Decisions with training / backup plans
Hi folks,
I have just been considering a number of possible options with regard to my flying career / other career and development and thought I'd drop a quick post on here to get some opinions as its quite complex.
Basically i'm 25 with PPL, Night rating and 143 hours in. I also have a degree in Business / I.T and a teacher training qualification. I have no commitments thankfully, and intend on spending the next few years living with the folks until this nastey economic weather has completely blown over!
Put simply, my options are shaping up as follows.
1) Carry on working in my current teaching type roles earning 18 - 25k. However, my last job has just ended as it was contract based, so now need to find another contract or a perm position (Could take a few months or so)
2) I have the potential to pursue a doctorate (PhD) in management at my local university just down the road. This would commence April time next year and would pay me 13k a year take home for 3 years, making me 29 on completion.
Due to my frugal living I could probably pursue option 2 and still have enough time / cash to finish my ATPL exams off, as well as save up for my CPL, IR and MCC and complete it when i'm about 28 / 29.
Obviously if I was to invest another 3 years in the PhD I would have a pretty good case for a cracking support career, as well as the option of easily emmigrating to anywhere in the world as a lecturer / consultant.
To be honest I am tending towards the PhD option, as it seems to add a lot of value into the long term. However, I was interested in getting opinions as to whether 29 is a bit old to be qualifying, as well as whether while i'm training for another 3 years, I might miss a serious up turn in the pilot's job market.
Any advice / opninions of any kind are greatly appreciated.
Grouse