Changing career

[GetCarter]

I was a van/delivery driver for a year when I left school. Decided it was not for me so went back to college to study music, and have been a self employed musician since.

A lot easier then than it would be now.

[768]

kentlad said:

I'd happily work 200 days a year in those conditions and earn £120k...as i'm sure 90% of people in any industry would be...now where do i sign up? 27, no experience in IT other than excel (I'm a management accountant)

Just (optionally, but recommended) get a Comp Sci degree from a reasonable uni and work solidly at becoming a decent programmer. Work for 5 years, don't stay anywhere longer than 2 years and choose your moves wisely. Shouldn't taken you long from there to get a decent contract, but you may well hate the job by then!

Not much point paying the income tax after the £100k cliff, just leave the extra in the company for any future time off (I've taken up to 6 months off in a year) and/or pension if that's your thing.

I've had a little over a month off now, end of last week I started looking for contracts and have two interviews lined up this week. I'm on the fence as to whether I'll even go, but I think my wife might hit the roof if I don't take a contract soon.

[hyphen]

kentlad said:

I'd happily work 200 days a year in those conditions and earn £120k...as i'm sure 90% of people in any industry would be...now where do i sign up? 27, no experience in IT other than excel (I'm a management accountant)

You are looking at it the wrong way.

Management Accountants can also work on daily rates that 90% of any industry would be happy to work on. And the same in all industries. So the question to ask is why you one isn't in their own industry rather than seeing the grass in the field next door. .

Edited by hyphen on Tuesday 22 November 19:39

[hyphen]

funkyrobot said:

Yes. Been discussing it for a while.

I'm in the no camp, but she wants another. I can't see us having anymore to be honest. She knows how I feel about it as it isn't just my opinion. She is nearly 40 and is type 1 diabetic, so she needs to think of her health too.

Lets hope you get your way!

So any more thoughts on path/career change choice. Have you considered part time study for a qualification?

[funkyrobot]

hyphen said:

Lets hope you get your way!

So any more thoughts on path/career change choice. Have you considered part time study for a qualification?

Thanks.

Looking at other things now. Bizarrely, I seem quite drawn to floristry. I'm quite creative and something about this really hits home for me. I've invested in some learning materials so will be doing a bit of that now. I also need to get my arse into gear with writing. I've had ideas and story plans for years, but never got into writing the damn stuff down. That is something else I need to devote a bit of time to.

Apart from the above, I've also been looking at something more sales based as a role. I did customer services and sales years ago and to be honest, I quite enjoyed it. I like the people interaction and love having a lot of knowledge about something that I can pass on to others.

Teaching is something I took a brief look at. Could be an interesting choice.

I've also been looking at mentoring youngsters. Unfortunately, that has stalled though as a charity I was supposed to be getting involved with seems to have disappeared from my local area.

I had another very long, very boring and deflating day at work again today. I simply cannot keep doing what I do at the moment any longer than I need to. It doesn't help when I seem to make bad choices and end up in crappy roles. Oh well, onwards and upwards.

[hyphen]

So that's floristry, writing, sales, customer service, teaching and mentoring! Think you need to narrow that down to 1 or 2 pretty quick. What does your partner think?

Also, do you excercise? always a good idea to workout in some way if work is not going well. Will make you feel a whole lot better, and give you focus.

[funkyrobot]

hyphen said:

So that's floristry, writing, sales, customer service, teaching and mentoring! Think you need to narrow that down to 1 or 2 pretty quick. What does your partner think?

Also, do you excercise? always a good idea to workout in some way if work is not going well. Will make you feel a whole lot better, and give you focus.

I know I need to narrow it down. Just things I'm considering at the moment.

My partner knows what I'm like. She knows I'll go with something.

Need to get back on the bicycle to be honest. As you say, will help me immensely.

[TheGuru]

xjay1337 said:

£600 is high end consultancy for your own business or independent.

I work PAYE fairly high level in support and installation and I'm paid just under half that per day .

Support is at the bottom end of the industry, you can earn substantially more in many other roles (architect, PM etc)

IT has a huge variety of job roles to choose from so changing careers can be done within the industry to some degree. For example some of the roles could be the following :

Team Leader/Management
Account management
Sales
Commercial manager (processing RFS/RFC's etc)
Project manager/Programme Manager/Project Executive
Strategy
Enterprise Architecture
TSM (Technical Solution manager - IBM term) responsible for bringing deals together

I have know many people in the above roles who have even moved off to non-IT jobs and retained very high salaries, e.g. moved into management consulting.

