Career crisis

Cateym

Hi,

Hope someone has advice to offer coz I am feeling really demoralised at the moment.

So to start. I worked my ass off at school, did a great leaving cert and had my pick of careers. Went onto Uni where I also worked my ass off and got a 1st class hons degree in Biochemistry.

Started a pHD which I hated and left after 2 years to write up a masters. Took a job on a whim in a uni as technical staff (1 year contract) but pay is pretty crap and its not really what I envisaged my career would be.

Another technical post with greater scope was advertised and I went for and got offered it. Trouble is they offered me the same money I'm on (so much for trying to advance my career) and even though I've been in touch with them to get a better offer their response is that I am only moving sideways (very much untrue-way more responsibility in the new post) and that is their policy so no go. They seem to think that as its a permanent post I should be thanking them or something not asking for higher wages!

I feel I've wasted so much potential. Jobs in science are thin on the ground here (Antrim) and I haven't yet passed my driving test so going further afield isn't really an option. I feel so angry at myself for not making better choices when I did the leaving.

I don't know what to do or how to stop feeling like this. To make matters even worse my boyfriend (same age) is making about 15k more a year than me and I am starting to feel really resentful of him and jealous so our relationship is starting to suffer.

Drift

Hey Catey I've been trying to do the maths here and I'm coming up with an age of around 25/26 for you ......... that's not too old to think about switching careers if you're sure biochemistry isn't for you.

It sounds like you don't like your current position ....... regardless of pay do you think you'd enjoy the work at this new job? From they way you wrote your post it sounds like this new job won't be much better than the last just that you went for it because your current contract was up and you reckoned you could get more money out of it. I may have picked this up wrong though.

Anyway my advice would be that job satisfaction is worth a lot of money. I'm not saying its irreplacable because many of us have a price that we think if someone paid me that much money per week I'd do the job even if I didn't enjoy it that much. So maybe the first step is to decide if Biochemistry is what you want to do with the rest of your life. If not then grab the chance at a career change right now while you're young. If you do want to be a Biochemist then maybe an intensive job hunt or some advice from other biochemists might help you pick a job that you feel you'd enjoy doing. I wouldn't even consider money till you've made up your mind on these questions first.

I'm currently doing a PhD so I know what its like to have all your friends making a lot more money than you (and even knowing that in some cases you could do the job better!) I also know that in my field (engineering) someone who spent 3-4 years doing a phd probably won't get more money than someone who left college with their degree and worked for them 4 years and unless the job is highly specified will possibly get less.

I'm sorry I can't give you more advice on how you can get over the disappointed feelings but there's plenty of time yet for you to make a career path you'll enjoy.

dr.bollocko

If I had an answer for you, I'd have to have an answer for me, all my friends, and probably everyone I graduated university with.

r3nu4l

Hiya Catey,

I have a degree and PhD in molecular Biology and agree that salaries aren't the best, especially in academic environments. However, you should learn to drive. That will give you much better options.

Also, pharma companies and biotech firms offer plenty of scope for promotion of staff who work hard and show initiative. There is also the option of working for your local NHS trust! Biochemists can be quite useful in hospitals.

I left labwork to become a medical writer and am really enjoing it. PM me if you want any more advice because I could type for hours here Don't resent the bf, just admire his choices and be determined to examine your own choices carefully in future. Good luck

craichoe

Completely agree with drift here,

Job Satisfaction is totally worth it, the job i'm in i could easily take another job in the company i work for with more of a sales/consulting type role. The job (skills required) are basically the same but the pressure is immense, i would be adding about 40 - 50 k onto my current salary though. But its just not worth it !

Seriously .. i know guys that are getting around 1000 a week after tax, but they don't have any time to spend it ! I would never go for a job based purely on salary.

