After 15 years in IT I'm feeling a bit burned out. I'm finding it harder to keep up with all the new software and technology that's released all the time and just lost enthusiasm to constantly pursue new certifications so I can work on it all. I currently work around the corner from my local motorcycle shop and ended up having a chat with the manager one lunch time while having a look around. Got to talking about the bikes I've fixed up over the years and motorcycles in general and ended up being offered an adult apprenticeship at the dealership. This was a bit unexpected and I ended up turning down the offer at first but they came back and said they thought I'd be a really good fit on the team and would I reconsider. After a few sleepless nights and a lot of pros and cons I've decided to give it a go. Truthfully this is one of the scariest decisions I have made in my life. While I'm not really enjoying IT anymore I'm good at what I do and earning a decent salary and there's a lot worse things I could be doing. To throw away 15 years of experience in the industry was a hard decision. About three years ago I lost my dad really suddenly and unexpectedly to cancer. He was only 58 and just starting to semi-retire and enjoy life. After seeing how hard he worked just to have everything taken away in a couple of weeks I made a promise to myself that I would try to pursue more things in life that made me happy and take a few more risks as you never know when you'll lose it all. I'm not that old (34) but I guess I just wanted to say that it's never too late to pursue a passion. Take a risk, enjoy life.
Any career change can be scary but with your smarts you won't find it difficult. I suggest working on a sideline to boost your income and that will take away any pressure. Good luck.
Thanks guys. My wife has a decent job so while finances were a consideration I'm lucky that's one thing that's not stopping me from doing the apprenticeship. The dealership is looking after me as well and offered quite a decent salary for a first year apprentice. I'll mainly be working on Harleys and Polaris. They'll be sending me down to Sydney to do all the Harley certifications as well. Looking forward to it. The tax return this year will be going towards tools
Good for you Kirk.. you need to take some risks and as long as you are happy go for it... Life is too short not to enjoy what you do.... Plus... you can always fall back on the IT side even if it is by way of Part time working for yourself...
good to see you are thinking of yourself and what you want. life is a one chancer so enjoy what you do. best of luck.
I reckon at your age its really important to be enjoying going to work as your going to be doing it a long time into the future. Go for it. If you can also get some certification in electric vehicles/bikes,(as much as it pains me to say it), long time, continual employment is virtually guaranteed. I hope the TAFE will give you some competency based recognition of prior learning/experience.
Go for it, 34 is young, my dad decided to emigrate to Canada when he was 62 as he wasn't happy the management at his work. With a background in IT you'll be good for fault finding on the lovely new fuel injection systems and computer wizardry on new bikes
I'm a software developer, and I often think that a move into working on bikes in the future would be a good move to make!
As someone who has done / is doing this... find the right place to work - it makes all the difference
Thanks @Linkin I might hit you up if I have any questions. How far through the apprenticeship are you? I'm guessing from the comment you've experienced a few challenges? Are you still where you started your apprenticeship or have you moved somewhere else? Being an adult apprentice there's not many opportunities out there but once I finish or get a couple of years in I'm expecting it will be easier to move somewhere else if required. I've only briefly met the techs and service writer but they seem like they know what they're talking about and nice guys in general. The whole team is fairly small and I'll be getting a bit of experience working the retail side and in spare parts on Saturdays if I want to volunteer for the extra hours. The Harley crowd is a bit special but the dealership likes to keep their customers happy and when you're spending that much on a bike I can understand where they're coming from. Are you doing your apprenticeship through TAFE?
15 years in IT... Try 30+ years.. Total frustration in the end.. The only non-IT job I had was when I was coaching at the AIS in Canberra for several years. Loved it, best job ever, but the politics was insane. I've wanted to get out as well, but found that with being the major bread winner and a mortgage with 2 kids studying on-line at home, it just wasn't feasible to start all over again. The drop in finances just wasn't smart and really, too late in life - even when I was first looking at it 10+ years ago.... So I'm envious.. good luck with the change. That said - I got out of the area of IT I was in (support operations) and into Cyber Security. Which I'm very happy with and a great team as well to work with.
Money seems to be the biggest thing holding a lot of people back and I completely understand. This opportunity is only possible now because my wife went back to uni to pursue a career in something she really likes and has recently graduated and started work again so while I need to be making some sort of income we're not completely dependent on my wage. The fact that she wasn't happy with what she was doing and decided to go back to uni and re-skill was kind of an inspiration, if she could do it why can't I? If this was a year or two earlier I wouldn't have even considered it, having a mortgage and kids really locks down your lifestyle and you stop taking risks because other people depend on you. There's nothing wrong with this and it's what a normal, responsible adult should do. You still deserve happiness and in this situation it's important to have a hobby you enjoy or something else to distract from work, that's why we're on 2fiftycc.com Some of the other guys at work have had the same reaction and are saying they're really envious but while I am pursuing my passion at the end of the day it is just another job. I've been working long enough now to understand that there will be some really **** days along with the good no matter what job you do. It doesn't have to be a career change but I don't think it's ever too late to find something that will make you happy and help you enjoy life.
Totally agree. Which is why I took a sideways step, so that I didn't lose out financially, but am doing something different and no longer having to fix the problems. I just find them and pass the results on to those responsible for the fixing. Plus I got back into motorcycles again after 16 years of not owning a bike.. now that was the best thing I did... My wife and I call the bike our stress relief. We ride through to Gingers Ck and Wauchope pretty much every weekend. And now that both my sons have bought "project bikes"- I am helping them to get them running and they are enjoying the hands-on learning along the way. That said... I still buy the odd Lotto and Powerball ticket
I started an adult apprenticeship in motorcycle mechanics this year, too. And mine was offered to me, too, but we've been friends for years. Come to think of it, that's how I usually get a job: someone offers me a job. God is looking me! Good luck with the apprenticeship, Kirk.
