Not enough holidays??

Dagon

Since graduating from my Computing degree in 2002, I've spent time doing part-time lecturing, and then got involved in a funded research project which led to a MSc (mostly Java programming).

Now I'm finished and it's time to look for a full time job. But to be honest, the prospect of 3 weeks holidays a year scares the living crap out of me!! I mean, since graduating I've had most of my summers free for June, July and August (or at least flexible, where I can take off when I want to, and work around stuff for my thesis, taking it particularly easy during the summer months), have also had the usual academic 2 weeks at Easter and 3 weeks for Christmas.

This adds up to in excess of 10 weeks holidays per year (roughly), as well as a lot of time being my own boss and being flexible. During this time I have become involved in many different recreational activities and even voluntary organisations, and it has enriched my life and made me appreciater life much more.

I am not looking forward to facing into the grind of 9-5, 5 days a week with overtime + minimal holidays. I know it's the real world and all that but... are there any other options? I don't want to leave behind all my other activities and voluntary work. And actually enjoying life..! Is it possible to tell an employer that you would like at least 2 months off per year, during which you are willing to go without pay? Or would they just laugh in your face?

I don't really care about the money, I just want a job to keep me going and I want to enjoy life as well.

chump

Phd, teacher, lecturer, self-employed, contract work

have children, join a state/semi-s job and take Term Time. (might only be for healthcare jobs, not sure)

Thomas_S_Hunterson

You could try contract work/freelance

Dagon

Don't want to do a PHD as I've had enough academia at this stage to last me a lifetime.

I've already worked as a lecturer and really liked it, but not many hours coming up this year so I need to get out into industry. I don't want to be self employed because I don't think I have the right drive for it.

Interested in contract work / freelance though. Would you have to tell the recruitment agency you are only interested in 3 - 4 month contracts? And then you'd go into a company to work on a particular project until it's completion?

Kernel32

I do the IT hiring in the company I work for. I would hire a degree graduate who is excited to do the job over a masters who has only academic experience and wants 2 months off a year.

Dagon

I do the IT hiring in the company I work for. I would hire a degree graduate who is excited to do the job over a masters who has only academic experience and wants 2 months off a year.

I have no doubt that you would. That is a given... but I'm just curious as to whether there is the possibility of keeping my current lifestyle while having a good job. Perhaps not... perhaps many sacrifices must be made in order to earn a good living.

As for "only academic experience", I actually worked for two years commercially for my MSc. Yes, some research was involved, but it was a full-time job and involved most of the deadlines and communication demands of a regular job, just with a lot more flexibility with regard to working hours and taking breaks. It's still commercial experience; the end result was a commercial product.

Kernel32

It depends on your situation. Your coming into the industry looking at an entry level position. But you want benefits more normally associated with very senior level or self employed and it just doesn't jive. If you were very experienced with highly sought after skills then you can have the lifestyle you want but at the level your at right now then I highly doubt it.

homeOwner

Dagon wrote:

.. but I'm just curious as to whether there is the possibility of keeping my current lifestyle while having a good job. Perhaps not... perhaps many sacrifices must be made in order to earn a good living.
.

Dont you know that if there was a way to do this we would all be doing it.

IMO the only way to get those sort of holidays and have a good job is to teach or contract.

jester77

Move countries, that's what I did. Moved to Germany, same salary as Ireland, alot cheaper living, better weather, health & infrastructure plus I've 6 weeks standard holidays a year plus whatever time I've worked up, usually another 2 weeks in the year. There are also disadvantages as well but IMO the plus's outweigh the negatives!

Manny7

jester77 wrote:

Move countries, that's what I did. Moved to Germany, same salary as Ireland, alot cheaper living, better weather, health & infrastructure plus I've 6 weeks standard holidays a year plus whatever time I've worked up, usually another 2 weeks in the year. QUOTE]

Or find a German company in Ireland that gives you the same benefits here, as some of them do.

Dagon

Yeah.. I like the sound of that! 6 weeks standard holidays a year - now that makes a lot more sense! Why can't every country be like Germany? And I'm sure they still get the work done that they need to.

3 weeks per year is just not healthy imo, and after talking to various professionals about this, they all agree. A few of them have actually taken steps to leave their full time jobs for this very reason and are now training as teachers so that they can have the summers off. In my humble opinion, it is counter-productive to overwork employees and provide them with short holidays. Many people feel they are just going through the motions and are lacking in motivation and a sense of personal enjoyment.

jaggiebunnet

Dagon wrote:

Yeah.. I like the sound of that! 6 weeks standard holidays a year - now that makes a lot more sense! Why can't every country be like Germany? And I'm sure they still get the work done that they need to.

3 weeks per year is just not healthy imo, and after talking to various professionals about this, they all agree. A few of them have actually taken steps to leave their full time jobs for this very reason and are now training as teachers so that they can have the summers off. In my humble opinion, it is counter-productive to overwork employees and provide them with short holidays. Many people feel they are just going through the motions and are lacking in motivation and a sense of personal enjoyment.

I have never seen a company only offer 3 weeks a year, minimum is generally 21 days and a lot of companies are offering 25 days now.

Dagon

Fair enough, but 21 / 7 = 3!!
25 days is actually fairly decent...

chump

Dagon wrote:

Fair enough, but 21 / 7 = 3!!
25 days is actually fairly decent...

5 days in the working week pal...

25days = 5 weeks. Not 3 bad.

Huggles

chump wrote:

5 days in the working week pal...

25days = 5 weeks. Not 3 bad.

LOL well said.

Dagon the 9-5 life is really not as bad as you are making it sound. You fall into a routine and you just get on with it, of course it helps if you actually enjoy what you are doing.

Why not give it a try for a few months and see if you can hack it :rolleyes: