Where to turn my skills as a Niche Tradesmen for over a decade?

Hello Ladies and Gents,

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I write this looking for guidance and options on what path to take my life on.

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I am 28, and I've been a Stonemason (Stonecarver) for just shy of 13 years now, having gone straight into a apprenticeship at the age of 16. My training was at a Cathedral workshop that also dealt with plenty of commercial jobs, the perfect storm for creating an all-around Stonemason. Prior to this, I messed around a lot in school, but ended up with average grades (mostly C's and a few B's). However, aside from my further college trade education and additional training (Worldskills competition training) my "academic" schooling stopped at the GCSE level.

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I moved to Canada back in 2013 to work on a very high profile project in the capital, Ottawa, and have since travelled the country working on numerous high profile heritage projects, finally landing myself in the West.

For a good few years now theres a feeling grinding away at me that this path I'm on is not sustainable, many things I see and work with go against my morals and I'm frankly tired of being tarred with the "construction worker dummy low life" stereotype. Not to mention being treated like a child a large percentage of the time with some of the arbitrary "Health and safety" rules that make my brain implode. This, coupled with seeing (mostly) guys in their late 30's, 40's in total disrepair, bodies falling apart, minds numb and pessimistic, doesn't give me much hope for the future.

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Anyway, less of the doom and gloom, I'm looking for a way out, and this could be within the industry or just a completely new page.

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I earn a respectable wage here in Canada, something I could never of dreamed of in the UK. Its been a huge blessing coming from a below working class background, but will obviously be taking a pay cut if I decide to change my career, and I am prepared for this.

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A few of my main questions;

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- What will I have to do education wise to open my options? Will my UK GCSE's stand me in good stead here?

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-What are some industries or professions to hop into now, looking for growth in the near future? (5-10 years)

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-I understand I will be taking a large pay-cut if I change, What industries offer decent wages after a few years of school?(Very loaded question i know...)

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-What are some routes I can explore within the Industry to better my career?

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If its any help, I feel I am great with people, am capable of talking to people from all walks of life or stature, proficient with I.T, great at managing and meeting deadlines, working in teams or solo. I have over a decade of working in all kinds of scenarios and personally feel like this serves me well, am I wearing rose tinted glasses?

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Thank you in advance for your help and suggestions.

Posted Dec 6, 2018, 1:21 AM UTC

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