Would like some advice please!

Johnny Versace

Word up.

I work in IT but don't particularily like my job or the IT industry in general. I like messing around with servers, writing scripts etc etc but purely as a hobby.

The IT industry for me is a dead, unsociable waste of my life, so I really should change careers.

I've been offered a job which I would enjoy (as a book buyer for a chain of bookshops) but it would mean starting at the bottom again (I'm 26), earning crap money for a few years, BUT I would be moving into an area I would like to work in and I can see myself being good at my job.

If the money was better I would take the job in a second, but I can't really afford being broke due to an ex employer screwing me over royally (12k) for wages owed. I have a large CC bill as a result.

So this is my dilemma. I can't really afford to take this job, but I know my long term happiness would be greatly improved if I do take it. Although short term (4 years??) I'd be broke.

I cannot decide what to do. It's really troubling me.

Any advice??

Thanks.

jesus_thats_gre

How to do feel about being broke until you are:

30

30

30

ravenhead

I really thinks it's worth the gamble - I did the exact same thing last year & went from a managerial position to start at the bottom again in a complete new career - I have to say it was very hard to start with ... but It really was the best thing I've ever done. The money is still Sh@t but it's worth it. I took on part time bar work to help get my money back up so I'm not feeling the pinch as much .... don't let money stop you from doing what you really want - things like that have a way of working themselves out... Best of Luck...;)

Kernel32

Do you have any dependents relying on your income, wife, kids parents? If not and its just you then this may be your last chance or close to it to get into a career you want. Once you have others relying on you to bring money in the door then changing anything that changes your income negatively becomes much more difficult.

Johnny Versace

Originally posted by ravenhead
I really thinks it's worth the gamble - I did the exact same thing last year & went from a managerial position to start at the bottom again in a complete new career - I have to say it was very hard to start with ... but It really was the best thing I've ever done. The money is still Sh@t but it's worth it. I took on part time bar work to help get my money back up so I'm not feeling the pinch as much .... don't let money stop you from doing what you really want - things like that have a way of working themselves out... Best of Luck...;)

Thanks for the advice.

My parents actually live around the corner from where I'd be working, so I could go there for lunch and dinner which would save me quite a few $$$.

And I suppose, if I hate it/can't survive I can always leave and return to IT? So maybe it is a gamble which can be reversed.

Hmmmm

ravenhead

& with your current career - can't you do a bit of freelance??

Johnny Versace

Yes I could do a bit of freelance. I also don't have any dependents so it's not so bad.

I think I will take it. Worst case scenario, I can come back to my current job I suppose.

It's just a scary move, a career change and all that...

Thanks for the advice

tk123

JV leave IT and take that job - there's no point being miserable for a few quid extra!!! Ur really lucky that you know what you'd prefer to do!!! I do IT and its being doing me head in lately but I have no idea what I'd prefer to do!!! Go for it - being happy and interested in your job will make up for the monies!!!

whosurpaddy

is this just something you think you might like to do as opposed to your lifes long dream? just be sure that you wont be saying the same thing about the literature industry in a few years time (unlikely i know).

as has already been said, you may not get too many more chances like this where you can realistically take the drop in wages.

the one thing id say to ya with regard to coming back to IT as a failsafe is keep up to pace in IT for a few years,(read some IT books, best of both worlds ) its one industry where your skills can become obsolete overnight if your not careful.

RicardoSmith

I'd love to get out of IT. If I was you I'd switch.

Johnny Versace

Originally posted by RicardoSmith
I'd love to get out of IT. If I was you I'd switch.

I just gave my notice, so the decision has been made.

AARRRGH I'm scared

Thanks for the advice everyone.

whosurpaddy

good luck man. i admire your courage for doing it. lifes too short to be stuck somewhere you dont want to be 40 hours a week.

casper-

Good luck! I usually get a feeling at least once a year that I'd like to leave IT, but never get around to doing it.

Ryvita

Congrats. I bet you feel even a bit liberated taking the road less travelled by? I'm doing the same thing myself in the autumn. Every person I know in IT wants to get out and do something else.

I say do it just go get another job or go back to college. You can always go back and you can always get part-time work or something. If u leave it too late you may have responsibilities like a mortgage and/or kids and it won't be possible.

Drop out! What's the worst that can happen.

yop

Wow, u are a brave man. I want to do the same but am in the middle of luckin for a mortgage and getting hitched so financially i cannot do it.
Have lost all the drive I used to have for working in IT. Am currently on worse money now than i was 4 years ago, due to a number of reasons and this is a total non motivator.
Would really love to get into auctioneering or buying houses and doing them up but not brave enough.

best of luck and well done

Ryvita

Originally posted by yop
Wow, u are a brave man. I want to do the same but am in the middle of luckin for a mortgage and getting hitched so financially i cannot do it.
Have lost all the drive I used to have for working in IT. Am currently on worse money now than i was 4 years ago, due to a number of reasons and this is a total non motivator.
Would really love to get into auctioneering or buying houses and doing them up but not brave enough.

best of luck and well done

It's not impossible. Wait until next year when things have settled down a bit and assess your finances. See how much you could hope to earn as an auctioneer. Your IT experience might still stand to you.

