What kind of jobs do you guys have to support airsoft? :)

  • Thread starter Thread starter RektnNekt
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Are you sure DX115FALCON? The one you linked to is 4 years old, by a different OP and asking a different set of questions.

Much of the info on that post may well be out of date seeing as in the last 4 years I have gone from training to be a teacher, to being a teacher, leaving teaching for a rubbish temp job at an insurance company after relocating, being a supply teacher and now back being a full time teacher again.

The answer to the OP's question, I am a teacher (as if the paragraph above didn't give that away) I teach secondary science, it pays the bills and I use the degree I got at Uni on a day to day basis. However, I would never expect someone to be forced to go to uni if they didn't want to.

As most have already said: think very carefully about what you want to do, and look closely at how you get there. There are often multiple routes to get to any position, some academic like uni and graduate schemes, others apprenticeships followed by training later on, some just starting at the bottom and working hard.

Eg hairdressers are unlikely to need a degree, farmer is unlikely to need a degree both have vocational courses or on the job training routes.

My fiancée is an oceanographer, she got her job after 2 years of a foundation degree then 2 years at uni topping it up to a full degree, followed by a further year doing a masters. She now works for a large ish company after 3 years of working at smaller companies getting experience. For her the degree and masters is very useful. However she works along side some people who just did 3 years of uni and are in their first post. She has also worked in the past with a guy who started as a deck hand on the survey vessel with no real experience of oceanography only his sailing experience and love of the sea. He would do his crew duties then help out the oceanographers, after a while he started being asked to do overtime as an assistant when they were short staffed, after about a year he got employed as an engineer doing much the same stuff as those with degrees and was sent out on jobs on his own.

Me on the other hand, while free schools are now allowed to employ anyone with the subject knowledge and no teaching qualifications to teach kids. Realistically I couldn't do what I do without 3 years at uni and a year of teacher training. I went to uni because I really wanted to be a paramedic at the time, but the ambulance service in my area didn't take you till you were 21, so I had 3 years to kill and didn't want to sit around doing temp jobs or working in factories etc so I applied to uni and got in, I took the course because I really enjoyed the subject. By the time I finished I really couldn't think of doing the training and becoming a paramedic so I applied for teacher training.

Only go to uni if it interests you and you can see how you would use the qualification at the end. That doesn't mean it has to be in your subject area, plenty of people on my course took up jobs that are seemingly unrelated but the Uni quals show your ability to learn new things and complete work to your own timetables. Only 3 of 40 are actually working directly in the field we were studying.

If the cost is putting you off remember that you apply for the loans and stuff, they are the best rates you will ever get, they come out of your pay packet much like taxes, national insurance or pension contributions. I think I get about £50 a month taken. Each year I get sent a statement saying how much I have paid and the amount of interest, it's actually not going down very fast but it's not like they send bailiffs round to take stuff. Also banks couldn't really care less in terms of credit ratings etc.

 
Yep, the last post was a month ago but again I will point out that the OP's questions in this thread were not simply what you do (although that's kind of the wording of the title) but how did you get there and is uni worth it.

 
NickM said:
Are you sure DX115FALCON? The one you linked to is 4 years old, by a different OP and asking a different set of questions.

Much of the info on that post may well be out of date seeing as in the last 4 years I have gone from training to be a teacher, to being a teacher, leaving teaching for a rubbish temp job at an insurance company after relocating, being a supply teacher and now back being a full time teacher again.

The answer to the OP's question, I am a teacher (as if the paragraph above didn't give that away) I teach secondary science, it pays the bills and I use the degree I got at Uni on a day to day basis. However, I would never expect someone to be forced to go to uni if they didn't want to.

As most have already said: think very carefully about what you want to do, and look closely at how you get there. There are often multiple routes to get to any position, some academic like uni and graduate schemes, others apprenticeships followed by training later on, some just starting at the bottom and working hard.

Eg hairdressers are unlikely to need a degree, farmer is unlikely to need a degree both have vocational courses or on the job training routes.

My fiancée is an oceanographer, she got her job after 2 years of a foundation degree then 2 years at uni topping it up to a full degree, followed by a further year doing a masters. She now works for a large ish company after 3 years of working at smaller companies getting experience. For her the degree and masters is very useful. However she works along side some people who just did 3 years of uni and are in their first post. She has also worked in the past with a guy who started as a deck hand on the survey vessel with no real experience of oceanography only his sailing experience and love of the sea. He would do his crew duties then help out the oceanographers, after a while he started being asked to do overtime as an assistant when they were short staffed, after about a year he got employed as an engineer doing much the same stuff as those with degrees and was sent out on jobs on his own.

