringent tests for your medical. My last medical check, I thought I was in contention for a position on the Olympic Team!!!

haha agree there most of them can be the quick tick and flick now get out you.. drug and alcohol screen is the main show stopper...

big fella · 09-07-2010, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munch

not too late to head to uni... granted you will also need money to support yourself.

Mature age programs in Law, Health practices and Business aren't as difficult as you may think...

It would be my dream to enter into a uni course. Unfortunately I inherited a substantial debt from my marriage, for which I have nothing to show, so I can't sell down and repay the debt. Therefore I need to earn to service the debt before I start to have any money of my own.

GT0132 · 09-07-2010, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munch

not too late to head to uni... granted you will also need money to support yourself.

Mature age programs in Law, Health practices and Business aren't as difficult as you may think...

yep, I did Commerce at uni at 32 years of age as a mature aged student. Worked full time while doing it. Best move I ever made.

The money you make will solve your debt problems.

Just takes motivation.

Franco Cozzo · 09-07-2010, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big fella

I've just been the victim of what I would call a hatchett job. My former employer would say it was a necessary action. The truth probably lays somewhere in between. The nett result, regardless your point of view, is that I find myself unemployed.

As well as being unemployed I am thoroughly disillusioned. The role I was in was managing a team of technical trainers in a private RTO (registered training organisation). I am a light vehicle motor mechanic, but the place I worked in was owned by the largest manufacturer of mining and civil construction equipment in the world, and focussed on mechanics and apprentices employed to work on those machines. The training industry as a whole, and automotive in particular, is quite incestuous. I am unlikely to be able to find an equivalent position at another provider.

The reason I was in training in the first place was due to repeated severe back injuries as a young tradesman that have left me with an arthritic spine. So although I have just turned 35, a return to the spanners is absolutely out of the question.

I'm not particularly attractive to the mining industry, because I don't have any mine experience or exposure to their software systems, and obviously can't go in as a mechanic. I'd go in as a machine operator, but again, I can't get looked at because I am not experienced and ticketed on the machines.

I guess I am looking for suggestions of industries that are emerging or growing, where application and endeavour will be rewarded, and where I may be able to apply my skills as a manager. I'm not a salesman. Selling for a living will see me poor and hungry very quickly.

Any suggestion, no matter how "left field" or "outside the square" it is will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Might not be interesting to you, but my dealership is looking for two mechanics at the moment?

If you are interested, PM me and I'll hit you up with the details.

EDIT: Just saw returning to spanners isn't an option, its not too bad at our dealership, we get a lot of just minor servicing.

b2tf · 09-07-2010, 06:59 PM

Your post actually scares me a little bit with your references to the training industry - I am about to move into it but the difference I have is that my employer is basically giving me an open licence to setup a dedicated in house training section that I will run for the entire company. Looking forward to it actually, will be a huge challenge but like you I want to get off the tools a little bit and move into some more challenging areas.

With your experience in a trade industry and also your training background have you considered something like Workcover? Their yearly intake is soonish from memory - second half of the year anyway, and from what I remember of the application process (I looked at it but the time wasn't right) if you can show experience in a certain field (in your case automotive and training) then you stand a fairly good chance. 8 weeks or so of training and then the possibility of up to 70k a year - again that's from what i vaguely remember.

I am in a trade industry (pest management) and while it is not the sort of thing I think anybody aspires to do (I certainly didnt, basically ended up in it by accident) it can be reasonably rewarding depending on what you specialise in. The downside is the labour can be intense and hard on you, and it does take a certain type of person to be comfortable climbing under houses with very little room to move around - and then take a hose containing 400L of chemical down with you, so it's worth considering that aspect of things if you do decide to go down that path. As I said above, I am lucky enough to be in a position where I can move into a role still in the industry and still working with the same company where I can hopefully make a bit of a difference to the industry as a whole, but i still find the day to day side of things pretty good. It'll just be better when I get to shove other people under houses

BA Baracus · 09-07-2010, 07:14 PM

May not be up your alley but I work in the printing and production mailing industry and service technicians are tied heavily into this field. I only throw it out there as mechanical know-how is needed however the work isn't physically heavy for a technician. There's also managerial roles directly in the industry overseeing machine operators and machinery repair/service on the fly if you were so inclined.

Franco Cozzo · 09-07-2010, 07:16 PM

What about being a TAFE teacher, in light automotive? They get paid a fair bit, a lot more than the people working in the trade haha.

big fella · 09-07-2010, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Damo

What about being a TAFE teacher, in light automotive? They get paid a fair bit, a lot more than the people working in the trade haha.

