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So the RAF have given me 6k for all the hard work i did for them. The only way i can spend it is to use it in 3 blocks of 2k per year towards any qualification/qualifications of my choosing..

Was thinking about doing an OU degree or a distance learning degree with a normal uni. Originally the plan was a computer science/IT type degree so i could look into becoming a developer, although my current job is in an IT type role, it has zero career progression opportunities and already tilts me pretty hard. 

Little bit of background and some pertinent info:

Web/Survey Designer/Data Analyst - Current (1 year)
Full time poker - 6 months
Intelligence Analyst/Farsi Interpreter/Russian Linguist - 8yrs
Assistant manager retail - 1 year

Along the way i also picked up the PRINCE2 Practitioner qual although have very little experience in project management.

Got quals all over the place but nothing really which defines a chosen career path, in short i can analyse stuff, speak foreign languages, bash keyboards a bit and know all the fundamentals of Proj mgmnt.

Any ideas if you were me wwyd? Apart from lose weight, get a chin reduction etc etc..

Would appreciate anyones thoughts or experiences:

Degree/professional course or neither?
Done an OU type course? was it worth it?
Easiest career to transition into?
Start a business?
Take a punt and do soemthing i actually enjoy?

Genuinely think I can do anything if i put my mind to it, just struggling to decide on the best route to take.

Sigh at me posting something sensible, but what about surveying/project management (in construction obv)

I guess you would be starting at the bottom which probs won't appeal but I think you would suit it

ain't construction all but dead? my brothers an architect and zero work.

ty on the sensible post Mr J. I was under impression that the construction business wasn't the best right now also. Happy to start at the bottom as long as the pay isn't too ridic.

Project management in construction is very boring if you've got some decent brain behind you, unless you get into big scale civil engineering projects and it would take you a good while to get there.

If your going for IT PM then you need to get back in asap, its moving so quick you'll be way behind if you're out for a while.

A good way to get in is to look for PMO administrator positions, its a short hop to project management from there. It sounds like you have the kind of skills they would want.

where do you live?

Mate of mine does IT PM, he's been it it a while now and works freelance and gets paid 4-500 quid a day. He works for 9 months of the years and then fucks off travelling for the other 3. Think he gets a bit bored with it but the money is worthwhile it to him.

Lincoln which is another reason why it is hard to find decent stuff. I work in Stamford at the moment and just commute everyday. Unless you want to pick potatos or milk cows there isn't much in Lincs. Oringinally I was supposed to move back to London where I had been offered a very decent position as a PM, but then things with my missus' work changed so we had to stay in Lincs.

Yeah, some sort of IT/new media project management role might float your boat.  Prince2 is a good thing to have behind you (transferable), and you have the IT background, etc.

I'm sure there would also be some niche opportunities where your language skills would come in handy as well.

Surely these are skills which are going to be very much in demand over the coming few years?

WW3 vs Iran is the nut result for me. Probs be looking at 9k a month for a bit of danger pay. #1time

Not something i can rely on though. Pluse foreign nationals get all the normal terping work as no matter how good you are you will not speak the language better than a native.

Bloody foreigners, staying at home, keeping their jobs.

With your military background and Prince qualification there are a few IT firms on MoD contracts who I'm sure would be interested. PM me if you need any details.

www.pokerstrategy.com/jobs let me know if interested in anything.

That reminds me. Also held DV for 8 yrs. (If anyone doesn't know what it is google it, obv i am James Bond)

Doesn't seem too much love for doing a degree. General concensous seems that i should draw on the experience I already have, unless that is a misread?

I managed a year :D

Seems blasting my wages all around spearmint rhino along with keeping the Bedford drinking establishments afloat didn't sit too well with the hierarchy at Chix

Batchi kooni

I imagine you are trying to call me gay? Did someone tell you this or did you google it as it is spelt wrong.

However in response: فواره پيزي = Favareh pizi

I'd try to look in to communications type qualifications particularly wireless stuff.

Places like Iran which have vast expanses of desert are primed for this sort of thing.