Me on the other hand, while free schools are now allowed to employ anyone with the subject knowledge and no teaching qualifications to teach kids. Realistically I couldn't do what I do without 3 years at uni and a year of teacher training. I went to uni because I really wanted to be a paramedic at the time, but the ambulance service in my area didn't take you till you were 21, so I had 3 years to kill and didn't want to sit around doing temp jobs or working in factories etc so I applied to uni and got in, I took the course because I really enjoyed the subject. By the time I finished I really couldn't think of doing the training and becoming a paramedic so I applied for teacher training.

Only go to uni if it interests you and you can see how you would use the qualification at the end. That doesn't mean it has to be in your subject area, plenty of people on my course took up jobs that are seemingly unrelated but the Uni quals show your ability to learn new things and complete work to your own timetables. Only 3 of 40 are actually working directly in the field we were studying.

If the cost is putting you off remember that you apply for the loans and stuff, they are the best rates you will ever get, they come out of your pay packet much like taxes, national insurance or pension contributions. I think I get about £50 a month taken. Each year I get sent a statement saying how much I have paid and the amount of interest, it's actually not going down very fast but it's not like they send bailiffs round to take stuff. Also banks couldn't really care less in terms of credit ratings etc.
Click to expand...
Why the hell would you be a teacher?

you have to try and teach little shits about something they don't really give a shit about and in the long term probably won't do anything for them.

you must have a fetish for school uniforms.

 
I work full time in demolition which pays all the bills and also work part time teaching muaythai 3 nights a week which is then pocket money. I also marshal at my local site when I can which makes airsoft a little easier on the wallet. I don't think 1 income is enough for anybody to live on. Not today! Never turn down the chance of a few £. After the rents paid, insurance, bills and my kids needs (demands!) I doesn't hurt to have a back up

 
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beastmode said:
I don't think you HAVE to go to uni to get a good job. Most people go just for the sake of going and come out 3 years later 30 grand poorer and still can't get a job.

I started work at 16 and worked my way up. Now I'm a sales manager at 28 earning a decent enough wage. Only go to uni if you know what you want to do requires a degree like law etc

Getting a trade through an aprenticeship may be a good idea if your into the practical side of things.
Click to expand...
+1 on that, I went collage did Motorsport mechanics couldn't get a job after I finished, thought about going to uni and progressing through that field but while phoning around for temp mechanic jobs for something on the side they said they wanted experience.

How can I get experience if no1 will employ someone with minimum experience?

So knocked that on the head, started working at an engineering company, worked my way up, now at 23 I program and setting CNC machines and tell people twice my age how to use them.

Always try get involved in a job you don't know even if your just watching as you will pick up a lot of things. The people twice my age have never seemed interested in doing that and that's why they now come to me to sort there problems.

People have joined from uni with there fancy degrees, but in the real world they don't know nothing, they are good at the job on paper but have no real experience on the machines.

Many have come and all have left.

 
Jambo88 said:
Why the hell would you be a teacher?

you have to try and teach little shits about something they don't really give a sh*t about and in the long term probably won't do anything for them.

you must have a fetish for school uniforms.
Click to expand...
I'm a teacher, and i think you lack the understanding of the dedication teachers put in.

Every teacher has their own reason to become teachers and comes from different walks of life and adding to that it's harder and harder to become a teacher now. it's not easy to get trained and required more study and attention to detail than you think.

I think you stereotyping young people based on a small group whom you are right "whom don't give a toss about their lives and education" but I'm teaching and have taught many more if not majority whom likes to learn and at the end of the day do appreciate teachers. I don't want to burst your bubble but where would you be without education now?

+++

Back to the point of this thread - what sort of job do people take to fund this hobby? well i think it's quite open, I do agree money is a big part to help fund it but if you live for the hobby it doesn't matter what job you are in; coz you'll find a way to safe up or fund it however you can as you'll know it's worth it.

+++

BTW Jambo, I wonder if you can do this in a class room of ~30 kids of what is expected of all teachers currently in the country. Below is the current 8 teaching standards and you are expected to do all that every lesson for all the kids. Good luck.

