[RCUK]

Have you thought of pimping yourself out on a consultancy basis?

Given your experience, im guessing people might well want to hire you on a short term basis for projects - and that would meet your goal of keeping busy and engaged with work?

As a bonus guessing the pay wouldnt be bad at all - and you could expense a 'company car'

[MERLIN335i]

Originally Posted by RCUK

Have you thought of pimping yourself out on a consultancy basis?

It has been suggested in the past, was actually asked if I would go and advise on set-up on a batch of cars running in the FIA Historic F1 Championship.

But sod's law, I was gainfully employed at the time, and it was just a one-off, so a bit risky to resign on the strength of one offer.

But good suggestion, if I had the same offer now, would take it, and then hopefully it would generate more work.

Thanks.

[MERLIN335i]

Just to say thanks for all the input, the employment problem is now solved

I start a new job on Monday, it will be a challenge, and a bit out of my comfort zone, but as they say, "you are never too old to learn". Another plus is it is only two miles from home, and 200 yards from where the other half works, so drop her off as usual and just drive a little further to work.

Working for a company formed by four Cosworth directors, the company amongst other things are heavily involved in Hybrid Technology, and perform design and development work for F1 teams, and major car manufacturers.

Work is rather hush, hush, was only allowed in certain areas, during my tour after the interview, got to go in tomorrow and sign contract/confidentiality aggrement.

My job involves building/developing prototype hybrid drive units, and the test rigs/vehicles.

[Touringchris]

Sounds like a damn good/interesting job. I'd love to go down that route. I'm a trained mechanic but now a quality engineer for an aerospace company, so am pretty limited to where I could go I'd imagine.

Good luck and I hope it turns out to be what you are after!

[mowflow]

The employers are sparing your feelings by giving you a simple reason for not employing you. Guessing the positions you are applying for they will not be employing you due to a culmination of nearly everything about and by that I mean all the positives. You are over experienced so will get bored, you will probably know more than them and they don't want to be in an that position, they will feel that they can't pay you enough and they will be worried that you treat the job like a hobby to some extent.

For me the last one is quite a biggie. Knowing a bit more about your background and the attention to detail and pride you take in your work from talking to you on here I know you would give any job 100% but are the employers sure of that? Mentioning anything about just wanting a local job with a reasonable salary when they think they are paying top dollar possibly belittles them. There is also the aspect of there probably being hundreds of applicants who really NEED this job to support a family, are as capable for the role and are happy with a little less than the offered salary. As an employer I would probably feel happier supporting a family as it were than giving the job to someone to top up their car and holiday fund. To anyone that doesn't know you it just sounds bad and i'm sure you aren't disclosing that to employers but it seems everything in your CV may suggest it.

In your position you could really be doing something that keeps you occupied, possibly gives you a bit of pocket money and/or benefits the next generation or start ups in the field of your expertise. You have a wealth of knowledge and wasting it in a job where you only use 10% would be a shame. What about part time lecturing positions at a local college or contacting enterprise organisations to offer your services as a mentor?

Other possible routes may be to look at starting up some kind of cottage industry. As you may remember my father has been working for himself restoring and dealing in old british bikes and parts. Like yourself he once had a proper job and doesn't really need to make a living from this. He is always dealing with guys that retired from industry with specialist skills because they no longer really needed to work and have applied their craft to an interest in a very specialist field (wheel builders, electroplaters, lathe operators, you name it theirs a guy that specialises in it and often just a single part for one bike). I see the same thing in my own 205 rebuild. The forum has several guys remanufacturing small runs of parts that are no longer available. Something like this may be just enough to keep you occupied.

Oops! Just read your post above. Much of what I said still stands and i'm glad to hear you are going into something that will not see all your skills and years experience go to waste.

[MERLIN335i]

Originally Posted by mowflow

The employers are sparing your feelings by giving you a simple reason for not employing you. Guessing the positions you are applying for they will not be employing you due to a culmination of nearly everything about and by that I mean all the positives. You are over experienced so will get bored, you will probably know more than them and they don't want to be in an that position, they will feel that they can't pay you enough and they will be worried that you treat the job like a hobby to some extent.

For me the last one is quite a biggie. Knowing a bit more about your background and the attention to detail and pride you take in your work from talking to you on here I know you would give any job 100% but are the employers sure of that? Mentioning anything about just wanting a local job with a reasonable salary when they think they are paying top dollar possibly belittles them. There is also the aspect of there probably being hundreds of applicants who really NEED this job to support a family, are as capable for the role and are happy with a little less than the offered salary. As an employer I would probably feel happier supporting a family as it were than giving the job to someone to top up their car and holiday fund. To anyone that doesn't know you it just sounds bad and i'm sure you aren't disclosing that to employers but it seems everything in your CV may suggest it.

