Career advice

Calaen

I am a massive cock who isn't firing atm!
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Dec 22, 2003
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I feel like I am stuck in limbo at my current place of employment. I am getting more responsibility and more things to do but my wages are not moving :p

I have been considering doing something else for a year or so now and I did start Uni 2 years ago to allow me to widen my horizons. However I am coming up to the end of my 2nd year and I am bored to tears of working with computers.

Anyone just changed their career that have any advice?

I have been in my current job for 6 years which is the longest I have been at one place for. I think this is one of the main reasons I always just forget about my troubles and carry on.
 

tris-

Failed Geordie and Parmothief
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im gonna pimp my own field of expertise.

its possible to work in trading standards without former qualifications. you start at the bottom as a consumer advisor/enforcement officer. you then learn on the job practically and build up portfolios of evidence of learning. its sort of like learn while you do. you take exams (written and oral) and do practical assesments. to become a trading standards officer you then complete the diploma of trading standards. thats where the top money is but for all i know you maybe more happier advising consumers and supporting the TSOs.

the whole thing probably takes about 4 - 6 years to get the top. so if your an old bastard it may not be ideal as you will be starting at about 13k.

you can also take the uni route ((which i do)only about 4-5 unis can do it though)) which takes 3 years and you will start at about 16-20k
 

old.Tohtori

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Well, i'm just gonna speak of own experience and warn about getting "stuck" in the same pay.

Employers often just shove more and more responsibility(sometimes even hours) on you and think they can just pay you the same. EVERY time you get more responsibility, it's a time for a legimite pay discussion.

It never hurts to ask as it's not grounds for dismissal :D
 

Tilda

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I dont really have much advice but felt this deserved a bump.
I know if I wasnt really enjoying my job, finances permitting I wouldn't hesitate to move.
 

Solo

Fledgling Freddie
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Can you explain more about the degree your taking- From what I gather you are a mature student in your last year of a computer science degree, although this is part-time study as you having been working for the last 6 years at one place. >?

Can't you graduate and then start looking for graduate jobs + use the experience from your other job to get a boost into an environment you'd actually like to work in.
 

Mojo

Fledgling Freddie
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I am curious to know if you are actually bored with comps or maybe just bored with what you are doing with them?
 

Calaen

I am a massive cock who isn't firing atm!
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Can you explain more about the degree your taking- From what I gather you are a mature student in your last year of a computer science degree, although this is part-time study as you having been working for the last 6 years at one place. >?

Can't you graduate and then start looking for graduate jobs + use the experience from your other job to get a boost into an environment you'd actually like to work in.

Being part time which is 6 hours a week it will take me 6 years to complete. I was thinking of cutting my loses, and getting the Cemap stuff to become a mortgage advisor.

I enjoy what I do but I feel (like most I guess) under valued and very under payed for my age and experience and what I do.
 

Solo

Fledgling Freddie
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Being part time which is 6 hours a week it will take me 6 years to complete. I was thinking of cutting my loses, and getting the Cemap stuff to become a mortgage advisor.

I enjoy what I do but I feel (like most I guess) under valued and very under payed for my age and experience and what I do.

I take it full time education is not an option? You re-enter the job market when you finish the degree and that'll will definitely increase your salary even if your doing more or less the same as what your doing now. Perhaps with more chance for promotion.

As your still studying atm you should pop along to the uni career advice centre :)
 

Calaen

I am a massive cock who isn't firing atm!
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Full time studay is no longer an option, my wife and I are due our first child in July. One of the main reason I am reconsidering my position.
 

Ezteq

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Um well (you prolly all know this anyway but a quick recap)

I had a series of jobs since I left school at 16 did all kinds of stuff moved about a lot job to job a few examples are building site work as a painter and decorator, croupier, nursing auxillary, safety inspector for aircraft, supermarket night shifter all kinds.

Anyway I decided after I broke my hand a couple of years ago that I should strat looking for something serious, basically the "what to do when i grow up" thing, B2 asked me what I wanted to do when I was a kid and tbh I wanted to be a librarian, however due to low self esteem and no exam results I discounted this completely.