[SIZE=8pt]1 Set high expectations which inspire, motivate and challenge pupils [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]- establish a safe and stimulating environment for pupils, rooted in mutual respect [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]- set goals that stretch and challenge pupils of all backgrounds, abilities and dispositions[/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt] - demonstrate consistently the positive attitudes, values and behaviour which are expected of pupils. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]2 Promote good progress and outcomes by pupils [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]- be accountable for attainment, progress and outcomes of the pupils [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]- plan teaching to build on pupils’ capabilities and prior knowledge[/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]- guide pupils to reflect on the progress they have made and their emerging needs [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]- demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how pupils learn and how this impacts on teaching [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]- encourage pupils to take a responsible and conscientious attitude to their own work and study.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]3 Demonstrate good subject and curriculum knowledge [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]-have a secure knowledge of the relevant subject(s) and curriculum areas, foster and maintain pupils’ interest in the subject, and address misunderstandings [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]- demonstrate a critical understanding of developments in the subject and curriculum areas, and promote the value of scholarship [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]-demonstrate an understanding of and take responsibility for promoting high standards of literacy, articulacy and the correct use of standard English, [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]whatever the teacher’s specialist subject [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]-if teaching early reading, demonstrate a clear understanding of systematic synthetic phonics [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]-if teaching early mathematics, demonstrate a clear understanding of appropriate teaching strategies.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]4 Plan and teach well structured lessons [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]- impart knowledge and develop understanding through effective use of lesson time [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]-promote a love of learning and children’s intellectual curiosity [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]-set homework and plan other out-of-class activities to consolidate and extend the knowledge and understanding pupils have acquired [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]-reflect systematically on the effectiveness of lessons and approaches to teaching [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]-contribute to the design and provision of an engaging curriculum within the relevant subject area(s).[/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]5 Adapt teaching to respond to the strengths and needs of all pupils [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]- know when and how to differentiate appropriately, using approaches which enable pupils to be taught effectively [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]-have a secure understanding of how a range of factors can inhibit pupils’ ability to learn, and how best to overcome these [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]-demonstrate an awareness of the physical, social and intellectual development of children, and know how to adapt teaching to support pupils’ education at different stages of development[/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]-have a clear understanding of the needs of all pupils, including those with special educational needs; those of high ability; those with English as an additional language; those with disabilities; and be able to use and evaluate distinctive teaching approaches to engage and support them.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]6 Make accurate and productive use of assessment [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]-know and understand how to assess the relevant subject and curriculum areas, including statutory assessment requirements [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]-make use of formative and summative assessment to secure pupils’ progress [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]-use relevant data to monitor progress, set targets, and plan subsequent lessons [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]-give pupils regular feedback, both orally and through accurate marking, and encourage pupils to respond to the feedback.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]7 Manage behaviour effectively to ensure a good and safe learning environment [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]-have clear rules and routines for behaviour in classrooms, and take responsibility for promoting good and courteous behaviour both in classrooms and around the school, in accordance with the school’s behaviour policy [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]-have high expectations of behaviour, and establish a framework for discipline with a range of strategies, using praise, sanctions and rewards consistently and fairly [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]-manage classes effectively, using approaches which are appropriate to pupils’ needs in order to involve and motivate them [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]-maintain good relationships with pupils, exercise appropriate authority, and act decisively when necessary.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]8 Fulfil wider professional responsibilities [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]-make a positive contribution to the wider life and ethos of the school [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]-develop effective professional relationships with colleagues, knowing how and when to draw on advice and specialist support [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]-deploy support staff effectively [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]-take responsibility for improving teaching through appropriate professional development, responding to advice and feedback from colleagues [/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]-communicate effectively with parents with regard to pupils’ achievements and well-being.[/SIZE]

 
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Rather you than me Satnav and I thought I had a high pressure job working in sales.

 
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Much as Satnav says teaching brings all sorts for all different reasons. I started because I really didn't know what I wanted to do but have experience of education and thought it would be a challenge. It's been 5 years (including the PGCE, so 4 years of teaching on my own) of massive challenges, the rewards are massive, the stresses and pressures are equally high. Last year I left teaching (forced partly because I felt unhappy in the school I was in and relocation) so I was looking for a year or two away to decide if teaching really was what I wanted to do, but I missed it, after 3 months of not teaching I was offered the opportunity to interview for a position and now I'm back in a very different school.

There have been times when I worried I was seeing less of the good and more of the bad. Much happier now though.

 
Sorry for posting a few months late!

But I'm currently in your position, I'm 18 and have no idea what I want in life but being told to go to Uni anyway because my mum thinks it will help. Personally I like yourself would rather wait until I really know what I want from life before making a decision that big, however it sometimes just doesn't play out that way

Currently I'm working for a security company, gives me enough money to pay my mother rent, fund my driving lessons and also fund my addiction to airsoft, adding on the fact that I absolutely love my job, the other week I had a 22 hour shift over the weekend and it went by in no time because I enjoy it so much. However, I've been told I need to find a proper job, which is what I apparently need to go to Uni for, so I'll just see how it pans out, I've got my offers anyway, I'll decide whether I want them in August, otherwise I might even try setting up my own security company down the line, won't be easy but it's something I'd be willing to work on, of course I'm young, so even my love for the current job may change within the next few years... We just can't know for certain I guess

Regardless of my own stories, good luck with your choice, if you decide to go to Uni then I hope you do well and get what you want from it, but honestly, don't do it just because you think you need to, you're better off doing it because you want to and know exactly what you're doing

Also, thanks to everyone who commented on this thread, you've all actually helped me too in the process!

