Did you study or skillup for some degree/workman skills but now working an entirely different field?

9 comments

1. Trained as a Arboriculturist but ended up fixing computers.

2. I studied history at uni and now work in retail. I don’t regret my degree; I took it out of pure interest. I knew I wasn’t going to gain much from it but they were the best years of my life

3. Except for a few specific professionals, first degrees are not really supposed to be career based.

   It is great if it does lead to a career, but for the people 18/19 wh9 go uni, first degrees are just places to mature and catch chlamydia.

4. I’m not quite in a different field yet, but I spent 8 years studying / qualifying as an architect. After a few years of debilitating chronic RSI from using a mouse / keyboard intensively, my career is pretty much untenable and so I’m looking for a way out – a little embarrassing after having spent such a long time studying & training!

5. 4 year mechanical apprenticeship + a few years as a tradesman, but have been self-employed in IT consultancy + graphic design / print for 28+ years.

   Did an HNC in Business Computing for the IT side, but only ‘cos the Local Enterprise Company said no one would take me seriously otherwise. Funnily enough, while I have been asked my qualifications, no-one’s been that bothered – it’s only come up in conversation as I was already working on their issues.

   The graphic design & print was learned just doing jobs as they came in, & adapting / learning new tricks online as needed.

6. I studied Film & TV Production at University.

   Im now an IT Consultant. Don’t ask me how.

7. Kind of. Went to university to become one thing, ended up working in a related but different job, later learned that my real interests lie in a third, different thing which is kind of related to the first but not enough to help me get a job doing it.

   In my case it would be useful to be able to go and study by what I’m interested in now. It’s exhausting trying to build a good enough portfolio and grow skills in an unrelated field when you’re working full time elsewhere and don’t feel like yourself 95% of the time. Plus I have no support from tutors, no fellows to discuss ideas with, no contacts with people in the industry and no formal learning path, all of which would actually be really nice right about now.

   If I could take a break for a year or two and work on development I think I’d nail it, but it’s just not possible. I can’t get another student loan and no way I can save up enough for a year or two of sabbatical when I’m also in need of my own pace to live.

8. Studied Geology, worked in IT for over 30 years.

   Geology = interesting hobby, shit job prospects!

9. It’s been 20 years since I studied Genetics – and 18 years since it was last useful for my job. Same with my Masters really – but it’s all been a stepping stone to where I am now.

   I don’t regret it at all as I like my job. My degrees are still useful for job hunting as they say “This person is a clever one, give him a chance’