One of the biggest, if not the biggest, TAFE in the automotive sector of Melbourne has just had a large intake. I know because I lost a couple of my trainers to them. Unfotunatelty that process is now finished.

Mad Maxine · 09-07-2010, 07:44 PM

Hey Big Fella,
Have you considered being an Inspector for the Dept of Transport, or whoever certifies vehicles for registration in Vic (VicRoads?) Or even an RACV inspector for vehicles? Not as physical as regular mechanical work, and they will train you.... Just a thought.

Shazz

GTPete · 09-07-2010, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Maxine

Hey Big Fella,
Have you considered being an Inspector for the Dept of Transport, or whoever certifies vehicles for registration in Vic (VicRoads?) Or even an RACV inspector for vehicles? Not as physical as regular mechanical work, and they will train you.... Just a thought.

Shazz

Do you want security or are you able to back yourself into something new.
Stay in the trade or if job security is a priority, if not then you have a lot of options.

If you take a look back there has been a number of industries over the past 10 - 15 years that have been attractive for job seekers and owner operators, its a trend that will never stop.

Many years back it was telco, then mortgage broking / real estate, then insulation my pick now is solar power. Id have a good look at the solar industry if I was looking for good $$$.

You mentioned you cant sell but these days a lot of sales roles revolve around solution sales. As a motor mechanic you have probably developed a very practical approach to the way you work. Its a great trade for developing a practical view, this mindset allows you to easily break things down into smaller units but still see the larger picture.
This is a great leed in to solution sales. If you can take any subject that involves a steping process to gain an outcome and lay that process out logically to a client/customer then you can with a little confidence solution sell.
Salespeople are amongst the best paid in any profession and solution sales is about taking something complicated/multi layered and leading a prospect/customer thru the stepping process to a point where what you are offering just about sells itself.
If you have the confidence to run a workshop or manage a team of people you are allready in sales, you just dont know it.
So I wouldnt rule out solution sales as something you might be good at but have never tried. In sales you always have the option of moving to the latest trend industry, if you can sell with confidence, then you can sell just about anything.
As an ex motor mechanic with 15 years on the tools, It took me to long to realise Id rather be paid to think on my feet then work with my hands.
Keep an open mind, otherwise your reducing your opportunity to grow and develop a completely new skill set that can leed to a much better lifestyle.

big fella · 10-07-2010, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTPete

Do you want security or are you able to back yourself into something new.
Stay in the trade or if job security is a priority, if not then you have a lot of options.

If you take a look back there has been a number of industries over the past 10 - 15 years that have been attractive for job seekers and owner operators, its a trend that will never stop.

Many years back it was telco, then mortgage broking / real estate, then insulation my pick now is solar power. Id have a good look at the solar industry if I was looking for good $$$.

You mentioned you cant sell but these days a lot of sales roles revolve around solution sales. As a motor mechanic you have probably developed a very practical approach to the way you work. Its a great trade for developing a practical view, this mindset allows you to easily break things down into smaller units but still see the larger picture.
This is a great leed in to solution sales. If you can take any subject that involves a steping process to gain an outcome and lay that process out logically to a client/customer then you can with a little confidence solution sell.
Salespeople are amongst the best paid in any profession and solution sales is about taking something complicated/multi layered and leading a prospect/customer thru the stepping process to a point where what you are offering just about sells itself.
If you have the confidence to run a workshop or manage a team of people you are allready in sales, you just dont know it.
So I wouldnt rule out solution sales as something you might be good at but have never tried. In sales you always have the option of moving to the latest trend industry, if you can sell with confidence, then you can sell just about anything.
As an ex motor mechanic with 15 years on the tools, It took me to long to realise Id rather be paid to think on my feet then work with my hands.
Keep an open mind, otherwise your reducing your opportunity to grow and develop a completely new skill set that can leed to a much better lifestyle.

That's a refreshing way to look at things. Thanks

ELGT4me · 10-07-2010, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Maxine

Hey Big Fella,
Have you considered being an Inspector for the Dept of Transport, or whoever certifies vehicles for registration in Vic (VicRoads?) Or even an RACV inspector for vehicles? Not as physical as regular mechanical work, and they will train you.... Just a thought.

Shazz

Good point Shazz, with the influx of East Coasters (me) here, due to the mining boom, there is a shortage of vehicle inspectors, both light & heavy. Might be worth a thought Big Fella, also our premium training assessing is for mining tickets is usually done through the Cat Institute in WA. Think of Perth as 2 hours & twenty years behind the rest of Australia, & you should do alright!!!