 
If anyone is interested, I've decided not to accept the offers I received just yet - I let them slide this year. The reason behind this is because I'd rather see what I get at the end of my A levels, rather than making choices on just my, mediocre at best, AS level grades. I've resat one of my AS levels because if I'm honest, I should have done much better during the first year (after doing the exam last week, I feel that I've made an improvement on my grade for that particular part of the course). I seem to be doing well in my A2, and I only have 2 exams left (one this Monday, the last this Thursday).

If all goes well, then I should end up with a bit more room to work with - the AS grades I obtained just didn't cut it for me, so hopefully my final A level grades will open up a few more doors. Again, if it goes well, then I MIGHT apply to uni again (depending on my situation and desires).

In the meantime, me and a good friend have decided to start up a little company as a side project - server hosting and game development - which is currently developing. We had hosted a server prior to this decision which provided us with a bit of money, but we didn't take it too seriously at that time. Of course, I'm not going to rely on this project to support me.

Thanks again to all that have contributed :) It is really nice to see quite a lot of support and effort in the majority of the responses.

Regarding the duplicate thread issue, I had a few questions which I wanted to be central to the thread, rather than just a comment which may get over looked.

----------TLDR----------

- Didn't accept offers - decided to wait for A2 grades to hopefully provide better options. May apply again.

- Started up small company as a side project - nothing major.

- Thanks to all, once again!

- Had own questions which is why I made a new thread

 
I drive a forklift truck through the week, and DJ and rewire houses as a sparky's mate come weekends. On top of a having a young family, it's pretty tiring :) My body clock has now stopped haha

I could afford to play every week, but in the grand scale of things airsoft is low priority, so i play monthly, sometimes an extra night game now and again.

Also, i only buy new gear with work bonuses or when i've had a really busy month and filled the shed with cash lol

 
I was quite lucky I walked into a job at a major pharmaceuticals company and have worked my way up, it takes time but as mentioned earlier you dont get anywhere in life with a crap attitude. I now train people and work pretty much with directors and very high level management which i never even dreamed of when i first started. I dont have the best qualifications (GCSE's etc) but I make the most of learning new things when I can and always look to others to learn what i can from them and share what I can as well.

 
I work at a Uni and my advice - wait until you know what career you want before selecting a degree...

First, if you're going to end up with that much debt, it might as well be in a topic you actually follow through to life. However useful any degree is, if you study botany and end up an engineer, how useful will that degree be? Or if you study engineering and pursue a career as a Lidl area manager, again, how applicable will those 3 years learning be?

Second, although many degrees market their graduate employability, the statistics/figures are pretty crooked (IMO). For example, 100% of Warwick's Biology graduates might be classed as employed if in work 6 months after graduation - but if they are stacking shelves at Tesco, they still tick this box... Any course you look at, ask the Uni how many graduates get a job in a related career path, and what are their earnings 6 months after graduation to better inform you on it.

Third, once you get a degree, you will really struggle to do another... If you're 25 and figure out what career/degree you want, if you've already got a degree, the Government won't help - you won't even get a student loan to cover your 2nd degree/re-training. Sooo many people I know wish they'd done something different. There's a chicken and egg issue mind...

They get a degree > that gets them a job they thought they wanted > they realise it's not for them > they want a different degree. So perversely a degree might help you decide what other degree you wish you were doing - but ho-hum, you get one roll of the dice (unless you're loaded and can cover the costs upfront yourself).

Fourth, more than a few schemes like some Apprenticeships won't allow graduates to apply but are a brilliant way to climb the ladder. While others are at Uni, you're in the business learning the trade. And although graduates (according to the stats) often earn more in their 40's+ than those who come through the vocational path, if you don't do a degree at 18, you can always do one when you hit 30 or whatever. Some uni courses have 95% 'mature' students doing exactly this.

Fifth, whatever you decide, do something... You seem to if you've got your own business going, which is great. But beware the perils of inactivity... Don't let yourself sit around on quiet times, don't spend all day on CoD, don't sponge of your folks... Get into good habits staying useful, staying active, keeping energized. It'll help.

Best of luck with things though.

 
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