Who enjoys their job?
Discussion
Love mine. Dramatic change of career 18 months ago - gave up a well-paid career in telecoms that spanned 35 years and became an ADI.
Hard work to earn a meagre crust but dealing with (mainly) 17/18 year olds and trying to ensure they become safe drivers and not a statistic is very rewarding.
In addition, I get to see my home and surroundings in daylight all year round (unlike before when the commute started at 06.30 and finished at 19.30hrs). Added to that I can take time off when ever its suits me (5 weeks this year so far).
The only downside is spending far too much time in a s****y Peugeot eurobox diesel thing (but at least I'm not driving it most of the time
)
Hard work to earn a meagre crust but dealing with (mainly) 17/18 year olds and trying to ensure they become safe drivers and not a statistic is very rewarding.
In addition, I get to see my home and surroundings in daylight all year round (unlike before when the commute started at 06.30 and finished at 19.30hrs). Added to that I can take time off when ever its suits me (5 weeks this year so far).
The only downside is spending far too much time in a s****y Peugeot eurobox diesel thing (but at least I'm not driving it most of the time
)Where's that Wolf of Wall Street meme of "absolutely f
king not" when you need it?
Been spannering on cars for the past decade or so and it's gone downhill in the past few years. Got upto "master technician" status, but the pay didn't reflect the role. Moved elsewhere for a circa 10% pay increase and was promised the world of training and being able to progress out of the workshop. All of which looks like never coming to fruition. So I'm toiling away trying to find a suitable alternate job/career that the salary doesn't cap out at low 20k's, but my current skills can be utilised in. I fear I may be searching for a unicorn!
king not" when you need it?Been spannering on cars for the past decade or so and it's gone downhill in the past few years. Got upto "master technician" status, but the pay didn't reflect the role. Moved elsewhere for a circa 10% pay increase and was promised the world of training and being able to progress out of the workshop. All of which looks like never coming to fruition. So I'm toiling away trying to find a suitable alternate job/career that the salary doesn't cap out at low 20k's, but my current skills can be utilised in. I fear I may be searching for a unicorn!
Love mine, though have worked in other jobs in unrelated fields where I felt I was dying inside.
Remember that quote by Terry Wogan when asked by the Queen 'Do those people over there work at the BBC?'.(He was showing her round Broadcasting House). He replied, "No-one works at the BBC, Ma'am!"
Sort of the same for us.
They pay us too (though not a King's ransom it has to be said). It's a strange combination of immensely physical outdoor work in a savagely beautiful environment combined with science and data analysis. Sometimes we have to make very difficult judgment calls but that's also why it's so satisfying. We get interesting CPD on occasions - last year we had an fascinating pre-season 'meet & greet' with the new SAR boys (and their toys) at their new base up at Inverness Airport.
The weather can be (quite often!) utterly crap, but there are also days when it's stunning and I'm out and about on skis and I'd happily work for nothing. Have often worked on Christmas and New Year's Day without complaint. I'm lucky to be doing this job and remind myself of this at regular intervals.
Very occasionally people die on my patch, as was the case last winter, which is devastatingly difficult to cope with. They're always fit, active people out to enjoy themselves in a beautiful but challenging place. Not paying attention and a careless misjudgment......and the mountains can be bitterly unforgiving, even on a 'blue sky' day.
My summer job is quite different and satisfying in different ways, but that's another story.
Remember that quote by Terry Wogan when asked by the Queen 'Do those people over there work at the BBC?'.(He was showing her round Broadcasting House). He replied, "No-one works at the BBC, Ma'am!"
Sort of the same for us.
They pay us too (though not a King's ransom it has to be said). It's a strange combination of immensely physical outdoor work in a savagely beautiful environment combined with science and data analysis. Sometimes we have to make very difficult judgment calls but that's also why it's so satisfying. We get interesting CPD on occasions - last year we had an fascinating pre-season 'meet & greet' with the new SAR boys (and their toys) at their new base up at Inverness Airport.
The weather can be (quite often!) utterly crap, but there are also days when it's stunning and I'm out and about on skis and I'd happily work for nothing. Have often worked on Christmas and New Year's Day without complaint. I'm lucky to be doing this job and remind myself of this at regular intervals.
Very occasionally people die on my patch, as was the case last winter, which is devastatingly difficult to cope with. They're always fit, active people out to enjoy themselves in a beautiful but challenging place. Not paying attention and a careless misjudgment......and the mountains can be bitterly unforgiving, even on a 'blue sky' day.