In your position you could really be doing something that keeps you occupied, possibly gives you a bit of pocket money and/or benefits the next generation or start ups in the field of your expertise. You have a wealth of knowledge and wasting it in a job where you only use 10% would be a shame. What about part time lecturing positions at a local college or contacting enterprise organisations to offer your services as a mentor?

Other possible routes may be to look at starting up some kind of cottage industry. As you may remember my father has been working for himself restoring and dealing in old british bikes and parts. Like yourself he once had a proper job and doesn't really need to make a living from this. He is always dealing with guys that retired from industry with specialist skills because they no longer really needed to work and have applied their craft to an interest in a very specialist field (wheel builders, electroplaters, lathe operators, you name it theirs a guy that specialises in it and often just a single part for one bike). I see the same thing in my own 205 rebuild. The forum has several guys remanufacturing small runs of parts that are no longer available. Something like this may be just enough to keep you occupied.

Oops! Just read your post above. Much of what I said still stands and i'm glad to hear you are going into something that will not see all your skills and years experience go to waste.

Paul,

Thanks for all your valid and informed comments, in a way I was "forced" into going for a job that would utilise all my experience and skills. Because I realised from comments on here, and employer responses, that I was never going to get a "lesser" job and cruise into retirement.

Obviously the Ex Cosworth directors are not going to feel threatened by me, but they do appreciate and want to use what I have to offer. Also this will be the first time in a long, long, while, that I have new skills to learn, and will not hit the ground running so to speak.

Only time will tell whether it is the right move or not (us oldies do tire easily you know).

Best wishes,

Michael.

[kev335i]

Originally Posted by MERLIN335i

Just to say thanks for all the input, the employment problem is now solved

I start a new job on Monday, it will be a challenge, and a bit out of my comfort zone, but as they say, "you are never too old to learn". Another plus is it is only two miles from home, and 200 yards from where the other half works, so drop her off as usual and just drive a little further to work.

Working for a company formed by four Cosworth directors, the company amongst other things are heavily involved in Hybrid Technology, and perform design and development work for F1 teams, and major car manufacturers.

Work is rather hush, hush, was only allowed in certain areas, during my tour after the interview, got to go in tomorrow and sign contract/confidentiality aggrement.

My job involves building/developing prototype hybrid drive units, and the test rigs/vehicles.

Congratulations and good luck

On a side note any keyrings left?

[MERLIN335i]

Originally Posted by kev335i

Congratulations and good luck

On a side note any keyrings left?

Thanks, you have a PM.

[imygaf]

Glad to hear you found a job, and a good one.

I was going to suggest that you work at BMW. Sounds like you teach them a thing or two!

[MERLIN335i]

Originally Posted by imygaf

Glad to hear you found a job, and a good one.

I was going to suggest that you work at BMW. Sounds like you teach them a thing or two!

Thanks for the good wishes

Work for BMW ??, they don't need me , they have a wonderful diagnostic system, and we all know that is never ever wrong

Besides, they would never give me a job, my reputation definitely proceeds me, I found out they call me "the customer from hell", I wonder why that is, probably because they cannot bullsh*t me, or maybe I'm just plain ugly and have BO.

[Hotcoupe]

Originally Posted by MERLIN335i

I start a new job on Monday, it will be a challenge, and a bit out of my comfort zone, but as they say, "you are never too old to learn". Another plus is it is only two miles from home, and 200 yards from where the other half works, so drop her off as usual and just drive a little further to work.

Many congrats Michael, I'm sure the job will be a success

Originally Posted by MERLIN335i

Another plus is it is only two miles from home, and 200 yards from where the other half works, so drop her off as usual and just drive a little further to work.

I'd buy the other half a bike, you can then use your bus pass

[MERLIN335i]

Originally Posted by Hotcoupe

I'd buy the other half a bike, you can then use your bus pass

Thanks Ian, but don't start me off on a rant !

Both our companies are on the major industrial estate, where quite a few thousand people work, but there is no bus service for that estate.

Back in the good old days, there used to be a bus route that ran every 15 minutes between 7am-9.30am & 4.30pm-6.30pm, which went from the residential areas direct to the Industrial Estate, then up and down each road on the estate to serve the factories, now everybody has to get to work up to an hour before their start time, just to get a parking space !

So no chance to use the bus pass