Stuck in a career

[944fan]

I have worked in IT for 15 years, mostly as a developer and in recent years as a manager of a development team.

I used to really enjoy it and was happy being an employee, working for the Man, providing I got paid a decent wedge. As time has gone on whilst my salary has gone up nicely so has the level of stress, to the point that I feel its not worth it.

I am only 35, I cannot do this for another 35 years.

I would like to possibly run my own business but I have no idea doing what.

My wife is currently not working since having kids. She is re-training and will eventually go back to work. Even when she does she wont earn anything like my salary, so I feel like I am stuck with this line of work. We never seem to have any money as is, despite not being frivolous.

Anyone else feel trapped? Anyone been able to break free?

[Sharted]

Redundancy could be a solution.

If you have been at the same firm for 15 years and are earning decent money then the payout might be enough to keep you going while you set yourself up.

You'll know best how to single yourself out at your employer.

[944fan]

Sharted said:

Redundancy could be a solution.

If you have been at the same firm for 15 years and are earning decent money then the payout might be enough to keep you going while you set yourself up.

You'll know best how to single yourself out at your employer.

Not been at the same place for 15 years unfortunately.

Don't think redundancy is at likely at my current place and even if it was the payout would be tiny

[Dejay1788]

I was stuck in a dead end job for almost 8 years. I'd had enough of it and couldn't see myself being happy doing it for another 5 years, let the alone the rest of my life (I'm 26) so I started my own E-Commerce business.

I started out with what I was prepared to lose, and could budget and found something I could make a profit on. I did 95% of stuff myself and whilst it's been a massive learning curve, I feel like it's been worth it, I managed to make what I would have in my previous job in my first year, so whilst not massive it's getting me by and growing month on month now.

I started out doing this as well as my 9-5 job, and for a year it was a massive amount of work, but with a mortgage to pay I had to be sure it would work. My advice would be to go for it if you think you can do it and make money. Perhaps run your business on an evening and weekends to start with to make sure you keep the bills paid, or as said above if you can get redundancy beforehand you've got something to fall back on.

[a311]

It's a difficult situation to be in, I'm not in IT, a couple of years younger and know the feeling. How many people do a job they truly love? I've contracted, but mostly been an employee with a good salary and T&C's but this can become a trap in itself and the more responsibilities you have (or think you have) the more difficult it is to make a change, and you can get used to the money-slave to the wage. I live in a rural location which I love but other oppurtunities are thin on the ground.

My job has it's ups and downs (engineering) but I can think of many ways I'd rather spend the majority of my time however they'd only pay a fraction, I've earned a pitance before, but what's more important your own personal happiness, supporting your family-I'd say a combiantion of both.

So no real answers from me, I'd sit down and weigh up financially what you need to live and then look at options-concentrate on what you enjoy in your current job and take it from there. Ideally we should all do what we enjoy but sometimes life gets in the way.

Personnally I'd love to run a country pub, cooking mostly, but unless you have the capital it seems hard to make a success. I guess ultimately I'm not much of a risk taker!

[crofty1984]

a311 said:

It's a difficult situation to be in, I'm not in IT, a couple of years younger and know the feeling. How many people do a job they truly love? I've contracted, but mostly been an employee with a good salary and T&C's but this can become a trap in itself and the more responsibilities you have (or think you have) the more difficult it is to make a change, and you can get used to the money-slave to the wage. I live in a rural location which I love but other oppurtunities are thin on the ground.

My job has it's ups and downs (engineering) but I can think of many ways I'd rather spend the majority of my time however they'd only pay a fraction, I've earned a pitance before, but what's more important your own personal happiness, supporting your family-I'd say a combiantion of both.

So no real answers from me, I'd sit down and weigh up financially what you need to live and then look at options-concentrate on what you enjoy in your current job and take it from there. Ideally we should all do what we enjoy but sometimes life gets in the way.

Personnally I'd love to run a country pub, cooking mostly, but unless you have the capital it seems hard to make a success. I guess ultimately I'm not much of a risk taker!

Are you me? Oh, no - you can cook.
I'd love to head out on my own but have basically no trade to sell. Worked in Engineering sales for a decade so what I'm good at is being a really good employee. Well, I like to think so anyway.
Seeing as I have a mortgage and all the rest (though no kids fortunately)I'd struggle to take a pay cut, but think I may have to if I changed industries and stayed in employment.
Odd thing is, I like the company and the people, just not the actual job I do. Spending far too much time covering for my immediate manager.

[a311]

crofty1984 said:

Are you me? Oh, no - you can cook.
I'd love to head out on my own but have basically no trade to sell. Worked in Engineering sales for a decade so what I'm good at is being a really good employee. Well, I like to think so anyway.
Seeing as I have a mortgage and all the rest (though no kids fortunately)I'd struggle to take a pay cut, but think I may have to if I changed industries and stayed in employment.
Odd thing is, I like the company and the people, just not the actual job I do. Spending far too much time covering for my immediate manager.

That's the other thing for people in this sort situation to consider-re training. This normally involves getting qualifactions and/or experience and it's hard to get any salary most of the time. I don't consider myself particulary accademic and I'm lukcy that my employer has paid me through 2 degrees and I'm also chartered. It's usually the case that by the time you decide your chosen path is not for you, you're too deep into life!

I admire people who can just take the plunge, ditch the material stuff (inc cars and houses) and try to change their lives. As a none risk taker I'd always be thinking what if it backfires etc and I'm worse off for it? Like you I have reponsibilites such as mortgage etc but no family yet. I'm surrounded by people who spent a lot of time and money getting qualifications then quickly realised they didn't see a long term career in their chosen field so go into project and other support roles. I seem to be a bit stuck in middle management at the moment which has a lot to do with the problems I have most of the time.....

[944fan]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I have considered this. A big part of the stress I have to deal with is constantly trying to keep a client happy, who demands so much and doesn't understand the complexity of software development. At least as a contractor I can come in do my bit, do it well, and then walk away and not take any baggage with me.

Was always in the past slightly concerned about contracting and the lack of stability but I guess it just takes planning. I still think my dev skills are good enough to command a decent day rate so that might be an option.

[21TonyK]

Only comment or advice from me is think really, really carefully about this. you are at your peak earning potential in terms of age. Any dramatic changes now could mean you could (and I only mean could) come unstuck long term.

I was high-end IT until 2002 when I changed career at 32. It took me until now to get everything sorted and basically it cost me a vast amount of money meaning I will now be working beyond my planned retirement (ie, this year!!)

I'd being looking to adapt how you work rather than anything dramatic and quick.

[944fan]

21TonyK said:

Only comment or advice from me is think really, really carefully about this. you are at your peak earning potential in terms of age. Any dramatic changes now could mean you could (and I only mean could) come unstuck long term.

I was high-end IT until 2002 when I changed career at 32. It took me until now to get everything sorted and basically it cost me a vast amount of money meaning I will now be working beyond my planned retirement (ie, this year!!)

I'd being looking to adapt how you work rather than anything dramatic and quick.

Thanks, good advice. I think you are right. I am not a risk taker and wouldn't move unless it was stable and profitable.

I think adapting to how I work is a good idea. I think a big part of the apathy I have for my job currently is it feels like such a waste of time. I couldn't tell you what my current company actually does because it just would sound ridiculous. It is such a waste of time. Our clients are also no picnic. We bust our balls for them and they are never satisfied. We've cancelled or cut short holidays, worked all night, weekends and we don't even get a thanks.

I would to remain in IT as it is something that I am good at but perhaps if the purpose of the company and the products were of more interest to me then I might get more satisfaction.