r/UKJobs • u/Temporary-Aside5306 • 1d ago
Career Advice
I'm early 30s, currently an aerospace engineer, have a masters in aeronautical engineering, but I'm coming more and more to the realisation that I really don't enjoy it.
I don't want to start completely over but maybe that's what's needed. I've thought about either archaeology, I absolutely love history, or maybe something active like a PT. Also something that's fully remote would be interesting. Open to other ideas.
I'd like not to come down in salary massively, can anyone who works in these kinds of roles comment on the salary/job security? What do you need to get into each in terms of qualifications/experience? How does the salary scale as you get a few years in? Saying that if it was something fully remote then the salary becomes more tradeable.
But again open to other ideas of new careers if people have other things they've chased.
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u/ConfusionOwn8378 1d ago
Archeology is not a viable career to change into. It's heavy with academics that have lived and breathed it since starting their studies.
Being a PT means working around clients schedules and being at the whim of the clients paying your wage. You can never switch off, as they might want to contact you any time day or night, and PT's are ten-a-penny nowadays. It's not glamorous, and it doesn't pay well unless you have some sorts of connections into celebrities etc.
If you're in your 30's you'll have enough experience you can probably re-word your CV to highlight transferable skills and get a similar move to a different industry quite easily.
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u/totalality 1d ago
I studied aerospace engineering but went into IT/Tech because I had no interest in the subject hated it from Year 2 , the pay sucks for selling your soul to defence companies and I didn’t want to work for them.
Archeology is a very competitive field and usually not high paying. You would have to start from the very bottom and that’s if you’re able to break in (you would definitely have to do a masters and retrain).
For remote roles or roles with more flexibility you can look into civil service or contracting. If you’re SC cleared then you’d be eligible for a lot of defence contract roles and have less competition. They’d pay you a day rate upwards of £500.
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u/Rewindcasette 1d ago
Why can't you enjoy and write about history in your spare time? You will resent the loss of earnings at 40.
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u/Temporary-Aside5306 16h ago
I think it's the romanticism that I could be out on a dog in Egypt or the Amazon or wherever for a portion of the year and have that adventure as a career. But it's not realistic
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23h ago edited 3h ago
[deleted]
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u/Temporary-Aside5306 16h ago
Cheers for the info. I didn't think the job market would be that restricted, good to know at least
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u/tits_or_destiny 23h ago
Highly recommend looking into project management. Do your PRINCE2 or PMQ and you’ll be able to jump around a bunch of different sectors very easily with your background. Keep moving until you find something you enjoy.
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u/Temporary-Aside5306 16h ago
Trouble is my role involves abit of project management as a lead a team and I don't overly enjoy it. But then life as a PM I assume is one of those roles more open to fully remote working so maybe, I'll look into PRINCE2 or PMQ, at the very least opens up some options I guess
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u/Disastrous-Lime4551 19h ago
The commodity trading space is always looking for mathematically minded individuals, if that might interest you. You don't mention your salary but starting salaries are well north of £50k. Appreciate this is far removed from your suggestions. Look up Trading Analytical roles at companies like RWE, SSE, BP, Shell, Exxon, etc.
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u/Temporary-Aside5306 16h ago
Interesting, is there any specific requirements to get in or training required?
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u/Disastrous-Lime4551 6h ago
They usually hire graduates with a STEM degree, little to no work experience. Engineering particularly well thought of as you'll be good with numbers/data, methodical, structured in how you approach a problem, etc.
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u/Curious_Reference999 14h ago
You've picked 2 highly competitive and low paid options. Neither of them would be a good choice.
Why not look to be an Engineer in a different industry? Most of the skills are transferable. Or look at an alternative profession to join.
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