Best job for me in the future

Cyrus

Just looking for some advice, basically i have a bbls degree (honours) from ucd and a masters in accountancy (smurfit, honours). Im currently just finished my first year of training in audit with a top 4 firm and in two years time ill hopefully have my FAE's passed and my contract completed.

Ive basically decided a career in audit isnt really for me, i dont particularily dislike my job but i cant see me spending the rest of my days doing it either.

So im wondering what i could do when i qualify, i could go into small practice (my dad has his own) but thatd be more of the same,

What id really like (wouldnt we all) is a decent job that pays well with good holidays as im not bothered killing myself working til im 50 and then realising that i missed half my life, ive no problems workig hard 9-5 mon-fri but its a waste of life to be working overtime all the time and weekends etc

So i was thinking maybe of lecturing but im not sure has anyone any info? can anyone make any other suggestions?

Cheers

mrhappy42

Lecturing can be poorly paid at the start.

You could specialise the auditing in areas of interest...oil rigs, book makers etc.

Either way you should change career direction every 5 years and complete change every 10...you still have more years left to work than you are old!!

Cyrus

tis true but might aswell start thinking about it now

just looking at options really, id rather be the kinda dad who sees his kids every evening not once a week (looking very far forward but you know what i mean )

mrhappy42

Did consulting for IT with big 5 and did contract work with lots of flights, when I had kids gave it up for a 9 to 5 job to see kids etc.

However...and this is a big...however....kids become independent VERY quickly, if you can in anyway keep a career path free so that when the time comes and kids no longer around as much you can reaccelerate....otherwise hum drum for the next 20 years.

I find those people with a hobby that they make into work are the best placed...they can slow down for kids and speed up again afterwards (pay for college etc.)

Tom Dunne

mrhappy42 wrote:

Lecturing can be poorly paid at the start.

I wouldn't say 33,000 Euro for an 18 hour week is a bad start! Plus the option to do night classes, paid at around 40 Euro an hour.

I feel the same way in my current job (in IT) and have decided lecturing is for me. Excellent hours, no stress, working with people and technology. Hopefully I will start looking next March/April when the colleges start their hiring for Sept 2005.

Cyrus

tom can you fill me in on what you know re lecturing as a job? hours expected, pay, do you need to do research and crap like that?

Tom Dunne

I lectured in an Institute of Technology part time (I was working shift in my regular job) so I can't speak for any of the universities. But in such an institute, you go in as an assistant lecturer, starting at around 33,0000 Euro, and usually temporary for the first 2-3 years (don't like this part). Also, a degree is required (of course), but I believe it is a PhD (or at least be studying for a PhD) for the universities.

Hours, are as above, 18 per week, with no requirement to do anything else (i.e. research). One incredible piece of information a lecturer gave me was to never let the students see the syllabus, write the exam in September and teach to the exam for the rest of the year. This means you can (as I did) teach the subject components you are comfortable with, and leave out the bits you are not too hot on. Exam papers have to be written by March (both Summer and repeat exams) so other than this, there are no real deadlines (or stress). Assignments are usually required for most courses, but since you are only working 18 hours a week, you would have plenty of time to correct them. Part of those 18 hours a week could be supervising practicals (don't know how much practical work there would be in accountancy). I also had to supervise some end of year projects, which was interesting, it was both a kind of mentor and a technical facilitator role.

Exams are in May, exam boards meet in early June and you will be on your holidays in and around the 20th of June until September 1st. You get paid for each exam you correct (can't remember the rate) on a per script basis.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

mrhappy42

I looked into this as well, had interviews setup but 2 to 3 years as a temp not ideal and 30k is not a lot if you consider the extra work you need to do to make up the difference..i.e grinds and evening classes is just what you want to avoid in the evening as you want to be with the kids.

Seems best way is the start a Phd as Tom said and then leverage this.