Advice Needed.

Doodee

Ok,

Basically, I'm wondering about getting a new job.

I currently work 35hours a week at minimum wage and very unsocial hours.
I work 28 of these hours during the evenings and have been working for the company for almost 16months now.

I am still attending college however, due to the way I choose to live my life I'm considering dropping out and re-applying next year for evening courses in the same college. It’s really only something I have thought about recently.

Another alternative is continuing to work evening, but at a higher wage but for less hours. However, that said, I’m will be picky about what type of work I do.
I've always been sort of hands on, either dealing with people or else fixing something. Also, I wouldn't really fancy working in Supermarkets or shops. I still kind of require some entertainment.
I’m a junkie for pressure. I will bitch and moan but when I worked in a pub I really enjoyed trying to control situations that were, well, uncontrollable.
I work better when pressured, as I seem to be able to think well.

So basically I’m just wondering what alternatives I have. My current Job + College doesn't give me enough free time to do what needs to be done and more often than not my college work seems to suffer.

In case someone is wondering, I am a first year student in DIT Kevin Street doing computer science.
I have a Fetec level 2 Award in Computer Animation and Games design (not really worth much outside of the industry).

I have been working with computers for almost as long as I have been able to tie my shoes. However, I lack a degree or anything to back that up.

I am pretty good at giving advice to people on computer related matters, however I’m not the best to judge myself.

That’s about it. Just wondering what sort of jobs would be available to me, I have my own transport and live within the city really.
7e an hour just doesn't seem worth it anymore

People’s thoughts are welcome and appreciated.

Blitzkrieger

Don't bother doing a degree - if I could have my four years back..............

Honestly your qualification in animation and game design is probably worth more than a degree in computer science right now. In the extreme long term the degree might be usefull to you. It's very difficult to work long hours and study a degree at night, so it might be a good idea to try and stay in college full time for now, which is also very difficult when you're working almost full time as well.

Your original question seems a bit of a no-brainer. A better job is always a good thing. It might become a neccessity. By the mid-way mark of third year if not sooner you won't be able to give college adequate time unless you cut back dramatically on your work hours. I know from first hand experience. I had to work my way through college and my grades suffered because of it.

Doodee

My grades currently aren’t a problem. I have always been able to put college work on the long finger and still obtain a grade in the 70’s.
I could seek full time employment and continue my degree at a later date, but I kind of like college so I do not really fancy giving it up.

My current job is pretty sweet, there’s not a lot of work evolved, but this is proportional to the wage. Basic job = basic pay.

I doubt a lot of people will be able to answer my questions but the advice is appreciated.

WhiteWashMan

doodee,

it really depends on what you want yourself.
as blitz has pointed out, after 2nd year, things become a lot tougher, and you will need to dedicate more time to studies if you want to keep your grades.

if you can get a degree and keep getting valuable experience then thats the best way forward, but as you point out, valuable experience can only be got with better jobs, and they are more time consumming.
catch 22.
so what do you want to do? what do you feel is the right way for you to go?

do you really want to lose out on your college and degree experience\education, or do you think that the way forward is to get a better job and ditch the studies?

from my own point of view, i think you are mad for working the hours you do, but then again, when i was in college, i worked 30 hours a week at 2 quid an hour until 4am at weekend so i could continue to get a degree (which i dropped after the third year) so i kinda know what youa re thinking.
if what you have now works for you, then at least you know in another year or two, you will at least have a diploma or a pass degree. if you decided to take a better job, you may not get your certs, and you may not get the experience you require.

but then again, you may get everything. when i left college to pay of my college loans, i ended up working in a factory getting crap money and basically put myself ina bad place. i got bugger all money for a crap job with no prospects. and you cant get out of jobs like that easily. it took me 4 years to break that, and another 2 years even to get on the desktop support scale of IT. at least what you have at the moment is something that will be useful if nothing changes. you will have a cert. another cert should i say.
if you want another job, go for something with the same hours (i guess youve lasted this long because the hours siut you?) just better pay, and hopefully giving you more market experience.

dont know if that helps, or even makes sense, but throw up your thoughts.

Doodee

Very helpful. Thanks

Im still checking out all the options availible to me, but I have a bit of a better head on me shoulders now.
Thanks