V8 Man · 10-07-2010, 04:30 PM

I have a cousin who, after 12 years as an Auto Electrician, threw it in and took up a contract with one of the large firms contracting to various councils around Melbourne for garbage collection. He had to purchase his own truck (loan, etc.) but he hasn't looked back and now has 5 trucks and employs 4 other drivers (this has taken 8 years to build up to). It's very early starts (but early finishes too), only week days (no week ends), and pretty good money. It's left field, but hey, maybe it's an option?

||| · 10-07-2010, 05:28 PM

i read this today which may be of use to you. plenty of decent money to be had, but the trades are starting to fall behind by the looks of it.

http://resources.news.com.au/files/2...be-earning.pdf

XDOUBLEU · 10-07-2010, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by |||

i read this today which may be of use to you. plenty of decent money to be had, but the trades are starting to fall behind by the looks of it.

http://resources.news.com.au/files/2...be-earning.pdf

Dunno about those trade figures. Over here in WA anyway, you would have to double or triple some of them.

Franco Cozzo · 10-07-2010, 09:13 PM

Thought about entering into entry level IT job and working your way up? Do a Certificate IV at TAFE in IT and you should be able to land yourself a level 1 helpdesk job easily, then you can work your way up the ranks when you get the experience and certificates later on.

Jack91 · 10-07-2010, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Thought about entering into entry level IT job and working your way up? Do a Certificate IV at TAFE in IT and you should be able to land yourself a level 1 helpdesk job easily, then you can work your way up the ranks when you get the experience and certificates later on.

Are you sure about that? No disprespect to anyone but in my opinion the IT industry is wayyyy overstocked and wayyyy too many people doing it.

Franco Cozzo · 11-07-2010, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAVO_XR

Are you sure about that? No disprespect to anyone but in my opinion the IT industry is wayyyy overstocked and wayyyy too many people doing it.

Yes, but there is a shortage of GOOD and dedicated, "IT professionals". Plus having a spinal injury, its probably easier being in an office all day rather than out in the field like most trade jobs.

BPXR6T · 11-07-2010, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Yes, but there is a shortage of GOOD and dedicated, "IT professionals". Plus having a spinal injury, its probably easier being in an office all day rather than out in the field like most trade jobs.

IT industry is a good idea. Easy enough to get a good paying job on a help desk providing phone support. One of my friends was managing a help desk and earning good coin. Over $100K.

Envi XR8 · 11-07-2010, 12:31 AM

Hi mate, I'm very sorry to hear about your situation. Been there too and it is not nice.

Ever thought about looking at running a workshop for a locksmith? Being a mechanic, you will have the technical and problem-solving side of things sorted very quickly, and it is definitely a growth industry. People will always want security/locking stuff. I was a spare part interpreter for years then made the shift over to this industry. Best move/job I've ever made.
Hope this helps. Wishing you the very best of luck finding something quickly.
Cheers
Chris

mondeoxr5 · 11-07-2010, 11:59 AM

Yeah

I work in IT for one of the big minning companies and whilst there is a lot of people out there saying they work in it there is a shortage of good people, especially with server and network knowledge. The last few times my company hired for my role they got lots of applicants, but very few who would be considered anywhere near adequate skills wise.

And to get into the minning industry, you really have to be willing to do fifo or be in the towns themselves. To get my foot in the door, i moved to the north-west and picked up a job pretty quickly. Once in I have moved through multiple jobs within the company and ended up back in Perth. If you can get in and prove your worth, the company will support you.

290v · 11-07-2010, 12:51 PM

we have a mobile coffee van that comes to our work he must make about 10 - 15 coffees Per stop just at my work at $3.70 Per cup then he heads off to other factories in the area thinking about this he must make about $700 -$1000 Per week

big fella · 11-07-2010, 06:03 PM

Thank you all for the ideas. As far as mining goes, FIFO or relocation is not a problem. I've even applied for West African and Indonesian jobs, even one in Mongolia. The problem seems to be that to get a start in an entry level position job you have to be there on the spot. That means taking a leap of faith and taking off. I just don't have the cash to do that, especially if I strike out and need to get back.

The TAFE college I mentioned in an earlier post has readvertised for coordinators. I will apply for one of these positions, as well as some others locally, but I will also undertake some short courses to make myself more attractive in the near future.

I am also going to apply to VTAC for a University position for next year. If I can't secure a position before then, and I do get accepted into a course, then I will focus on study and hopefully be completed before I turn 40. That way I will still have 25 - 30 years to carve out a career.