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[CptDoom]

I am currently working as a welder. About to become a supervisor and will earn a lot of money further down the line as i work for my girlfriends dad and have been for years.

Question is, i know id like to do something IT related maybe even graphics as i am quite artyfarty (do a bit of signwriting here and there for several clients) but i have no clue what i should do. Its being paid for by my immense uncle so id be stupid to pass up on it even tho i dont really have the time (18 hrs overtime at work for the next couple of years).

Other issues, I cant travel far and the local colleges dont seem to offer anything that interest me in the evening so im being tempted by home learning.

So what do i do? Any suggestions would be welcome, something that would give me an opening into something profitable is probably the main thing but to enjoy it aswell would certainly mean a higher chance of actually finishing it, something ive tried up till now to no avail. Older and wiser now tho and id love to give it another go considering its free.

 

[SilverHood]

heh, my dad used to be a welder... then he did an art course... now he's working in IT



But ask your college first.... they probably have a wide viarity of courses, and dont advertise them all

Or you could always try one of those online courses?

 

[CptDoom]

Heh, thats pretty cool, out of interest, what is he doing now?

 

[SilverHood]

he's senior customer support / mr knowledge for a major UK webhosting company

 

[CptDoom]

There is hope yet!

I am seriously considering just staying where i am as the oportunities are massive (even tho its just production at the end of the day) but i dont think in 5 years time ill be as optimistic.

 

[SilverHood]

well, the shipyard he worked at went bust, so there wasn't really any opertunities there (8,000 welders looking for jobs... not gonna happen)

But I assume there's gonna be a point where you jsut get bored of welding, and want to try something new (and easier!)

my dad hasn't been welding for 7 years, and he still has the tan around his neck

 

[CptDoom]

Well im a TIG welder and can testify about the 'tan lines'. The stuff i do is really complex and very skilled, and actually quite good because each bit of work is a challenge but its not challenging on the brain front, and i do believe my head needs a decent course to keep it fresh.

LearnDirect seems to have a lot of stuff but i am so unclued about what the different qualifications are so stupidly i am looking at the most expensive

 

[Testin da Cable]

ooh good idea though, as said I'd advise talking your college (and as many other people as you can) about it before committing.

 

[Tilda]

This could be rubbish, but i'm sure that I read somewhere, if you wanted to do a course in something, you could get some sort of government grant to help cover costs.

Tilda

 

[CptDoom]

Well i wont find out till friday probably but yes college is my next step. Help with paying for courses even tho i am 25 and in full time employment?

Do elaborate

 

[mank!]

Originally posted by Tilda
This could be rubbish, but i'm sure that I read somewhere, if you wanted to do a course in something, you could get some sort of government grant to help cover costs.

Tilda

It's only for income support, i.e. single mothers putting their kids through school/college or if you've got a disability or some sort which prevents you from working.

 

[SoWat]

You could always go for a student loan

It's a fair commitment though, so make sure you get plenty of advice beforehand.

 

[CptDoom]

sowat, if my credit rating hadnt gone to pot, thats an option id consider. As i said, my uncle has offered to pay for more or less any course so its just a matter of finding one that i want to do.

I think i still owe a cdl somewhere down the line anyway