Changing Direction

SLC22 · Jul 27, 2023

Over the last 6 months to a year I have started to become quite despondent towards farming and am not enjoying the lifestyle and pressures that come with it. I am in my late 20s and have been working/managing the family farm for the last 7 years but now feel that I need a break from the agricultural industry, as well as having independence from my family. Farming was all I ever envisioned doing, so now I feel trapped in this industry as I have no qualifications or experience to move into anything else. Has anybody else been through this or have any advice?
Any help appreciated.

fgc325j · Jul 27, 2023

SLC22 said:
Over the last 6 months to a year I have started to become quite despondent towards farming and am not enjoying the lifestyle and pressures that come with it. I am in my late 20s and have been working/managing the family farm for the last 7 years but now feel that I need a break from the agricultural industry, as well as having independence from my family. Farming was all I ever envisioned doing, so now I feel trapped in this industry as I have no qualifications or experience to move into anything else. Has anybody else been through this or have any advice?
Any help appreciated.

No qualifications ? - if you want to work outside farming then you will have to get some qualifications. Had a property renovated approx. 8 years ago, and the builder stated that if someone wanted a job pushing a wheelbarrow around the site, he would have to attend a 2 day course before getting a job.

Bald Rick · Jul 27, 2023

In your late 20s, it’s never too late to retrain in something that actually you are interested in.
For example, if your in to spannering train up as a mobile mechanic. You‘ll never be out of work and have a diversity of jobs to keep you interested.

Alternatively, look at doing a college course again of interest to you. Even Open University so you can take your time

The world really is your lobster

Still Farming · Jul 27, 2023

Late 20's thought was going to be late 50's !

David. · Jul 27, 2023

If you are unhappy, get out and do something else. If you are a partner, that will look different than if you are working on the promise of it all being yours one day.
My late 20s were a pretty miserable time, and I was a partner in the business, albeit partner with no discretion to drive the business nor meaningful access to the cheque-book.
Problem is often that one has actually never left home and become an independent person; then even in your 40s, some parents seem to think it is okay to treat you like you are still a child.
Young people should never be allowed to come back to the home farm until they have both travelled, and held down a proper job, any job, elsewhere.

teslacoils · Jul 27, 2023

Just get a new job, or go back to school. Or move overseas.

crashbox · Jul 27, 2023

SLC22 said:
Over the last 6 months to a year I have started to become quite despondent towards farming and am not enjoying the lifestyle and pressures that come with it. I am in my late 20s and have been working/managing the family farm for the last 7 years but now feel that I need a break from the agricultural industry, as well as having independence from my family. Farming was all I ever envisioned doing, so now I feel trapped in this industry as I have no qualifications or experience to move into anything else. Has anybody else been through this or have any advice?
Any help appreciated.

Get yourself over to Australia or New Zealand for our Winter a.k.a. their Summer (you'll pick up any job you want, be it construction, arable, dairy, vineyard, something else). A lot of jobs with accommodation, esp. in ag.

You'll get cash in your pocket and a whole new perspective. It might change your life.

Farfrae · Jul 27, 2023

SLC22 said:
Over the last 6 months to a year I have started to become quite despondent towards farming and am not enjoying the lifestyle and pressures that come with it. I am in my late 20s and have been working/managing the family farm for the last 7 years but now feel that I need a break from the agricultural industry, as well as having independence from my family. Farming was all I ever envisioned doing, so now I feel trapped in this industry as I have no qualifications or experience to move into anything else. Has anybody else been through this or have any advice?
Any help appreciated.

Oh Lordy, have I just.

I left school at 16 in the early 1970s and was expected, as an only child, to take over the large and profitable arable farm in Shropshire. After a few years I knew in my heart that I didn't want to do it. I left when I was about 22, with much bitterness from my farther, and moved to Liverpool to live with my girlfriend who was at Liverpool uni. I had no money and no qualifications other than O levels.

I got various jobs to survive, (including being Liverpool City Dog Warden) went to night school to get A levels, went to Uni myself and established my own career. I was never really reconciled with my father who then sold the farm.

Now at nearly 70 I am retired but live on a 50 acre smallholding (ironical i suppose) that we have bought ourselves and I have raised a family and travelled widely, was my own man and am still married to that same girlfriend who is my rock.

