What's more important - Earning potential or happiness?

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As per title really, what do you consider to be more important?

I'm 22 (23 this year), been in full time employment since 16, earn a half decent wage considering I have 0 qualifications and I'm in the right industry (oil & gas) to earn good money as I gain more experience. At the moment I live quite comfortably. Own my car outright, have no debt, halfway towards a decent deposit on a house, nice watches, 2 holidays a year, weekends away etc etc.

However, I really, really lack any motivation at work. I hate my job, infact I almost despise it. It almost depresses me. I come into work in the morning and do as little as I can get away with because I just can't be arsed. I hate the people I work for. I don't mind the work too much, but I really don't think it's something I want to do for the rest of my working life. My job really is a doddle. I come in at 9am and finish at 3.30. Finish earlier quite often, very laid back atmosphere etc. It's a good number - apart from the people in charge.

I think if I moved companies it would help things massively, but since I have no qualifications, I am relying purely on experience and since it's only 4 years my options are really limited. I wouldn't be considered for trainee jobs and I won't be considered for any other relevant posts due to my lack of qualifications. Night school etc isn't really an option due to my work patterns, being abroad, offshore etc.

Obviously I am looking for a change of scenery but there really isn't much out there for me at present. My other option would be to drop out of employment completely and go back to college full time and get the quals etc required to progress or move into a completely different sector. I quite fancy a fitness based role - but from what I gather the earning potential isn't great unless you really are exceptional.

Would you give up a good paying job with the opportunities in the future to earn a good living i.e. 60-70K+ PA but you dislike the job, for a much lesser paying job, with much longer hours but you actually enjoy the job?

Any experiences, advice etc would be greatfully received.

Thanks.

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doogz said:

What exactly do you do OP? And what don't you like about it?

I'm a Measurement specialist/calibration engineer/technician - whatever you want to call it. I calibrate equipment used for fiscal metering/measurement i.e. Turbine Meters, Pipe Provers, Coriolis Meters, Venturi tubes etc

M400 NBL said:

9am until 3.30pm sounds like a right result.

How far away from work do you live? If its' close,consider how much you need to earn to make the same amount/hour should you work somewhere further. But ultimately it often comes down to how you get on with your collegues.

Yea it's not a bad number when in the office but I often have to work weekends and don't get paid for them, work 12-16 hour shifts when away working and don't get paid anymore for that so it's swings and roundabouts really. I only live 10mins away from work, but I live right next to the main industrial estate where most oil companies are based so travel shouldn't be an issue.

jimslops said:

Yes, but it seems as that is as well as offshore. Still good as I know many offshore workers with lots of different set ups and some who get their offshore day rate for being in the office - how many days are you averaging on the rig / year?

It sounds like he does not get on with the people he works for, and probably doesn't get on that well with the people he works with. I say keep your head down and try not let it get to you (obviously I do not know the severity, or how easy this is to do). The fact that you have you certificates means you could work your way through a drill crew (Transocean) of be eligible for many service company 'field service' positions - Schlumberger, Haliiburton, Aker and many of others. If you want the same money as now ( I am assuming gross is 35k-55k ) you will have to have that unsociable offshore life. At least if you were part of a drill crew or had the ability to progress to client well site drilling engineer (IWCF, HND and experience required) you could have some sort of manageable rotation. That all depends how ambitious / lucky / intelligent you are.

Have a look on oil careers as currently there are a lot of vacancies. Also look at the recruiters who are advertising the positions as they usually have more jobs on their personal websites as sometimes they do not get time to update both.

P.S - You have PM.

Your quite right. When not offshore, working onsite etc I am in the office. When working away though it's 12-16 hour shifts. Going by last year I'd say I spent about 40% of the time offshore/abroad/onsite. Again, you are bang on with regards to co-workers/management. It's a really small company. Only 3 field guys (1 is a trainee who is utterly useless but always gets sent on jobs with me and the powers that be have never seen him on a job), 1 team leader and the GM. I don't get paid anywhere near what you suggest. More than 10K off your lowest figure. I do get an allowance paid for nights away which brings my wage up slightly but still quite a bit less. I just assumed that it wasn't a bad wage for someone my age with only GCSEs.

My current employer won't put me through any qualifications as they know I would be offski once completed. I have enquired about doing quals/course in the past and it fell on deaf ears.

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doogz said:

Ah, fair enough, it's pretty specific then. I wondered if you were a draughtsman, or a rigger, or something that's fairly universal in terms of skills, where you could completely change industry and still be qualified in a useful manner.

The only transferable skills I have are mechanical and limited electrical really. Obviously I have offshore experience so know all the HSE requirements, PTW systems, Risk assesments etc. It's a very niche market, and competition is small but it does however pay very well if you can get a start with one of the operators on a rotation basis offshore. The problem is, to get that role you need an HND/C and/or experience. I only really have the relevant experience for about 30% of the role.

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jimslops said:

You should be able to get a start with a service company as a trainee for not much less than you are on. Wireline, logging, cementing, pit cleaning, ship and skip, the list goes on. Once trained you should see a lot more money.

Cut back on all the luxuries you have and pay your way through distance learning HNC/HND Engineering if this is the industry you want to stay in.

This would seem the best option. I will get my CV out there and see if anything comes from it. I have looked into doing an HNC/D through distance learning but the cost is rather large. It's from the techincal college in Teeside so rental of equipment etc adds to the cost also. On the flipside I guess it would be an investment. I have been in touch with Aberdeen College and they are in the final stages of rolling out a distance learning course for HND/C in engineering so hopefully the cost would be less since it's local.

Thanks for the advice so far. Serious question; Does anybody on here actually look forward to going to work? I mean, do you wake up in the morning and not actually mind going to work? I'm guessing how I feel isn't really the norm, or am I just having a 'moment'? My job can be okay sometimes. For example last February I spent 2 weeks in Dubai on a 5 star spa resort - everything paid for and only working 6-7 hour days. This would appear to be a one off though as I never get the "good" jobs.

I don't want to get to the stage where I have a house and financial commitments and stuck in a job I hate but can't leave because of the former. On the other hand I have become accustomed to the money I am making and having a large (for me) disposable income. So to have less money, and be in the same job I can only see me being even less happy - which almost puts me off paying my way through qualifications & courses.

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ross-co said:

Fortunately for me Jamie I am still able to get up and I am happy to go into work, i do enjoy my job and the challenges i face at it, that for me makes up for the fact my wages are not as good as the could be doing something else.

I feel its about getting a good balance, i would agree though get your CV out to the companies and follow it up with a phone call where you can, will mark you out from the others who just punt out a CV to every company they can find.

Hopefully Aberdeen college get the distance learning course sorted out sooner rather than later.

Alrighty Ross? Didn't see your reply on the other page. You're right, Bankhead huh! I blame Dawson and Mrs. Carroll Hahaha!!

It would seem that I am a minority then as everyone seems happier to go to work than I do. At times I'd rather go to the dentist than come to work - that's saying something! I'm the exact opposite it would seem. I make easy money, very easy money infact. And providing I am working away then it's good money, but it has reached that dead end stage. I can't see where I can progress, nor increase my earnings. So in reality my salary will be getting smaller each year. So while it may be decent just now, it will be pretty crap in 2-3 years if inflation keeps going the way it's going. Is it not the weekend yet!?

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Benjurs said:

Ben (38) but was in a similar situation to you at your age..I tried the former path..

How has it worked out, if you don't mind me asking?