Maybe you just need to look for a new job in IT? Or maybe you could go back to college?

RicardoSmith

Have to say that despite all the celtic tiger surveys where everyone in Ireland is on more money than the rest of the europe, personally I find the money in IT has dropped in a major way. I also have a problem will the unpaid work you end up doing in IT. If it was a trade theres no way you'd work for free so why should people expect people in IT to work extra hours for free.

yop

Have to say that despite all the celtic tiger surveys where everyone in Ireland is on more money than the rest of the europe, personally I find the money in IT has dropped in a major way. I also have a problem will the unpaid work you end up doing in IT.

In one, I seem to be working longer hours now that I ever was, tried to cut it back but was never hitting their deadlines. IT is no where near as good as it used to be.

Maybe you just need to look for a new job in IT? Or maybe you could go back to college?

I would alright but with evertthing happening at the minute I am too busy outside of the IT world to get a chance to change. Also where I live there are no other IT jobs, have to travel minimum of an hour to possibly get an IT job.
College really is a no no. when u have a fk off mortgage it is not an option.

Johnny Versace

I think it'd be a good idea to start learning Indian, because that's where all the decent IT jobs seem to be heading...

Ryvita

Originally posted by Johnny Versace
I think it'd be a good idea to start learning Indian, because that's where all the decent IT jobs seem to be heading...

I think it's definately picking up. A lot of people I know, working in different areas in IT are having no problem finding work.

As for doing something other than IT for a year. You could start your own business or something? Win the lotto!

WhiteWashMan

Originally posted by RicardoSmith
Have to say that despite all the celtic tiger surveys where everyone in Ireland is on more money than the rest of the europe, personally I find the money in IT has dropped in a major way. I also have a problem will the unpaid work you end up doing in IT. If it was a trade theres no way you'd work for free so why should people expect people in IT to work extra hours for free.

thats kinda funny actually. i made the point not too long ago that there were a number of issues surrounding the so-called 'celtic tiger'.

i dont believe that wages are higher in ireland than anywhere else. in fact, i read all the time what kind of salary people are on, both on these boards, and elsewhere, and i have to say that i think most people in IT in ireland are paid badly.
hell, when i first moved to england i was on a desktop support role for 21k sterling. people seem to be selling their souls for 21 euro in ireland at the moment.
or taking huge pay cuts to do something better.

lets face it, the celtic tiger was a manufactured IT economy boom by the IDA, which crumbled as soon as tax incentives were finished for companies such as IBM and Gateway. i was working in gateway when they closed, and funnily enough, it was just at the end of their 10 year tax free contract.

the government then used this as a means to plug the irish economy, but it didnt work. it seems that while things have gotten better, oh so much better, i feel ireland is again falling behind, and the only reason that people think the economy or situation is better, or that they have morre disposable income, is because ireland as a nation is living on credit. anyone can get a credit card, and huge bank loan. if interest rates go up 2%, i think youd see a lot of fúcked people! but the situation is similar in england. except i see the cost of living in the UK as lower. in ireland i cant believe people pay over 10 euro for 2 pints! i pay 1.50-2.00 a pint in most places, and i live in the most expesive part of the country outside of central london!


aside from that....

i changed career about 18 months ago from being a hardware engineer. i was only on 25k, but i loved the work. i am now in sales, and it has been great. i really enjoy it. i think if you know what you want to do, then you should go for it. but prepare for it! dont just pluck a career out of the air and think 'oh, id like to be a fighter pilot, i'll quit my job!'

ok, i know you have quit, and i havent read all the way down, but i hope you have considered all your options. i know it sounds stupid, but you should have your worse case scenarios already thought out, and if that is acceptable, you know that everything is going to be better than an acceptable level of outcome. make sense?

anywya, i do truely believe in taking a pay cut to get into doing something you want to do. unless there are at least 5 zeros after a number in my paycheck, i will do what i want to do, because to enjoy your job and find it satisfying is the most importnat thing inthe world. after all, you will spend at least a 3rd of your daily life at it!

neXus9

Originally posted by Johnny Versace

If the money was better I would take the job in a second, but I can't really afford being broke due to an ex employer screwing me over royally (12k) for wages owed.

How did this happen?? If you go to an obair, they can give you some advice on worker's rights. Have you gone to anyone yet about this, or did he screw you legally (did he promise you a huge promotion if you work so many yrs?)??