I can't tell you what to do but my life demonstrates that anything is possible. Life is too short to have regrets. Most farmer's son's have all the practical skills necessary to survive in the big wide world they just don't have the necessary academic qualifications for another career, but it's never too old to do so. I'm just not sure that 'night schools' still exist.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

teslacoils · Jul 27, 2023

Having recently written my CV for the first time since leaving school 21 years ago, I was concerned that all that self employment would look.....crap. First draft did, but actually youll be suprised how many skills you have picked up and how they are in demand. Probably less so in the UK. But unless you are one of those weird sorts who still does the weekly shop with your mum / has to phone them every day etc then first thing id do would be hunt around for a job overseas.

colhonk · Jul 27, 2023

Get a job as bank ceo, seems no qualifications needed.

som farmer · Jul 27, 2023

colhonk said:
Get a job as bank ceo, seems no qualifications needed.

and you still get paid, when you feck it up.

Derrick Hughes · Jul 27, 2023

I would think if you want ti work that's the only qualification you need

Scots_Knight · Jul 27, 2023

I've just copied this from our local college just as an example, perhaps if you've a local college you could go and have a chat with someone.

Brickwork - North East Scotland College

A detailed introduction to fundamental brickwork techniques.

www.nescol.ac.uk

It really depends where your interest lie, practical or paperwork.

I had a short period of working with an electrician in my twenties, it didn't quite work out but I was glad I tried it.

Working on the family farm can be hard, when it's a normal job you just put in your hrs and get paid.

From what I hear getting people to work is difficult, apparently in the oil industry up here country folks like you are quite preferred.

You probably have loads of skills and some great experience if you've been involved in managing the farm.

Good luck

Lexion1000 · Jul 27, 2023

SLC22 said:
Over the last 6 months to a year I have started to become quite despondent towards farming and am not enjoying the lifestyle and pressures that come with it. I am in my late 20s and have been working/managing the family farm for the last 7 years but now feel that I need a break from the agricultural industry, as well as having independence from my family. Farming was all I ever envisioned doing, so now I feel trapped in this industry as I have no qualifications or experience to move into anything else. Has anybody else been through this or have any advice?
Any help appreciated.

As far as I’m concerned, a ‘can do’ attitude and willingness to learn are far more important than qualifications. And don’t underestimate the experiences you have learnt through farming, it is a varied industry and you might be surprised at where what you’ve learnt could be applied. So on that basis the world is wide open to you!

Swarfmonkey · Jul 27, 2023

SLC22 said:
Farming was all I ever envisioned doing, so now I feel trapped in this industry as I have no qualifications or experience to move into anything else.

If you sit down and write a skills-based CV as opposed to a traditional CV you'll most likely surprise yourself as to just how many different things you have experience with, and i'd be willing to bet that a fair few of them are transferable to other sectors.

Muddyroads · Jul 27, 2023

I did a small job in the cafe where our farm shop is based last weekend, can’t even remember what it was. One of the staff was really surprised that I’d done it, but another said to her “but he’s a farmer, they can do anything“. You’ll surprise yourself if you list the various things that you can do. Even qualification’s like driving licenses, chainsaw tickets etc. have a value.

kiwi pom · Jul 27, 2023

SLC22 said:
Over the last 6 months to a year I have started to become quite despondent towards farming and am not enjoying the lifestyle and pressures that come with it. I am in my late 20s and have been working/managing the family farm for the last 7 years but now feel that I need a break from the agricultural industry, as well as having independence from my family. Farming was all I ever envisioned doing, so now I feel trapped in this industry as I have no qualifications or experience to move into anything else. Has anybody else been through this or have any advice?
Any help appreciated.

Figure out what exactly is making you feel down and try and address that first. I know everyone is saying you can do whatever you want but it's easier to say than do. With no experience or qualifications, you're probably going to start at the bottom somewhere and take orders/work to someone else's way of thinking. Not necessarily easy if you're used to doing your own thing on the farm.

Where do you live at the moment? doing something else may require a change there too, which isn't cheap, or easy if you go from being "looked after" at home to doing everything yourself.

Does any other job appeal to you?

Fendt65 · Jul 27, 2023

How many more of us think this, feeling a bit dissulusioned with the job myself or though i am older , spoke to the wife about it and she said you can build or make anything just go and do that!

Spuddler · Jul 27, 2023

Plenty of companies out there willing to take unqualified people on as long as you’ve got a good work ethic, will put you through tickets if they think you are worthwhile.
You will always regret not doing something later in life more than when you have tried

kiwi pom · Jul 27, 2023

Spuddler said:
Plenty of companies out there willing to take unqualified people on as long as you’ve got a good work ethic, will put you through tickets if they think you are worthwhile.
You will always regret not doing something later in life more than when you have tried

Is that true though? How do they know you have a good work ethic? Everyone says they do.
It's easy to say there's lots of jobs out there but when you actually have to have one you might find the reality is a little different.

To the OP if you really want something different, start searching job vacancy sites and apply for those you like the look of. You don't have to take them if offered but it will give you some idea of what's out there, hours of work and pay.

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