[GT03ROB]

toon10 said:

IT Manager here and I'd love to get out of IT all together. I have a teenager with expensive tastes, a new large house, new car and a baby not to mention the other half. It's just not going to happen. I couldn't afford to drop my salary and I can't expect to do anything else and get paid the same. I'm not even sure what a 42 year old who has only ever done IT would do?

Easy fix to that problem.....

....teach teen value of money, get a smaller house, old banger ...... you can now drop the salary & are free to do what you want.... or you can continue to do what you don't like just to have a big house & new car.....

...it's the Mexican fisherman story really.....

....not picking on you by the way, just illustrating you always have options to do what you want.

[xjay1337]

TheGuru said:

upport is at the bottom end of the industry, you can earn substantially more in many other roles (architect, PM etc)

IT has a huge variety of job roles to choose from so changing careers can be done within the industry to some degree. For example some of the roles could be the following :

Team Leader/Management
Account management
Sales
Commercial manager (processing RFS/RFC's etc)
Project manager/Programme Manager/Project Executive
Strategy
Enterprise Architecture
TSM (Technical Solution manager - IBM term) responsible for bringing deals together

I have know many people in the above roles who have even moved off to non-IT jobs and retained very high salaries, e.g. moved into management consulting.

Im paid more than any of our PMs. Id like to get into management of the support side as working in support i understand both cust expectations and the support side as a tecchie obviously. Not a chance at my current company.
Besides my boss is lovely.

Sales not a chance, im not a wxnker , likewise im not good at talking ste.
Technical PM would be good but need 10yrs experience and prince 2 to be on what i am as PAYE. Pre sales similar issue with pay plus some of it is commission based.

Support is boring, its the consultantcy and installation side i enjoy.
But i cant argue on the wage, in the 40% bracket and there are always jobs out there albeit at slightly less money.

[toon10]

GT03ROB said:

toon10 said:

IT Manager here and I'd love to get out of IT all together. I have a teenager with expensive tastes, a new large house, new car and a baby not to mention the other half. It's just not going to happen. I couldn't afford to drop my salary and I can't expect to do anything else and get paid the same. I'm not even sure what a 42 year old who has only ever done IT would do?

Easy fix to that problem.....

....teach teen value of money, get a smaller house, old banger ...... you can now drop the salary & are free to do what you want.... or you can continue to do what you don't like just to have a big house & new car.....

...it's the Mexican fisherman story really.....

....not picking on you by the way, just illustrating you always have options to do what you want.

Whilst I agree with that, these are all things in my control, I definitely do not want to drive an old banger, have a smaller house or make my son change his tastes in clothes. I'd rather put up with the daily grind and suffer a bit to provide my family the things they (and ultimately I) want than give it all up for a simple life and easy job.

In an ideal world, I'd love to change profession and keep my current lifestyle but like I've said, that's not going to happen

[funkyrobot]

toon10 said:

Whilst I agree with that, these are all things in my control, I definitely do not want to drive an old banger, have a smaller house or make my son change his tastes in clothes. I'd rather put up with the daily grind and suffer a bit to provide my family the things they (and ultimately I) want than give it all up for a simple life and easy job.

In an ideal world, I'd love to change profession and keep my current lifestyle but like I've said, that's not going to happen

It's a very personal thing and nobody can tell anyone how they should live their life.

People are different and some would rather have a cheaper lifestyle than flog themselves at work.

I'm firmly in the camp of make the most of what you have. If you can't afford something, you can't buy it. The way myself and my fiancée think seems to be at odds with a lot of the world. Apart from our mortgage, we have no debt whatsoever. This helps us situations like mine because we don't have so many monthly commitments.

[FocusRS3]

Watching this thread with great interest !

I'm city based and in the same business for many years . Problem is it's coming to a grinding halt and I'm wondering weather I jump ship now or join the masses in a couple of years .
Also the business has made me genuinely miserably for the last two years to the point I'll neck a bottle of wine of an evening just to unwind .
Somethings telling me life's too short !