Bottom line is, once you have a job you find interesting, a good environment, enough money to have a good quality of life and a good balance with your personal life then thats the best thing.

sweet-rasmus

don't go for the job if it's not what you want, and it doesn't sound like it is. there probably is a perfect job (or better at least!) out there for you, so keep searching i would recommend that you get some driving practice in; even if you don't pass your test, your 2nd licence will enable you to legally drive unaccompanied, which would definalty be an advantage.

most jobs available to you may require you to work your way up the pay scale alright, but you'll get there. good luck!

secret_squirrel

Im puzzled that you think not driving limits you?

Any decent sized city on this island has enough public transport to get you to and from your workplace, especially if you are clever about where you choose to live.

If you are keen to make a move I suggest you stop using not driving as an excuse.

limklad

Cateym wrote:

I haven't yet passed my driving test so going further afield isn't really an option. I feel so angry at myself for not making better choices when I did the leaving. .

Why is this stopping you? there are other means.

Cateym wrote:

I don't know what to do or how to stop feeling like this. To make matters even worse my boyfriend (same age) is making about 15k more a year than me and I am starting to feel really resentful of him and jealous so our relationship is starting to suffer.

It is your choice to be jealous and resentful.and now the consequence of it is a suffering relationship. You chose your path not him and Stop blaming others for your situation and move to a job or career you want to have.

You "yourself" are the only one who limiting your options. Yes there are rules. They are other ways.
Bill Gates did get rich by sulking on his ass in his early days, did he. Who says you need to be rich or earning more than others just to be happy!!
I am an engineer and there are old school friends who did not do their leaving cert earning twice more than me. Am I jealous, No. I say fair play to them and well done. How I earn and what job i go for is choice, like you.

LegacyUser

Jayzus, yer all so smart, U make me look 'tick'.

Anyways - I don't have a drivin licence (can't droive)
and I've wurked all over Europe. Never stopped me.

And - also I make good muny.
But - in dat grate little cuntry - I had a bit of
a slow start too.

Cateym

secret_squirrel wrote:

Im puzzled that you think not driving limits you?

Any decent sized city on this island has enough public transport to get you to and from your workplace, especially if you are clever about where you choose to live.

If you are keen to make a move I suggest you stop using not driving as an excuse.

Driving is a problem NOT an excuse. At the moment it is a limiting factor in me getting a job with a few companies where I could work my way up the ladder.

This is Belfast, not Dublin and the companies I am interested in are a good hours journey away and not on a train line and buses here are a disaster.

Cateym

limklad wrote:

Why is this stopping you? there are other means.



It is your choice to be jealous and resentful.and now the consequence of it is a suffering relationship. You chose your path not him and Stop blaming others for your situation and move to a job or career you want to have.

You "yourself" are the only one who limiting your options. Yes there are rules. They are other ways.
Bill Gates did get rich by sulking on his ass in his early days, did he. Who says you need to be rich or earning more than others just to be happy!!
I am an engineer and there are old school friends who did not do their leaving cert earning twice more than me. Am I jealous, No. I say fair play to them and well done. How I earn and what job i go for is choice, like you.

I am not motivated by a big fat wage packet but I would like to get reasonably paid which I am not being at the moment. I am also not sulking. I am trying to be proactive, get some "helpful" advice from people who might have experienced what I am feeling at the moment. I am just so frustrated.

I am young and I would like it if I could go back to uni but have a mortgage to pay so that would be near impossible.

If you re-read my original post you'll find I am very much blaming myself for my situation, not anyone else as you infer above.

j4vier

sorry if this wont help you op but i need some info on this topic
im finishin a chemistry degree and im not so sure about doin a phd
from what i hear phd shall all be based on motivation and not money but once you get the phd are the possibilities actually better? i was told a phd opens more doors than what a degree does.

Cateym

j4vier wrote:

sorry if this wont help you op but i need some info on this topic
im finishin a chemistry degree and im not so sure about doin a phd
from what i hear phd shall all be based on motivation and not money but once you get the phd are the possibilities actually better? i was told a phd opens more doors than what a degree does.

My advice is simply don't just do a pHD coz you can! From what I see about 70% of pHD students end up doing them coz they had the grades

If you're not afraid to sweat blood and tears go for it. I was an extremely motivated person but lost it very quickly. Some people are cut out for it some aren't. I wasn't!

