6 months training = decent earning potential?

Posted 2nd Jan 2023

Hi,

Looks like my current job is at risk and am looking got a new career.

I've previously working in IT support over 10 years ago, but have a general interest in this area but IT support doesn't pay great money.

I'm quite practical and hands on, so would be willing to learn plumbing, electrics or something but ideally only have 6 months or so to do a crash course. Any recommendations? Ideally looking for a job at the end that will pay £35k after a year or 2 experience.

Any advice would be great.

Dan

52 Comments

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2nd Jan
I could write you a million words on this as it's something I decided to try and do just before the pandemic kicked in. I went back to uni, got a law degree (first class) and thought it would be the pathway to the sort of trajectory you describe in your OP, but it's been such a ridiculous slog. In fact, it's been such a slog that I'm returning to my old career just to bring in some income for the time being.

The issue is that there is so much unconscious and subconscious ageism in recruiting that it makes it so difficult to even get interviews for things that you know full well you're capable of performing and qualified for.

If you want guaranteed income, look towards the public sector or specific professions that outline their salaries up front. For example in the police you'd be on late-£20k's after a couple of years in the force.

The other alternative is a small business enterprise you can scale relatively easily up to £30k. My mate does handyman services including gardens and driveway pressure washing/cleaning. Nothing massively exciting but he does it well, is presentable and has been clever with his social media presence. He's generated a black book of contacts in about 18 months that pays him around £32k p/a with relatively low initial start up costs.
2nd Jan
There are a great many different jobs available in IT rather than just Support. I started as a mainframe programmer (showing my age now ), I've been an program analyst, systems analyst, systems manager, network manager, database administrator, software designer, business analyst, and a few more I've forgotten.
IT Support is a useful stepping stone into a more varied career in IT - don't be fixated in getting another Support job, have a look at other IT roles & see if you can use your previous experience to meet (or almost meet) the requirements.
As with any job, the job advert describes the company's ideal candidate but companies hire the best person they can find for the job. For example, if the advert says '5 years experience in xxx required' they're not going to leave the post open if they can only find people with 3 years experience. So don't be afraid to apply for a job & say "I don't have xxx but I do have yyy which may not be the same but I can use the skills & knowledge I learnt in yyy". (edited)
2nd Jan
Also this ^

I apply for anything and everything when looking for a new job.

I went from IT support to IT manager as I fit the bill for what they were looking for.

I'm now a Deployment Specialist with zero specialism in what they deploy
2nd Jan
If you're willing to pay for a Injection Moulding tool setter course, you can get straight in at 35k. or many places will pay you to do the course if you're a decent operator (how I did it)

You will do loads of troubleshooting, working with interesting machines, using different materials, plumbing and you don't need a particularly high level of maths, as all you really need to calculate is the clamping pressure. (edited)
Anonymous User
2nd Jan
I took on an apprenticeship nearly 3 years ago, started at 13608 and now on 26k and started my second apprenticeship in the company. Maybe worth a look what’s on in your area
2nd Jan
Train driver.. only need 6 months to 1 year training with salaries £50-£60k.

Plus lots of holidays and free pass for relatives and various perks.
2nd Jan
in your dreams.
2nd Jan
You aren't going to become qualified as an electrician or plumber and earn a skilled wage after doing a six month crash course.
There are no short cuts to becoming a qualified tradesman, you need to complete a recognised apprenticeship..
2nd Jan
You can become a "qualified "electrician in weeks now

Took years when I was a lad....
2nd Jan
Gas safe engineer. You need someone to take you on as an apprentice after the training before you can be certified. My friend has an IT degree but he couldn't get a job in IT so he did this. No idea whether he has qualified as I have lost touch with him. I think he said he had to attend college for 3 months.

I have another friend, whose brother did this when covid came along and he was an airline pilot so he thought he should retrain. He is a qualified gas safe engineer now but he has gone back to flying now that international travels have resumed. (edited)
2nd Jan
Fake
2nd Jan
Solar installer, its the new double glazing!
3rd Jan
The way things are going, training to be a train driver might be a good idea. If people think 50k isn't enough to live on, they're welcome to do my job for less than 10k.
3rd Jan
It's all relative to your circumstances, £50k is certainly not enough for me to live on.

It is funny how the idea of salary is so skewed earlier on in your career (at least it was for me) and once you earn more and your outgoings increase in line, you realise the £ number in itself has very little relevance.
2nd Jan
As already mentioned:

Electrician - focus on EICR certs or EV charger installation
Heating engineer - focus on gas safety certs

I know of or have heard of individuals who specialise in just these areas and earn very good money.

