really stuck

LegacyUser

im 29 and have no proper qualifcations but ive got all sorts of certs and diplomas. Anyway, i just took a pay cut of nearly 30% and im down to circa 420 per week. im really really down about this and i need to get my act together buit all the courses are so expensice and totally out of my buget. Im sick of the other lads looking down on me in work making out that they are on loads of more money than i am and talking to me like im stupid half the time (this could all be in my head but its not) im just stuck in a rut and i dunno what to do, would i be better off to work part time and go on the btea allowance, my plan was to have my house bought by 30 but that doesnt seem like its going to happen, i want to do better but the cost is putting me off

mood

This is a major recession, most peoples plans are on hold or have changed. I also thought I would have a house bought but am now glad I don't.

Why sort of diplomas and certs have you? Why are these not considered proper qualifications? Did you do them in an IT? If not where?

How would working part time solve anything? Surely it's better to work full time!

LegacyUser

mood wrote: »

This is a major recession, most peoples plans are on hold or have changed. I also thought I would have a house bought but am now glad I don't.

Why sort of diplomas and certs have you? Why are these not considered proper qualifications? Did you do them in an IT? If not where?

How would working part time solve anything? Surely it's better to work full time!

I just thought if i went part time i could get a grant to help me pay for a course, ive got certs in it, diplomas in sales and sales management and a few others, id have to go and check

I just feel really disappointed in myself that im 29, with no house and stuck in a job which is so monotonous its like im living for the weekend all the time, and my other half wants to have kids and they are the same age as me, i dont want to be an old parent either, it just seems im hitting one obsticale after another

mood

You seem to see going part time as a short term fix. However in the long term if you go part time there is very little hope of you getting a mortgage. And it could be a long time until you can get full time hours again.

I assume the course you want to do is to get a degree. I assume it's in the same area as you dips and certs. If this is the case I assume it won't take you long to do and you could probably do it in the evenings. Why not get a loan to pay for it?

LegacyUser

im paying rent and with all the bills that i have i really couldnt afford it, is €420 a week that bad a wage to be on at my age?? to be honest, i dont even know what id be good at or want as a career, my confidance has just taken a bashing

gerTheGreat

Have you considered asking your employers to sponser you and looking at night degrees? I appreciate that you have had to take a pay cut and that obviously suggests that the company may be a little short of cash, so will you have to sell it. You will need to know what course you want to do, how much it will cost, how much you need from your employers, and most importantly what benifits your employers will see from the investment (be sure to use positive terms like investment, opportunity, etc.)

mood

As well, I would say that any grant + what you would earn on part time hours would be less what you would earn on working full time.

Andy-Pandy

Im 32 and just gone back to full time education, same as you stuck in a job i hated. The only advice i have is this, if ya want to do something, do it. Talking about it wont get you anywere. Start applying now so that your options are open to you. Ill be 36 when i get my degree in horticulture, but that will give me 30 years of working in a job i know ill love, its only 4 years hard work to get that. I'd love a house and to be a success, but im not yet, but i'm never gone settle for second best., expecially in my job.

LegacyUser

Andy-Pandy wrote: »

Im 32 and just gone back to full time education, same as you stuck in a job i hated. The only advice i have is this, if ya want to do something, do it. Talking about it wont get you anywere. Start applying now so that your options are open to you. Ill be 36 when i get my degree in horticulture, but that will give me 30 years of working in a job i know ill love, its only 4 years hard work to get that. I'd love a house and to be a success, but im not yet, but i'm never gone settle for second best., expecially in my job.

you know what, your dead right,im going to quit feeling sorry for myself today, im sures theres alot worse off situations than me. i worked in finance for years and had enrolled to do my qfas but i left after i failed the first one by a margin and thought id like a career change, to be honest i liked being in finance so i just signed up to do them all again, only had a pay the reregistration fee and after ive passed all of those who knows what else might pop up, i like sales and working in finance so maybe i could get into brokering, if i just keep putting it off i'll be 60 with my phd in hindsight and think...what if.... i believe i can do it so im going to do it, everyone here is brilliant for advice, thanks

Aibreann

What can I see, my boss is younger than me, even if he has less experience, thats life , so sad.

Agent J

Certs and Diplomas?

I'd Check with Open Uni/ Oscial and see what you can throw at a degree course.

You could potentially knock half the time off if what you already have is suitable.

unattendedbag

reallystuck wrote: »

you know what, your dead right,im going to quit feeling sorry for myself today, im sures theres alot worse off situations than me. i worked in finance for years and had enrolled to do my qfas but i left after i failed the first one by a margin and thought id like a career change, to be honest i liked being in finance so i just signed up to do them all again, only had a pay the reregistration fee and after ive passed all of those who knows what else might pop up, i like sales and working in finance so maybe i could get into brokering, if i just keep putting it off i'll be 60 with my phd in hindsight and think...what if.... i believe i can do it so im going to do it, everyone here is brilliant for advice, thanks

Good for you in taking some action. When i finished my 2 year cert there was an option that most students took to stay on for another year and get the diploma and another year to get the degree. Is there any option like this for your certs? I.e. return to college full time for 1 year and gain a diploma (which would be classed as an ordinary degree today). Look into it and see how you can use your existing qualifications to get into other courses. Also failing an exam like qfas doesnt mean your unsuited for them, it just means you have more experience the next time you take them.

And €420/week is not a small wage by any means. its still around 22k a year, quite a bit above the minimum wage and more than twice the average dole payment. The cost of living in this country may make it feel worthless but if you do not have any major debts then you will be able to keep your head well above water for a while.

mood

unattendedbag wrote: »

Good for you in taking some action. When i finished my 2 year cert there was an option that most students took to stay on for another year and get the diploma and another year to get the degree. Is there any option like this for your certs? I.e. return to college full time for 1 year and gain a diploma (which would be classed as an ordinary degree today). Look into it and see how you can use your existing qualifications to get into other courses. Also failing an exam like qfas doesnt mean your unsuited for them, it just means you have more experience the next time you take them.

And €420/week is not a small wage by any means. its still around 22k a year, quite a bit above the minimum wage and more than twice the average dole payment. The cost of living in this country may make it feel worthless but if you do not have any major debts then you will be able to keep your head well above water for a while.

I agree with using the certs and diplomas so it will take less time to get the degree.

LegacyUser

You have to be on the dole for a year to get on the Back to Work Scheme. So if you think you're depressed now, try living on half your wages for 12 months!

But good luck with it. Do ALOT of research about what you choose to study - many jobs in the 'sales & marketing' area are really just sales and you may not need further education for such jobs - while a cert or diploma will not be enough to get you a snazzy marketing job.

I would study digital marketing if I was you, & maybe pick up some technical skills in that area as well, because thats the only area of growth right now (in Sales & marketing)