u/CullenSkunk

Sorry ladies and enbys - it’s a long one but felt as much detail as possible was needed!! Would love any advice on potential trades / jobs that exist and would maybe fit.

Me: I’m 27, 5’0, Scottish, Glasgow- based & work full time from home for a publishing company and I feel like it’s killing me - my mh is terrible, I miss being outside, speaking to people during the day and using my brain! My BA degree was in linguistics and I loved loved loved it, but jobs in that field feel like they only exist in PhD academia and I don’t think I want to do another X amount of years at uni for potentially no job in the field.

Background: All my holidays were spent in a wee caravan in the Trossachs or highlands, and I’m from a rural area, so love being outside in all weathers. My dad is a bricklayer and works in rural settings, and has done forever, so I’ve seen firsthand how physically demanding a lot of trades are. I’ve also gotten to see him build cool shit around the house, but was never allowed to go work with him like my brother was (bc of the bathroom situation outside AKA none for the girlies). My maw has rescued horses since before I was born, so she’s ridiculously strong and does a LOT of physical labour around her friend’s yard. She’s done a fair few manual labour jobs too and can also fix / make a lot of stuff.

I volunteered at the crannog centre and spent a day stripping bark from trees (loved it), another making hurdles (!!! Very niche and VERY fun) and hopefully another helping on a build. It’s not a lot but felt it really solidified for me that I do want to work with my hands. My partner is also same age and a month away from having served his time and being fully qualified; he dropped out of uni and pivoted to joinery and carpentry. He has seen me start to really suffer work-wise and has suggested an apprenticeship a couple of times (concerns below).

I’m under no illusions - I know this doesn’t mean I have any idea of what working in a trade is really like, but ye don’t know until you try. I know how mental the impact can be on your body, and I’ve heard horror stories from my partner and sometimes my dad. But my god, I’m not built for what I’m doing now!

Concerns:
• Being short: am tiny. Like, really quite small. I have always hated the idea of being looked down on for my size but I’m worried some trades might be really really out of reach (lol) because of it.
• Safety / sexism: my partner is a great guy who calls shit out, but I know how awful (and frankly dangerous) sites sound. I’m thick skinned, but no real HR gives me a bit of the fear.
• Health conditions: I have IBS, migraines, and a back injury (I will get physio for this first). My IBS impacts my life significantly at times - I’m in a lot of pain and need access to a toilet. It’s caused a lot of mental anxiety too and it took me years post-Covid to feel brave enough to even leave my house for fear of being in pain. Plus, first day of my period is a fucking doozy. Can’t move for pain for a few hours. Sick day for that I’m feart would get me sacked.
• Money and time: I don’t feel like I have the resources to potentially waste either of these, so I’m feart of picking the wrong thing. I’m working-class, so don’t have a financial support system outside myself (rich in love from parents, just not money) and want a job that will be secure at SOME point.
• Struggle with numbers: words? Great! Numbers? Shite.

Interests? Things about me?
• Working outdoors!!
• Working with wood (doesn’t have to be)
• Creative person - paint, made a chessboard from clay, can sew / embroider
• Love to learn!!
• Detail-oriented
• Love to have solved a problem
• Working with hands
• Eagle-eyed: always making sure something is perfect or up to scratch

I don’t know what trades exist; I’m trying to look online at apprenticeships but feel like this is probably the place to hear from real people living the life. I would like a job that means I can move to another country too; NZ maybe. But above all, just really want to do something that I actually enjoy, not just will struggle through for 40 more years. Not afraid to try something and if it doesn’t work, that’s okay - I just don’t even know what exists! What niches are there, specialities etc. Will my health hinder me significantly? Is there any sort of shadowing opportunities??

TIA - I just want to get started, somehow !!