However, as already stated, this isn't a six month pathway - you have to work at it.
2nd Jan
More importantly, what interests you and what do you enjoy doing?
2nd Jan
Driving instructor? You can do that in less than 6 months, assuming you can drive...
2nd Jan
Not quite sure why people are saying you can be a gas safe engineer or an electrician in 6 months.
3rd Jan
Google "intensive electricians course"
within a month (providing you have the requisite entry quals, which can be IT)
Or 3 months is more usual...
You get the papers to go work on site....
2nd Jan
I've worked in IT for 22yrs and it is good money if you are willing to keep changing jobs.

If you want to train for a trade then I'd go for electrician if you're interested in that sort of thing. Definte shortage down this neck of the woods (Cornwall) and since moving here have learnt a lot of stuff myself and I wasn't in any way shape or form a DIY'r
2nd Jan
What training do you need to become an IT support worker?

(Have an 18 year old currently doing A levels and will be looking for career options - she is worried that she may not do well in her exams so may need to look at alternative pathways to get onto this career path)
2nd Jan
Realistically none. Ideally be competent enough, a little bit IT savvy and willingness to learn on your own at work and/or out of work.

You can study to get certificates to show greater competence/knowledge that will help you to get a better paying job if you want to look for one every 2/3 years until you’re happy with what you have!

Also, look to pick up technologies that are in demand or will be in demand down the line.

Not to deter you or your girl but there are companies/positions that will not consider female candidates!
2nd Jan
IT support does not pay well especially given the amount of knowledge you are required to posses. I have seen a few friends move away from their own business of web design to become qualified electricians - working for the Housing Executive. Earning more than when they worked for themselves! Pluming, Car mechanic or electrician seem to pay a lot more than IT support.
2nd Jan
It support can pay well but you need to be on the bigger government contracts

But in modern terms support is ops add dev to that and you enter one of the most in demand areas at mo being devops (cyber security being the other big in growth area).
(edited)
2nd Jan
As the 1st poster on here! My friends that have gone in to IT and have taken the courses changed jobs are now doing very well, only thing is you enter that higher tax bracket!!!
2nd Jan
for the sceptics, you will be surprised how quickly you can qualify as a gas engineer.

skillstg.co.uk/blo…er/
3rd Jan
Only says from as little as 25 weeks.

Realistically if it were that easy then there wouldn’t be a shortage …..
3rd Jan
My wife works in IT support, but a specialist complex area.

She is one of the last men standing in the UK, with the majority of the people now based in India and Romania. As she is at the top of her grade (been with them 30+ years in various roles) she hasn't had a pay rise for 6 years, so is quite lagging behind, though the salary and benefits are pretty decent and a lot of her time is taken up in the training of the new recruits and she only takes the tough problems.
Author
3rd Jan
So from a bit more research I've found a path to working for local water company seems decent. £32k a year and they do training, not 100% on working conditions though.

Handyman sounds good.

IT job wise I'm trying to see if there are any cheap/quick courses to specialise in security as this seems a growth/demand area.

Driving jobs also appeal to me, is HGV driving lucrative anymore?
3rd Jan
If you like driving, you are better off driving for the supermarkets than hgv driving! I have a friend who has a valid current hgv licence and he actually works as a chef!
3rd Jan
A bit left field but what about buying in to a mobile cafe business, the type where you sell food & drink out of a van?

Obviously location is key, but if there's any opportunity in local trading estates you can do very well from day one.

A friend of mine was made redundant from a skilled trade and was doing very well from day one via this route. Food delivered every morning and sold with a decent mark up. I'm assuming being in support you are comfortable dealing with people!
4th Jan
IT Support wages vary considerably, especially depending on location.

I pay my guys from £25K to £41 (software support upto SQL support) and we are a low paying charity based in London.

But, in theory, you can be based anywhere as we only go into the office a few times a year. Not going in adds a pay boost due to lack of travel costs.

But if you're doing hardware support, you'd need to be in more.

Before jumping out of IT, I would ask if you enjoy the work. If you do, stick with it and see what else is available.

I didn't apply for my current job (paying £48K) - I updated my profile on LinkedIn and the recruiter DM'd me and went from there.

DM me if you want more advice, happy to help as I have got a great job now and learnt a lot about how LinkedIn and recruiters work recently.
Author
5th Jan
So I'm not actually working in IT now, I changed careers 13 years ago to a public sector role. I've kept my toe in the water of IT but I'm sure it's moved a long way since I left.
Author
5th Jan
Exactly! With some roles less is more.
Author
14th Jan
Anyone done a skills for life course? I'm starting to think something in cyber security might be a good niche?

skillsforlife.campaign.gov.uk/?ut…All