When I was still in plaster for my hand I began looking in to it seriously, going to libraries and asking what to do, asking learn direct and researching what I'd need. I started night school (2 evenings a week) and got my math and english GCSEs in preperation for my access course which is equivilent to A level, went and got a job as a saturday assistant in a library for experience and next june hopefully I'll be beginning my uni masters in library studies.

Tbh i never thought I could go do college and stuff because of the money but this course is done by people with kids/jobs etc, the night school classes are doable (and free!) and the uni course is distance learning with 2 weeks a year you have to actually spend at the uni study school, this is the expensive bit but you can work full time while doing it. My point is if you find something you really want to do there are ways round it so please don't say "going back to school is out of the question.." its not, you just have to find a way to do it and if you think about it if you do it now youll be done and earning proper money by the time your babys at primary school and it really is an investment.

there are loads of places to go for career/study advice, you just have to figure out what you want, and a total change of job is not as scarey as it might sound if its something you really want to do then do it because the quality of life for you and your family will be vastly improved.

Anyhoo I really hope you find somehting

Ez
 

Calaen

I am a massive cock who isn't firing atm!
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See I would love to be a librarian, but I am not sure that because I love reading so much is a proper reason :)
 

Gamah

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When I grow up i'll be an adult!

In all seriousness I currently work in 1st lin support for an IT company and I am planing to go to uni next year to do a computer science course.

I will be 23 when I go to University and would have lived with my girlfriend for over a year, so if I actually go it will be hard.

I am also keeping my options open that my company will offer me a way forward so I can get where I need without the need to uni for 4 years.
 

Mojo

Fledgling Freddie
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When I grow up i'll be an adult!

In all seriousness I currently work in 1st lin support for an IT company and I am planing to go to uni next year to do a computer science course.

I will be 23 when I go to University and would have lived with my girlfriend for over a year, so if I actually go it will be hard.

I am also keeping my options open that my company will offer me a way forward so I can get where I need without the need to uni for 4 years.

I would say you are probably better off getting IT Cert's and changing job after 12 months, ideally moving to 2nd line or contract work. Then move again and so on. Experience and IT Certs > Degrees when it comes to IT Support work IMO.
 

Gamah

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I would say you are probably better off getting IT Cert's and changing job after 12 months, ideally moving to 2nd line or contract work. Then move again and so on. Experience and IT Certs > Degrees when it comes to IT Support work IMO.

I dont want to stay in IT support ;)
 

MaCaBr3

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Oct 26, 2004
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I've had several IT jobs and the only way that you gonna make more money is by specilizing and getting certificates and experience.

I work in a Network Operation Centre for a compay (every IT company has a NOC) and we do network and security monitoring 24/7. Ok it is shiftwork, but I get payed ALLOT. But if I wanna have the same wage without shifts, I'll probably have to upgrade my CCNA to CCNP or higher.

Anyway i'm happy (for now) at current job, I get payed lots and I have do do shit all, especially when doing evening or night shifts I usually surf the net and whatch movies. But eventually i'm gonna get bored with the shifts so i'm currentely preparing to do my CCNP examens.
 

Ezteq

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See I would love to be a librarian, but I am not sure that because I love reading so much is a proper reason :)

rofl whenever i ask anyone i work with why are they doing this job, they say "because I love books"... tbh you ask a vet why theyre a vet theyll say "because I love animals" ask a nanny why theyre a nanny and theyll say "because I love children"

think of something you really love and then maybe thats the area you should work in, it really is that simple tbh.
 

tris-

Failed Geordie and Parmothief
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think of something you really love and then maybe thats the area you should work in, it really is that simple tbh.

so your saying, right, someone will pay me to drug up girls and do stuff?
 

Ezteq

Queen of OT
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so your saying, right, someone will pay me to drug up girls and do stuff?

LOOL when i wrote that i thought to myself there goes tris off to work in the porno industry.

whats that elvis song, you are always on my mind?


naaah lol tbh you aint nothin' but a hound dog!
 

Marc

FH is my second home
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Dec 28, 2003
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Become a scaffolder.There are so many more Pros than cons


£40k+ a year (more if you go down south)
4 and a half day week
Friday afternoons in the pub are mandatory
You are legaly allowed to beat your wife
You get to work away all week and get lashed every night
 

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