My summer job is quite different and satisfying in different ways, but that's another story.
For the first time in many years, I can confidently say that I absolutely love my job.
I'm fortunate enough to work in an industry and for an employer that fascinates me and allows me to travel all over the world as frequently as I need to and in reasonable comfort. I'm given the space and freedom to work from my home office when I'm in the UK and when I'm abroad I'm trusted and supported by my employer to do my job completely and make money for our shareholders.
The travel can get quite punishing sometimes, but the experiences have been incredible; so far this year, I've visited something like 23 different countries, flown 40 or so sectors over 6 hours, had to utilise close protection services in a Middle Eastern country, been driven at high speed through an Asian capital in a military convoy, been stranded in Asia due to a cyclone, had entry to the US refused due to places I've been meaning flying a completely different route from my family to get to holiday, gone from GMT -6hours to GMT +7hours and back to GMT -6hours in the space of 10 days.
I meet and work with fascinating people (both my customers and those in my company) whose primary focus is the protection of life and liberty.
I'm fortunate enough to work in an industry and for an employer that fascinates me and allows me to travel all over the world as frequently as I need to and in reasonable comfort. I'm given the space and freedom to work from my home office when I'm in the UK and when I'm abroad I'm trusted and supported by my employer to do my job completely and make money for our shareholders.
The travel can get quite punishing sometimes, but the experiences have been incredible; so far this year, I've visited something like 23 different countries, flown 40 or so sectors over 6 hours, had to utilise close protection services in a Middle Eastern country, been driven at high speed through an Asian capital in a military convoy, been stranded in Asia due to a cyclone, had entry to the US refused due to places I've been meaning flying a completely different route from my family to get to holiday, gone from GMT -6hours to GMT +7hours and back to GMT -6hours in the space of 10 days.
I meet and work with fascinating people (both my customers and those in my company) whose primary focus is the protection of life and liberty.
Edited by schmalex on Saturday 10th September 21:49
Been in the armed forces just over ten years and started off as a rifleman but the last 6 years I've been a vehicle mechanic. Initally joined for the challenge and adventure both of which I experienced but I now despise it. Prior to joining I graduated with a BSc in Computer Science but the reasons above saw me attend the AFCO and joining up. Initially I didn't mind being one of the lads and I made loads of mates but I'm increasingly thinking I'm too good for this st.
Points that cause my morale to evaporate:
-military bullst such as parades every Monday, cleaning weapons that haven't been fired in a year, hurry up and wait
-superiors who are thick as mince and st at their basic job but being gobby + career laughing = leadership
-changing terms of contract
-old civvies having too much power. Their reluctance to change has a serious knock on effect to our productivity
-pay, hours, holidays etc are really good but I continuously feel like I'm stealing a living.
-Lazy fkers stealing a living and whom you can't trust to do anything "if you want something doing etc"
-not having the right kit and tools for the job.
Decided I'm out in two years but I've no idea what I want to do. Civvie mechanics jobs pay a lot less for a lot more work and I last did any programming over ten years ago!
t.Points that cause my morale to evaporate:
-military bulls
t such as parades every Monday, cleaning weapons that haven't been fired in a year, hurry up and wait-superiors who are thick as mince and s
t at their basic job but being gobby + career laughing = leadership-changing terms of contract
-old civvie
s having too much power. Their reluctance to change has a serious knock on effect to our productivity-pay, hours, holidays etc are really good but I continuously feel like I'm stealing a living.
-Lazy f
kers stealing a living and whom you can't trust to do anything "if you want something doing etc"-not having the right kit and tools for the job.
Decided I'm out in two years but I've no idea what I want to do. Civvie mechanics jobs pay a lot less for a lot more work and I last did any programming over ten years ago!
768 said:
Yeah, stacks of large systems integration type companies out there who would have a reasonably well paid role somewhere for someone who's ex-military with a CS degree. BAE, GE, Northrop, Raytheon, Lockheed...
I know Lockheed Martin have offices in Whiteley (between Southampton and Portsmouth). They do a lot of work with the company I work for.Yes. I'm 25 and have only just found a serious career path that a) offers progression and learning, and b) pays reasonably well - FMCG B2B sales. For the first time I do enjoy it and the future excites me.
One thing I would always advocate is putting 100% into whatever job you've got now, regardless of whether you want to do it long term or not. You'll always give yourself the best chance for something better this way.
One thing I would always advocate is putting 100% into whatever job you've got now, regardless of whether you want to do it long term or not. You'll always give yourself the best chance for something better this way.
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