Edited by FocusRS3 on Monday 5th December 20:36

[xjay1337]

FocusRS3 said:

Watching this thread with great interest !

I'm city based and in the same business for many years . Problem is it's coming to a grinding halt and I'm wondering weather I jump ship now or join the masses in a couple of years .
Also the business has made me genuinely miserably for the last two years to the point I'll neck a bottle of wine of an evening just to unwind .
Somethings telling me life's too short !

Edited by FocusRS3 on Monday 5th December 20:36

Sounds like you're a tipple away from being an alchy!

I would leave if you are that upset, it's not worth it.

[FocusRS3]

xjay1337 said:

FocusRS3 said:

Watching this thread with great interest !

I'm city based and in the same business for many years . Problem is it's coming to a grinding halt and I'm wondering weather I jump ship now or join the masses in a couple of years .
Also the business has made me genuinely miserably for the last two years to the point I'll neck a bottle of wine of an evening just to unwind .
Somethings telling me life's too short !

Edited by FocusRS3 on Monday 5th December 20:36

Sounds like you're a tipple away from being an alchy!

I would leave if you are that upset, it's not worth it.

This is my leaning but obviously there are others to consider .
Hopefully will be breaking the chains soon then take some time out and take a look to see what's out there.
You're right about the boozing it's not the answer !

[funkyrobot]

I get depressed and fed up, but never hit the bottle. Ive never been a drinker and wouldn't want to use it to escape. I do drink single malt now and again though. Never go too far.

Get out if it is making you dependant on alcohol. Its a one way street to misery. I know as I grew up with an alcoholic father who became a real bd when on the juice.

[FocusRS3]

funkyrobot said:

I get depressed and fed up, but never hit the bottle. Ive never been a drinker and wouldn't want to use it to escape. I do drink single malt now and again though. Never go too far.

Get out if it is making you dependant on alcohol. Its a one way street to misery. I know as I grew up with an alcoholic father who became a real bd when on the juice.

Cheers wise words .
I know when to stop and it hasn't so far affected my home life or relationship with my kids.

Nonetheless you're right time for change

[hyphen]

toon10 said:

Whilst I agree with that, these are all things in my control, I definitely do not want to drive an old banger, have a smaller house or make my son change his tastes in clothes. I'd rather put up with the daily grind and suffer a bit to provide my family the things they (and ultimately I) want than give it all up for a simple life and easy job.

In an ideal world, I'd love to change profession and keep my current lifestyle but like I've said, that's not going to happen

Nice car I can understand, nice house I can understand. Teenage son 'must have expensive clothes' hmmmm

I can make multiple of what I earn if I return to the rat race, but I have little desire to. My thinking is that a happier me is a better dad & husband than a miserable me.

Edited by hyphen on Tuesday 6th December 09:07

[Monkeylegend]

FocusRS3 said:

Watching this thread with great interest !

I'm city based and in the same business for many years . Problem is it's coming to a grinding halt and I'm wondering weather I jump ship now or join the masses in a couple of years .
Also the business has made me genuinely miserably for the last two years to the point I'll neck a bottle of wine of an evening just to unwind .
Somethings telling me life's too short !

Edited by FocusRS3 on Monday 5th December 20:36

Don't wait for the inevitable, get out under your own terms when it suits you, unless of course you are in for a big severance package

If you are not happy at work it effects all other aspects of your life. I had the same issue 20 years ago, walked away without a job to go to and became self employed, best decision I ever made.

[FocusRS3]

Monkeylegend said:

FocusRS3 said:

Watching this thread with great interest !

I'm city based and in the same business for many years . Problem is it's coming to a grinding halt and I'm wondering weather I jump ship now or join the masses in a couple of years .
Also the business has made me genuinely miserably for the last two years to the point I'll neck a bottle of wine of an evening just to unwind .
Somethings telling me life's too short !

Edited by FocusRS3 on Monday 5th December 20:36

Don't wait for the inevitable, get out under your own terms when it suits you, unless of course you are in for a big severance package

If you are not happy at work it effects all other aspects of your life. I had the same issue 20 years ago, walked away without a job to go to and became self employed, best decision I ever made.

Good to hear and good for you .

Have been a slave to the rhythm for many years so not really the need to do it anymore actually .

Right time to crack on :-)