Money as someone says above isn't much better than someone who went straight in and worked their way up unless of course you stay in Academia.

If you stay in academia you pretty much will work on contract (2 or 3 year ones) for the rest of your career unless you take a lectureship. Alot of my mates have left and gone into industry for this reason. Can't deal with the uncertainty.

j4vier

the picture doesnt look too reassuring to be honest
thanks for the info op

bug

do you have to stay in Antrim?
Would you not try and get a car, if you do?
Did you do a taught or research masters? Big difference.

newestUser

I think you're having a good rant about your life, rather than looking for helpful advice from people. There's nothing wrong with that. I think that you're clearly angry at yourself, for making decisions that didn't work out, and for being jealous of your boyfriend for earning more than you.

On the surface, your problem is simple. You want more money. So start looking into what pays you the amount of money you feel you need, and pursue that goal. If you need to spend time in uni and can't afford to pay off your mortgage, you have to sell your house.

Your problem does not seem complicated, and the solution is self-evident. So *why* are you posting here?

I think you feel sorry for yourself. From what you've said. if you put up a post saying, "I'm not happy in my life, I feel angry at myself for the choices I've made, I'm taking this out on other people, and I can't stop feeling sorry for myself", it would be closer to the nub of the problem.

There's a whiff of "life owes me a favour" to your posts. You're not guaranteed $$$ just because you worked your ass off in school. You come across as someone who doesn't take responsibility for your life. You'd have picked courses and made decisions that would lead to higher earnings, instead of just drifting along. And you're posting here, asking questions to which the answers are obvious, instead of actually taking steps to solve your problems.

Sorry if this seems harsh. Life's tough for all of us, we're all in the same boat. My advice: be easier on yourself, no-one's life works out the way they wanted it to or thought it would. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, it's unconstructive. Take more responsibility for your life. I suspect you know all this anyway, and just feel daunted by what's in front of you. All I can say is good luck.

Cateym wrote:

My advice is simply don't just do a pHD coz you can! From what I see about 70% of pHD students end up doing them coz they had the grades

If you're not afraid to sweat blood and tears go for it. I was an extremely motivated person but lost it very quickly. Some people are cut out for it some aren't. I wasn't!

Money as someone says above isn't much better than someone who went straight in and worked their way up unless of course you stay in Academia.

If you stay in academia you pretty much will work on contract (2 or 3 year ones) for the rest of your career unless you take a lectureship. Alot of my mates have left and gone into industry for this reason. Can't deal with the uncertainty.

j4vier

what do u mean big difference?
do you mean that the research one is more valuable than a taught?

j4vier

newestUser wrote:

Your problem does not seem complicated, and the solution is self-evident. So *why* are you posting here?

its obvious that the op is not looking for a solution here , just some sort of advice
to be honest even if it wasnt the purpose of the thread ,I am glad this thread has bein opened cos i need to get a good idea of whats waiting for me

Black Swan

Cateym wrote:

I am trying to be proactive, get some "helpful" advice from people...

Have you tried going through an employment agency qualified to place people with your background?

newestUser

That was meant as a rhetorical question.

If you want to get the inside skinny on doing a PhD, there's a couple of informative threads on the Postgraduate forum.

j4vier wrote:

newestUser wrote:

Your problem does not seem complicated, and the solution is self-evident. So *why* are you posting here?

its obvious that the op is not looking for a solution here , just some sort of advice
to be honest even if it wasnt the purpose of the thread ,I am glad this thread has bein opened cos i need to get a good idea of whats waiting for me

bug

j4vier wrote:

what do u mean big difference?
do you mean that the research one is more valuable than a taught?

interesting debate
depends on the subject really, and who is hiring.

In the case of the OP where she said she hated the PhD she may have found one or the other more interesting.

For example some people find taught masters to be boring and an extension of college work, whereas some people like research masters since it allows them to do work in there time, with some interim deadlines, and find it a lot more interesting.