Your language skills will be hugely important to a UK based firm working in those areas. I'd guess with your background you have good people skills as well which are obviously hugely important. You also aren't going to be scared to go and work in those areas.

Try to find out whose doing any current wireless deployments in Iran and give them a buzz. They'll probably pay for your training anyway.

My mate is Iranian

  i love iranian food


Batchi kuni is sister fucker I believe or something along those lines


I saw a number plate in London with jaggy on it which is com

I don't think the £6k of training should overly guide your decision. You said you have qualifications all over the place but are frustrated by no defined career path or progression so I'd look at getting a job first and then look at whether extra training will be convenient and relevant. I think you have desirable skills and can utilise them to progress a career straight away. Think foreign languages, intelligence analysist and military background sounds good for fraud, risk and security sector. Perhaps opportunities with the Olympics coming up.

Hmmm, not sure about that at all. Txt him and find out as I wouldn't mind knowing. I imagine you mean Bache Kooni.

You ever tried a drink called Doog? literally the most disgusting thing i have ever put in my mouth.

IT audit / six sigma testing & validation

Easy to get good training
Russian would be a great asset targetting the right firms
Pays pretty well to start
Judging by the standard of auditors I encountered, you could be no worse than average at the end of the first week.
Decent career progression and diagonal movement within the right firms.

Must admit I didn't go down this line of thinking, i had only thought of doing a course whilst I am in the role I am in now, then looking to move. Moving jobs and then taking up further studies could defo have it's advantages, as long as I can get my foot in the door in the first place. 

Randomly enough I had a call asking me about a job as a Fraud Analyst for Toys R Us, but it was in Coventry and the pay was pretty tez, so that was obv a no go.

Doog is ok

I like the rice with berries and chicken in some saffron sauce
And koobedahs

Batchi kuni and batche Kooni is the same thing just spelt it wrong

Would strongly unrecommend someone in your position, with your experience, to go to university now and do a degree. A part time one maybe, but just going back, no way. It'll probably do your nut in tbh, and you do end up losing the value of some of your experience (out of the loop/out of date) etc. It does have certain merits from a purely personal point of view, but in almost every other respect, it's a bad idea. Costly for the course, costly for the loss of earnings, costly for where it sets you back to in your career path.

Never considered doing it full time tbh, it would either be Open University or distance learning course alongside still working. Agree that there is no way I could do it full time. Kudos on making me google 'unrecommend' as i was sure it wasn't a real word. My days of getting smashed and smashing are long gone, that would literally be the only plus side of doing a campus course.

Should be a new word imo, nothing real came close ;)

Tbph, the getting smashed and smashing were pretty epic and a major upside, but there are lots of things you can kind of (read: I did kind of) take for granted when you progress up the career ladder, these all mostly go bye-bye.
But you're in a steady long-term relationship I think? That stability and support would probably help someone going back.
Part-time, and funded by someone else are the way to go.

y dont u start your own busines?

Would abso love to but Start up capital and lack of a good business idea are my main reasons.

Yeah, Iran's one thing, but Coventry is pushing it a little too far.

Cheers for the replies JJ. DV lapsed last July so will need a new sponsor. I am told It's easier to renew than it is to start afresh. Not actually heard of newcentcorps and I thought I knew most of the big private firms. Will have a look into them when I get to work. On my phone atm. I am on record with AEGIS and Olive Group who have contracts in Iraq and Af but they pretty much just say I need to have Pashtu or Arabic to work in any of the cells out there.

Boshi I am happy to go out to a foreign land for 9 months of the year as the money more than makes up for it and i am used to being away from home, but don't really fancy commuting over an hour each way everyday as I do now. That's also a big motivator in me wanting to do something so I can find work closer to home or do something which would enable me to even work from home.

Also had a couple of very helpful PMs. Glad I've got a free weekend as I've got a lot of research to do.

JJ if ur mate was int corps or raf, speaks Pashtu and was in the mob in the last 9yrs there's a 90% chance I would know ur friend as we all pretty much work together.

Apologies for the format of the replies. Hate posting from my phone

No value in posting on blonde anymore - everyone's James Bond.